- 8:30 p.m.Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Eve dinner
- €125 / €75Bateaux-Mouches Christmas lunch, adult / child 4–12
- 1:00 p.m.Bateaux-Mouches sails on 25 December
- From $19A regular evening sightseeing cruise
Which Seine Cruise Is a Christmas Cruise?
Paris is at its most atmospheric in December. The evenings are long, the river reflects the lit bridges, and the Eiffel Tower and the Musée d'Orsay look different after dark. A Christmas cruise lets you see all of that from a warm boat instead of spending the evening outside in the cold.
Not every Seine cruise in December is a Christmas cruise. Many are ordinary sightseeing sailings that run all winter. Others are special Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meals, with festive menus, reserved tables and much higher prices. Pick by your dates, your budget, and whether you want a quick look at Paris or the main event of your holiday.
Which one to book
- Christmas Eve dinner: Bateaux Parisiens or Marina de Paris, which both advertise dinners on 24 December.
- Christmas Day lunch with children: Bateaux-Mouches, with a published child price for ages 4 to 12.
- Earlier in December: a regular evening sightseeing cruise followed by dinner on land is more flexible and cheaper.
2026 booking note: menus, prices, availability and sailing times can change. The details below come from the operators' public pages, checked on 29 October 2026. On the final booking screen, confirm that the offer is for 24 or 25 December 2026, and never assume an ordinary December ticket includes a festive meal. For the date-by-date detail, see our guide to Seine cruises on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Dinner on the Seine on Any Other December Night
Pick a date to see the regular dinner services and menu options.
Paris: 3-Course Dinner Cruise on the Seine with Live Music
Why this one: the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise is the same glass-roofed boat and the same pier as the operator's Christmas Eve dinner, on the other nights of your December trip. It is rated 4.7/5 from 9,048 reviews on GetYourGuide and starts at $133.
A three- or four-course menu chosen from set options, Champagne with some options, and a live singer through the evening.
- Boards at Port de la Bourdonnais, beneath the Eiffel Tower
- Formal dress at the 8:30 p.m. service: no jeans, sports shoes, shorts or caps
- Vegetarian menu options on request
This calendar sells the regular dinner. The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus are sold by Bateaux Parisiens directly on its Christmas cruise page.
The Best Paris Christmas River Cruises at a Glance
| Cruise | Best for | What to expect | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Eve dinner | A polished, romantic celebration | Holiday menu, Champagne and three seating categories, 8:30 p.m. | Bateaux Parisiens Christmas cruises |
| Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Day lunch or dinner | A memorable meal on 25 December | Festive lunch at 12:45 p.m. or dinner at 8:30 p.m. | Bateaux Parisiens festive dates |
| Bateaux-Mouches Christmas Day lunch | Families and a daytime celebration | Five-course Christmas lunch, glass-sided boat and a children's menu | Bateaux-Mouches Christmas lunch |
| Marina de Paris Christmas dinner | Couples or families who want a smaller boat | Festive dinner, panoramic views and Christmas decorations on board | Marina de Paris Christmas dinner |
| Regular evening sightseeing cruise | Smaller budgets and early-December trips | The lit riverfront landmarks, without the cost of a gala meal | The Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise, 4.4 from 7,024 reviews, from $19 |
Choosing by travel style: book a full dinner cruise when the meal is part of the celebration. Book a regular sightseeing cruise when you mainly want the Eiffel Tower, the bridges and the lit riverbanks.
Around the River in Paris at Christmas
A Christmas cruise fits around a December day at the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay, a walk past the window displays on the Champs-Élysées, or an evening in Montmartre. These are the Paris tours and tickets travellers are booking right now.
The Christmas Sailings, Operator by Operator
None of these Christmas menus is sold on GetYourGuide. Each links to the operator's own page.
1. Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Eve dinner cruise
Best for: couples, special occasions and anyone who wants Christmas Eve to be a complete evening out.
