OVERVIEW

Have you been thinking about exploring Europe by ship and are you looking for a luxurious experience that you will never forget? Then I have something for you: How about barge cruises in France? READ MORE

If you have a hard time making sense of the phrase “barge cruise,” don’t feel bad. Luxury barging is such a tiny niche that it is practically unknown even in France, the country where the phenomenon originated. When I told my French friends that I was going on a barge trip (croisière en péniche), they thought I was going to rent the barge and pilot it myself while Patrick. They thought we were going to take turns opening and closing the locks. (This type of DIY cruise, while possible, is not at all what we had in mind.) My American friends heard “barge” and thought “river cruise.” Almost everyone imagined something rustic. READ MORE

All barges cruise for half a day and then the other half the day is spent on ashore on an excursion. One of the crew members is a tour guide who chauffeurs passengers to the excursions and gives private tours of points of interest.  Every day is something different, and these cultural excursions are meant to be immersive and interactive.  Review the "Itinerary" section of the barges, which gives the exact day to day activities and cruise coordinates.

Also check out this link https://www.wendyperrin.com/barge-cruise-prefer-river-cruise/

PRICES

Everyone in barging has identical rates and availability.  The barge owners set the prices and distribute the rates and availability to the reps.  

All 5 and 6 star barges are all inclusive except crew gratuity, which is standard on all barges. We advise a tip of 5 -10% of your cruise price, with 5% being adequate and 10% being very high.

WARNING: this trip is expensive.  We plan to use five- and six-star barges (which most are).  Expect to spend in the neighborhood of $8000 pp, not including airline, pre/post-stays and tours, and transfers.  But, they are all inclusive: the cruise, the gourmet food/libations, and the personal land-excursions.

WHERE TO GO

France has lots of places to barge. Not to be overwhelmed with too many options, we zeroed in on the Burgundy (North and South) and Champagne regions because they have the greatest variety of things to do, have been recommended by barge brokers, and include locations where all of us have not spent much time.


AVAILABLE BARGES

There are two types of barges: the DIY boats where the passengers are the "pilots, the chief cooks/bottle-washers, and lock-operators" and the CREWED boats where the passengers are escorted down the canals, rivers, and the nearby land-excursions in luxury.  Our trip considers only the CREWED option.

Crewed barges range in size from over a hundred passengers to as few as four. The large boats are relegated to rivers, while the small boats of twelve or less (with six-to-eight being the most popular) run the canals. Our trip is focusing on the eight passenger offereings.

In order to help us choose, we have summarized the available barges for our preferred region by:

   - Region
      - Number cabins
         - Canals/rivers
            - Barges

Included on this list are hyper-links to additional information:

• Each LOCATION link describes the region cruised
• Each PRICE link gives details about the tour (as provided by the broker.) Treat these prices as approximate.
• Each BROKER link gives details about the broker or ship operator and the included on-land excursions.
• Each SHIP link gives details about the barge and special amenities.

BROKERS AND OPERATORS

According to the Barge Ladies about 60% of the barges are owner-operated and rely on a combination of brokers and self-marketing with personal websites.  Here is the Company List which we have pulled together.

---

---

Below are recommendations that we receive from the brokers

BARGE LADY RECOMMENDATIONS

If you are a charter of 8, my absolute top pick for you is the:

PROSPERITE - 6-star rating, 8 passengers, Southern Burgundy - Offering every traditional luxury in ultra deluxe barging, the Prosperite was designed to represent the best of modern living, relaxed socializing, and lively entertaining - indeed, a state of "prosperity" brought to life. Cabins provide generous havens of quiet comfort, perfect for travelers for whom abundant personal space is a necessary luxury. The romantic Burgundian countryside is best viewed while lounging on the expansive deck or in the hot tub. Miles of manicured towpath along the canal beckon for leisurely walks or exhilarating bicycle rides.  A state-of-the-art open kitchen invites guests to join their personal Chef for impromptu cooking demonstrations. The splendid wines of the Cote D'or are perfectly paired with a superlative culinary program of seasonally inspired Continental cuisine. Guests explore local lifestyles through a vibrant program of visits to working vineyards, lively markets, and charming villages.  A personable and attentive crew add further to the many prosperous experiences enjoyed aboard the Prosperite.    King or twin-bedded cabins. Included are round trip chauffeured transfers to and from Paris, Geneva, or Lyon.

