- 8:30 p.m.Christmas Eve dinner, Bateaux Parisiens
- 12:45 / 1:00 p.m.Christmas Day lunches, Bateaux Parisiens / Bateaux-Mouches
- €125 / €75Bateaux-Mouches lunch, adult / child 4–12
- Late afternoonLast Vedettes de Paris cruise on 24 December
Can You Take a Seine Cruise at Christmas?
Yes. Several established operators sell special meals on Thursday 24 December 2026 (Christmas Eve) and Friday 25 December 2026 (Christmas Day): an elegant Christmas Eve dinner, a Christmas Day lunch, or a dinner cruise after dark. If you would rather spend less, an ordinary sightseeing cruise may also run, but check the holiday departure times for your exact date.
A Christmas meal cruise is a different product from a regular sightseeing cruise. Holiday dining packages come with reserved tables, several courses and a much higher price. Sightseeing boats are shorter and more flexible, but on 24 December they may stop earlier than usual.
What to book
- A formal Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner: Bateaux Parisiens, with a choice of seating categories.
- A Christmas Day family lunch: Bateaux-Mouches, which publishes a child price.
- A shorter sightseeing cruise near the Eiffel Tower: Vedettes de Paris, if its holiday timetable suits your plans.
Prices and schedules below come from the operators' pages, checked on 29 October 2026. They are not a guarantee of a seat on your date. For the wider December picture, including Marina de Paris and regular evening cruises, see our guide to Paris Christmas river cruises.
Lunch on the Seine on the Other Days of Your Trip
Pick a date to see the regular lunch sailings and menus.
Lunch Cruise with 3-Course Menu from the Eiffel Tower
Why this one: the Bateaux Parisiens lunch cruise is the same company and pier as its 12:45 p.m. Christmas Day lunch, on an ordinary December day. A daytime meal suits families, and it is rated 4.8/5 from 5,433 reviews on GetYourGuide, from $92.
A three-course lunch at a reserved table on a glass-roofed boat, with the riverfront architecture in daylight.
- Boards at Port de la Bourdonnais, beneath the Eiffel Tower
- Seated lunch with table service
- Smart-casual dress is the safe choice for an ordinary lunch
This calendar sells the regular lunch. The Christmas Day lunch and dinner are sold by Bateaux Parisiens directly on its Christmas cruise page.
Seine Cruises on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at a Glance
| Cruise | Date | Published example | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Eve dinner | 24 December | 8:30 p.m.; three seating categories, indicatively €240–€335 per adult | Couples and special occasions |
| Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Day lunch | 25 December | 12:45 p.m.; indicatively €120–€170 per adult | A festive lunch with views |
| Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Day dinner | 25 December | 8:30 p.m.; indicatively €170–€295 per adult | A Christmas night celebration |
| Bateaux-Mouches Christmas Day lunch | 25 December | Departs 1:00 p.m., 1 hour 45 minutes; €125 adult, €75 child aged 4–12 | Families and a traditional festive meal |
| Marina de Paris Christmas dinner (also sold by France Tourisme) | 24 and 25 December | 6:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. services; 2026 rates not yet published | An early or a late dinner |
| Vedettes de Paris sightseeing cruise | Check each date | Runs on public holidays, but the last 24 December sailing is in the late afternoon | Sightseeing without an expensive meal |
The prices are indicative published examples, not live availability or guaranteed 2026 checkout totals. The Bateaux Parisiens figures appear only in its booking calendar, so check the date selector, age rules, cancellation terms and inclusions before paying.
Around the River in Paris Over Christmas
Over the Christmas days, a cruise pairs with a morning at the Eiffel Tower, a walk round Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame, the paintings at the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay, or an evening in Montmartre. These are the Paris tours and tickets travellers are booking right now.
Are Seine River Cruises Open on Christmas Eve?
Some are, and what you can book depends on the time of day.
Christmas Eve dinner packages are made for the holiday and are the simplest way to plan a memorable night on the river. Regular sightseeing operators may sail too, but their last departure can be earlier than on an ordinary winter evening.
Vedettes de Paris, for example, says its last cruise on 24 December leaves in the late afternoon. If you want to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle after a late restaurant booking, do not count on the usual evening timetable.
