Seine Dinner Cruise

A dinner cruise turns the Seine into the most scenic dining room in Paris. The boat leaves in the evening and glides for about two hours and a half past the illuminated monuments, from the Eiffel Tower to Notre-Dame and the Louvre, while a multi-course meal is served at your table. Many sailings add live music, and the hourly sparkle of the tower is a highlight of the evening. It is a classic for anniversaries, proposals and first-night treats, and one of the easiest ways to combine dinner and sightseeing.

Paris is at its most romantic after dark, and the river is where that reputation is easiest to feel. A Seine dinner cruise departs from a quay near the Eiffel Tower and follows the river through the heart of the city and back, usually over two to two and a half hours. Tables line the large panoramic windows, so even the seats away from the glass have a view, and the boat's slow pace is perfectly judged for taking photos.

The meal is typically a set menu of several courses, with a starter, a main course and dessert, and a choice of fish, meat or vegetarian options when booked ahead. Wine and drinks are often available as extras or included in higher tiers. The food is aimed at pleasing most diners rather than pushing culinary boundaries, but the setting is the real attraction, and most guests agree that the combination of dinner, music and a moving view is the point of the evening.

The route covers the most photogenic stretch of the river. You glide past the Eiffel Tower and the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre and the Tuileries, the Pont Neuf and the Île de la Cité with Notre-Dame, and the Île Saint-Louis before turning back. Commentary is usually brief, so that the experience stays focused on the food and the view, and many sailings include live music, from a pianist to a small band, with a little dancing on the deck in the warmer months.

A few tips improve the experience. Choose an evening sailing timed so that you see the city at dusk and then lit, since the tower sparkles for a few minutes on each hour after dark. Window tables and the upper deck are worth the upgrade if you can afford it. Smart casual dress is the norm, and a light jacket is useful if you spend time on the open deck. Boarding starts before departure, so arrive early, and booking ahead is wise for weekends, holidays and any special occasion.

Think through the choices before you book. Cruises differ in format, from large boats with several hundred seats and live entertainment to smaller, quieter vessels with more intimate service, and higher tiers move you to window tables with an upgraded menu. If you are celebrating, tell the operator when you book, since some can arrange a small surprise.

Because you are on the water for a couple of hours, bring a light jacket, avoid heavy perfume at crowded tables and use the pre-boarding time to take photos of the bridges and the Eiffel Tower from the quay.