For an insider's look into the good life on the Prosperite, enjoy this blog post from award-winning travel expert Dana Freeman. https://www.danahfreeman.com/barge-cruise/

As I type this email, the barge is receiving some upgrades. The cabin bathrooms are receiving an extreme makeover, new headboards are being installed in the cabins, and new flooring in being installed in the salon.  Some new art is also being picked out, as well as some different furniture for the salon.

In 2021, the barge departs every Sunday and returns Saturday @ $60,000.   (I am predicting that this rate will increase in early next year, as this has been the rate for the last 5 years or so....)

The other choice I have for you is this one, however, half the cruise route is on the River Saone and the other half on the Canal du Centre.  I point this out because on the river portion of the cruise, bicycling opportunities are quite limited. 

FINESSE - 5-star, 8 passengers, Southern Burgundy. Everybody needs a little Finesse!  This elegant vessel is the sister barge to Enchante (located on the Canal du Midi), and both barges are owned by the talented Roger and Louisa Gronow, who have been in the barging industry since 1995 and 1998, respectively. Now managing the barge from land, the Gronows oversee everything to ensure a flawless cruise.  Luxuriously appointed, the four ensuite cabins are among the largest on the French canals. An open galley provides the perfect perch for foodies to visit with Chef, while those who wish to pursue outside enticements are welcome to laze on the sundeck or lounge in the hot tub. Active guests will especially enjoy the miles of manicured towpath beckoning for exhilarating bicycle rides and brisk strolls.  Gourmet cuisine honors the region's great tradition of food and wine, paired often with the region's world-renowned Burgundies.  Guests are further immersed into the local culture through visits to the Cote d'Or vineyards, quaint villages, and preserved chateaux. Included are round trip chauffeured transfers to and from Paris, Geneva,or Lyon.

In 2021, the barge departs every Sunday and returns Saturday @ $59,800

From: Tom  Sent: Monday, December 02, 2019 4:16 PM
To: Caroline Klein <Caroline@bargelady.com>
Cc: 'Warren

Hi Caroline,

We are quickly zeroing on our barge holiday. I have summarized what we have discovered on the following website: https://bargingfrance21.blogspot.com/ 

Tom's Questions in black; Caroline answers are in red

Your recommendation of the Prosperite is at the top of our list.  Very good, based on my experience and intuition, this is best one for you group.

We are now nailing down the specifics, aka intimate details. Here are a few questions for which I have not been able to find answers on your website:

We have five couples have expressed serious interest, but other than Warren, I have yet to give them “the bill.”  That may prune out some.  Hope to hold onto four couples.

Relative to the Prosperite, please what price should we expect for one of these two optional weeks:

• Last week of May 2021  $60,000
• First week of June 2021  $60,000

What are the terms and conditions for payment, specifically

• Down payment amount? Assume due at booking.  Yes, to book and confirm your cruise, I will collect the 25% non-refundable deposit. 
• Final payment amount? When would it be due?  The remaining balance (75%) is due 90 days prior to the cruise date.
• What are the specific refund terms and conditions?  Non-refundable
• If we have to swap a couple after down payment, how is that handled?  You advise who the replacement couple is and that is that! 
• Can you handle payment by individual couples or must it be in one lump sum?  As a courtesy, we will invoice each couple directly  This prevents you from collecting $$$ from your friends and neighbors -never a fun task.  This also provides a clean paper trail for each couple should they want to ensure their cruise, which we strongly encourage.  Per couple, the cruise rate = $15,000, and the deposit is $3,750, and the remaining balance is $11,250.

I have seen your website post regarding your secure payment portal. Although this barge is booked charter only,

• What detail procedure should our group follow for chartering?  You will supply the names of the guests, and one email address per couple.  That person will be the point of contact for the couple, and I will provide access to that person to log into the secure, online payment portal. 
• Can we pay as individual couples?  Yes, and I encourage you to proceed this way for the reasons indicated above. 

Although it is always best to charter ASAP, what is typical timing for the dates we have selected (above)?  I think you are asking how far in advance you should book?  If that is indeed your question, I would say the average charter books 12 -16 months in advance.  However, we always have a few charters booked in the fourth quarter of every year for a cruise taking place in two cruise seasons.  That does not necessarily mean 24 months in advance of the cruise, just two cruise seasons in advance.  Typically the scenario is that a group only wants one barge on one specific week, so they lock it in well in advance.  The weeks are you considering are still available, and are very desirable and in-demand.  January is a usually when the flood gates open for charters to book a cruise taking place the following year.  So, I would suggest making some decisions soon and trying to beat the January booking crowd!  If you are unable to pull the group together by then, it will probably be fine, but the longer you wait, the more the chance that one of the weeks you want gets booked.