All About Hotel Barge Charters: June 2010

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Antiques Fair Barging Cruise in Provence France

The French Hotel Barge ENCHANTE is offering a special ANTIQUES themed barging cruise in Provence France the week of August 8-14, 2010. This particular Antiques Cruise week is available only for private charter for 6 to 8 guests and not on an individual cabin basis.

Visit the International Antiques Fair with Hotel Barge Enchante

The 89th International Antiques Fair is held at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in Provence from August 12-15, 2010. This pretty riverside town in the south of France has received worldwide recognition for its antique fairs held over the Easter and August 15th holidays. More than 500 antique dealers and second hand dealers gather here to show their treasures to customers from all over the world. Plus, antique lovers and art collectors will also enjoy the 300 or so permanent antique and second hand shops.

If you are interested in bargain hunting for antiques you may especially be in luck due to the current Euro exchange rate.

Besides the antique fairs and shops, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue also offers golfing, fishing, hiking, kayaking, cycling, and horseback riding.

Enchanté provides luxurious accommodation for up to 8 guests in 4 equal en-suite twin or double suites, (approx. 200sq ft) each with superbly appointed bathrooms with showers and luxurious bath products. The barge is tastefully furnished in exotic hardwoods creating a bright and airy atmosphere. She has a large, spacious saloon where the attention to detail is noticeable. She has a demonstration galley for guests to view the chef, internet connection on board and a guest computer available, DVD/TV and air conditioning throughout. Enchanté also has a spacious sun deck, with al fresco dining, gorgeous hot tub and luxurious sun loungers. Each guest cabin on Enchanté has a mobile phone for their personal use while on board. When the guests arrive there's about 5 euros credit and they can top up anytime.

The French Hotel Barge Enchanté is available for private charters or by individual cabin bookings on shared cruise weeks along two routes in the south of France: canal du midi, and Provence/Camargue.

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

Friday, June 25, 2010

Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE Early Bird Special for 2011 bookings

The 12-passenger Hotel Barge Savoir Faire is offering a 10% discount for 2011 cruises, if booked by August 31, 2010.

Hotel Barge Savoir Faire

2011 DATES: Sunday departures:

HOLLAND: DUTCH TULIP CRUISE (Haarlem-Haarlem)

April 3, 10, 17, 24

May 1, 8

FRANCE: Paris to Auxerre

May 29

FRANCE: Auxerre to Ancy-le-Franc (Reverse direction on alternate weeks)

June 5, 12, 19, 26

July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

August 7, 14, 21, 28

We hope you will be able to take advantage of Savoir Faire's early bird special for 2011 canal barging trips.

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

Thursday, June 24, 2010

This makes it all worthwhile...

We had a couple of quick messages from one of our clients while she is chartering the Shannon Princess in Ireland this week.

We are having a great time here on the Shannon Princess... Thanks so much, and I will definitely send you pics when we get home.

Thanks so much... having the best time imaginable! I will write more about the experience when we get home, but I can't imagine ever topping this!

Cheers, Leigh

Shannon Princess is a hotel barge / river boat cruiser, which accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 cabins each with private, ensuite bathrooms. The Shannon Princess cruises the Shannon River between Athlone and Killaloe. Besides their standard itinerary, they also offer a guided walking cruise, and a golfing cruise. Of course, they are willing and happy to adapt your charter to your specific interests, too.... Perhaps Antiques & Crafts, Horseback Riding, Fishing, Cycling, and Artesian Food Trails sounds VERY interesting :)

Relax, Unwind, Enjoy... Barging in Ireland with Shannon Princess.

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

Sunday, June 20, 2010

French Hotel Barge SAINT LOUIS - Aquitaine Southwest France

We have just uploaded our new online brochure for the French Hotel Barge SAINT LOUIS, which cruises the Canal de Garonne in southwest France.

French Hotel Barge Saint Louis, Canal de Garonne, Aquitaine, Southwest France

Saint Louis is a 96-foot, Luxemotor barge, with a crew of 4. Saint Louis is fully air conditioned and accommodates up to 6 guests in 3 double or twin cabins (configured as you wish) each with private, ensuite bathrooms.

Barging cruises on the Garonne in Aquitaine, southwest France

Saint Louis cruises two routes on the Canal de Garonne:

Castets-en-Dorthe to Agen
Agen to Montauban

They also will arrange golfing cruises and adapt their standard cruise to your interests.

Rates, 7 days/ 6 nights, Saturday to Friday:

$21,156 for 4 guests, private charter
$23,994 for 6 guests, private charter
$4,189/person, double occupancy for individual cabin cruise weeks (shared charter)

Dates:

2010 barging season: April 3 - October 8, 2010
2011 barging season: April 2 - October 14, 2011

Saint Louis already has bookings for the 2011 season!

