We went into this expecting a magical "Midnight in Paris" evening, but the reality was a bit more "Wet Wednesday." While the city lights are undeniably pretty, the experience didn't quite live up to the hype.
It rained throughout our cruise. If you aren't lucky enough to snag a seat in the covered area with a clear view, the rain really limits where you can stand and what you can see without getting soaked.
The Eiffel Tower only sparkles for 5 minutes at the top of every hour. Because of the ship’s position and our seating on the opposite side, we completely missed the light show. By the time we realized we were on the "wrong side," the five minutes were up.
If you really want to "see" the Eiffel Tower sparkle, skip the cruise and head to Trocadéro. You can sit there for free, grab a crêpe, and have a front-row, unobstructed view of the show without worrying about boat maneuvers or rain-slicked decks.