The Lyonnais Boats

What The Lyonnais Boats does

Les Bateaux Lyonnais (legal entity: LES BATEAUX LYONNAIS SASU NAVIG'INTER) is a Lyon-based river cruise operator founded in 1984, operating a fleet of seven vessels on the Saône and Rhône rivers. The company's core offering consists of two service categories: restaurant cruises aboard the Hermès and Hermès II vessels (2h30 lunch from €65/person, 2h30 dinner from €75/person, 5h30 extended lunch from €85/person, and Sunday brunch from €69/person) with multi-course cuisine prepared on board by a chef and brigade; and sightseeing cruises aboard the electric-powered Navilys I & II vessels and other promenade boats, including Cap Presqu'île, Cap Ile Barbe, the Moussaillons family cruise, and the Safa'rives biodiversity cruise (€13-€30/person). The company also runs private and corporate charter services across the full fleet for events accommodating 30-280+ guests, plus gift voucher sales, school cruises, and seasonal events such as the Bastille Day fireworks cruise and Afterwork & DJ Set.

The business model is overwhelmingly direct-to-consumer with a single ancillary B2B corporate channel: tickets are sold via the bilingual website (lesbateauxlyonnais.com), a physical ticket office at 2 quai des Célestins, and a telephone line with separate queues for individuals, groups, and companies. Distribution is supplemented through the OnlyLyon tourism office (Lyon City Card holders) and KAYAK travel guide listings. The fleet includes the modern Bateau Saint-Exupéry event boat (built 2018, Netherlands, 36m), the Vedettes ELLE/LUI speedboats, and the proprietary Navilys electric boats representing the company's environmental modernization. The company is privately held under Lavorel Hotels (a Lyon-based hospitality group acting as Director of Publication), with €100,000 share capital, SASU legal structure, no disclosed funding rounds, and 11-50 employees.

Name

The Lyonnais Boats

Legal name

LES BATEAUX LYONNAIS SASU NAVIG'INTER

Website

https://lesbateauxlyonnais.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Les Bateaux Lyonnais is a Lyon-based river cruise operator (founded 1984) running a 7-boat fleet of restaurant, electric sightseeing, event, and speedboat vessels on the Saône and Rhône, serving leisure tourists, corporate event clients, and private celebration hosts in France's third-largest tourist city.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

River Cruise Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Water Transportation (483), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Boutique Small-Ship River Cruises (THAEACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theme & Specialty River Cruises (Culinary/Wellness/Music/etc.) (THAEACAL), Luxury River Cruise Lines (THAEABAC), Tourist & Sightseeing Cruise Operators (Day Cruises) (TLAFALAF)

Keywords

• River cruise services
• Dinner cruise experiences
• Sightseeing boat tours
• Private boat charters
• Event boat hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Cruise Tickets: The company sells tickets for restaurant cruises (lunch and dinner) aboard Hermès and Hermès II boats. Tickets are sold per person at fixed prices ranging from €65 to €85 depending on cruise duration (2h30 or 5h30). Revenue is one-time per transaction, with upsell opportunities including guaranteed window seating, drinks packages, and special occasion packages.
2. Sightseeing Cruise Tickets: The company sells tickets for guided sightseeing cruises aboard Navilys and other promenade boats. Fixed per-person pricing from €13 to €30 depending on route and duration. Additional revenue from special events such as the July 14th fireworks cruises.
3. Private and Corporate Event Hire: The company generates revenue by privatising its 7 boats for professional events (seminars, conferences, cocktail parties, afterworks) and private events (weddings, birthdays, baptisms). Corporate clients are managed through a dedicated sales team with tailored quotes. Catering is provided through partner caterers or on-board kitchen facilities.
4. Gift Vouchers: Prepaid gift vouchers sold in denominations matching cruise packages (2h30 and 5h30 lunch/dinner cruises from €65/person). Vouchers are valid for 1 year from purchase and represent prepaid revenue recognition upon redemption.
5. School and Youth Cruises: Specialised guided tours adapted for school groups (children and teenagers), sold to educational institutions and youth groups with curriculum-relevant commentary on Lyon's history and heritage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Les Bateaux Lyonnais operates a fleet of 7 boats offering river cruise experiences on the Saône and Rhône rivers in Lyon, France. The company sells restaurant cruises with on-board gourmet cuisine prepared by a chef and brigade, sightseeing cruises with guided commentary, and private charter services for corporate and personal events. Founded in 1984, the company is presented as a reference river cruise operator in Lyon.

