Combining all of the allure of a standard river cruise with the French flair of the world’s most admired cuisine, the best Seine River lunch cruises are a unique experience not to miss.
Sure, you could amble alongside the waterways of Paris’ most famous river on foot, or even take a regular sightseeing boat tour. But why would you when you have this option?
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With an abundance of amazing options, how do you choose? Here’s where our complete guide about the best Seine River cruises comes in handy! Uncover everything you need to know regarding sightseeing options and the famous landmarks, routes, different lunch and dinner cruise operators, and so much more.
1 – Lunch Cruise by Bateaux Parisiens
Step onboard the Bateaux Parisiens Lunch Cruise and prepare for a seasonal feast!
Live music sets the tone inside this sleek and stylish floating restaurant, cued with bold flavors and fine wines — all the makings of a fine-dining establishment.
Blessed with views at every corner; take your pick from window-side seats, tables at the bow or middle seating swiveling around the boat.
- Etoile Service: €75
- Privilège Service: €95
- Premier Service: €115
Our review
Think chicken and chestnut pâté for starters, glazed salmon steak and fondant beef for mains and pralinette choux puff for dessert — no matter your option, you’ll be left smiling.
On that note, we’re big fans of the extensive menu, with at least four options per course for guests (including vegetarian).
For the best views in the house, book a seat at the front of the boat, soaking up the vistas through floor-to-ceiling windows.
2 – Lunch Cruise by Bateaux Mouches
In operation since 1949, Paris’ first guided cruise boat sure knows a thing or two about keeping guests happy!
Inspired by the concept of a traditional Sunday roast, where friends and family gather, Bateaux Mouches Lunch Cruise is a warm and inviting experience!
Keeping up with the traditions of end-of-week festivities, the cruise is available on weekends only.
Our review
Associated with French cafes and Parisian dance halls, the accordion player during lunch service is a real (authentic) treat!
The menu tantalizes with all proteins and meat cuts, from seafood to poultry. We recommend the ‘saithe fillet roasted with seaweed, parsnip and celery mousseline, shellfish jus and herb oil’ main!
Look out for flying mermaids hanging from the ceiling!
3 – Lunch Cruise by Canauxrama
Celebrating the simplicity of ingredients in the French à la bonne franquette way, the Canauxrama’s Lunch Cruise isn’t just a great option for dining on the Seine, but it’s also a fabulous sightseeing journey.
Expect live onboard commentary from local knowledgeable guides, happy to answer any questions in both English or French.
- Vegetarian option: +€7 per person online or €10 on-site
Our review
Fuss-free cooking done the traditional way (classic French cuisine is renowned for its rich flavors)!
Not only limited to indoor dining, we especially love the outdoor upper-deck table options, and in winter, the deck is heated so you can still enjoy a setting under the sun.
You cannot reserve your seats beforehand, which is kind of a bonus, in our humble opinion!
4 – Lunch Cruise by Ducasse sur Seine
Glasshouse conservatory? Some sort of unique, fancy gallery? It’s easy to mistake the ultra-chic electric floating restaurant for a modern attraction.
The city’s first eco-friendly river restaurant epitomizes the “haute couture of naval construction.”
Small details make all the difference, as Ducasse sur Seine’s lunch cruise exemplifies — an excellent choice for couples and honeymooners.
- 3 Course Lunch: €105
- 3 Course Lunch + Food & Wine Pairing: €160
- 4 Course Lunch + Food & Wine Pairing: €265
- Paris est une fête: €500
Our review
Sure, the whole idea of lunching on the river is already special, but when the boat is as pretty as this one, it does make a difference! (And this beauty is gorgeously shaped!)
Board its all-around glass setting and take your pick between a three or four-course meal. For each course, there are multiple options.
Its extensive wine list is the crowning glory for us!
5 – Brunch Cruise by Capitaine Fracasse
If your favorite meal of the day is brunch, the river cruise with Capitaine Fracasse is for you!
Here come all of the classic, mouth-watering French pastries, from croissants to pain au chocolat, and its selection of savory bites is just as yummy.
Upgrade to a Champagne affair — because that’s the natural way to brunch, isn’t it?
- Brunch: €41
- Champagne Brunch Cruise: €51
Our review
Super affordable, we appreciate the fact that the cruise doesn’t cut down on fancy food options — hello, smoked salmon with dill, pressed duck with foie gras and Comté AOP. It doesn’t get more authentic than those French flavors!
Lest we forget about the crêpes as a sweet ending.
The cruise is available on Sundays only, just like your classic Sunday brunch vibes!
