Paradise Clothing - Tropical & Summer fashions

Looking for some new togs for your vacation? Need some summer clothes? Or perhaps you live in the tropics and need to add to your wardrobe?

Check out Paradise Clothing Company:

( Click on image above to visit Paradise Clothing )

I was surprised and quite pleased with their prices, and that's quite something coming from me :)

This code (AFF10) saves you 10% on orders of $75 or more, which is not too difficult... Or, if you prefer, use the code AFFFS50 and get free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Check out their BARGAINS & CLOSEOUT section, too! You can't buy those Reef sandals for those prices here on St Martin.

They have Christmas stuff, too!

Happy shopping!

Cruise the River Thames England - MAGNA CARTA

Cruise the historic River Thames in England
2009 cruises at 2005 prices

The luxury, crewed hotel barge Magna Carta has rolled back their prices to 2005!

Take advantage of their low rates for 2009:

Cabin bookings (shared charter):

• The rate per person sharing a double cabin aboard Magna Carta will be $3,690 instead of $4,500
• Single person occupying a double cabin is $4,590 instead of $5,900.

Full boat bookings (private charter):

• $28,000 for an 8-person charter instead of $33,000.

What a great way to visit "Merry old England"

• Contact Paradise Connections to start planning your barging vacation!
• View Magna Carta's online brochure
• Visit the barging section of our website: www.paradiseconnections.com/barges

Special conditions may apply...

Special Offer : Barge Scottish Highlander

Highlands of Scotland

The fully crewed, hotel barge Scottish Highlander cruises the Caledonian canal between Fort William and Inverness, through the Great Glen and along legendary Loch Ness

Full-boat charter promotion: Pay the full 8-passenger price (low season: $27,200 & high season: $31,000) and receive a 25% discount

• Scottish Highlander

Cabin booking promotion: US$1,000 discount per cabin on all August, September & October 2009

• Scottish Highlander

Special conditions may apply...

• Contact Paradise Connections to start planning your barging vacation!
• Visit the barging section of our website: www.paradiseconnections.com/barges

Say "Hello" to Nessie for us !!!

Discount Cruise - River Shannon, Ireland

Cruise the River Shannon in Ireland
aboard the Shannon Princess

US$1,000 discount per cabin on all on 10th May & 7th June 2009 departures and whole barge charter bookings for up to 10 passengers for available May & June departures aboard Shannon Princess in Ireland.

Contact Paradise Connections & start planning your vacation!
View the Shannon Princess online brochure
Visit the barging section of our website: www.paradiseconnections.com/barges

Special Offer: Barging in Venice Italy LA DOLCE VITA

Inquire: CURRENTLY NOT CHARTERING - see LA BELLA VITA

ITALY: Venice and the Islands for Whole Boat Charters

Private, full-boat charter promotion: US$500 discount per person on all May & June 2009 departures aboard

• the hotel barge, La Dolce Vita, Venice Italy

Contact Paradise Connections to start planning your barging vacation!
Visit the barging section of our website: www.paradiseconnections.com/barges

Inquire: CURRENTLY NOT CHARTERING - see LA BELLA VITA  

 

Complimentary Return TGV Journeys for Burgundy & Provence

Complimentary first class return train tickets for the TGV (high-speed train) between Paris and local station.

This offer applies to hotel barges:

• Napoleon in Provence
• Hirondelle in Burgundy

Contact Paradise Connections to book your French barge vacation holiday

Visit the barging section of our website: www.paradiseconnections.com/barges

French Hotel Barges, Canal du Midi - Special Offers

SPECIAL OFFERS (EXPIRED) FOR FRENCH HOTEL BARGES CRUISING THE CANAL DU MIDI IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

Full-boat charter promotion: Pay the full 8-passenger price and receive a 25% discount

• Special offer has expired

Cabin booking AND Full-boat charter promotions for AUGUST 2009: 10% discount on all cabin bookings for 1-2 people and charter bookings for 6-8 people in Southern France for August 2009

