Thursday, February 25, 2010

Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE: Queen's Day, April 30 2010

This morning we received a very interesting email from Chris of the Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE concerning the Dutch holiday, Queen's Day.
We still have 4 cabins available for our cruise which encompasses the 30th of April 2010. This is the day of the world renowned QUEEN'S DAY.

If you only visit Amsterdam once in your life, make sure your visit coincides with April 30th. Queen’s Day is the annual Dutch national holiday in honour of the late Queen Juliana’s birthday.

On Queen’s Day, there are celebrations throughout the Netherlands. However, the most popular destination is Amsterdam where up to one million visitors join the 750,000 locals in the world’s largest street party.

Queen Beatrix, who succeeded her mother in 1980, decided to keep the holiday on April 30 as the weather on her own birthday, January 31, tends to prohibit outdoor festivities.
Queen’s Day crowd on its way to an event.
Posted at Flicker by Photochiel

The Night Before Queen’s Day

Queen’s Day festivities start around midnight and last throughout the night (though official rules state that pubs must close for an hour or so before sunrise). Simply walk around in downtown Amsterdam (the Jordaan and Nieuwmarkt areas being among the most popular spots) and you’ll find plenty of partying going on.

That said, our advice is that you pace yourself. You’ll want to be more or less sober for the main feast.

Queen’s Day Proper

6:00 AM marks the start of the ‘free market’ – a street market where half the population sells their bric-a-brac, used clothes, and crafts for next to nothing. Where? Everywhere people live. What? Well, you’ll find anything from broken toys, last year’s Queen’s Day purchases, and fantastic bargains on musical instruments, electonics, software and everything else under the sun.

Throughout the city, professional street performers vie for attention. There are pick-up bands, aspiring opera singers, teenage rappers and street discos. Rio-style drum bands have been very popular the past few years.

Huge outdoor concerts are organized at various locations, such as Dam square and Museumplein.

Orange

The throngs lining the streets and canals wear orange, the national color (after all, the Queen hails from the House of Orange). Take ‘throngs’ literally – particularly in the city’s center where you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with other revelers.
 
Brouwersgracht on Queen’s Day
Posted at Flicker by Ron Layters 
(Ron says  "This is actually a canal, crowded with boats full of people celebrating the Queen's birthday in Amsterdam. Not much water on show! If you haven't been you should come as it is the greatest street party on earth. ok - it's a canal party as well!)
By way of indication: you can normally saunter from Central Station to Dam Square in about 7 minutes. On Queen’s Day the same distance will take you at least an hour. For most of the day, there is no public transport in the center of town. The canals offer little relief as thousands of boats, large and small, filled with party goers clog the city’s waterways.

The beer flows freely, though mostly in the form of reduced-alcohol ‘event beer,’ which is served in plastic containers that come with a deposit fee.

If you are coming to Amsterdam from out of town, take the train.
Thanks, Chris!

SAVOIR FAIRE still has availability for their Dutch Tulip Cruises. See our PREVIOUS POST for more information.

Dutch Tulip Cruises: 
  • March 28 - 6 cabins open
  • April 4 - 6 cabins open
  • April 11 - booked
  • April 18 - 2 cabins open
  • April 25 - 4 cabins open
Three-Country Amsterdam to Paris Cruise (13-night, 3 country cruise or may book one week of the two):
  • May 2 (Holland - Belgium) - 3 cabins open
  • May 9 (Belgium - Paris) - 3 cabins open
SPECIAL OFFER: EXPIRED

View SAVOIR FAIRE's online brochure and also check out their various itineraries, then contact us for more information.  Spring will be here soon!



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book SAVOIR FAIRE 
View Savoir Faire's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges & barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 


Monday, February 22, 2010

French Barging Cruise : Antiques in Provence France

The French hotel barge Enchanté offers a new theme cruise (Antiques) for this Spring 2010 in Provence.

The 88th International Antiques Fair is taking place over Easter weekend on April 2-5, 2010 in the delightful riverside town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, famous for its antique shops and markets.

For the March 28th and April 4th departures aboard Enchanté, there will be the opportunity to spend time exploring the antique shops of Pezenas, Arles and Mèze, and, of course, a day wandering around the hundreds of stalls at the big event on Friday, April 2 or Monday, April 5.