Best for Christmas Eve: the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise
Bateaux Parisiens sells a Christmas Eve dinner cruise that departs at 8:30 p.m., with three categories of table and service: Privilège (window seats), Premier (towards the front) and Premier Baie Vitrée (front window seats). Every package includes a multi-course festive meal with Champagne and selected wines.
| Category | Indicative adult price | What is different |
|---|---|---|
| Privilège | €240 | Window seating |
| Premier | €285 | Seating towards the front |
| Premier Baie Vitrée | €335 | Front window seating |
The operator's festive-dates page lists only these three categories for 24 December. An entry-level Élégance tier quoted at €200 is offered on 25 December, not on Christmas Eve. Confirm every price in the booking calendar.
The Christmas Eve packages list no reduced child rate, which makes the evening much more expensive for a family than sightseeing tickets and dinner somewhere else.
Who should book? Couples celebrating Christmas in Paris, adult groups, and anyone who wants dinner to be the main event of the evening. If keeping costs down matters more than a premium table, a standard daytime cruise and a restaurant elsewhere cost far less.
Check: Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Eve options. On the nights before Christmas, the regular Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise sails from the same pier, 4.7 from 9,048 reviews, from $133.
An earlier festive dinner: Marina de Paris
Marina de Paris, whose Christmas dinner France Tourisme also sells as its "prestige Christmas dinner cruise", advertises sailings on 24 and 25 December from Port de Solférino, beside the Musée d'Orsay. There is an early 6:45 p.m. service, back at about 8:00 p.m., and a later 9:15 p.m. service of two hours, plus an optional window-seat supplement. When we checked, the France Tourisme rates section said it would reopen in October 2026, and the Come to Paris listing for the 2026 Christmas Eve dinner was marked as not for sale, so there is no dependable price yet.
The early service suits anyone who wants to eat earlier, such as families or people going to an evening church service. Confirm the 2026 date, the boat, the boarding address and the package terms before you pay.
Check: France Tourisme Christmas dinner details or Marina de Paris.
Are Seine River Cruises Open on Christmas Day?
Yes. The major operators sell dedicated Christmas Day lunches and dinners.
With some shops and attractions closed or on reduced hours on 25 December, a booked lunch on the river makes a good centre for the day. It is a planned, seated meal, not an attraction you can turn up to on the day.
Best for Christmas lunch: Bateaux-Mouches
Bateaux-Mouches sells a Christmas lunch cruise on 25 December from Pont de l'Alma. Its published details:
- boarding at 12:30 p.m.;
- departure at 1:00 p.m. and return at about 2:45 p.m.;
- about 1 hour 45 minutes on the river;
- a five-course Christmas menu, with a sparkling Kir, half a bottle of wine per person or a soft drink, and coffee or tea;
- €125 per adult and €75 per child aged 4 to 12;
- formal dress.
There is a separate children's menu. Check dietary needs directly with the operator: do not assume vegetarian, vegan or allergy-safe dishes are available without confirming in advance.
For a family, the published reduced child price makes this the easiest option to budget. It still costs much more than a sightseeing boat, so add up the total for everyone before you book.
Check: the official Bateaux-Mouches Christmas lunch.
Christmas Day lunch with a choice of table: Bateaux Parisiens
Bateaux Parisiens also sells a Christmas Day lunch at 12:45 p.m., from central tables to window and front-of-boat tables, including the Élégance category. Indicative prices run from €120 to €170 per adult across the categories. Child pricing depends on the package: some categories show a lower child price, and the premium ones may not.
Choose this one when where you sit matters. A window table gives a couple an uninterrupted view through the meal, though the tables inside still have views, so compare what the dearer category adds.
Check: Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Day lunch packages. The regular Bateaux Parisiens lunch cruise runs on other December days, 4.8 from 5,433 reviews, from $92.
Christmas Day night: a festive dinner cruise
Bateaux Parisiens sails a Christmas Day dinner at 8:30 p.m., indicatively €170 to €295 per adult depending on the seating category. Paris is fully dark by then in late December, so you are paying for the lit city, the bridges and the Eiffel Tower, not a sunset.
Pick the evening meal if romance and city lights are the point. Pick a midday cruise if you have young children, want your evening free, or want to see the riverfront architecture in daylight.
Can You Book a Cheap Sightseeing Cruise on 24 or 25 December?
Possibly, but do not expect ordinary departures at their usual frequency.
Short sightseeing boats cost far less than a holiday dinner because there is no food, table service or reserved festive seat. Vedettes de Paris says it normally runs on public holidays, and warns that its last departure on 24 December is in the late afternoon. Check its calendar for your date before you set the rest of the day. Other sightseeing operators may publish holiday timetables nearer December.
A sightseeing cruise suits you if you want to:
- see the Eiffel Tower and the Seine without paying for a formal meal;
- spend about an hour on the river instead of a long dinner;
- eat at a restaurant of your choice;
- keep the outing short for children.