Bateaux Parisiens runs large panoramic dining boats from the foot of the Eiffel Tower and publishes a dedicated Christmas Eve dinner. It departs at 8:30 p.m. on 24 December, with a festive meal and three seating categories.
- Privilège: window seating, Champagne, wines and a multi-course menu.
- Premier: seating towards the front of the boat.
- Premier Baie Vitrée: front window seats.
Prices quoted for these tiers were €240 for Privilège, €285 for Premier and €335 for Premier Baie Vitrée per person. Treat them as indicative: the live price only appears in the operator's booking calendar once you pick the date, so check it there before you plan around a figure.
The draw is the structured holiday meal and Paris after dark in one booking. You do not need a separate restaurant reservation or a transfer between dinner and sightseeing.
Before you book: the Christmas Eve packages list no reduced child rate. A couple may find the premium justified for a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas dinner; a family of five could spend far more than on a standard cruise and a restaurant meal.
Check: Bateaux Parisiens Christmas cruise details and booking. On other December nights, the regular Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise sails from the same pier, 4.7 from 9,048 reviews, from $133.
2. Bateaux-Mouches Christmas Day lunch cruise
Best for: families, groups spanning several generations, and anyone who wants a festive meal without a late night.
Bateaux-Mouches sells a dedicated Christmas lunch on 25 December, not a Christmas Eve dinner. Its Christmas lunch page gives boarding at 12:30 p.m. at Pont de l'Alma, departure at 1:00 p.m. and return at about 2:45 p.m., so 1 hour 45 minutes on the river.
The price is €125 per adult and €75 for children aged 4 to 12. That covers a sparkling Kir, a five-course Christmas menu, half a bottle of wine per person (one bottle between two) or a soft drink, and coffee or tea. The operator publishes a separate children's menu. Check the current menu directly if anyone in your group has dietary restrictions.
Dress code: formal. This is stricter than the smart-casual Bateaux-Mouches expects at its ordinary lunches, so see our Seine cruise dress code guide before you pack.
The trade-off: a daytime sailing gives you clear views of the architecture and riverbanks, but not the lit evening skyline. It is an excellent Christmas lunch, but not a Paris night cruise.
Check: Bateaux-Mouches Christmas Day lunch. For an ordinary evening with the same company, the Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise is 4.4 from 7,024 reviews, from $19.
3. Marina de Paris Christmas dinner cruise
Best for: couples who prefer a smaller dining room, and families who want to compare festive menus.
Marina de Paris advertises Christmas dinner sailings on 24 and 25 December from Port de Solférino, beside the Musée d'Orsay. The same cruise is also sold by France Tourisme as its "prestige Christmas dinner cruise". The listings show two services: 6:45 p.m., back at about 8:00 p.m., and 9:15 p.m., a two-hour dinner back at about 11:15 p.m. The operator describes a cosy dining room with Christmas decorations and views of the riverside monuments and the Eiffel Tower.
Its published information includes adult, child and vegetarian menus. That does not mean every dietary need is covered automatically, but it gives families and vegetarian guests a clearer starting point.
The sales pages may also offer an optional bay-window seat. Before paying extra, check whether it guarantees a specific position, because "window seating", "panoramic boat" and "front-of-boat seating" are not the same thing.
Availability in 2026: on 29 October 2026, the Come to Paris listing for the Marina de Paris Christmas Eve dinner was marked as not for sale, and France Tourisme had not yet posted its 2026 rates. Check the operator's page for the date you want before you plan around it.
Check: Marina de Paris Christmas dinner cruise.
4. Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Day lunch or dinner
Best for: visitors celebrating on 25 December who would prefer a formal meal cruise to restaurant hunting on a public holiday.
Bateaux Parisiens also sells Christmas Day lunch and dinner. Its festive-dates page lists the lunch at 12:45 p.m. and the dinner at 8:30 p.m., and the seating category and inclusions depend on the package you choose. On Christmas Day the lighter Élégance category is offered as well.
A Christmas Day lunch suits a celebratory meal before an afternoon walk. Pick the dinner if lit-up Paris is the main reason for the cruise.
