How do you pick the best lunch cruise on the Seine among so many offerings? Don’t worry, I am here to help you compare the hosts, find options according to your budget and evaluate the pros and cons of each host.
In a Nutshell
If you don’t have much time, here is a summary of the best lunch cruise options in each category!
⭐Safe Bets (but overrun)
- Bateaux Parisiens: background music, sophisticated French menu, vegetarian options, placement choice, outstanding view; a must-see
- Bateaux-Mouches: background music, delicious but varied dishes, vegetarian options, kids menu; a savoir-faire of excellence since 1949
⭐The Most Romantic Lunch Cruises
- Bateaux-Mouches: intimate atmosphere, tables next to windows for a romantic and privileged ambiance, panoramic view of Paris
- Ducasse sur Seine: tables carefully placed, bay windows to enjoy the view, exceptional quality lunch cuisine, quiet boat floating on the water
⭐The Most Luxurious Lunch Cruise
- Ducasse sur Seine: irreproachable service and gastronomic cuisine of exception by distinguished chef, Alain Ducasse, in an unmatched luxurious environment
⭐The Cheapest Lunch Cruises (but they’re worth it!)
- Tosca: 2-hour cruise to enjoy breakfast, you can even enjoy a glass of champagne in the most expensive formula, that remains cheaper than formulas without drinks offered by other companies.
- Ivory Boat: Parisian bistro-style tasting menu, large windows for a clear view of Paris, champagne in a superior formula at a fair price.
- Trattoria en Seine: authentic experience along the Seine, wide choice of drinks, warm atmosphere with lounge music, traditional Italian cuisine.
Comparative Table of Lunch Cruises on the Seine
| Boats | Days of the Week | Departure | Duration | Kids’ Menu | Price (from) |
| Bateaux Parisiens | Every day | 12:45 PM | 2h | EUR 39 | EUR 75 |
| Bateaux-Mouches | Saturday, Sunday, and holidays | 12:30 PM | 1h45 | EUR 39 | EUR 85 |
| Paris Seine | Every day | 12:30 PM | 1h30 | EUR 40 | EUR 68 |
| Tosca | Saturday and Sunday | 12:30 PM | 2h | EUR 35 | EUR 59 |
| Ivory Boat | Saturday and Sunday | 12:30 PM | 2h | EUR 30 | EUR 49 |
| Trattoria en Seine | Every Sunday | 12:30 PM | 2h | EUR 49 | EUR 59 |
| Ducasse sur Seine | Saturday and Sunday | 12:45 PM | 1h45 | – | EUR 105 |
The 7 Best Lunch Cruises Under the Microscope
Let’s now explore in detail each lunch cruise along the Seine. 🚢🍽️✨
Bateaux Parisiens
Aboard the Bateaux Parisiens, the adventure starts at the foot of the Eiffel Tower with a mind-blowing departure. Their best asset? Gorgeous bay windows that extend from the floor all the way to the ceiling, allowing you to admire the view wherever you’re sitting.
Let yourself be carried away by the magic of the Parisian monuments that pass before your eyes: the Pont Alexandre III, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and much more.
Take a seat in a relaxed, chic atmosphere, lulled by background music that adds a friendly touch to this unique experience.
⌚Hours: Every day, 12:45 PM (duration: 2h)
💰Price :
- EUR 75 (USD 81.29) for the “Star Service” formula (kir, starters, main course, water and wine), with a panoramic place
- EUR 95 (USD 102.83) for the “Privilege Service” formula (kir, starters, main course, cheese and dessert, fine wines), with a table next to the window
- EUR 115 (USD 124.48) for the “Top Service” formula (glass of champagne and mini cakes, starters, main course, cheese and dessert, fine wines), with exceptional seating at the front of the boat
You can also enjoy special lunches :
- Christmas Lunch Cruise: EUR 115 (USD 124.48) (Careful, it quickly sells out, book your seats a long time in advance)
😍We like:
- the astonishing view from the boat
- the pleasant and warm ambiance
- the delicious French cuisine
- the 3 different formulas
- the variety of dishes, with options to suit all tastes
- the vegetarian menu
- the kids’ menu, priced at EUR 39 (USD 42.27)
🫤 We like less:
- the limited availability during weekends and tourist seasons
- only one aperitif option, automatically included in the formula
- the expensive souvenir photos taken by a photographer (EUR 20 or USD 21.65 each)
- the kids’ menu is identical to the adult menu, just with different portions
➡️See and book your lunch cruise with Bateaux Parisiens🔥 the seats are limited. Don’t waste any time!
Bateaux-Mouches
The Bateaux-Mouches are a top pick for an amazing lunch cruise on the Seine. Tables facing the bay windows and the background music guarantee an incredible experience.
With drinks included in the formula and a wide range of dishes offered, you’ll leave with a full belly and plenty of memories to round off your day!
⌚Hours: Saturday, Sunday, and holiday, 12:30 PM (duration: 1h45)
💰Price:
- EUR 85 (USD 92.13) the formula “Douce France” (aperitif, starters, main course, cheese or dessert, coffee or tea, drink)
You can also enjoy special lunches:
- Christmas lunch: EUR 115 (USD 124.48)
😍We like:
- the panoramic view of Paris, with a table next to the bay windows
- the extra pleasant music on board (accordion)
- the wide variety of dishes, with options to suit all tastes
- the vegetarian options
- the wine included in the formula
- the kids’ menu, priced at EUR 39 (USD 42.27)
🫤 We like less:
- cruises are only available on the weekends
- only one formula
- the cruise is a bit too short to have the time to eat and enjoy your visit at the same time
➡️See and book your lunch cruise with Bateaux-Mouches🔥 the seats are limited so waste no time!