Click to view ENCHANTEs Antique Cruise in Provence itinerary.

The Antiques in Provence cruise is also offered August 8-14, 2010.



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

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Burgundy Guided Walking Tour / Barging Cruise Week - October 2010

The French Hotel Barge LA BELLE EPOQUE has added another special Guided Walking Tour week to their calendar. This is a very popular cruise (no special supplement for the Guide) and we hope that for those of you who were disappointed that this cruise was no longer open, that you can now take advantage of this new week, October 10-16, 2010.


There is NO extra charge or supplement for this special Walking Tour cruise whose itinerary is between Pouillenay and Tonnerre in Burgundy.

You can view their walking tour itinerary HERE.

This week falls within their "Value Season" so rates are only US$4,590/person, double occupancy for a Suite, and US$4,350/person, double occupancy for a Junior Suite, for an all-inclusive 6-night barging cruise.

Of course, if this week on La Belle Epoque appeals to you and you don't want to participate in the guided walks, that's OK too!




Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLE EPOQUE
View LA BELLE EPOQUE's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges & barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Hotel Barges Special Offers for Spring 2010 - Barging in France, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland

There are some good deals on hotel barges. Some require that you confirm your booking before 31 March 2010.


L'ART DE VIVRE - Click for brochure
  • Burgundy
  • up to 8 guests
  • Charters and Cabin cruises
Expired


RENAISSANCE - Click for brochure
  • Burgundy
  • up to 8 guests
  • Charters and Cabin cruises
Expired


ANJODI - Click for brochure
  • Canal du Midi
  • up to 8 guests
  • Charters and Cabin cruises 
Expired 





SAVOIR FAIRE - Click for brochure
  • Holland Tulip Cruises
  • Holland-Belgium-France 3-country cruise
  • Burgundy, Upper Loire, Paris
  • up to 12 guests
  • Charters and Cabin cruises
 Expired


LA NOUVELLE ETOILE - Click for brochure
  • Dutch Tulip Cruise, Belgium-Holland 2-country cruise
  • up to 8 guests
  • Charters and Cabin cruises
25% off for :
  • 8-person charter - April 4, 2010 - Belgium & Holland
  • per cabin - April 25, 2010 - Dutch Tulip Cruise


MAGNA CARTA - Click for brochure
  • Upper Thames (London-Henley)
  • up to 8 guests
  • Charters and Cabin cruises
  • Many interesting theme charters
$2000 off per cabin for departures beginning:
  • April 4, 18 & 25
  • May 30, 2010


SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER - Click for brochure
  • Caledonian Canal (includes Loch Ness)
  • up to 8 guests
  • Charters and Cabin cruises
  • Special Fishing, Golfing, and Walking cruises
Expired


SHANNON PRINCESS - Click for brochure
  • Lower Shannon River
  • up to 10 guests
  • Charters and Cabin cruises
Expired



We hope you will be able to take advantage of these current special offers.



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your barging holiday
Visit our website: www.BargeCharters.com
 

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

French Hotel Barge ALEGRIA - Lower rates for 2010 season

Olivier has lowered the rates for the 2010 season on his beautiful, luxury boutique French hotel barge, ALEGRIA.... a private, all inclusive, 4-person barging cruise for under $20,000 per week!

 
Enjoy a picnic in the vineyards

Alegria's rate might be reduced, but rest assured that the quality of the charter and the level of pampering has not!

Rates for 2010 Season:
All inclusive, 7-day 6-night charters:
  • 2 guests: $18,000
  • 3 guests: $18,600
  • 4 guests: $19,200
All inclusive, 4-day 3-night Discovery Cruise charters:
  • 2 guests: $10,350
  • 3 guests: $11,100
  • 4 guests: $11,850

Alegria cruises the canal du midi in the south of France between Beziers and Carcassonne, but Olivier is open to special requests, such as eastwards to the Petite Camargue and Aigues-Mortes, for example, or  above Carcassonne in the direction of Toulouse.



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book ALEGRIA
View ALEGRIA's online brochure
For more barges, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com
 

Monday, February 15, 2010

Do you need an extra Valentine's gift?