Before booking, confirm the exact date and departure time; a general "Christmas cruise" headline is not enough. Some booking pages combine several service categories, dates and prices.
Check: Bateaux Parisiens festive packages. The regular Bateaux Parisiens lunch cruise runs on other December days, 4.8 from 5,433 reviews, from $92.
A Regular Evening Seine Cruise in December
For first-time visitors, anyone in Paris before Christmas Eve, and anyone who wants the river views without paying for a gala dinner.
You do not need a Christmas package to enjoy Paris in December. A standard evening sightseeing cruise still passes the lit landmarks and bridges, often for a fraction of a holiday dining ticket. It has practical advantages:
- you can eat at a restaurant of your choice before or after the cruise;
- a shorter sailing is often easier with young children;
- you can concentrate on the view instead of a multi-course dinner;
- you do not pay for drinks, premium seats or courses you may not want.
The drawback: an ordinary sightseeing ticket may not include a reserved seat, a meal or Christmas decorations. Standard cruises can also run different hours on 24 and 25 December. Vedettes de Paris, for example, says its last departure on 24 December is in the late afternoon, so check the exact date before you book dinner around it.
Our picks: the Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise from Pont de l'Alma, 4.4 from 7,024 reviews, from $19; or the Vedettes de Paris Evening River Cruise with Music on an electric boat from the foot of the Eiffel Tower, 4.4 from 26,201 reviews, from $29.
Our Paris night cruise guide covers the main sightseeing options, and our Seine dinner cruise comparison helps if you are deciding whether a meal on board justifies the extra cost.
Christmas Eve vs Christmas Day: Which Should You Choose?
| Question | Christmas Eve, 24 December | Christmas Day, 25 December |
|---|---|---|
| The atmosphere | Often a formal, celebratory evening | Daytime family meals or evening dining |
| Best experience | Festive dinner with night views | Christmas lunch with family, or a special evening meal |
| Lit-up Paris? | Yes, on an evening departure | Yes on an evening departure, not on a lunch cruise |
| Families | Depends on price and child policies | A Christmas lunch with a children's menu is often easier |
| Reserve ahead? | Yes, especially for a particular boat or seating category | Yes, especially for holiday meal packages |
With only one evening in Paris, a Christmas Eve dinner cruise is the more festive night out. With children, or if you prefer a gentler schedule, a Christmas Day lunch often suits better.
Can You See the Paris Christmas Lights From a Seine Cruise?
You see the lit landmarks, bridges and riverside buildings. Be realistic about what a "Christmas lights cruise" means.
Central Seine routes pass the major monuments, and most include views of the Eiffel Tower. A cruise does not take you past the Christmas shopping streets or the festive markets: the famous displays on streets such as the Champs-Élysées cannot be seen from the river.
For the best-known night scenes, choose a cruise that sails after dark and passes the Eiffel Tower. The tower sparkles for five minutes on the hour after dark, but seeing it during a particular cruise is not guaranteed: the timing, where the boat is on its route, the sightlines and the weather all play a part.
Tip: if the sparkle is your main goal, check the departure time and rough route before you book. A cruise with "Christmas" in its name tells you neither. Our Eiffel Tower Seine cruise guide explains the timing.
Is It Cold on a Christmas Seine Cruise?
December in Paris can feel chilly and damp, especially beside the river. Dining boats generally have enclosed indoor seating. Sightseeing boats vary in how much of their seating is sheltered and how exposed their outdoor decks are.
On a dinner cruise, the warm interior is one of the best reasons to choose a boat over a long evening walk. You will still want a coat for boarding, leaving the boat, or stepping out on deck for photos.
Bring a warm coat, a scarf and shoes that cope with wet pavements. If you plan to take photos from an open deck, gloves help even if you spend most of the cruise inside.
"Panoramic" does not automatically mean heated throughout, and an open upper deck is rarely comfortable in winter. If warmth matters to you, ask the operator about the specific boat.
How Much Does a Christmas Seine Cruise Cost?
