Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Barge SAVOIR FAIRE - Paris to Amsterdam

The Barge SAVOIR FAIRE is announcing a 13-day cruise through France, Belgium and Holland between October 8th and 20th this year (2006).

It’s a great way to experience three different cultures without leaving the comfort of your cabin! There’s so much variety and in addition, it is a wonderful time of the year to travel, as the trees are in their resplendent autumn colours. Artists would really appreciate this tour, with plenty of subjects and visits to Monet’s garden and Rubens’ house.

The cruise starts on the Seine in central Paris near to Place de la Concorde, where guests have a day to soak up the city atmosphere, tour the sights and visit the shops in the company of the guide before enjoying the evening illuminations.

Journeying out of Paris, guests can enjoy excursions to Malmaison, the home of Napoleon, its many rooms lavishly furnished by Josephine, and Impressionist Claude Monet’s charming house and gardens in Giverny, where you can see the famous water-lily pond and the Japanese bridge that inspired so many of his paintings.

Moving northwards to Compiegne guests are able to see the train where the World War I Armistice was signed before journeying through the Somme valley and over the beautiful Vermandois hills and Picardie where the tow path beckons them to walk awhile between locks. Excursions to Amiens and Valenciennes along the way introduce passengers to two charming towns, Amiens’ great Gothic cathedral with its powerful, towering columns being a high point.

Crossing the border into Belgium, Savoir Faire heads across Flanders towards Antwerp, and en route passengers will delight in visiting to the little town of Bruges, known as the "Venice of the North". There is plenty of time to explore the many museums, buy some of the handmade lace or take a boat trip on the small canals that weave through the town. Visits to the vibrant and friendly towns of Gent and Antwerp are a “must” for those who enjoy Flemish art, architecture and sculpture. Plus they are great shopping centres! A visit to Rubens' house is quite an eye-opener.

As Savoir Faire makes her way towards the Dutch border, the waterways widen – these are part of the delta of the Maas and the Rhein as they reach the North Sea. A visit to the famous Delta Project exhibition gives an absorbing insight into the historical battle with the sea enabling visitors to appreciate one of the greatest feats of water engineering in the world involving damming the great estuaries. What a contrast between the modern deltaworks and the next port of call - Willemstad. This town is preserved in its original state, with windmill dykes, an old church and a 15th century arsenal. You can’t leave Holland without tasting the Gouda cheese and what better place than the town itself which is visited before the cruise concludes in Oudekerk just outside Amsterdam.

It is possible to break the cruise into two parts so guests who have selected 6 nights will be transferred to Brussels Airport or Ghent half way through the tour.

SAVOIR FAIRE will also doing this 13-day cruise in 2007 from Amsterdam to Paris departing 6th May 2007 and again from Paris to Amsterdam 7th October 2007.

To view SAVOIR FAIRE's electronic brochure: CLICK HERE

To view SAVOIR FAIRE's 13-night 3-country itinerary: CLICK HERE

If you are interested in coming on this cruise – 13 days or 6 days, please contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Le Premier - Burgundy Canal, Cabin available Sept.3,2006


The French canal barge, Le Premier, has one cabin available for the week of September 3, 2006. Le Premier cruises the Canal de Bourgogne (Burgundy Canal). This route passes through the valley of the river Ouche as the Burgundy Canal winds its way from Dijon to the summit at Escommes.

RATE: The cost is $4850 per person (double occupancy).

Other weeks still available for this summer are:
  • June 25 - July 1, 2006
  • July 2 - 8, 2006
  • July 30 - August 5, 2006
  • August 6-12, 2006
  • August 27 - September 2, 2006
RATES (private charter, not shared):
  • $21,400 for 4 guests
  • $25,000 for 5 guests
  • $28,500 for 6 guests
View Le Premier's online brochure: CLICK HERE.