Booking tip: pick the actual 24 or 25 December date in the ticket calendar. An operator's regular winter timetable does not prove a sailing will run on Christmas.
On GetYourGuide: the Vedettes de Paris Evening River Cruise with Music, 4.4 from 26,201 reviews, from $29, sails on ordinary December evenings from the foot of the Eiffel Tower; on 24 December its evening departures may not run. The Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise, 4.4 from 7,024 reviews, from $19, is the cheapest night cruise for the other evenings of your trip. Official timetable: Vedettes de Paris schedules and FAQ.
Christmas Eve vs Christmas Day: Which Date Is Better?
| Consideration | Christmas Eve, 24 Dec | Christmas Day, 25 Dec |
|---|---|---|
| Signature experience | A formal dinner after dark | A festive lunch or a dinner after dark |
| Families with young children | An earlier service or sightseeing | Christmas lunch is generally easier |
| The Eiffel Tower lit up | A late dinner shows it | A dinner after dark shows it |
| On a budget | Regular sightseeing may end early | Check the sightseeing timetable |
| The meal | A premium celebration and festive atmosphere | More choice between lunch and dinner |
| The practical catch | Earlier closures and last departures | Reduced hours at other attractions |
Our verdict: 24 December suits a special Christmas Eve dinner as the centre of the evening. 25 December is especially good for a family lunch cruise, with the option of a romantic dinner later in the day.
Is a Christmas Seine Cruise Worth the Extra Money?
It depends on what you are buying. Holiday meal cruises cost more than ordinary sightseeing because they combine the boat trip with a festive meal, drinks and sometimes better seats. A premium cruise pays off if:
- you want a complete dinner-and-sightseeing celebration with little planning;
- you value a reserved table, attentive service and a festive atmosphere;
- you would otherwise pay for a special-occasion restaurant and a separate cruise;
- you are celebrating a honeymoon, an anniversary, a proposal or a first Christmas together.
It is poor value if you mainly want photos of the Eiffel Tower, dislike fixed meal times, are on a tight budget, or would rather spend longer exploring Paris on foot. The usual alternative is a standard daytime or early-evening sightseeing cruise followed by dinner ashore.
For a fuller comparison of a meal on board and a sightseeing ticket, see our guide to the best Paris dinner cruises.
What Will You See From a Christmas Cruise on the Seine?
Most central Seine cruises pass or look towards the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre riverfront and the Île de la Cité, along with the historic bridges. Routes vary, though: short sightseeing trips, standard dinner cruises and holiday sailings can take different paths.
The Eiffel Tower lit after dark is a highlight, but seeing a particular sparkle is not guaranteed by your departure time. How long the boat takes along the route, boarding delays and where the boat is when the tower sparkles all change what you see.
If seeing the sparkle from the river matters most, read our Eiffel Tower Seine cruise guide before choosing a sailing.
What to Wear on a Christmas River Cruise in Paris
December in Paris can feel cold, especially by the river or on an open deck. Dinner boats have enclosed dining rooms, though, so you do not need to dress as if you will be outside all evening.
For a Christmas meal cruise, dress to the operator's code and bring a warm coat for the walk to the pier. Bateaux-Mouches states a formal dress code for its Christmas Day lunch, and Bateaux Parisiens requires formal dress at its regular 8:30 p.m. dinner, so expect the same at Christmas. Check whether trainers or casual clothes are banned on your package. For a sightseeing cruise, wear comfortable layers, a windproof coat, gloves and sensible shoes.
Outdoor decks may close in bad weather. If photos matter, check the boat's layout and outdoor access in advance.
See also our Seine cruise dress code guide, which covers winter clothing.
How to Book a Seine Cruise for 24 or 25 December
Step 1: Choose the experience, not just the date. Decide between a sightseeing boat, a festive lunch and a dinner cruise.
Step 2: Compare the total price. For a family, check the child age bands and whether children pay the full festive fare. For a couple, compare standard and window seats.
Step 3: Confirm the departure details. Check the quay, boarding time, sailing time, duration and return point. Seine operators do not all board in the same place; our departure points guide maps them.
Step 4: Read the cancellation policy. Holiday meals can have stricter payment and refund rules than ordinary sightseeing cruises.
Step 5: Plan how you will reach the boat. Public transport, traffic, weather and holiday timetables all affect the journey. Leave extra time to find the boarding gate.