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

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE - New Burgundy route for 2011

Chris, captain and owner of the Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE, wrote to let us know that they have put the finishing touches on their new Burgundy cruise route for the 2011 barging season.

Hotel Barge Savoir Faire barging cruises in France, Holland and Belgium

Chris writes:

With 2011 bookings coming in we have finalised our cruise route planning for next season.

2011 heralds the introduction of a brand new cruise route for the SAVOIR FAIRE. We shall be cruising the BURGUNDY CANAL and have designed an exciting and exclusive itinerary, which you can find below.

This cruise route provides the best that barging has to offer. Walking and biking is available every day whenever the passengers want. Hop on, hop off, help with the locks - we're going nowhere fast!

Exciting and individually tailored excursions include palaces, chateaux, abbeys, wine tasting, cheese. In addition to these are opportunities to visit numerous additional sights along the way. This is barging at it's best. Relaxed, gentle on the soul, every bend offering something new!

Paradise Connections is on the ball and we have already added this new itinerary (The Best of Burgundy) to SAVOIR FAIRE's online brochure.

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

Friday, June 18, 2010

Barging & Golfing in England - MAGNA CARTA English Hotel Barge on the River Thames

The English Hotel Barge MAGNA CARTA which cruises the River Thames in England, is offering a golfing week (September 12-18, 2010) on an individual cabin cruise basis, rather than as a themed cruise for a full-boat, private charter.

We hope you will be able to take advantage of this special opportunity.

September is a great time for golfing in the UK and it would be nice to have a few more golfers aboard. Instead of the standard additional golf supplement, it will be adhoc, pay-as-you-go situation.

TWO CABINS AVAILABLE for GOLFING CRUISE WEEK:
12-18 September 2010
Only $8000/cabin ($4000/person)

The couple who have already booked a cabin aboard MAGNA CARTA for this departure wants to golf twice during the week. They are interested in the Hampton Court Palace Golf Club as they want to walk from barge with clubs and play, and also perhaps the Sunningdale Golf Club as it is rated in the top 20 in the world. Sunnydale requires men to have a handicap of 18 or better, and women to have a handicap of 24 or better. Take a look at Magna Carta's golfing itinerary for other possibilities.

If golf is not your cup of tea and you would like to cruise the Royal Thames this particular week, that's fine... there are plenty of other activities you can enjoy.

The English Hotel Barge MAGNA CARTA

The English Hotel Barge MAGNA CARTA accommodates up to 8 guests in 4 ensuite cabins. Please see their online brochure for more details.

Remember, MAGNA CARTA has a special $1000/cabin discount off their standard rate for all remaining openings for the 2010 barging season.

The MAGNA CARTA is also available for full-boat, private charters, too :)

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

Thursday, June 17, 2010

SAVE BIG with Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE 2010

The French Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE has a fantastic special offer for the remainder of the 2010 barging season.

Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE : Barging in France, Belgium & Holland - Spring Dutch Tulip Cruises

ALL REMAINING OPEN DATES FOR THE 2010 SEASON ARE NOW BEING OFFERED AT
$29,500 FOR CHARTERS UP TO 12 GUESTS

Standard 12-person charter rates for 2010 : $41,750 (value season) and $45,400 (regular season).

This is a great barge for a group of family or friends... perhaps your wine-tasting club? Go barging in France this summer and explore the culture and countryside aboard your floating hotel. You'll come back for more :)

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

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

French Hotel Barge EMMA - News for 2011 Season

We recently had word from Liz & Rene, owner-operators of the French Hotel Barge EMMA, that prices for 2011 remain the same as 2010. That will be three years in a row without a rate increase. This is wonderful for you (same great price) and for me as well as I don't have to modify their web page :)

Join the fun on EMMA

Liz says:

We are adding in a new route which we have tried out this year and it was a great success with all, guests and crew alike. We cruised from Carcassonne in the direction of Toulouse turning round at Renneville. This route proved very popular with our guests who have all cruised the other routes with us. The canal is very pretty, the lock keepers houses are charming, the variety of trees and vegetation stunning (in July the sunflowers are out everywhere) but most of all it was the peace and quiet with not having so many Rent a boats (Tupperwares as René calls them). The route still takes in the highlight of Carcassonne, includes visits to Rennes le Chateau, Revel, Lac St Ferreol and Castelnaudary. Pick ups and drop offs would be from Toulouse well served by Blagnac Airport and the TGV and/or Carcassonne Airport/ TGV.