6 – Bistronomic Lunch Cruise by Eiffel Croisières
Served three starters, a choice between mains, cheese platters and dessert, it’s a full gastronomic affair with Eiffel Croisières’s Bistronomic Lunch.
It’s a tasting journey through the regions of France, its menu changing with each new season.
Board the Ivoire barge at the foot of one of Paris’ most emblematic bridges, the Beaux-Arts style Pont Alexandre III.
- Bistronomic Lunch: €49
- Bistronomic Lunch with wine: €59
- Bistronomic Lunch with Champagne: €69
Our review
This onboard restaurant aims to take guests on a typical French bistro-style culinary journey.
Dishes like tomato panna cotta with basil and cucumber give us a new appreciation for unusual food properties — panna cotta is served sweet, but here, it’s a savory spin.
The food and wine pairings add the final fancy touches.
7 – Prestige Lunch Cruise by Eiffel Croisières
Calling all seafood lovers: if you’re searching for a menu celebrating all things under the sea, look no further than Eiffel Croisières’s Prestige Lunch — we’re talking oysters, langoustines, and even seafood towers!
Adding more to the extravaganza are the three lounge options: the Privilege, Premium and VIP Lounges.
- Prestige Lunch: €59
- Prestige Lunch with wine: €69
- Prestige Lunch with Champagne: €79
Our review
Choose between its land and sea menus, although we highly recommend the seafood selection. If you’re excited to sample its signature dish (seafood tower), let the restaurant know prior to your cruise.
All the lounges are stunning: an upper deck for the VIPs, bay windows to stare out from the Privilege Lounge or tables at the bow in the Premium Lounge (our favorite).
8 – Lunch Cruise by Calife
If you’re hunting down a boat locale oozing charm and brimming with all of the enchanting feels, Calife’s lunch cruise is unsurpassable!
Dine downstairs in the music salon, with its grand piano and live jazz musicians; the veranda dazzles with its glass-top roof and interiors decked out in ornate features (like stained-glass light fixtures and vintage wood furnishings); and the terrace option has a retractable roof so you can enjoy no matter the weather.
- Standard: €49
- Salon musique dining: €67
- Salon lounge dining: €87
- Terrace or Veranda dining: €107
- Salon musique dining: €109
- Salon lounge dining: €129
- Terrace or Veranda dining: €149
Our review
Modeled after a typical Parisian Salon, like the type you’d stumble upon in the 17th century, this is one of the most unique (and ambient) river boats for a lunch cruise.
Arrive to a cocktail reception, followed by a live concert in the music room, before drifting to your allocated table. We especially love that every seating plan is a spectacular sightseeing moment.
Tip: Grab 50% off on lunch cruises every Thursday and Friday.
9 – Lunch Cruise by Paris Seine
Onboard the modest Grand Pavois, all guests feel right at home!
With Paris Seine’s lunch cruises, seating plans are all designed on one level (no jealousy issues here), and no matter if you’re sitting in the middle of the boat or at a window table, you’re treated to 360-degree vistas of the Seine and her icons.
- Standard Lunch Cruise: €59
- Romantic Lunch Cruise: €85
Our review
The only section of the boat that is covered with solid finishings is the middle strip, so even if you stare upward, there’s magnificent scenery all around you — super cool when navigating beneath the bridges!
A wallet-friendly menu filled with quintessential French ingredients, enjoy the likes of scallops tossed in a Champagne sauce and foie gras served with a pistachio cookie. We just have one thing to say: YUM!
10 – Seine River Lunch Cruise and Eiffel Tower Combo
Don’t just admire the emblem of Paris from out on the water, but get to experience it too with a lunch cruise combo, including a visit to the Eiffel Tower and a climb up its famous steel structures.
Once you’ve journeyed along the Seine, disembark right in front of the Iron Lady, and cruise-dependent, the entire expedition lasts approximately four hours.
It’s the final icing to your French gâteau!
How to book Seine River lunch cruises?
A one-of-a-kind way to sightsee the famous Seine and all her sideline landmarks and monuments, lunch cruises book out fast (some only available on weekends).
To secure your table, either book directly with the cruise company, or there is the alternative to use an online travel agency — easy, quick and efficient!
Often, online agencies offer discounted rates or even combination tours to save some money, for example, with a visit to the Eiffel Tower or a Moulin Rouge experience to revel in afterward.
Use our search engine and compare the different available online options with a simple click.
How’s that for the best Seine River lunch cruises? If you’re anything like us, we’re already checking our calendars! This unique sightseeing voyage ticks all the boxes in the City of Love.
If your days are already jam packed with exploring the city on land, why not opt for the evening option instead? Check out the best Seine River dinner cruises under the stars!
Got any questions? Ask us in the comments below.
Bon Appétit!