Which boat should you hire for a seminar in Paris? The criteria to consider

A day-long seminar can start around a table, continue with a speech, then finish with Paris gliding past the windows. On the Seine, the venue is part of how the event unfolds.

In practice, there's no single ideal boat for every seminar. The right choice mainly depends on the number of participants, the layout you're after, and what you'd like to do on board.

For a small group, favour a yacht

For a seminar with a small number of people, a yacht can offer a more intimate setting. It's particularly well suited when discussions, presentations and informal moments all need to stay close together. The number of participants should be checked against the chosen boat and its layout.

For a larger group, look at the barges

A barge generally offers more space to organise different stages: a meeting, lunch, a workshop or a relaxed moment. For a bigger group, capacity and flow on board often become the first criteria to examine.

What if the seminar doesn't need to cruise?

A moored boat can make sense if the main aim is to have an event venue on the Seine without building a cruise into the programme. In practice, this can simplify the organisation when working hours are tightly scheduled.

Let the programme guide your choice

Before booking, list out the different stages you're planning: a presentation, lunch, a workshop, speeches or a cocktail reception. What you need to check is the space genuinely available for each of these stages, not just the maximum capacity advertised.