Paris is lovely during the day, but at night it takes on even more of a magical quality. Nighttime cruises take you on a trip along the famous Seine River when all the lights of the City of Light are glowing. As you know by now, we're partial to combining a night cruise with dinner or champagne to create a perfect evening in Paris. Here are our picks of Seine River tours at night that do just that — create a perfect evening.

Bateaux Parisiens VIP Dinner Cruise with Live Music

As evening falls, step on board Bateaux Parisiens, the most highly-rated river cruise company, for a nighttime extravaganza. As the buildings and monument glide past, all aglow, you are served a classic French meal while listening to live music. This is a relaxing, two-and-a-half-hour, slow cruise along the world's most beautiful river route.

The view and the slow pace of the boat are magical. There's nothing for you to do but to take in this beautiful city as the sun sets and the buildings light up. (The photo above was taken during this dinner cruise.) You cruise from the Eiffel Tower upstream past everything Parisian. After passing the Paris islands the boat turns around at the modernistic, monolith that is the Bibliothèque Nationale. Then you cruise past everything else in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, and turn around again at the Statue of Liberty, arriving back at the dock just in time for the Tower's 11 PM light show.

Be certain to choose the 8:30 PM sailing and the Service Privilege option that gets you a table at the front of the boat, better service, even better air conditioning, and the ultimate experience. Of course there is champagne.

Nighttime Champagne Cruise

When you're in Paris a cruise along its famous river is something you don't want to miss. Why not mix it with champagne while viewing all the famous monuments lit up at night? This cruise activity includes a guided champagne tasting of three cuvées — Brut, Demi-sec and Rosé — presented by an expert sommelier.

You enjoy priority access to the boat and a private tasting room in the front for the best views of Paris. And, of course, lots of champagne. Read our review to discover more about why we loved it.