We will still be offering the route from Beziers to Aigues Mortes as and when we can fit it into the planning and of course we will always consider other routes and visits at your request.

You can see the Carcassonne - Toulouse itinerary on our online brochure for EMMA.

EMMA's planning for the 2011 season is:

Beziers - Carcassonne : April 2 - July 1, 2011
Carcassonne - Toulouse: July 2 - September 23, 2011
Beziers - Carcassonne: September 24 - October 28, 2011

If you are interested in one of EMMA's other itineraries, let us know and we'll see if they can fit it in to their schedule.

We hope you will visit "The Dream Team" soon.

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

Monday, June 14, 2010

Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE: Bastille Day Special Offer

Celebrate BASTILLE DAY aboard the Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE and save $16,750.

The French really know how to put on a firework show and in our case, it was usually just a few meters down the waterfront from where Loose Moose was moored... We always had a bucket of water handy just to be prudent :) But, I digress... Back to Savoir Faire...

The Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE will be in Sens on the river Yonne for this festive week.

Here's the news from Chris ...

Summer is fast approaching and that means Bastille Day is right around the corner. On July 14, France will be once again be celebrating the 1790 Fete de la Federation, which was held those 200 and some years ago on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille.

Once aboard the SAVOIR FAIRE, you won’t be able to miss the party. Parades, fireworks, picnics and parties will be taking place throughout France. Many parties are held at the fire stations, with the firefighters as the main attraction.

As all the waterways of France are closed on 14th of July, we have planned a fun packed day with sightseeing, a gourmets picnic lunch and copious wine tasting.

Throughout France, the French get together for picnics during the day, and it wouldn’t be a French picnic without a few basics: although baguettes, ham, cheese, olives and wine are common fare, your chef will prepare a true feast to be enjoyed in a beautiful setting. He will even add a little pizzazz to the usual bottle of wine by bringing it in a watermelon. Called Pasteque Ivre, or "drunken watermelon", it basically involves infusing a watermelon with red wine, or perhaps even a rosé.

After a sumptuous dinner, celebrating some of the greatest French dishes available, we enjoy a spectacular firework display from the upper deck of the SAVOIR FAIRE.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR CRUISE - (expired)

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

All the best,
Chris Bennett
SAVOIR FAIRE

Doesn't that sound absolutely wonderful? Are you ready to get down and celebrate? Let us know!

Also, a reminder... The Savoir Faire still has openings for last minute cabin Dutch Tulip Cruise bookings:

April 18: Amsterdam Tulip Cruise : 2 cabins available
April 25: Amsterdam Tulip Cruise : 4 cabins available

There is a cabin available on the 13-night, 3-Country Cruise from Amsterdam - Ghent - Paris, May 2-15, 2010. Places on this magnificent cruise can be booked for either one or both weeks. This cruise is limited to 8 guests.

May 2: Amsterdam-Ghent : 3 cabins booked / 1 available
May 9: Ghent-Paris : 3 cabins booked / 1 available

What's not to love :)

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

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Guided Walking Tour Cruise in Ireland aboard the Irish Hotel Barge SHANNON PRINCESS

The Irish Hotel Barge SHANNON PRINCESS is offering a Guided Walking Tour cruise this season.

A Guided Walking Tour cruise has been scheduled for the week of June 20-26, 2010. There is no additional supplement for this week's special cruise.

The all-inclusive boutique hotel barge SHANNON PRINCESS accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 ensuite staterooms and cruises the lower Shannon River in Ireland between Athlone & Killaloe.

We have just updated their online brochure and have also added this new Guided Walking Tour itinerary.

SHANNON PRINCESS's new Walking Itinerary for the 2010 season embraces the luxury and comfort of barging, along with the satisfaction and exhilaration of quality guided walking tours in a unique and beautiful environment that only Ireland’s river Shannon can offer. Along with their chauffeur-driven luxury mini coach & professional walking guide, Shannon Princess provides the perfect floating vista for your Irish walking adventure. Walks are guided by professional walking guides, all with backgrounds in archaeology, history, natural science, and, of course, a smattering of local knowledge.

Routes will typically vary between 14-20 km, or a 4-hour period. With undulating routes, many of the walks are areas of special environmental preservation. Enjoy alfresco gourmet lunch and refreshments catered by the barge crew and their support vehicle. Return to the barge for Captain's cocktail reception and a leisurely afternoon or evening dining cruise to our next port of call.

Walks include:

The Tain Trail
The Pilgrim's Path
The Slieve Bloom Way
The East Clare Way
The Graves of the Leinstermen

SHANNON PRINCESS has scheduled a Guided Walking Tour cruise for the week of June 20-26, 2010. There is no additional supplement for this week's special cruise.

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