Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue

What Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue does

Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue is a Paris-based event venue operator that has run a fleet of paddlewheel-inspired cruise boats on the Seine since 1990, operating under the legal entity SOCASSETS SASU (SIREN 502774664, Code APE 5030Z). The company owns five vessels — River Palace (250 m², up to 230 cocktail guests), Tennessee (180 m²), Mississippi (130 m² duplex), Héméra (85 m², 100% electric propulsion launched June 2024), and Makaï (65 m²) — delivering total reception capacity of up to 800 guests. Its core technology includes the Héméra electric propulsion system (3-hour range, first purpose-built electric boat for Paris since 2018) and a custom boarding network of 15 stopover locations along the Seine including Port de Javel Haut (headquarters), Port Debilly, Austerlitz, Poissy, Sèvres, and Musée d'Orsay.

The company serves both corporate clients (seminars, business breakfasts, corporate evenings, product launches, gala dinners) and private clients (weddings, anniversaries, religious celebrations, bachelor/bachelorette parties, student events) through a sales-led GTM model with personalized quotes and 50% deposits to confirm bookings. Pricing is per-person across tiers ranging from €35 HT (business breakfast, min 40 guests) to €163.90 TTC (weddings, 100-person base). Revenue is generated through one-time event privatization licenses, supplemented by modular add-ons including musical ambiance (DJ, cabaret, jazz), team building activities, Studio Harcourt portrait photography, Opéra sur Seine opera performances, and entertainment animations. The company operates exclusively within France (Paris and Île-de-France), is founder/owner-controlled with concentrated private ownership, reports only 5 employees, and has no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, or institutional investors.

Name

Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue

Legal name

SOCASSETS SASU

Website

https://bateaux-a-roue.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue operates a five-vessel paddlewheel-inspired cruise fleet on the Seine in Paris, privatizing event venues (35–800 guests) for corporate and private celebrations since 1990, with pricing tiers from €35 to €163.90 per person.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

River Cruise Event Hospitality

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Tourist & Sightseeing Cruise Operators (Day Cruises) (TLAFALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (THAEABAF), Theme & Specialty River Cruises (Culinary/Wellness/Music/etc.) (THAEACAL)

Keywords

• River cruise events
• Corporate event venue
• Private event hosting
• Seine river cruises
• Event boat charter

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Cruise and Event Privatization: Primary revenue stream from renting out paddlewheel cruise boats for private and corporate events on the Seine. Pricing is per-person with packages including cocktail receptions, seated dinners, seminars, and business breakfasts. The company charges based on boat capacity, duration of use, and included services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue operates a fleet of five paddlewheel-inspired event boats on the Seine in Paris, offering privatized cruise and dockside event hosting for corporate and private occasions. Services include wedding receptions, corporate seminars, business breakfasts, gala dinners, product launches, and bespoke events with catering, entertainment, and dedicated event coordination. Fleet capacity reaches up to 800 guests across venues ranging from 65 m² to 250 m², with 15 customizable boarding locations along Parisian landmarks.

Product overview

Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue operates a fleet of five event boats on the Seine in Paris: Héméra (electric), Mississippi (duplex), Tennessee, River Palace, and Makaï. The fleet offers capacity for up to 800 guests across venues ranging from 65m2 to 250m2. Services are organized as a core boat rental platform with modular add-on event packages including wedding celebrations, corporate seminars, business breakfasts, and evening events. Additional revenue streams come from supplementary entertainment offerings including musical ambiance, team building activities, professional photography (Studio Harcourt portraits), opera performances (Opéra sur Seine), and various entertainment animations. The company also offers custom cruise itineraries with 15 available stopovers along the Seine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Esprit Seine: Parent corporate identity and brand under which the Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue operates, referenced in CSR communications and local partnerships.

Products and services

• Héméra A 39 m event boat with 85 m² main deck featuring 100% electric propulsion with 3-hour range. Accommodates up to 60 cocktail/42 seated/35 seminar guests. Prioritizes comfort and environmental responsibility with quiet, refined cruising.
• Tennessee A 180 m² single-level boat featuring mahogany woodwork and black velvet chairs. Accommodates 150 cocktail/130 seated/80 seminar guests. Known for its decorative wheel and authentic atmosphere; featured in the New York Times during Paris 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
• Mississippi A 130 m² duplex boat with an intimate atmosphere and atypical spirit. Accommodates 60 cocktail/60 seated/50 seminar guests across two levels, designed for effective seminars and views of Parisian monuments.
• River Palace A 250 m² single-level exceptional boat representing elegance, featuring Bohemian crystal chandeliers and panoramic windows. Accommodates 230 cocktail/200 seated/150 seminar guests in a champagne-flowing atmosphere.
• Makaï A 65 m² confidential boat full of charm for drinks and dining while admiring Eiffel Tower illuminations. Accommodates 50 cocktail/45 seated/40 seminar guests.
• Séminaire & Réunion (Seminar & Meeting) Full-day boat privatization (9am-5pm) including coffee service, lunch with wine, and 1h30 cruise during lunch, with screen, flipchart, microphone, and projector at 120 EUR HT per person.
• Soirée d'Entreprise (Corporate Evening Event) 5-hour private boat use with 2h30 cruise covering 24 km of Paris discovery. Includes cocktail aperitif with lunch or dinner at 89-110 EUR HT per person.
• Petit Déjeuner d'Affaires (Business Breakfast) Dockside privatization from 8am to 11am with buffet breakfast including Viennese pastries, fruit skewers, fresh juice, and Nespresso coffee at 35 EUR HT per person (minimum 40 people).
• Mariage (Wedding Package) Full wedding privatization service including cocktail aperitif with 8 pieces, seated dinner with wines, champagne coupe, and evening dancing package at 163.90 EUR TTC per person (base of 100 people).
• Opéra sur Seine Exclusive opera experience with lyrique artists performing during dinner, featuring repertoire including Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, Tosca, La Bohème, and La Traviata at 110 EUR HT per person (minimum 40 people).

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% reduction in NOx emissions through engine upgrades (Caterpillar Tier II engines)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chantiers de la Haute-SeinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHéméra, the electric propulsion boat, was constructed at Chantiers de la Haute-Seine shipyard located in Villeneuve-le-Roi. This is a century-old shipyard employing local workers under French labor law, supporting the company's commitment to local partnerships and sustainable construction.
• Carré sur SeineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe company supports Carré sur Seine, a facility dedicated to promoting contemporary art, through sponsorship of young artists. This reflects the company's commitment to local community engagement and artistic development.
• Esprit SeinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe company operates under the Esprit Seine umbrella and is a member of national (E2F) and local (CCP) federations that contribute to sharing, federating, and disseminating RSE (Corporate Social Responsibility) best practices. The parent company is SOCASSETS SAS.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compagnie-bateaux-%C3%A0-roue

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Compagnie des Bateaux à Roue