Paris: Seine Cruise and Macaron Tasting by the Eiffel Tower

Paris is at its best when you slow down long enough to watch it pass by. This one-hour Seine cruise gives you broad views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre without asking you to cross the city on foot. The two macarons add a small, sweet Parisian touch.

I like the simple format: two nearby addresses, one boat ride, and a modest $21 price. I also like the flexibility of using the macaron voucher any time during the shop’s opening hours. The main catch is the queue. At busy times, boarding can take 30 minutes or more, and one visitor waited over an hour.

Key points at a glance

• Two separate stops near the Eiffel Tower: Visit Bateaux Parisiens at Port de la Bourdonnais, Pier 3, and MAKDAMIA at 13 Rue de Monttessuy.
• A one-hour view of central Paris: The boat passes the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre.
• Two macarons included: Each person receives two assorted French macarons, with no extra food included.
• Use the sweet stop on your own schedule: The macaron voucher is valid on the tour date from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Queues can shape your day: Cruise departures run every 30 minutes to one hour, but peak-season waits can be much longer.
• Best for a compact Paris visit: At $21, this works well when you want sightseeing, a rest, and a small taste of French pastry in one outing.

What this Paris combination actually involves

This is not a guided walking tour with a host leading you from one stop to the next. You visit the two attractions independently, using the addresses and vouchers supplied for the day.

The cruise leaves from Port de la Bourdonnais, Pier 3, under the Bateaux Parisiens name. The macaron tasting takes place at MAKDAMIA, 13 Rue de Monttessuy, near the Eiffel Tower. Both stops are within walking distance of the tower, making it easy to fit them around other sightseeing in the 7th arrondissement.

The order is up to you. You can collect the macarons before the boat, after the boat, or at another point during the shop’s opening hours. That freedom is useful, but it also means you need to watch the clock yourself. The cruise ticket lists the departure time, while the macaron voucher is tied to the date rather than to a specific tasting appointment.

For $21 per person, the package is priced more like a useful Paris add-on than a full-day tour. You are paying for a one-hour cruise and two pastries, not a private guide, a meal, or priority boarding.

Setting out from Port de la Bourdonnais, Pier 3

The boat stop is beside the Eiffel Tower, which makes the location easy to combine with tower photos, a visit to the Champ de Mars, or a walk along the river. Your ticket gives the departure information, and boats generally leave between every 30 minutes and every hour.

That frequency sounds convenient, but it does not remove the need to plan. A crowded departure may fill before you board, especially during the busiest periods. You could face a wait of at least 30 minutes, and waits of more than an hour are possible. Build that into your schedule rather than booking the cruise immediately before a timed attraction.

There is no hotel pickup and no group meeting. You make your own way to the pier and enter the attraction yourself. That keeps the arrangement inexpensive, but you should have the address, voucher, and phone ready before reaching the waterfront.

The company is Bateaux Parisiens, a familiar name on the Seine. Boats can host up to 300 people in good weather and 120 in rainy weather, when indoor capacity rules apply. This tells you what sort of experience to expect: a large sightseeing boat rather than a small, quiet vessel.

One hour between the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre

Once on board, the cruise gives you a broad look at central Paris from the water. The route includes views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre. These sights feel different from the street because the river opens up the view and lets you see the city’s monuments in one steady sequence.

The Eiffel Tower is the natural starting point for the experience. From the Seine, you can appreciate its full height without looking straight up from the base. It is also a good moment to take photos before the boat moves on, so keep your phone ready as the vessel leaves the pier.

Notre-Dame Cathedral provides a very different view. From the water, the cathedral is part of the riverfront rather than a single building approached through streets and crowds. The Louvre also takes on a wider scale when seen from the Seine, with its long river-facing frontage and historic setting.

The cruise is described as informative, and music may play during the ride. An audio website is available, but it may not match the boat’s location reliably. Bring headphones and a charged smartphone if you want to try it, but do not depend on the commentary for a perfectly timed explanation of every landmark.

This is a basic sightseeing cruise, not a specialist architecture tour. The value is the easy overview. In one hour, you can rest your feet and get your bearings among several major sights without arranging separate museum visits or long walks.

Choosing your seat and handling the weather

One practical choice is where you sit. On a clear day, the roof or open terrace offers the best chance of unobstructed views and fresh air. It also leaves you more exposed to sun, wind, and rain, so check the conditions before settling in.

Indoor seating is useful in poor weather and may still provide good views through the windows. One helpful seating tip is to choose the far side when you enter, depending on the direction and available seating. That position can give you a better view of the landmarks along the route, though no seat guarantees a clear sightline on a full boat.

The boat is non-smoking. Outside food and drinks are not permitted, so do not plan to bring a picnic aboard. Some restaurant terraces may allow smoking, but that applies to those restaurants, not the cruise itself.

Animals are not permitted on the boat except for animals accompanying visitors with disabilities. Keep this rule in mind if you are organizing a day around a pet.

Two macarons at MAKDAMIA

The pastry portion takes place at MAKDAMIA on Rue de Monttessuy, close to the Eiffel Tower. Each person receives two assorted French macarons, and the voucher can be used any time from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the booked date.

