Saturday, February 22, 2014

French Hotel Barge l'Art de Vivre: New Video & Special Offers

We have a new video for the French Hotel Barge l'Art de Vivre that offers barging cruises along the Canal du Nivernais in Burgundy, France.




Cruise beautiful Burgundy aboard the luxury crewed French Hotel Barge L'Art de Vivre this Spring.

Spring is the ideal time for a hotel barge cruise and we are now offering great savings aboard the 8-passenger L'Art de Vivre, which cruises the Lower Nivernais Canal and River Yonne in Burgundy.


The weather is mild and sunny and with the leaves budding on the trees, late spring is beautiful in Burgundy. L'Art de Vivre's itinerary features visits to such scenic and historic sites as the medieval town of Auxerre and the spectacular hilltop village of Vezelay. There is also a wine-tasting in Chablis.

Can't arrange your schedule for a Spring barge vacation? Well, we have some good deals for Summer barge trips, too!


WEEKS ON SALE : Discount Prices and Availability for Spring & Summer 2014 cruises, current as of February 22, 2014. Offer valid through March 28, 2014.

- Cabin cruises: 
Discounted price for cabin (not each person), double occupancy
  • April departures: $7580/cabin 
  • May departures: $8900/cabin
  • July 13: $7580/cabin
  • August 17: $7580/cabin

- Private charter: 
Discounted price for up to 8 guests
  • Apr 20, 27: $26,000
  • May 4, 11, 18: $30,500
  • July 20: $29,000
  • Aug 3, 10: $29,000
Prices include: Transfers by chauffeured Mercedes minibus between Paris and the hotel barge, a luxury 6-night cruise, all meals on board catered for by the on board Master Chef, an open bar 24/7 with a large range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, all wines served throughout the cruise, excursions and admittance fees as per the itinerary, the services of 4 crew and use of barge facilities, which include bicycles and spa pool.



The 8-passenger L'ART DE VIVRE started life in 1917 as a Scottish munitions carrier. Many, many years later the barge was transformed by a team of skilled craftsmen into a floating celebration of the Burgundian "good life". She was renovated in 2009, and is continuously maintained to a high standard. Among upgrades for this winter, l'Art de Vivre has new carpets in the cabins, plus a new on-deck spa pool.

L'Art de Vivre is 100-feet long, has air conditioning and central heat, and accommodates up to 8 guests in four cabins that can be either configured as twins or doubles according to your preference. They have a six-person spa pool/jacuzzi/hot tub (whatever you wish to term it!), 8 touring bicycles, and also a tandem bike. The crew of four, comprised of Captain, Tour Guide, Master Chef and Hostess, all have a love for the Nivernais canal and are secure in the knowledge that their vessel represents L'Art de Vivre itself...

L'Art de Vivre cruises the Nivernais Canal between Auxerre and Chevroche. Theme cruises for private charters include:
  • Cycling: Daily cycling trips with professional guide and upgrade of bicycles
  • Walking: Daily walking tours with a professional walking guide
  • Wine Appreciation: includes a comprehensive and customisable wine itinerary, an upgrade of all wines served on board to include more Premier and Grand Cru wines and the services of a professional wine guide
  • Tennis: includes pre-booked and paid courts and transfer to and from the clubs
  • Family: along with traditional cultural visits, they can arrange horse riding, water sports, theme parks and many other activities to keep the younger ones and young at heart, completely satisfied. Can be customized to your interests.
For more information on the French Hotel Barge L'Art de Vivre please click here

Go Barging in France for 2014 ! 



Contact Paradise Connections to book L'ART DE VIVRE 
View L'Art de Vivre's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 


Friday, February 21, 2014

French Hotel Barge Prosperité : One cabin open on shared cruise

Have you always wanted to cruise the French canals of Burgundy aboard the Hotel Barge Prosperité but just couldn't get a group together?

Wait no longer as they have ONE cabin available on their remaining cabin cruise week of the 2014 barging season.


French Hotel Barge Prosperité - Barging in France - Cruise the canals of Burgundy

The luxury crewed French Hotel Barge PROSPERITE, which offers barging cruises along the Canal de Bourgogne in the Burgundy region of France, opened two weeks of their almost full 2014 calendar for cabin cruises. The week in October is fully booked, but the week in May has ONE cabin available. We hope you can take advantage of this rare opportunity to cruise aboard this fine barge.

There are also value season weeks available for private charters, plus a couple of other weeks.

