How to cruise around Paris without a boat permit?

Ahoy, sailor! Sailing and riding on the Seine River is the ultimate fantasy for an Indian summer evening or a Sunday when you're craving a vacation vibe. Luckily, you can fulfill your desire for the sea in the city, even without the famous boating license and during Olympic Games for some. Let us show you how.

We already told you about the Riviera Fuga barge, and now this wildly fancy setting offers mini-cruises aboard two brand-new and silent boats : the Marinella and the Vernazza. Accommodating 1 to 12 passengers, these chic boats welcome groups of friends and families, but also couples looking for a memorable date... or even a marriage proposal ! The journey lasts a good hour, or 2 or 3 for an additional fee. Because a true sailor gets hungry quickly, the Fuga Family offers handmade catering on board, which is none other than the Italian-Japanese menu from Riviera Fuga, adapted in a boat version as bento boxes (18 € or 33 € and 40 € per person for brunch).

The best part ? Sipping a glass of champagne (16 €) or a glass of wine (starting at 34 € per bottle) while being lulled by your own playlist (we approve of the Bluetooth connection) and enjoying the custom-made route designed by the captain according to your desires.

Boat tours every day. 660 € per hour, for 1 to 12 people. 10 Port des Invalides, Paris 7th. Closed from July 20 to 27. 06 13 55 35 01. Online booking available.

The cruise is a hit among the hipsters. You've surely come across the famous "floating lounges" of Green River Cruises, the new eco-friendly boats buzzing on the Seine, offering aperitif cruises on the water with friends.

How does it work? Gather a group of 6 to 12 friends, and the rest is taken care of! A captain, playlist, and white wine are on board. Simply make a reservation... The best part? While the package includes 2 bottles of wine, you can bring your own picnic and additional rosé without any corkage fee.

Embark from Les Maquereaux on the right bank, near Hôtel de Ville, or from Les Maquereaux on the left bank, Quai d'Austerlitz. New feature: a luxury cruise on an authentic Hacker-Craft, perfect for a romantic getaway...

Boat tours available every day. Price: starting from €55 per person for 1 hour. Online reservations. More info via +33 6 50 22 90 65 and info@greenriver-paris.fr. Booking unavailable from July 17 to 29 for the Olympic Games.  

This very Parisian company hits the mark with its stylish, made-in-France electric boats that are easy to navigate and environmentally friendly. They depart from their floating nautical base with a terrace on the Bassin de la Villette or from the Polpo restaurant in Levallois-Perret...

Imagine yourself with your group of friends cruising along the canal for an after-work aperitif. The best part: rent the boat for a day and stop along the banks for a picnic, play a game of pétanque or badminton. Marin d'eau douce provides all the equipment! For the little ones, the company recently launched special kids' boats (with an accompanying adult) for a mini water adventure! (€4 for a 10-minute ride).

Boat tours available every day. 1-hour rental: €45 for 5 people. Full-day rental: €220 for 7 people. All information via +33 9 70 71 40 60 or online. 37 quai de la Seine, Paris 19th arrondissement, or 47 quai Charles Pasqua, 92300 Levallois.

Surf the Samboat website to book a chic motorboat with a skipper from passionate boat owners. Here, all programs are possible: a boat aperitif, sunbathing in front of the Eiffel Tower, a picnic by the river, accompanied by a glass of rosé with La Défense in the background. It's a dream come true.

Our favorites: an Italian motorboat from 1964 to channel your inner sea pin-up... (€885 for 6 people, 1 hour and 20 minutes of navigation with a skipper) or an adorable little white boat for towable tubing near the Musée d'Orsay.

1-hour rental : starting from €300 for 6 people. All information available online.

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