That timing gives you useful freedom. You could pick up the macarons before the cruise and eat them later, or stop in after your boat ride for a small dessert. The voucher is not described as valid on another date, so do not save it for the next morning.

The shop may be busy, and the tasting can feel less organized during crowded periods. Staff are described as friendly, but you should expect a quick shop visit rather than a seated pastry lesson or a detailed explanation of how macarons are made.

The two pastries are a modest serving, not a substitute for lunch. Still, they add flavor to an otherwise standard sightseeing cruise. The macarons have been praised as delicious and high quality, with one particularly useful detail: they come from a small neighborhood bakery rather than being presented as a large formal food tour.

If you are choosing among more expensive pastry experiences, this one gives you a small sample at a low added cost. If you want a serious tasting with many flavors, a pastry demonstration, or a full meal, this package will feel too limited.

How much time should you allow?

The boat ride itself takes one hour. The macaron stop is brief, but your total outing depends on the boarding queue and how you arrange the two addresses.

For a smooth visit, I would avoid placing the cruise immediately before a timed reservation. Allow extra time for the line, especially in summer and other peak periods. The boats may depart every 30 minutes to one hour, but the schedule can vary during the day, and the exact departure information appears on the cruise ticket.

The macaron shop is open from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The cruise is available daily, with listed availability between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Since the pastry stop closes earlier, it is wise to collect the macarons before an evening cruise if you want to use both parts of the package.

One visitor missed the macarons after choosing a nighttime cruise. That is an easy mistake to avoid: check the shop’s closing time first, then plan the boat around it.

What the $21 price gets you

At $21, this is a good-value pairing for a first look at Paris, particularly if you already plan to be near the Eiffel Tower. The one-hour cruise alone gives you a pleasant break from walking, and the macarons add a small food experience without the cost of a full restaurant meal.

The price works best for:

• A first visit when you want to see several famous landmarks quickly
• Families who need a seated rest during a busy day
• Couples looking for a low-cost Paris activity
• A short stopover or one-day visit
• Visitors who want to combine sightseeing with a simple pastry tasting

The value is weaker if you expect a private boat, priority access, a host, or detailed live commentary. This is a no-frills cruise package, and the queue is part of the tradeoff. You save money, but you manage the transfers, timing, and boarding process yourself.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity and the option to reserve now and pay later add useful flexibility. Availability and starting times should still be checked for your chosen date.

Who will enjoy it most?

I would recommend this for someone who wants a straightforward introduction to Paris from the Seine. It is especially handy for families, since the boat gives everyone a chance to sit down while still seeing major sights.

It also suits a one-day Paris visit. You can see the Eiffel Tower area, cruise toward the central monuments, and enjoy two macarons without spending a whole day inside a museum or moving between distant neighborhoods.

The experience is less suited to someone who dislikes queues or wants a tightly guided program. You will not have a guide walking you between the two addresses, and the audio commentary may not sync well with the boat’s position. If you need exact timing, plan generously.

Practical tips for a better outing

• Start with the macaron hours: The shop runs from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., earlier than a possible evening cruise.
• Allow a queue buffer: Peak-season boarding can take 30 minutes to more than an hour.
• Bring headphones: They are useful for the audio website, though the location tracking may be imperfect.
• Charge your phone: You may need it for the voucher, ticket details, and audio.
• Look at the weather: Choose the roof in clear weather and indoor seating when rain or strong wind makes the open deck unpleasant.
• Do not bring food aboard: Outside food and drinks are not allowed.
• Keep both addresses handy: The cruise and pastry stop are separate, even though both are close to the Eiffel Tower.
• Treat the macarons as a tasting: Two pastries make a pleasant extra, but not a full food stop.

Should you book this Seine cruise and macaron tasting?

Book it if you want a low-cost, easy Paris overview with a small pastry reward. The famous sights appear in a single hour, the two stops are close to the Eiffel Tower, and the $21 price is fair for the combination.

Skip it if you need a private guide, guaranteed fast boarding, or an in-depth food experience. The boat is large, the cruise commentary may be basic, and queues can be long. For a first visit or a busy one-day itinerary, though, this is a sensible way to rest your feet, see Paris from the river, and taste two macarons without committing to an expensive tour.

FAQ

How long is the Seine cruise?

The cruise lasts one hour.

Where does the cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Port de la Bourdonnais, 75507, at Pier Number 3. The operator is Bateaux Parisiens.

Where does the macaron tasting take place?

The tasting takes place at MAKDAMIA, 13 Rue de Monttessuy, 75007.

How many macarons does each person receive?

Each visitor receives two assorted French macarons.

When can I collect the macarons?

The macaron tasting is available daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The voucher can be used at any time during those opening hours on the booked date.

How often do the cruise boats depart?

Departures vary during the day, generally running every 30 minutes to one hour. The departure time is written on the cruise ticket.

Can I bring food and drinks onto the boat?

No. Outside food and drinks are not allowed on the cruise.

Are animals allowed on the cruise?

Animals are not permitted, except for animals accompanying visitors with disabilities.

Should I bring headphones and a phone?

Yes. Headphones and a charged smartphone are listed as items to bring, particularly if you want to use the audio website.

Can I cancel the activity for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.