Step 6: Save your tickets. Keep the booking reference, menu confirmation and boarding instructions available offline.
Important: a cruise on a general activity marketplace is usually a standard sightseeing or meal ticket, not a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meal reservation. Check the product and date you have selected before you pay.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Itineraries in Paris
Christmas Eve, 24 December
Take a late-afternoon walk near the Eiffel Tower, warm up in a café, and reach the dinner-cruise quay with plenty of time to board. With a dinner sailing around 8:30 p.m., do not book another timed attraction just before it.
For a cheaper evening, take a confirmed late-afternoon sightseeing departure, then book a restaurant that confirms it is open on Christmas Eve. Do not rely on its usual weekday hours.
Christmas Day, 25 December
Start with an easy morning walk along the Seine and past the central landmarks. Make a pre-booked 12:45 or 1:00 p.m. Christmas lunch cruise the main event, then spend the afternoon outdoors if the weather is pleasant.
Or have lunch ashore and take a pre-booked Christmas dinner cruise after dark. Check Christmas Day opening times for everything else on your list; ordinary hours may not apply.
What Should You Book for Christmas on the Seine?
For Christmas Eve as a couple: compare the Bateaux Parisiens 24 December dinner categories and pick the table position that fits your budget. For Christmas Day with children: start with the Bateaux-Mouches 25 December lunch, then compare the family total with the other lunches. For the cheapest outing: find an ordinary sightseeing cruise with confirmed 24 or 25 December departures and book a meal separately.
The best Christmas Seine cruise is the one that fits your schedule, group, budget and expectations, whether that is a long festive meal or a short cruise past illuminated Paris. It is not necessarily the most expensive.
Related reading:
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Cruise FAQ
Do Seine river cruises run on Christmas Day?
Yes. Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux-Mouches sell dedicated 25 December Christmas meal cruises. Whether ordinary sightseeing cruises run depends on the operator's calendar for that date.
Can I take a Seine cruise on Christmas Eve at night?
Yes. Bateaux Parisiens sails a special 24 December dinner cruise at 8:30 p.m. Some regular sightseeing operators stop earlier that day, so do not assume a normal late-evening timetable.
How much is a Christmas Day Seine cruise?
For special meal cruises, published examples run from about €120 per adult for some Christmas lunches to nearly €300 for premium Christmas dinner seating; the Bateaux-Mouches lunch is €125 per adult. A sightseeing-only cruise is a different, usually much cheaper, experience. Check the checkout price for 2026.
Are Christmas cruises in Paris suitable for children?
Some are. Bateaux-Mouches sells a 25 December lunch with a child price for ages 4 to 12, while some premium Christmas dinner cruises show no reduced child fare. Think about late finishing times and the length of the meal too.
Do Christmas dinner cruises include champagne?
Some festive packages do, including several Bateaux Parisiens options. The amount and service vary by fare, so read the package description instead of assuming drinks are unlimited.
Is it worth paying extra for a window seat?
It can be for a romantic celebration or for photos, especially on a long dinner cruise. It is not essential: the river views and the meal are still enjoyable from many other seats. Compare what the upgrade actually guarantees.
Will I see the Eiffel Tower sparkle on a Christmas night cruise?
You may, depending on the route and where the boat is when the sparkle happens. The departure time alone cannot guarantee it.
Should I book a Christmas cruise in advance?
Yes, especially for a special 24 or 25 December meal, a particular table category or a family-friendly time. Seats get scarcer as the holidays approach, so do not count on turning up on the day.
What if it rains on Christmas Day?
Enclosed meal boats give more protection than open-air sightseeing, but boat layouts and operating decisions differ. Check the boat details and cancellation rules; river conditions and other restrictions can affect sailings.
Are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day cruise tickets refundable?
Policies differ by operator and booking channel. Special-event dining packages can have stricter cancellation terms than ordinary sightseeing tickets, so read the terms for your exact booking before you pay.
Official Sources and Booking References
Reviewed on 29 October 2026. Recheck 2026 availability, dates, menus and prices before you book.
- Bateaux Parisiens: Christmas cruise packages
- Bateaux Parisiens: festive dates, which gives the 24 December categories and times. Prices appear only in the booking calendar, and resellers quote conflicting figures, so we list them as indicative.
- Bateaux-Mouches: 25 December Christmas lunch
- Vedettes de Paris: opening days and the 24 December departure
- France Tourisme: prestige Christmas dinner cruise (Marina de Paris)
- Come to Paris: Marina de Paris Christmas Eve listing
- Paris tourist office: festive Seine cruises