Cruise and Illuminations of Paris

Cruise and Illuminations of Paris is one of the two prepaid tour packages that have been plan during my Paris short stay. The night illumination tour includes the combinations of the Seine River cruise and the Paris night panoramic tour by minibus.

I was informed about my night tour pick-up at eight. While waiting for the pick-up, I noticed outside the hotel is still bright daylight even at seven o’çlock at night. After I have done a quick search, I found out that the city of Paris will be experiencing a long day length in May. The sunrise time is 06:30 in the morning, and the sunset time is 21:06.

Later at eight o’çlock sharp, I saw a gentleman, who is in what I called “inspector gadget” attire walked into the hotel, he politely introduced himself as my tour guide-cum-driver for the illumination night tour. After fetching a few other tourists from other hotels, we finally reached Pier 3 near the Eiffel Tower, the main starting point for our Seine River Cruise tour. 

The cruise deck was crowded with tourists who were waiting in their queue. I assumed that evening, there about a few hundred tourists like me, who have booked a tour to have a personal experience with the much spoken Seine River Cruise.

The Seine River cruise started at 8:30 pm after all the passengers were well seated at their desired seat, and the whole trip will take about one to one and a half-hour journey. The tour interpreter began his engagement with his audience when the boat starts cruise down the Seine River. He fascinates his audience with his ability to converse in multilingual languages and fluent commentary as the cruise boat passed through each significant monument, bridge, and famous building along the River Seine.

After one hour cruising the River Seine, the bright evening sky slowly turned into darkness. All buildings, monuments, and bridges lighten up with bright lights, then the city of Paris suddenly brightened up into what they always claimed, the city of lights. 

As the boat returned to the starting point at Pier 3, the Eiffel Tower displays a “magic lights show” for almost fifteen minutes in duration. At the foot of the magnificent Eiffel Tower, our group was given some time to take few pictures for remembrance.

The second part of the Paris night illumination tour included a different view of Paris, an experience of Paris panoramic city tour, as the driver journeyed through Garnier Palace, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, and along the street of Champs-Elysees.

The coach offers an audio commentary in many different languages, allowing the passenger to learn about the history and culture of every monument, bridge, and building located at the heart of the city. The night illumination city tour finished at midnight after a three-and-a-half-hour tour.

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Travel Tips

- Family with young children or senior citizens, for safety concerns, choose a daylight Seine river cruise.

- Bring some snacks and water, there is no convenient shop nearby Pier 3.

- Bring along a quality camera, as you might not be able to visit the city of Paris again in a long time.

- Beware of pickpocket particularly in crowded areas.

- Remember to ask for the hotel business card, you might need it if you get disconnected from the group.

-Do bring extra pair of gloves, Paris night temperature might drop.

Learning points

- Be sharp on time, according to the tour time stated in the voucher.

- Be physically fit before the trip. 

- Arrange a more carefree tour package, not too packed.

Things to avoid

- None

Lead image from Unsplash