The biggest gap is between ordinary sightseeing cruises and special holiday meals.
A short regular sightseeing cruise is the cheaper option: the Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise starts at $19. Festive lunches and dinners can cost well over €100 per person, and premium Christmas Eve seating can cost several hundred euros. Examples from the operators' pages:
- Bateaux-Mouches Christmas Day lunch: €125 per adult and €75 for children aged 4 to 12.
- Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Eve dinner: roughly €240 to €335 per person across the three categories above. These are indicative; confirm the price on the operator's booking page.
- Marina de Paris festive dinners: check the live rate for your date and seating option, and do not rely on a price from an older package page.
Compare the total cost, not only the headline price. Drinks, Champagne, dietary options, window seats, children, booking fees and cancellation rules can all change the value considerably.
Is a Christmas Dinner Cruise Worth the Money?
A Christmas dinner cruise pays off if you value convenience, atmosphere and celebrating on the river as much as the meal itself. It is a good buy when you are:
- celebrating Christmas as a couple and want one memorable evening;
- visiting Paris for the first time and want sightseeing and dinner together;
- looking for a prearranged holiday meal on a date when restaurant plans are harder;
- happy to pay extra for Champagne, table service and a sense of occasion.
It is poor value if you mainly want photographs, are on a strict budget, or are travelling with children who will not enjoy a long formal dinner.
Our recommendation: a Christmas dinner cruise is an occasion purchase, not the cheapest way to see Paris from the Seine. If the views are what you are after, take a regular evening sightseeing cruise and spend the difference on dinner ashore.
How Far in Advance Should You Book?
Book as soon as you know your Christmas dates if you want a particular holiday dinner, departure time or window-seat category. Bateaux-Mouches specifically recommends booking its Christmas Day lunch ahead because seats are limited.
Timing matters most for the holiday packages. Regular sightseeing sailings have more options, but still confirm they run on the date you need. Before paying, check:
- the year and date on the ticket;
- the boarding time, which is often earlier than the departure;
- the exact boarding pier, not just the operator's name;
- what the package includes: menu, drinks, seat category and child policy;
- whether the ticket is refundable or can be changed, especially on a special-event date;
- whether dietary needs or mobility requirements can be met.
Where Do Christmas Seine Cruises Depart?
There is no single departure point for every Christmas cruise.
- Bateaux-Mouches: Pont de l'Alma, for its Christmas Day lunch.
- Marina de Paris: Port de Solférino, beside the Musée d'Orsay, for its festive dinners.
- Bateaux Parisiens: its regular cruises board at Port de la Bourdonnais at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Follow the boarding point on your Christmas ticket, which always takes precedence.
Leave extra time to find the right pier, especially on public transport, with children or in bad weather. A boat normally cannot hold its departure for late passengers. Our Seine cruise departure points guide maps each pier.
Children, Rain and Christmas Cruises
Can you take children on a Paris Christmas river cruise?
Yes, if the cruise suits their ages and attention spans. A daytime Christmas lunch is often easier for families than a late multi-course dinner. Bateaux-Mouches publishes a Christmas Day children's menu and a price for ages 4 to 12, while the Bateaux Parisiens Christmas Eve categories list no reduced child rate.
If the main point is to show children the Eiffel Tower at night, a shorter sightseeing cruise uses less of the evening and less money.
With a pushchair, a need for step-free access, or a young child who needs a particular kind of seat, contact the operator before booking. Boarding conditions vary by boat and pier.
What if it rains on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Rain does not make a Seine cruise a bad idea. An enclosed dining boat is especially pleasant on a wet evening: you get the river views and stay dry.
Rain can blur photos through the windows and make an outdoor deck uncomfortable. River levels and safety restrictions occasionally stop sailings, so read the operator's weather and cancellation terms: not every cruise is guaranteed to leave.
If outdoor photography matters most, choose a flexible sightseeing ticket where you can. If you are booking a non-refundable special dinner, be sure you are comfortable with its cancellation terms before you pay.