• Special offer has expired

Free Hotel Nights: 2 complimentary nights, based on double occupancy of a room on a bed and breakfast basis, at the Hotel De La Cite in Carcassonne, subject to availability when you charter

• Special offer has expired

These French barging holiday vacations are ALL INCLUSIVE, which means:

• 6 nights' accommodation on board in an air-conditioned en-suite cabin
• Return transfer to and from local meeting/drop off point.
• Daily excursions by chauffeured barge minivan and inclusive entry fees to Castles, Exclusive Vineyards, Markets and local Historical and cultural places of interest.
• The services of an experienced Captain / Host, Chef, Housekeeper(s) Driver/Tour Guide
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner aboard. All lunch and evening meals aboard are a gastronomic adventure with local produce.
• Local lunch ashore, once per week on most barges. Depending on the route, this may well be in a Michelin-starred restaurant.
• An excellent selection of fine regional and international wines and spirits plus all day Open Bar, tea and coffee.
• Use of barge facilities such as bicycles, boules, barge library and on certain vessels a spa pool.

CONDITIONS:

• Normal Terms & Conditions apply.
• Some cruises may require a minimum of 4 passengers booked to guarantee the cruise. The above offers apply to new bookings only.
• US$1,000 & US$800 discounts are based on two people sharing a twin/double cabin. 50% of the discount can be applied for single occupancy of a cabin or single cabin.
• Full-boat Charter Promotion Offer is valid for all 2009 departures except September. Deposits for these special offers must be received by 31st May 2009
• Credit card payments on all promotions carry a 2% surcharge (no charge for debit cards).
• LIMITED CAPACITY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO THESE PROMOTIONS SO EARLY RESERVATION IS RECOMMENDED.

Interested? Good !!!

• Contact Paradise Connections to start planning your barging vacation!
• Visit the barging section of our website: www.paradiseconnections.com/barges

Looking forward to hearing from you soon...

Hotel Barges in Burgundy France: Special offers

TIME-SENSITIVE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR FRENCH HOTEL BARGES IN BOURGOGNE/ BURGUNDY REGION OF FRANCE

Full-boat charter promotion: Pay the full 8-passenger price and receive a 25% discount

• Renaissance in Western Burgundy/Upper Loire
• L’Art de Vivre in Burgundy

Full-boat charter promotion: Pay the full 12-passenger price and receive a 25% discount

• La Belle Epoque in Burgundy
• L’Impressionniste in Southern Burgundy

Cabin booking promotion: US$1,000 discount per cabin on all April, May & June 2009 departures

• La Belle Epoque in Burgundy, France
• L’Impressionniste in Burgundy, France

Cabin booking promotion: US$800 discount per cabin on WALKING CRUISE departing 25th October 2009

• La Belle Epoque in Burgundy, Walking cruise

These French barging holiday vacations are ALL INCLUSIVE, which means:

• 6 nights' accommodation on board in an air-conditioned en-suite cabin
• Return transfer to and from local meeting/drop off point.
• Daily excursions by chauffeured barge minivan and inclusive entry fees to Castles, Exclusive Vineyards, Markets and local Historical and cultural places of interest.
• The services of an experienced Captain / Host, Chef, Housekeeper(s) Driver/Tour Guide
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner aboard. All lunch and evening meals aboard are a gastronomic adventure with local produce.
• Local lunch ashore, once per week on most barges. Depending on the route, this may well be in a Michelin-starred restaurant.
• An excellent selection of fine regional and international wines and spirits plus all day Open Bar, tea and coffee.
• Use of barge facilities such as bicycles, boules, barge library and on certain vessels a spa pool.