Product overview

Les Bateaux Lyonnais operates a fleet of 7 boats offering river cruise experiences on the Rhône and Saône rivers in Lyon, France. The company provides two main service categories: Restaurant Cruises (on Hermes and Hermes II boats) offering gourmet dining experiences with durations of 2h30 or 5h30 for lunch/dinner, plus Sunday brunch; and Sightseeing Cruises (on Navilys, Vedettes, and other boats) featuring guided tours including Cap Presqu'ile, Cap Ile Barbe, Moussaillons family cruises, and Safa'rives biodiversity cruises. The company also offers Private/Charter cruises for events and special occasions. Founded in 1984, the fleet operates year-round with seasonal variations, and all dining cruises feature cuisine prepared on board by professional chefs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2h30 Lunch Restaurant Cruise 2 hour 30 minute lunch cruise departing at 12:30pm aboard Hermès or Hermès II boats, starting at €65 per person. Includes a 3-course meal prepared on board by the chef and brigade with guided commentary on Lyon's landmarks. Requires minimum 30 participants.
• 2h30 Dinner Restaurant Cruise 2 hour 30 minute dinner cruise departing at 20:00 and returning at 22:30, starting at €75 per person. Discovers Lyon by night while enjoying a 3-course dinner prepared on board.
• 5h30 Lunch Restaurant Cruise 5 hour 30 minute lunch cruise departing at 11:30 and returning at 17:00, starting at €85 per person. Travels to Neuville-sur-Saône with lock crossing at Couzon-au-Mont-d'Or.
• Sunday Brunch Cruise 3-hour Sunday brunch cruise departing at 11:30 and returning at 14:30, priced at €69 per person. Features all-you-can-eat savory and sweet buffet, hot drinks, water and fruit juices, with signature dishes cooked in a wheel of Parmesan cheese and eggs prepared to order. Group size limited to under 16.
• Cap Presqu'île Sightseeing Cruise 1-hour sightseeing cruise from 2 Quai des Célestins through the heart of Old Lyon to the Confluence district, combining UNESCO-listed heritage with modern architecture. Adults from €15.
• Cap Ile Barbe Sightseeing Cruise 1-hour sightseeing cruise from Lyon's historic district to verdant Ile Barbe (Insula Barbara), showcasing over 2,000 years of history, Renaissance facades, and artistic works along the Saône. Adults from €15, children (3-10) from €9, free for under 3. Minimum 20 participants required.
• Moussaillons Family Cruise 50-minute family-oriented cruise featuring playful themes for children with French-language commentary. Designed for young adventurers aged 3+. Priced from €13 per person. Not included in Lyon City Card.
• Safa'rives de Saône Biodiversity Cruise 1-hour biodiversity cruise in partnership with Espèces parmi'Lyon association, offering live observation of flora and fauna along the Saône. Adults from €15 (special internet offer), children from €9.
• Bastille Day (14 July) Fireworks Cruise Special Bastille Day fireworks cruise offering the best views of Lyon from the water. Options include Saint Exupéry (€35 with Champagne) or Navilys (€30 with Prosecco), plus child rates at €15. Boat moored at Fourvière during fireworks.
• Afterwork & DJ Set Cruise 1.5-hour evening cruise aboard Bateau Saint-Exupéry featuring DJ Nomore, outdoor bar, sharing platters and drinks. Doors open 17:30, departure 19:00-20:30, event ends 22:00. Priced from €18 per person.
• Private/Charter Cruise Hire Private event charters available across all 7 boats for weddings, birthdays, baptisms, conferences, seminars, cocktails, and corporate events. Full personalization with catering options and professional event planning support for groups of 10 or more. Fleet capacity ranges from 30 to 280+ guests.
• School & Youth Cruise School cruises with guide commentary adapted for children and teenagers, featuring cultural visits through Old Lyon and the Confluence district with age-appropriate anecdotes about Lyon's history and heritage. Sold to educational institutions and youth groups.
• Gift Vouchers (Bons Cadeaux) Prepaid gift vouchers for restaurant cruises valid for 1 year from purchase date. Available for 2h30 or 5h30 cruises, starting from €65 per person, for lunch or dinner. Not valid during special event dates (Bastille Day, New Year's Eve, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Lyon illuminations period).