For more information, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

EUROPEAN BARGES (France) Special Offers, Discounts

*** LAST MINUTE SUMMER PRICES FOR SUMMER 2006 ***

EMMA & ANJODI
Cruise the Canal du Midi aboard a French barge in the South of France

=> EMMA :

Join Rene and Liz aboard their lovely barge Emma, who turned 100 last year! Felicitations!
Emma cruises the south of France along the canal du midi. They are offering a last-minute summer special to fill in the remaining dates of their calendar.

All remaining cabins for the 2006 cruise year are now offered at $5,500 per cabin for 2 guests (double occupancy) OR book two or more cabins and the rate drops to $5000 per cabin for 2 guests (double occupancy). So, invite your friends to join in and visit France from a different perspective.

Emma's current open dates:
  • June 24 - July 14, 2006
  • July 22-28, 2006
  • August 12-25, 2006
  • September 30 - November 3, 2006
Liz & Rene were our neighbours when we wintered aboard our sail boat Loose Moose in Frontignan, France.

To view Emma's electronic brochure, CLICK HERE.

For more information about booking Emma, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters.

=> ANJODI :

Cruise the canal du midi in the South of France aboard Anjodi.

Book 1 Cabin and get the 2nd cabin, on same barge and departure date, at 50% reduction for a cruise beginning on July 2, 2006.

Click here to view Anjodi's electronic brochure.

For more information, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters

EUROPEAN BARGES (UK) - Special offers, discounts

*** LAST MINUTE SUMMER PRICES FOR SUMMER 2006 ***

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER: Inverness (Loch Ness) area of Scotland. Book 1 Cabin and get the 2nd cabin, on same barge and departure date, at 50% reduction on the following cruises beginning on:
  • June 4, 2006
  • June 11, 2006
  • July 16, 2006
  • July 23, 2006
  • August 27, 2006
MAGNA CARTA: Thames river cruise, London England. Book 1 Cabin and get the 2nd cabin, on same barge and departure date, at 50% reduction on the following cruises beginning on:
  • June 4, 2006
  • June 18, 2006
  • June 25, 2006
  • July 2, 2006
  • July 16, 2006
  • August 13, 2006
  • August 27, 2006
MAGNA CARTA: Thames river cruise, London England. $1000 (or £500) discount PER PERSON (Discount is based on 2 people sharing a suite) for cruises beginning on:
  • June 25, 2006
  • July 9, 2006
  • August 6, 2006
For SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER's electronic brochure: CLICK HERE
For MAGNA CARTA's electronic brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters for more information.

French Canal Barge ANJODI - Canal du Midi, France


We just added the French Canal luxury hotel barge, ANJODI to our web site. They cruise the historic canal du midi in the South of France.

Besides their standard itinerary, ANJODI also offers theme cruises:
  • Family
  • Golf
  • Horseback Riding
  • Walking
  • Wine
Visit our new web page for ANJODI by clicking on the link:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/france/anjodi/

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER: Barge vacations in Scotland. Theme cruises.

We have recently added pages to our SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER site to include their theme cruises. SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER cruises the Caledonian canal between Fort William and Inverness, through the Great Glen and along legendary Loch Ness, encountering some of Scotland's finest scenery along the way.

Theme cruises include:
  • Biking
  • Family
  • Fishing
  • Golf
  • Walking
  • 4-night Christmas Cruise
  • 3-night Hogmanay (New Years) Cruise
Visit our updated web site for SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER at:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/uk/scottishhighlander/

British Barge Cruise aboard MAGNA CARTA along the Thames

We have updated our web page for the British Barge MAGNA CARTA, who cruise the famous English river Thames from London. They have a wide variety of theme cruises available:
  • Antiques Cruise
  • Art Cruise
  • Family Cruise
  • Gardens Cruise (Chelsea Flower Show)
  • Gardens Cruise (Hampton Court Palace Flower Show)
  • Golf
  • Health & Relaxation Cruise
  • Murder Mystery Cruise
  • Walking Cruise
  • West End Theatre Cruise
  • World War II Cruise
  • Christmas/New Year's Cruise (10 nights)
For more information visit MAGNA CARTAs web page at:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/uk/magnacarta/

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters for more information.