Which Boat to Choose for Your Budget? The Criteria to Look at in Paris

Even before looking at photos of the boats, one question often comes up: how much should you allow? There is no single price for a hire on the Seine. Two events with the same number of guests can have different budgets.

I would rather be clear about this: without knowing the boat, the duration and the services you want, quoting a figure would be misleading. However, certain criteria already help you frame the project better.

The size of the boat matters, but not only that

A small private boat and a large event barge do not meet the same need. The capacity, the available space and the equipment can all make the hire price vary. You should therefore start with the number of guests and the type of reception.

Duration and sailing come into the calculation

A moored boat and a cruise are not the same format. The planned duration is also important. A short reception, a dinner with sailing or a longer evening involve different arrangements.

Services can change the budget

Meals, drinks, music, decoration or other services can be added depending on the project and what the boat allows. It is useful to distinguish the cost of the private hire from that of additional services in order to understand the quote.

Building your budget without getting it wrong

The simplest approach is to start from four elements: number of guests, date, duration and reception format. From there, several boats can be compared on a consistent basis. In practice, the right boat is not necessarily the biggest: it is the one whose layout suits your event without adding unnecessary space.