INDIVIDUAL CABIN WEEKS
Currently available for 2014 individual cabin bookings:
  • May 11-17: 1 cabin open 
  • October 5-11: fully booked
Rate, cabin cruise: $6900/person, double occupancy 

OPEN WEEKS FOR PRIVATE CHARTERS

Save up to $10,000 on Value Weeks!
French Hotel Barge Prospérité has only SEVEN weeks available for 2014:
  • Departures beginning: March 31, April 6, April 13 (value weeks)
  • Departures beginning: April 20, April 27 (regular season)
  • Departures beginning: October 19, October 26 (value weeks)

Rates, Value season: $45,900 for up to 8 guests
Rates, Regular season: 6 guests-$53,900 -- 7 guests=$54,900 -- 8 guests=$55,900


Prospérité accommodates up to 8 guests in 4 suites, which can be configured as doubles or twins, with sitting area and desk, each having their own private ensuite bathroom. The barge is fully air conditioned and also has central heating when necessary, hot tub on the sundeck, bicycles, air conditioned minivan for excursions...

 

Looking forward to your inquiries


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book PROSPERITE 
View Prospérité's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Updated special offers & discounts for barging cruises

We have updated our previous post about special offers for 2014 barge charter vacation cruises that you can see HERE.

Many barges are offering a fixed discount off their full-boat rate for private charters. This usually works to your advantage even if you do not have the boat chartered to full capacity... Let us explain what we mean...

A portion of the special offers table

Take the barge l'Art de Vivre, for example. For private charters beginning the week of either April 20 or April 27, 2014, they are offering a $6000 discount off their 8-passenger (full boat) value season rate of $32,000. This makes a special price of $26,000 for up to 8 guests. If you are a group of 6 you will still be saving $3800 off the normal 6-person value season rate of $29,800 which is still more than a 10% discount!

French Hotel Barge l'Art de Vivre - Barging cruises along the canals of Burgundy, France

So, take a look at the current Special & Discount post.  If something strikes your fancy, pop us a line.


Contact Paradise Connections to book your barging holiday
For more information on our barges and barging, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com
 



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre - Popular barge in Burgundy France

The French Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre has become a very popular barge for cruising the canals of Burgundy as you can tell by their calendar. It is the middle of February and even though the barging season hasn't started, they only have a few weeks available for 2014.

Only EIGHT weeks available

(updated 2/20/2014)


French Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre - Barging in France - Barge Cruises in Burgundy

Savoir Vivre does both cabin cruises and private charters. They have 5 weeks which can be for private charters or individual cabin bookings as all cabins are open (2 of those weeks fall within their "value" season) and 3 weeks which have 2 cabins open (one week during value season).


CURRENT AVAILABILITY as of February 19, 2014:
  • April 13-19: 4 cabins open (value week)
  • April 27-May 3: 4 cabins open
  • May 4-10: 4 cabins open
  • May 18-24: 4 cabins open  (due to cancellation)
  • July 20-26: 1 cabin open, 2 on option, 1 booked
  • July 27-Aug 2: 2 cabins open, 2 booked
  • October 19-25: 2 cabins open, 2 booked (value week)
  • October 26-November 1: 4 cabins open (value week)

RATES for 2014:
PRIVATE CHARTER, Value Season:
  • 6 guests: $24,000 --- 7 guests: $25,000 --- 8 guests: $26,000 
PRIVATE CHARTER, Regular Season:
  • 6 guests: $26,000 --- 7 guests: $27,000 --- 8 guests: $28,000 
CABIN CRUISES: Value Season
  • $3200/person, double occupancy (ie $6400/cabin)
CABIN CRUISES: Regular Season
  • $3500/person, double occupancy (ie $7000/cabin)



Savoir Vivre is a bit different to the other hotel barges that we represent as they do not have an onboard chef. Pastries for the continental breakfast are supplied by the local baker. Lunch is catered by professional chefs who meet up with the boat with their prepared meal. Dinners are off the boat in locally selected restaurants (included in charter fee).

Lunch is catered by local professional chefs

Dinners are ashore at interesting local restaurants

Savoir Vivre is 80 feet long, air conditioned (and has central heat, too), 4 identical guest cabins which can be configured with a queen or two twin beds, each having ensuite private bathrooms, flat screen TV, internet where available, 8 bicycles, etc...
SAVOIR VIVRE: Ability to live life well and with intelligent enjoyment, meeting every situation with poise, good manners, and elegance. Etymology: French, to know (how) to live.
Book now to guarantee your spot for this barge cruising season. Looking forward to your inquiries!


Contact Paradise Connections to book SAVOIR VIVRE 
View Savoir Vivre's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 


Saturday, February 15, 2014

Barging and Biking Video - Cycling along the European Waterways

All of our of barges have bicycles aboard for their guests to use. You can ride alongside the canal on the tow path or venture into towns along the way for a visit and meet up with the barge farther down the canal. The crew can also advise routes suited for your interests and ability.