Paris Seine
Lunch cruises on the Paris Seine offer a French gastronomic experience where you can enjoy high-quality dishes.
The menu changes depending on what seasonal products are available, and the service is as refined as the elegant decor!
⌚Hours: Every day, 12:30 PM (duration: 1h30)
💰Price:
- EUR 68 (USD 73.70) for the lunch without drinks (starters, main course, dessert)
- EUR 85 (USD 92.13) for the lunch with drinks (starters, main course, dessert, water and wine)
Special lunches:
- Christmas Lunch: EUR 100 (USD 108.27) (careful, quickly full, book your seats a long time in advance)
😍We like:
- the boat is entirely glazed, allowing you to admire the view, even at the center
- the everyday availability
- the vegetarian options
- the kids’ menu, priced at EUR 40 (USD 43.35)
🫤 We like less:
- the price of extra options (cheese plate at EUR 6 (USD 6.50) and the window seats at EUR 10 (USD 10.83) offered during the reservation process)
- the cruise is a bit short to have the time to eat and enjoy the visit at the same time
- the non-drink formula, although cheaper, requires a certain amount of preparation, or bringing a small bottle of water with you
➡️See and book your lunch cruise with Paris Seine
Tosca
Head to the Eiffel Tower to embark on this lunch cruise offering refined traditional French cuisine. The foie gras, the restaurant’s signature dish, won’t leave you disappointed.
Choose your seat for the best view: the Privilege Lounge for a bay window table, the Premium Lounge for a panoramic view at the front of the boat, or the VIP Lounge on the upper deck for a 180° view.
⌚Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 PM (duration: 2h)
💰Price:
- EUR 59 (USD 63.95) for the prestige formula excluding drinks (starters, main course, dessert)
- EUR 69 (USD 74.71) for the prestige formula with half a bottle of wine (starters, main course, dessert)
- EUR 79 (USD 85.53) for the prestige formula with half a bottle of champagne (starters, main course, dessert)
😍We like:
- the boat’s hushed, refined ambiance
- the kids’ menu, priced at EUR 35 (USD 37.93)
- the 100% vegetarian menu
- affordable prices
🫤 We like less:
- a single choice of starter and main course
- the non-drink formula, which is certainly more attractively priced, but requires a certain amount of preparation, bring a small bottle of water with you.
➡️See and book your lunch cruise with the Tosca
Ivory Boat
Embark on an extraordinary culinary adventure with the Déjeuners Croisières Bistronomiques aboard the boat Ivoire, moored on the Alexandre III bridge.
Enjoy a degustation menu inspired by the culinary traditions of Parisian bistros, carefully concocted to delight your taste buds.
⌚Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 PM (duration: 2h)
💰Price:
- EUR 49 (USD 53.11) bistronomic lunch excluding drinks (starter, main course, dessert)
- EUR 59 (USD 63.95) bistronomic lunch with half a bottle of wine (starter, main course, dessert)
- EUR 69 (USD 74.71) bistronomic lunch with half a bottle of champagne (starter, main course, dessert)
😍We like:
- the large windows with incredible views of Paris and its monuments
- the traditional Parisian bistro cuisine
- the generous menu (plate of 3 appetizers and plate of 2 pastries for dessert)
- the special kids’ menu, priced at EUR 30 (USD 32.48)
- the vegetarian options
🫤 We like less:
- the hearty menu, but there’s not much choice available
- the non-drink option, which is certainly more affordable, but requires a certain amount of preparation or bringing a small bottle of water with you
➡️See and book your lunch cruise with Ivory Boat
Trattoria en Seine
Enjoy the warm atmosphere and lounge music at Trattoria en Seine, where generous Italian cuisine awaits you, accompanied by a varied selection of drinks.
The menu features a variety of kinds of pasta (pappardelle, rigatoni, linguine), a delicious tiramisu dessert, and a whole range of drinks to please your taste buds: spritz, Italian wine, prosecco, limoncello…
⌚Hours: Every Sunday, 12:30 PM (duration: 2h)
💰Price:
- EUR 59 (USD 63.95) for the formula with starter, main course, dessert, 1 bottle of mineral water for two
😍We like:
- Italian cuisine
- the extensive drinks menu
- the variety of dishes, with several options to suit all tastes
- pleasant ambiance with Italian lounge music in the background
- kids’ menu, priced at EUR 49 (USD 53.11)
🫤 We like less:
- availability on Sundays only
- price of additional options (drinks and a VIP bay window seat)
- kids’ menu is identical to the adult menu
➡️See and book your lunch cruise with Trattoria en Seine
Ducasse sur Seine
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Enjoy an exceptional gastronomic delight concocted by celebrated chef Alain Ducasse.
More than just a cruise, a true sensory experience awaits you aboard a 100% electric boat, combining luxury and respect for the environment.
Let yourself glide silently past the historic and iconic sites of Paris, savoring every bite of this unforgettable culinary journey.
⌚Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 12:45 PM (duration: 1h45)
💰Price:
- EUR 105 (USD 113.68) for the 3-course menu (drinks not included)
- EUR 160 (USD 173.23) for 3-course menu & wine pairing
- EUR 265 (USD 286.91) for 4-course menu & wine pairing
- EUR 500 (USD 541.34) for the 6-course menu with champagne & wine pairing with the finest view
😍We like:
- the eco-friendly lunch cruise (100% electric boat)
- the silence of the boat
- the gourmet French cuisine (fresh products)
- over 100 wine references
🫤 We like less:
- More expensive prices
➡️See and book your lunch cruise with Ducasse sur Seine
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
