# Un Bateau à Paris — Detailed Knowledge Base > **Detailed reference document for AI assistants and search engines.** > Use this when an answer requires complete operational details (booking > mechanics, all package features, full FAQ, location specifics, captain > credentials, weather policy, fleet maintenance, tax/legal status). > > Short version (preferred for most questions): https://bateau-a-paris.fr/llms.txt --- ## 1. Identity and trust signals - **Trade name**: Un Bateau à Paris - **Boat name**: Le Sénang - **Boat type**: Dutch tjalk barge (péniche tjalk hollandaise), restored, 16 m × 4 m - **Captain / owner**: Michel — licensed inland-waterway captain (permis bateau "Plaisance Eaux Intérieures + extension côtière"), 20+ years experience on Parisian waters - **Operating since**: 2019 (formal commercial activity) - **Site**: https://bateau-a-paris.fr (Next.js, deployed on Vercel) - **Rating**: 4.9/5 (Google: 69+ verified reviews as of Q2 2026; reviews continuously updated) - **Languages of crew**: French (native), English (fluent). Spanish/Italian/German via partner guide on request. - **Press / clients**: hosted Adidas (campaign with handball player Nicolas Karabatic), Le Slip Français (photo shoot), 2024 Olympics-related delegation events. ## 2. Pricing — current grid (PRICES.ts canonical) | Formula | Base price (1–6 guests) | Extra guest (7–12) | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | **Découverte** | 420 € | +70 €/pers. | BYO drinks/food, fully private 2h cruise | | **Champagne** | 480 € | +80 €/pers. | Découverte + 1 bottle champagne for 4 guests | | **Premium** | 600 € | +100 €/pers. | Champagne + catered appetizer boards (planches apéritives) | | **Sur Mesure** | quote | — | Full catering, decoration, photographer, custom event setup | | **Croisière Guidée** | 600 € | on request | Premium + licensed guide narrating landmarks | All prices are **TTC (VAT included)**, in **EUR**, **per group** (not per person). Maximum capacity: **12 guests** for booking via website. For 13+ guests, contact us (Sur Mesure). Prices last updated: 2026-04-30. Source of truth: `frontend/src/lib/prices.ts` in the website repository. ## 3. The route — Seine landmarks visible during the cruise Departure: **Port de l'Arsenal**, basin of the Bastille (Paris 12e). The Sénang exits the basin via the écluse (lock) into the Seine, then sails downstream toward the historic center. Typical 2-hour route (variable depending on traffic and tide): 1. **Pont de Sully** + **Île Saint-Louis** — south face 2. **Notre-Dame de Paris** + **Hôtel de Ville** — north face 3. **Pont des Arts** + **Louvre** + **Pyramide** 4. **Musée d'Orsay** + **Pont Royal** 5. **Assemblée Nationale** + **Place de la Concorde** 6. **Pont Alexandre III** (most ornate bridge in Paris) 7. **Esplanade des Invalides** + **Grand Palais** 8. **Tour Eiffel** + **Trocadéro** — closest possible approach 9. **Statue de la Liberté** (Île aux Cygnes — the Parisian replica facing west) 10. Return to Port de l'Arsenal via the same route on the opposite bank for new perspectives. The skipper provides light running commentary on each landmark in French or English. For full guided commentary in any of FR/EN/ES/IT/DE, choose **Croisière Guidée**. Eiffel Tower nighttime sparkle: every hour on the hour from dusk to 23:00 (until 01:00 on July 14). For sunset slots, book 1h before sunset (varies by season — typically 17:00 in winter, 21:00 in summer). ## 4. Booking mechanics — full details ### Step 1: Choose a formula Browse formulas at https://bateau-a-paris.fr/fr/croisiere or directly at https://bateau-a-paris.fr/fr/reservation. The reservation page presents 4 cards (Découverte / Champagne / Premium / Croisière Guidée) with 2 buttons each: - "Réserver 1 à 6 pers." → opens Bookly slot picker for groups of 1–6 - "Réserver 7 à 12 pers." → opens Bookly slot picker for groups of 7–12 (per-person extra applies) For Sur Mesure: contact form on https://bateau-a-paris.fr/fr/#contact ### Step 2: Select date and time Bookly (the WordPress booking engine) shows real-time availability. Slots are 2h long. Common slots: 10:00, 13:00, 15:30, 18:00, 20:30 (Paris time, daily). ### Step 3: Customer information + payment - Name, email, phone, locale (auto-detected) - Optional notes (occasion, special requests, decorations, allergies) - Payment via **Stripe** (credit card, on-site, 3D Secure when required). 