Some barges also offer cycling-themed cruises where you will have an upgrade in bicycles and a professional guide. This is only offered for private charters and have a supplement to cover additional expenses.

Looking forward to your inquiries



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your barging vacation
For more information on our barges and barging, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com
 

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Hotel Barges: Dutch Tulip Cruises 2014

Here's a great idea for a Valentine's gift... 

(Availability as of February 12, 2014)

DUTCH TULIP CRUISES
March 23-29: 
March 30-April 5:
For more information about sites you might see in Holland, view our Regions page for The Netherlands... Click Here


REPOSITIONING CRUISES

La Nouvelle Etoile and Savoir Faire are both fully booked the their Bruges Belgium to Paris France repositioning cruise, while Panache still has space aboard for May 25th.
May 4-10: Amsterdam to Bruges
May 11-17: Amsterdam to Bruges
May 25-31: Belgium to Paris (Courtrai to Compiegne)
  • Panache: 2 cabins open, 1 on hold, 3 booked

Let's Go Barging This Spring on the European Waterways

French Hotel Barge La Belle Epoque - Barging in Burgundy France

Springtime really is a glorious time of year to embark on a hotel barge cruise. We offer a wide variety of destinations, from the colorful waterways of Holland to the picturesque landscapes of Burgundy; from the sunshine of the Canal du Midi to the unspoiled countryside of Gascony... Don't forget England, Ireland, Scotland, and Italy!

Looking forward to your inquiries


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your barging vacation
For more information on our barges and barging, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com
 



Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Hotel Barge Cruises: Availability September 2014

September is the most popular month for barging cruises. As there are not many openings left, we thought we should share current availablity (as of February 11, 2014).

Circumstances do change, so please contact us with your preferred dates to book your September barge vacation now.

See updated availability (as of 12 August 2014) HERE.

Again, circumstances do change, so please contact us with your preferred dates for September or other months, too :)


Looking forward to your inquiries



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your barging vacation
For more information on our barges and barging, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com
 



Monday, February 10, 2014

French Hotel Barge Rosa: Bordeaux Cruises, New Itinerary for 2014

New for 2014... The French Hotel Barge Rosa has an alternate itinerary for late summer/autumn which features more of the renowned Bordeaux wine region on the Canal de Garonne between Castets-en-Dorthe and Boe.

The new itinerary includes a visit to Saint Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tastings of premier cru and grand cru wines. This route is offered from August 17th through the end of October 2014.

Click map to enlarge

CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS: BORDEAUX
  • Tour of the famous Saint Emilion
  • Visit the impressive Château de Duras
  • Visit to the Bastide village of Vianne and ancient Barbaste
  • Wine, cheese and Armagnac tastings
  • Visits to the village of Le Mas d’Agenais and the colourful market of Marmande



2014 DATES & RATES for NEW itinerary between Castets-en-Dorthe and Boe:
VALUE SEASON: August 17-23 and Oct 12-Nov 1, 2014
  • Cabin cruise week: $8100/cabin ($4050/person, double occupancy)
  • Private charter:
    • 6 guests: $28,000
    • 7 guests: $29,000
    • 8 guests: $30,000
    • Special: August 17 departure = $27,000 for up to 8 guests
REGULAR SEASON: August 24-Oct 11, 2014
  • Cabin cruise week: $9180/cabin ($4590/person, double occupancy)
  • Special: August 24th departure = $8180/cabin
  • Private charter:
    • 6 guests: $32,000
    • 7 guests: $33,250
    • 8 guests: $34,500
Rosa still has good availability for their standard Agen to Montauban itinerary, too. Inquire for dates.

SPECIAL OFFERS (current as of February 10, 2014, subject to change. Inquire.)
Private Charters:
  • April 20 & 27 departures: $6000 off 8-pax rate
  • July & August departures: $3000 off 8-pax rate
Cabin Cruises:
  • May 4; July 6, 13, 20: and August 24 departures: $1000 off cabin


Rosa's charming accommodation for eight guests features two double and two twin-bedded staterooms, all with private ensuite bathrooms, and a redesigned saloon that gives direct access onto the spacious sundeck. A cruise on Rosa is the ideal way to explore this beautiful, pastoral region of Southwest France.

The Garonne Canal, also known as the Canal des Deux Mers, links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, passing through the region of l'Occitanie -- a veritable palette of colours and scents created by orchards and vineyards before joining the Canal du Midi. Visit historic fortified bastides, learn about the region's artists and rural culture, and cruise by picturesque old villages and quaint farms. Of course, as this cruise is near Bordeaux wine country, there will be plenty of opportunity to sample a part of France where good food and wine is a way of life.


Enjoy yourself this summer with a cruise aboard Rosa!



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book ROSA 
View Rosa's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com