Barge
Cruise: Paris
- Champagne
Champagne
vineyards, Brie cheese, and Paris by night
Cruise
the rivers of the Champagne region in France aboard a luxury 12-passenger barge-hotel
(7 days - 6 nights). On this cruise, you will tour the birthplace of "bubbly"
and the cellars of Moet et Chandon. You will also be able to taste the production
of small, family-owned vineyards and learn how Brie cheese is made. The countryside
offers World War I battle sites, sleepy villages, and a 17-century chateau. The
grand finale is an evening cruise on the River Seine through Paris.
This
river boat was substantially refurbished for the beginning of the 2005 season.
Her six staterooms offer luxurious accommodation for 12 passengers. The salon,
dining area, and bar are finished in mahogany, teak and brass, decorated with
antiques and paintings. Two spacious decks offer magnificent views of the countryside.
TYPICAL
BARGE CRUISE ITINERARY
(actual program may vary)
Day
1 - Sunday:
Paris to Cumières. You will be picked
up at Hotel Ampere in Paris at 2 pm and taken to the barge moored at Cumières,
about a mile from the heart of Epernay in the Champagne region. After settling
in, your captain and crew will join you for a champagne reception. You can take
a walk through the village before enjoying the first of many delicious meals prepared
by your onboard chef.
Day
2 - Monday: Cumières to Damery.
Morning visit to Reims and its magnificent Gothic cathedral. Back at the barge
for lunch and a short cruise to Damery, where the 13th-century church was part
of a former Benedictine priory. Next, tour the Abbey of Hautvilliers, where the
world-famous monk, Dom Perignon, first made champagne. Dinner aboard the barge.
Day
3 - Tuesday: Damery to Chateau Thierry.
Arriving in the heart of the Champagne region, enjoy a pre-lunch tour of the world-famous
cellars of Moet et Chandon, including a wine tasting. Continue the cruise to Chateau
Thierry, where the barge will stay for the night. This lovely town offers a promenade
along the original walls with views over the Marne River valley, the scene of
famous battles during World War I. Nearby is the American Monument, which keeps
alive the memory of the American troops who fought in the war. Optional visit
to Belleau Wood battlefield and the American cemetery. Dinner aboard the barge.
Day
4 - Wednesday: Chateau Thierry to La Ferté.
Your cruise today will take you through some of the most picturesque scenery in
France. You will also visit some small family-run vineyards to sample their fine
champagnes. Mooring for the night is at La Ferté-sur-Marne, which offers
lovely promenades along the river. Dinner aboard the barge.
Day
5 - Thursday: La Ferté to Meaux.
On to Meaux, in the very heart of the Brie region, famous for its delicious cheeses.
A nearby monument commemorates the most advanced point of the German troops and
the French counter-attackon September 5, 1914. In Coulomniers, one of the centers
of Brie cheese, you will visit a master cheese-maker. You will see the cheese-making
process first hand and sample the cheese, along with wines from your host's excellent
cellar. Dinner aboard the barge.
Day
6 - Friday: Meaux to Paris.
Cruise toward the mighty Seine River, which will take you into the very heart
of Paris. Cruise past Coupvray, the birthplace of Louis Braille, the inventor
of the alphabet for the blind. At Saint-Maur-des-Fossés the barge will
go through a tunnel that enables it to bypass the shallow waters of the Marne
River in this area. Today you'll visit the elegant Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte,
a wonderfully-proportioned "classical French" chateau with magnificent
gardens. The chateau, built between 1656 and 1661 for finance minister Nicolas
Fouquet, was designed by the architect Le Notre, who later designed the palace
of Versailles near Paris.
Your
vacation ends with an evening cruise on the River Seine through Paris, past Notre
Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the floodlit Eiffel Tower and several illuminated
bridges. You will be joined by your captain and his wife for drinks followed by
the farewell "Captain's Dinner" on the barge. The cruise ends at the
Arsenal, near the Place de La Bastille in the 12th district.
Day
7 - Saturday: Paris.
After breakfast aboard the barge, transfer your hotel or airport in Paris.
On
alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction.
This itinerary is
subject to change without notice.
[top]
Highlights
-
Abbey of Hautvilliers
- Cellars
of Moet et Chandon
-
World War I sites
- Cheese-making
in Brie
- Chateau
of Vaux-le-Vicomte
- Evening
cruise through Paris
Included
- Accommodations
with private bath or shower and all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on
day 7
- Wine
with lunch and dinner and selected alcoholic beverages consumed aboard the barge
- Sightseeing
tours and entrance fees as specified
- Round-trip
transfers from specified meeting point
Not
Included
- Transportation
to and from beginning and end points
- Health
and travel insurance
- Barge
crew gratuities (suggested 5% of cruise price)
- Superior
vintage wines
- Personal
expenses
- Optional
activities when available
- Other
items not specifically listed under "Included" above
Barge
Features
- Cabins:
6 staterooms that can be set up with two twin beds or one queen bed (12 passengers)
- Stateroom
1 has a large bathroom with toilet and shower. Staterooms 2 through 6 each have
a separate toilet and shower. All staterooms have DVD players, screens and wireless
headsets.
- Internet
access and in-house blog to share your cruise experience with friends and family
at home
- 6
crew members
- Size:
128 ft. long
- Air
conditioning and central heating
- Air-conditioned
coach for excursions
2009
Cruise Departures
Every
Sunday from August 23 to September 13, subject to availability
This
barge can be chartered for groups. Various themes and activities can be arranged
to fit the specific interests of each group.
Dates
and Prices
Book
Your Cruise!
We
have personally visited the Champagne region in France where this cruise takes
place. See pictures from our trips:
[top]
