Pleasure cruises and ferries on Lake Geneva in Switzerland are often not cheap but savings deals are available to make boat trips and tickets cheaper.
Day-trip pleasure cruises on Lake Geneva in Switzerland are very popular with many boats departing daily from major sights such as Genève, Lausanne, Montreux, Nyon, Evian, and Yvoire. These day-trip excursion cruises on Lac Léman are often fairly expensive but several special deals are available to bring prices down. All Swiss transportation passes are valid on Lake Geneva cruise boats while the Junior Card allows children to travel for free with parents.
CGN pleasure boats cruising on Lake Geneva between Switzerland and France have first class and second class sections. Second class is often a false economy for tourists as second class passengers do not have access to the open-top decks that offer the best views of Lake Geneva, vineyards, and the Alps.
Save with a Daily Card on Lake Geneva Boat Cruises in Switzerland
Boat cruises on Lake Geneva between Switzerland and France are fairly expensive when paying full fares. For example, a one-way cruise from Geneva to Lausanne is CHF40 in second class, or CHF68 return. First class tickets on the same route are CHF54 or CHF92 return. Fortunately, it is seldom necessary to pay full price on Lake Geneva boat cruises.
Tourist planning some long or several boat cruises on Lake Geneva on the same day can save with a Daily Card (La Carte Journalière). This travel card cost CHF50 in second class and CHF68 in first class and is valid for unlimited travel for a day on all CGN boats cruising on Lake Geneva. (CGN has a virtual monopoly on pleasure boat cruises on Lac Léman and thus the card covers almost all boat cruises on Lake Geneva.)
Children aged 6 to 16 and bearers of the Swiss Railways Half-Fare card pay CHF25 or CHF34 for the day pass. (However, families should note the Junior Card below for even bigger savings.)
Save with the Junior Card on Lake Geneva Boat Cruises
The Junior Card (Carte Junior) is one of the best savings offers for families living and traveling in Switzerland. It is available from the Swiss Railways at CHF20 per year per child. It allows children between 6 and 16 to travel for free on almost all trains, buses, cable cars, and boats as longs as they are accompanied by a parent with a valid ticket.
Most Swiss children have a Junior Card and even for tourists the card can pay for itself within a single long journey. The Junior Card is available from any manned train station and issued on the spot. The Junior Card is valid for all regular boat cruises on Lake Geneva.
Children traveling with their grandparents can buy a Grandchild Card, which offer the same benefits but cost CHF60 and require travel with a grandparent.
Children 6 to 16 without a Junior Card or traveling without their parents pay 50% of the regular fare. Children under 6 travel for free.
Note that the advantages of the Junior Card can be included for free in the one-month Half-Fare Card that is only available to non-Swiss residents.
Save with Swiss Railway Passes and Cards on Lake Geneva Boat Cruises
All regular Swiss railway transportation passes and cards are also valid under the same conditions on CGN boats cruising on Lake Geneva. Thus bearers of the Half Fare Card pay only 50% and other passes such as the AG and Swiss Pass may cruise for free. The Half Fare card is great value to Swiss residents and many tourists may also find it value for money when used for longer trips.
Save with the Swiss Boat Pass on Lac Léman Pleasure Cruises
The Swiss Boat Pass gives 50% discount on most boats cruising on lakes in Switzerland including CGN boats on Lake Geneva. The Swiss Boat Pass cost CHF70 per year. Bearers of the Swiss Railways Half Fare card get the same discount automatically.
Of better value is the Swiss Family Boat Pass. It cost CHF90 per year and gives 50% discount for parents while own children aged 6 to 16 cruise for free. The Junior Card and Half Fare card again may offer better value if other forms of public transportation are also used in Switzerland.
Small Groups Enjoy Savings on Lake Geneva Cruises in Switzerland
Groups of 10 or more traveling together receive 20% discounts on individual prices and one free ticket. Bearers of the Half Fare Card as well as those under 25 years old pay only 50% of the discounted price.
Save with Return Tickets on Lake Geneva Boat Cruises
Return tickets for return cruises on the same day are slightly cheaper than two single tickets. However, many travelers prefer to return from long cruises by train, which is much faster. Most of the towns on the Swiss northern shore of Lake Geneva have very good railway connections – for example Nyon to Geneva by train is 15 minutes but an hour longer by lake boat.
See also Lake Geneva Boat Cruises Departing from Lausanne, Nyon, or Yvoire in France.
