Chef Martial Enguehard was awarded the title of “Meilleur Ouvier de France” (“One of the Best Craftsmen of France”), so prepare your taste buds to be wowed.
Cruise ships at twilight on the Seine River.
What can’t you wait to do when you visit Paris? See the Eiffel Tower? Attend a show at Moulin Rouge? See the city from a two-tier bus? I couldn’t wait to go on a dinner cruise on the Seine River. I had already been to Paris twice when I last visited, so I had seen many of the typical tourist sites. I wanted to see more of Paris as a local experiences it — and whether it would be like a tourist or a local, I wanted to go on a dinner cruise. I have always loved the water, whether it be in the form of a waterfall, a stream, an ocean or a river — water has always spoken to my soul. What better way to experience the City of Light at night than on a dinner cruise?
I selected Le Capitaine Fracasse (“The Captain Smashes”) because other cruise lines were guaranteed to cost more; I did not know at the time of my booking that I would be dining in the dining room of a “Meilleur Ouvier de France” — One of the Best Craftsmen of France. If perfection has a taste, my meal tasted of it. My three-course meal included a tray of three appetizers, an entree of fish with potatoes in light sauce, a tray of three desserts (a pastry puff was particularly delicious), and wine and Espresso. My ship floated along the Seine as I ate, and I floated with it. The sites lit up at night were just as beautiful as I knew they would be.
Notre Dame is beautiful by day, elegant by night.
Two cautions: Get to the slip early to make sure you can find it (I only did with the help of a French couple who saw my distress, map in hand) and secure a good seat — the line will likely get incredibly long — and remember that there is always the possibility that a large group might book the same night of your romantic dinner cruise. If you don’t like your table and there are tables available, don’t hesitate to ask to be seated elsewhere. I did, and it was no problem.
When I disembarked and started to walk, I felt so alive! I happened to exclaim to no one in particular what a beautiful night it was. The response of a French couple who got off the same dinner cruise: “Of course, you’re in Paris!”
Le Capitaine Fracasse 2-hour Dinner Cruise on the Seine River
Board: Pont de Bir-Hakeim, 75015 Paris, France, near the Eiffel Tower. Boarding times vary by season. Check the website here (translated by Google) or call ahead. It is best to reserve online and get in line early. Your boarding time will be on your reservation printout.
Metro: Bir-Hakeim, or
RER: Champs de Mars-Tour Eiffel
Cost: 65 euros, “Smashes” Menu: Meal without drinks
75 euros, “Admiral” Menu: Meal with wine
85 euros, “Champagne” Menu: Meal with Champagne
The menu offers a selection of entrees in addition to the other two courses.
Telephone: 01 46 21 48 15
Website: www.croisiere-paris.com (I Googled Le Capitaine Fracasse and clicked on the Translation link in the Search Results to get the best translation, above.)
Le Capitaine Fracasse offers Smartphone apps to serve as your route map with detailed descriptions of the monuments as you pass by them. Click here to see the list of apps.
Au revoir!
Image of Notre Dame at Night by Marc Soller, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.