CONDITIONS:

• Normal Terms & Conditions apply.
• Some cruises may require a minimum of 4 passengers booked to guarantee the cruise. The above offers apply to new bookings only.
• US$1,000 & US$800 discounts are based on two people sharing a twin/double cabin. 50% of the discount can be applied for single occupancy of a cabin or single cabin.
• Full-boat Charter Promotion Offer is valid for all 2009 departures except September. Deposits for these special offers must be received by 31st May 2009
• Credit card payments on all promotions carry a 2% surcharge (no charge for debit cards).
• LIMITED CAPACITY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO THESE PROMOTIONS SO EARLY RESERVATION IS RECOMMENDED.

Interested? Good !!!

• Contact Paradise Connections to start planning your barging vacation!
• Visit the barging section of our website: www.paradiseconnections.com/barges

Looking forward to hearing from you soon...

French Hotel Barge EMMA - Ready to invite you aboard

The charming French hotel barge EMMA, owned and operated by Rene & Liz, mainly cruises the canal du midi in the south of France, but also has alternative Provence & Camargue routes.

Rene getting EMMA all spruced up for the new 2009 season

Here are some wonderful comments from guests they had aboard:

"Passengers with the good fortune of travelling aboard Emma will find themselves in the company of Liz and Rene, two of the finest, most experienced and friendly hosts that Southern France has to offer. Your barge experience will remain unmatched and you will fall in love with this boat and its hosts. Liz and Rene have perfected the pampering that is commmonly associated with France and the luxury barge experience. Their knowledge of the region is well connected with their ability to provide their guests with exceptional cuisine, tours, ambience and, most of all, friendship. We look forward to returning to Emma and telling our friends about our wonderful experiences."

EMMA's interior is spacious, bright and very comfortable for six guests . If your group consists of more than 6 people, we can arrange a "tandem" charter with another barge. The three guest cabins with en-suite facilities can be either twin or double bedded, as you wish.

EMMA is fully air-conditioned and has central heating for the cooler evenings in Spring and Autumn. The deck outside has a comfortable dining area and deck chairs to relax on as you watch the French countryside glide by.

• Contact Paradise Connections for more information
• View Emma's online brochure
• Visit the Barge section of our website

Liz & Rene are friends & former neighbors of ours and we highly recommend them for your vacation. They'll take good care of you :)

Enchanté New French Hotel Barge - South of France : Canal du Midi and Provence & Camargue routes

Enchanté says delighted to meet you! The new hotel barge Enchanté is scheduled to start cruising the rivers and canals of the South of France beginning August 2, 2009 and the task of converting her into a luxury floating hotel has been progressing as planned.

Here's an update that we recently received. Oh, by the way, there is a 10% discount for August 2009 cruises aboard Enchanté... contact us for details.

When we build a hotel barge, the first question we ask, is just what size are the locks on the particular section of the canal or river to be cruised? Usually locks are 130 feet long in France and the majority of our barges are 127 feet long and fit just right! However, in his esteemed wisdom, the engineer Pierre Paul Riquet who designed the UNESCO World Heritage acclaimed Canal du Midi in 1625, built the locks at 100 feet long.

Finding a barge to fit these smaller dimensions is nigh on impossible these days. In 1982, when I built Anjodi for the Midi, I spent 3 months trawling the backwaters of Holland and Belgium before finding a perfect barge which would just fit the stone-sided, oval Midi locks.

When Enchanté was conceived, we knew we would never find a 100 foot barge, so we acquired a 130 footer and cut her down to size! This, as you may imagine, is not an easy process and there are only a few places left in the Low Countries that I would trust with this hugely skilled task.

The photographs give you a quick view of just how we did it. These shots were taken some time ago and Enchanté has now been launched is now having her luxury interior fitted out ready for the season ahead.

Here are the photos (used by permission)... Click to enlarge!


Notice the two cuts...


Here the section has been removed. Look closely and you can see it off to the right.

















For several years Bob & I lived on a barge that was being converted into a houseboat on the Seine outside of Paris (La Péniche "Black Moon" in Port Marly, France), plus we built two sail boats, so we really enjoy "baby" pictures :)

• Contact Paradise Connections to plan your barging vacation
• View ENCHANTE's online brochure
• Visit the Barge section of our website

Enjoy!