Happy Day-After-Valentine's Day & Happy Presidents' Day

If you feel the need for a bit of an "extra" Valentine's gift for that someone special, what could say more than a European barging trip ... except perhaps, a yacht charter sailing vacation :)


Offer the gift (represented by a toy boat maybe? or a nice bottle of French wine?) and then start planning your charter with Paradise Connections.



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your barging holiday
Visit our website: www.BargeCharters.com


Friday, February 12, 2010

Luxury Crewed French Hotel Barges - Barging Cruises in France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Italy, Germany

For a selection of luxury crewed hotel barges we represent, please visit our web site, view our blog, read our monthly barging newsletter, or contact us!

A barging cruise is a wonderful vacation for singles, couples, family, friends, and corporate trips too!

Come and explore the European waterways aboard a quality, luxury, all inclusive, crewed boutique hotel barge.

Visit our website to view barges in France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland / Belgium, Italy, Germany / Luxembourg



Saturday, February 06, 2010

French Hotel Barge ROSA to cruise Southwest France

We are very pleased to be adding the French Hotel Barge ROSA to our collection of barges.

Rosa, a 1907 Dutch Tjalk Clipper Barge, will be re-launched in southwest France in August 2010 after being completely refitted to a high specification.

Rosa cruises the beautiful Canal des Deux Mers (Canal Latéral à la Garonne)
in the Gascony / Bordeaux region of Southwest France

Rosa's new route between Agen and Montauban on the Canal des Deux Mers features the best that Gascony has to offer, including: private Armagnac and foie gras tastings, the motorised inclined water plane of Montauban, private wine tasting in the Cote de Frontonnais, visit to Moissac’s 7th century Abbey and Valence D’Agen’s beautifully preserved 4th century bastide architecture...

You may have already seen Rosa who was featured in the very successful BBC television series, French Odyssey with Celebrity Chef Rick Stein.

Rosa is fully air conditioned and will accommodate up to 8 guests. Her flexible layout will have two double-bedded and two twin-bedded staterooms, with full ensuite private bathrooms. The salon is particularly welcoming and features attractive wood panelling, comfortable seating and a cosy bar. The remodelling will ensure easier access directly onto the good sized sundeck and not via the side decks as previously. Rosa has an enthusiastic new French owner and an experienced crew of 4.

FRENCH HOTEL BARGE ROSA: AVAILABLE BEGINNING AUGUST 2010



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book ROSA
View ROSA's online brochure
Visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com


Thursday, February 04, 2010

French Barge ALEGRIA - Special Cabin Offer - Barging Vacation Cruises

The French Hotel Barge ALEGRIA which cruises the canal du midi in the south of France is offering --- EXPIRED

The Luxury French Hotel Barge ALEGRIA, cruising the canal du midi in the south of France



Wouldn't this be a great Valentine's Day gift? It could also be an excellent wedding present for a honeymoon or future vacation.


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book ALEGRIA
View ALEGRIA's online brochure
For more barges, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com


Monday, February 01, 2010

Hotel Barging Cruises - Current Special Offers - 1 Feb 2010

Can you believe it's February already! Seems like we were just celebrating the new year :)




RENAISSANCE - Click for Paris Marathon itinerary
  • Burgundy
  • Special Paris Marathon cruise
  • up to 8 guests
  • Charters and Cabin cruises
Paris & Burgundy:
10 nights for the price of 6 on Renaissance's unique Paris Marathon cruise
April 7-17, 2010 - MARATHON CRUISE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. Renaissance is now booked April 4-10 2010


LA NOUVELLE ETOILE - Click for brochure
  • Dutch Tulip Cruise, Belgium-France 2-country cruise
  • France: Burgundy, Alsace-Lorraine, Champagne, Paris, Upper Loire
  • Germany/Luxembourg: Koblenz to Remich
  • up to 8 guests
  • Wheel Chair accessible
  • Charters and Cabin cruises
Belgium to Holland 6 night cruise:
25% discount for an 8-passenger charter group departing 4th April 2010. Special lower prices also available for 6 & 7 passenger charter group


We hope you will be able to take advantage of these current special offers.



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your barging holiday
Visit our website: www.BargeCharters.com