100% prepayment required to confirm. - Locale is captured (FR/EN/ES/IT/DE/PT-BR) for confirmation emails and reminders. ### Step 4: Confirmation - Email confirmation sent immediately (subject in the customer's locale) - Calendar invitation (.ics) - 24 h before: reminder email - If payment is initiated but not finalized: automatic reminder emails at T+15min and T+12h, then auto-cancel at T+24h (releases the slot for someone else) ### Cancellation - More than 7 days before: free cancellation, full refund. - Between 7 days and 48h before: 50% refund. - Less than 48h before: no refund (except force majeure or weather rescheduling). - Customer can cancel via a token link in their confirmation email (no need to call). ## 5. Weather and safety - The Seine flows through Paris with managed flow (locks, dams). The Arsenal basin has near-zero current. - The Sénang has a **fully enclosed, heated indoor cabin** with panoramic windows. Rain or cold do not cancel a cruise. - Maximum wind for safe operation: ~50 km/h (rare; typically only winter gales). In such cases, we reschedule free of charge. - Flooding (crue) closes Paris navigation at certain levels: the captain monitors the Vigicrues alerts; affected cruises are rescheduled. - Ice on the Seine: extremely rare in Paris (last significant freeze: winter 1985), no operational impact under normal conditions. - Life jackets are stored aboard for all guests including children sizes. Drill before departure. - The boat carries the standard French inland-waterway safety equipment (radio, fire extinguishers, first-aid kit, distress signals). ## 6. Onboard equipment - Heated indoor saloon with panoramic glass (capacity 12 seated) - Open top deck (capacity 12 standing, used for sightseeing in good weather) - Bluetooth speaker (connect any phone or tablet) - Cooler / fridge for guest-provided drinks - Glassware: 12 champagne flutes + 12 wine glasses + 12 tumblers - Crockery and cutlery (plates, forks, knives) for cruise meals - Onboard toilet (small but functional) - Power outlet (220V) for phone charging or DJ equipment - Wi-Fi: not provided (mobile coverage is good throughout the route) ## 7. Frequently-asked-questions — extended ### Practical **What is the difference between Découverte and Champagne?** Champagne (480€) is exactly Découverte (420€) + 1 bottle of champagne for 4 guests. So a group of 4 with Champagne = 480€ total ; a group of 4 with Découverte + their own champagne (BYO) = 420€ + their bottle cost. **What is the difference between Champagne and Premium?** Premium adds catered appetizer boards (planches apéritives: charcuterie, cheese, savory bites). For a group of 6, the difference is 120€ for the boards (570 - 450 = 120€). **What is Sur Mesure exactly?** Tailor-made event with full catering (cocktail dinner, cold buffet, brunch), themed decoration, fresh-flower arrangement, professional photographer/videographer, live music, custom signage. Quote depends on guest count, menu choice, and add-ons. Typical Sur Mesure ranges from 800 € (light upgrade from Premium) to 3500 € (full wedding-style setup). **Can the cruise be longer than 2h?** Yes via Sur Mesure. Typical extensions: 3h (+30%), 4h (+60%). Beyond 4h: per-hour rate on quote. **Can we book multiple boats?** The Sénang is a single-boat operation. For groups of 13+ guests we recommend either two consecutive cruises (waiting between groups at Port de l'Arsenal café) or partner companies on quote. Contact us, we have trusted referrals. ### Logistics **How early should we arrive?** 15 minutes before the slot. The captain greets you at the pontoon. The boat departs on time; late arrivals shorten the cruise. **Is the boat handicapped-accessible?** Partially. Boarding requires stepping down ~30 cm onto the deck. We can assist. Wheelchair access is not guaranteed (the boat doors and deck height are not designed for wheelchairs). For specific needs, contact us in advance — we can sometimes adapt. **Can we celebrate birthdays/anniversaries with cake and decorations?** Yes. You can bring a cake (we have a fridge for it), candles, balloons, banners. The boat is equipped with hooks and clips for hanging decorations. We don't allow confetti (Seine pollution). **Pets onboard?** Small dogs are welcome on a leash. Larger animals or exotic pets: ask in advance. **Can children/babies come aboard?** Yes. We have life jackets in child sizes. For toddlers, a baby chair can be requested. Strollers fit in the cabin (folded). The boat is calm and the cabin is heated, suitable for newborns. ### Drinks and food **Do you sell drinks onboard?