Quantifiable outcome

• Lyon ranks as France's third largest tourist city, serving as a large addressable market for river cruise experiences.

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Espèces parmi'LyonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of passionate naturalists collaborating with Les Bateaux Lyonnais to deliver the Safa'rives de Saône biodiversity cruise, offering live wildlife observation of flora and fauna along the Saône river banks in Lyon. The partnership creates a unique educational cruise experience not replicable by competitors.
• Serge Magner (caterer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner caterer for Navilys electric sightseeing boats, providing food and beverage service for private events aboard the electric fleet. Extends the catering capability of the Navilys vessels beyond their standard sightseeing function.
• Lavorel HotelscoreOthersParent company and Director of Publication for Les Bateaux Lyonnais website. Lavorel Hotels is a Lyon-based hospitality group that owns and operates the river cruise company as part of its broader hotel and tourism portfolio. Also publishes customer data protection charter.
• Bureau VeritasminorOthersBureau Veritas certification is displayed on the website, signalling compliance with safety, quality, and hygiene standards for passenger transport on inland waterways.
• OnlyLyon (Lyon Tourism Office)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial Lyon tourism board managing the Lyon City Card, which provides cardholders with cruise access to Les Bateaux Lyonnais. Tourism office handles advance bookings for card holders and provides information at the Place Bellecour tourist office.
• KAYAK (travel guide)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLes Bateaux Lyonnais is listed in the KAYAK Lyon travel guide as a recommended activity, providing visibility to KAYAK's global user base of travel planners researching Lyon attractions.
• DJ NomoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDJ performing at the Afterwork & DJ Set cruise aboard Bateau Saint-Exupéry, providing entertainment that drives ticket sales for the event-format cruise product.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Compagnie du Ponant: French-headquartered luxury cruise line (sea voyages) with a premium brand and on-board gastronomy focus. Comparable premium-pricing and dining-experience positioning, though operating in ocean/sea voyages rather than river.
• Viking River Cruises: Global river cruise leader with significant European operations including on the Rhône. Comparable on the river cruise category, but at much larger scale, longer itineraries, and overnight-cruise model rather than day/restaurant cruises.
• CroisiEurope: One of Europe's largest river cruise operators with a fleet across the Rhône, Saône, Seine, and many other European waterways. Comparable route network (operates on the same Saône and Rhône as Les Bateaux Lyonnais) but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• Bateaux Parisiens: Operates restaurant and sightseeing cruises on the Seine in Paris (and now a Paris vision rooftop). Comparable product mix (on-board dining + sightseeing + private events) to Les Bateaux Lyonnais.
• Vedettes de Paris: Paris-based operator offering sightseeing and themed cruises on the Seine. Direct comparable for the sightseeing-cruise product line and themed (bastille day, brunch, dinner) product structure.
• Bateaux Mouches: Iconic Parisian river cruise operator on the Seine offering restaurant and sightseeing cruises. Most analogous peer to Les Bateaux Lyonnais in terms of urban-river sightseeing + dining combination, though operating in Paris rather than Lyon.

Emerging players

• Marin d'Eau Douce: Paris-based operator of small electric boats for self-drive and private cruises. Comparable electric-vessel proposition and private-event use case, though with a different ownership/self-pilot model.

Regional players

• Les Vedettes de Marseille: Marseille-based operator of sightseeing and themed boat tours (Frioul archipelago, sunset, dinner cruises). Comparable urban-coastal sightseeing + dining + private events mix, but in Provence rather than Lyon.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lesbateauxlyonnais
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-bateaux-lyonnais-lyon

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Lyonnais Boats