A Simple Christmas Evening in Paris
Late afternoon: explore the Eiffel Tower area or walk along the Seine. In December the sun sets before 5 p.m., so it gets dark early.
Before boarding: reach your pier with time to spare, especially if you need to find a particular gate or boarding line.
Evening: take your sightseeing or dinner cruise. On a dinner package, keep the full advertised duration free and book nothing timed straight afterwards.
After the cruise: if your hotel is close, walk back through Paris at night. Otherwise, sort out your journey home in advance, particularly on 24 and 25 December.
If you choose an ordinary sightseeing cruise instead of a festive meal, book dinner separately and leave time between the two.
Which Christmas Seine Cruise Should You Book?
For a romantic Christmas Eve, start with Bateaux Parisiens and compare its seating categories with Marina de Paris. For a family Christmas Day lunch, check Bateaux-Mouches and its children's menu. For an affordable December evening, skip the festive packages and take a regular night sightseeing cruise such as the Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise.
Match the ticket to what you want most: river views, a holiday meal, a romantic evening or a family celebration. Paris looks beautiful from the Seine in winter, and the right cruise for you is rarely the most expensive one.
Read next: what runs on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day · New Year's Eve cruises · Paris night cruises · best Paris dinner cruises
Paris Christmas Cruise FAQ
Do Seine river cruises operate on Christmas Day?
Some do. Bateaux-Mouches sells a Christmas Day lunch cruise, and Bateaux Parisiens lists Christmas Day lunch and dinner. Availability varies by operator and service, so confirm the exact 25 December 2026 departure before booking.
Are Christmas Seine cruises more expensive than normal cruises?
Yes. Special Christmas lunches and dinners usually cost much more than standard sightseeing sailings because they include a holiday meal and may include Champagne, wine or premium seats.
Is it better to cruise on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Choose Christmas Eve for a celebratory dinner after dark. Choose Christmas Day for a festive lunch, a family-focused outing or another evening dinner.
Are the boats heated in December?
Many dinner boats have enclosed indoor dining rooms, but heating and open seating vary. Check the exact boat or package if indoor comfort is essential.
Will I see the Eiffel Tower sparkle during a Christmas cruise?
Possibly, if the route and timing line up. A Christmas ticket does not guarantee you will see the hourly sparkle.
Do Christmas river cruises include drinks?
Some dinner packages include Champagne, wine or soft drinks, while ordinary sightseeing tickets may include no drinks at all. Check what your fare includes.
Can I book a cheap Seine cruise on 24 or 25 December?
You may find ordinary sightseeing cruises on the holiday dates, but schedules can differ from regular days; Vedettes de Paris, for example, ends earlier on 24 December. If you do not need a festive meal, a standard sightseeing cruise is the first thing to look at.
Is a Christmas Seine cruise suitable for a first visit to Paris?
Yes. It gives you an easy overview of the riverside landmarks with a seasonal atmosphere. On a budget, a short evening sightseeing cruise is often enough; choose a dinner cruise if you want the meal to be part of the main event.
Sources and Booking Checks
We checked the operators' own pages on 29 October 2026. Always confirm the 2026 dates, prices and availability at checkout.
- Bateaux Parisiens: Christmas cruises
- Bateaux Parisiens: festive dates, which lists only Privilège, Premier and Premier Baie Vitrée for the 8:30 p.m. sailing on 24 December, and Élégance as well on 25 December
- Bateaux Parisiens: dinner cruise packages
- Bateaux-Mouches: Christmas lunch
- Bateaux-Mouches: Christmas lunch menu, the source for the times, the €125 and €75 prices, the inclusions and the formal dress code
- Marina de Paris: Christmas dinner
- Come to Paris: Marina de Paris Christmas Eve listing, with the 6:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. services from Port de Solférino
The Bateaux Parisiens Christmas prices are not printed on its static pages; they appear in the booking calendar. Resellers quote different figures (one shows "from €165" for a listing no longer on sale, another €145 with no date), which is why we give the tier prices as indicative.