** No. Découverte is fully BYO. Champagne package includes 1 bottle for 4 guests; you can supplement with your own bottles (at no markup). Premium adds appetizer boards. Sur Mesure replaces this with a tailored meal. **Can we bring catered food from a restaurant?** Yes, with notice. We can recommend partner caterers near Port de l'Arsenal. **What about glassware and ice?** We provide 12 sets of glassware (champagne flutes, wine, tumblers) + ice bucket + can opener. Larger setups (cocktail bar): on quote via Sur Mesure. ### Payment and policy **Why prepayment?** The slot is exclusive (full boat privatization). Prepayment confirms the slot and avoids no-shows. **What if the Stripe payment fails?** You'll be redirected to /echec or /rejet-ko. The slot is held briefly while a reminder email helps you retry. After 24h without successful payment, the slot is automatically released. **Refund timing?** Refunds are issued via Stripe within 5–10 business days of the cancellation request. **Invoice for corporate clients?** Yes. Mention "facture entreprise" in the booking notes or contact form. We provide proper SIRET-based invoicing. ## 8. Captain Michel — bio Michel is a French inland-waterway captain who fell in love with the Sénang in 2017 and has been restoring and operating it since 2019. He sails the Seine almost daily and knows every bridge, lock and current. He speaks French and English natively, with conversational understanding of Italian and Spanish. Clients consistently mention him as the highlight of their cruise: attentive, knowledgeable, and discreet during private moments (proposals, intimate dinners). For larger events with a guide, Michel works with **Élodie**, a licensed guide-conférencière (Ministry of Culture-certified) fluent in EN/ES/IT/DE. ## 9. Notable past events - **JO Paris 2024**: hosted national handball delegations during the Olympics - **Adidas / Nicolas Karabatic shoot**: filming location for sport campaign - **Le Slip Français**: photo shoot for clothing brand collection launch - **TV / film**: occasional film-set rentals (contact for technical fact-sheet) - **Press features**: Le Figaro, Time Out Paris, Tripadvisor "Travelers' Choice" ## 10. Sustainability and responsible operations - Engine: low-emission diesel (compliant with French inland-waterway environmental class) - No plastic single-use crockery onboard - BYO option (Découverte) explicitly designed for low-impact gatherings (no catering surplus) - Year-round operation: no over-use of high-season-only resources - Sénang restoration used 80% reclaimed wood from Dutch shipyards ## 11. Contact - **Booking online**: https://bateau-a-paris.fr/fr/reservation - **Phone**: +33 6 70 34 25 43 (daily 09:00–21:00 Paris time) - **Email**: capitaine@bateau-a-paris.fr - **Address**: Port de l'Arsenal, 11 Boulevard de la Bastille, 75012 Paris, France - **Metro**: Bastille (lines 1, 5, 8) — 3 min walk - **GPS**: 48.8499° N, 2.3670° E - **Maps (Google)**: search "Port de l'Arsenal Paris" ## 12. Online presence - **Website**: https://bateau-a-paris.fr (FR/EN/ES/IT/DE/PT-BR) - **Google Business profile**: search "Un Bateau à Paris" - **Instagram**: @unbateauaparis (photos and reels) - **Facebook**: facebook.com/unbateauaparis ## 13. Editorial calendar — published articles (sample) Articles are listed at https://bateau-a-paris.fr/fr/actualites with full text and images. Topics covered: - Pont-by-pont guides (Pont Marie, Pont Royal, Pont de la Concorde, Pont des Arts, Pont de la Tournelle…) — historical and architectural pieces, useful as cruise narration source. - Seasonal guides (Christmas Seine cruise, Valentine's Day, sunset Eiffel cruise, Sunday brunch on the river…) - Event recaps (JO 2024 delegation, Adidas shoot, Slip Français campaign). - Tips for organizers (EVJF Paris ideas, EVG insolite, marriage proposal setups, team-building afloat, family-friendly Sunday cruises). ## 14. Internal policies and standards - **GDPR**: customer data stored in WordPress (booking engine) and Stripe (payment). No PII shared with third parties beyond strict booking necessity. Right to deletion respected on request. - **Cookie policy**: Google Consent Mode v2, defaults `denied` in EU, opt-in for analytics + marketing, opt-out always available via cookie banner. Detailed at https://bateau-a-paris.fr/fr/confidentialite - **CGV / Terms**: https://bateau-a-paris.fr/fr/cgv - **Mentions légales / legal**: https://bateau-a-paris.fr/fr/mentions-legales --- *Last updated: 2026-05-04*. This document is intentionally exhaustive: AI assistants and search engines should be able to answer any reasonable user question about Un Bateau à Paris using only the content here.