Bigger is not always better... Take a barge cruise

Bigger is not always better...

Oasis of the Seas docked in St. Thomas, USVI Max Passengers: 6,296

French Hotel Enchante moored at Le Somail, France (canal du midi) Max Passengers: 8

Which cruise vacation appeals to you? Spending your precious vacation days on a busy cruiseship with 6,000 other people waiting in crowded lines, or relaxing and enjoying your chartered barge that accommodates a maximum of 12 guests?

The pace of a barging cruise is slow and easy. Watch the passing scenery glide by from the large, comfortable salon or up on the sundeck enjoying the life that surrounds you. Enhance your culinary skills with tips from your chef. Take a dip in the hot tub.

Try a turn at the wheel. Walk or bike along the canal and meet up with the barge farther along the way while passing through a lock or at their lunchtime mooring.

There's no need to rush off into a cruiseship's or river cruiser's crowded lobby to line up for excursions.

Plus you have 4 to 6 crew members to attend to the needs of you and your small group of fellow travellers. Relax and enjoy.

We represent a variety of barges that cruise the European Waterways of France, Ireland, Scotland, England, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Italy. The maximum number of passengers they accommodate range from 4 to 12, with La Bella Vita in Italy taking up to 20 guests. If you are a larger group wanting a barging trip, we can arrange a tandem charter for you.



Paradise Connections represents all-inclusive, crewed, hotel barges that accommodate groups from 2 to 12 guests (La Bella Vita in Italy can take 20). If you have a larger group, we can arrange a tandem charter for you. Barging cruises can be either a private charter where your party has the entire barge to themselves for the week, or you can book an individual cabin and share the barge with others.

Life from a different point of view...

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

 

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Cheese: Spotlight on Coulommiers

Today, we will be featuring a cheese that is not widely known outside of France, Coulommiers. This cheese is named after the town where it originated in the French department of Seine-et-Marne, which is about an hour's drive east of Paris.

Coulommiers cheese is made either with unpasteurized cow's milk on a farm as a "fermier" version, or with pasteurized milk at a dairy, then aged for up to eight weeks before being sold. It is often called le Petit Brie de Coulommiers, as it comes in a round about 5 inches across, as opposed to the 14-inch round of a Brie from Meaux or Melun, for example.

Coulommiers is often mistaken for the more famous Brie as it has the similar snow-white rind and a slightly salty, nutty flavor and should be eaten at room temperature. A young Coulommiers is perfect with a glass of champagne, while a more unctuous, mature one is delicious accompanied by a glass of Pinot Noir. Coulommiers an excellent choice to be served with apples, pears or fresh berries at the end of the meal. It is also a great hors d'oeuvre cheese with sliced crusty french bread. 

Try some on your barge cruise

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

 

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Celebrate St Patrick's Day 2015 - Free Gift: Kindles

St Patrick's Day is coming so we are celebrating our Irish roots by offering a FREE GIFT of an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite to those booking a trip aboard either Shannon Princess or Emma.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!

Book a barging cruise for 2015 with Paradise Connections on either Shannon Princess (cruise the Shannon in Ireland) or Emma (French Canal du Midi but Liz is Irish) and we will give a Kindle Paperwhite for each cabin you've booked. Bookings must be made by the end of March 2015 but may be for anytime during the 2015 season.

SHANNON PRINCESS

Visit Ireland and enjoy seeing the sights and soaking up the Irish culture while cruising along the River Shannon with Ruairi & Olivia, owner-operators of the Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess, along with their attentive crew.

The barge accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 cabins which can be configured as either doubles or twins, as you prefer. Throughout the barge, you will find antiquities, crafts, and art with many works by Irish & local artists.

Shannon Princess is available for private charters and individual cabin bookings for shared charter weeks.

EMMA

The French Hotel Barge EMMA is owned and operated by Liz and René Jacquot and are assisted by two additional crew members. They cruise along the Canal du Midi in the south of France between Beziers & Carcassonne and Carcassonne & Toulouse.

EMMA is fully air conditioned and also has central heating, if needed. There are three guest cabins; one has a queen bed, while the other two can be configured as either queens or twins. Beautiful handmade Irish quilts from Oonagh Morisson add that extra touch of luxury.

Emma is available for private charters and individual cabin bookings for shared charter weeks. They also offer 5-night charters if that works better for your vacation plans and budget.

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Here's a bit of Irish culture for you :)

• Wondering what that phrase at the top of this post means?

Beannachtaí na Féile Páraic oraibh! : St. Patrick's Day blessing upon you
Click HERE to listen (ban-ock-tee na fay-lah paw-rig ur-iv)

• Here's another useful saying when you visit Ireland:

Pionta Guinness, le do thoil. A pint of Guiness, please.
Click HERE to listen (pyunta Guinness leh duh hull)

(Thanks to http://www.irish-sayings.com for these sound bytes!)

Erin go Bragh !

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

 

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French Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre: 20% off remaining 2015 charters

The luxury crewed French Hotel Barge SAVOIR VIVRE offers both cabin cruises and private barge charters along the Canal de Bourgogne in the Burgundy region of France. They have just announced a 20% discount off all private charters for the remaining open weeks of the 2015 barge cruising season.

French Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre - Barging Cruise in Burgundy France

SPECIAL RATES for remaining charter weeks in 2015:

These weeks are also available for cabin bookings, but the discount is only for private charters

PRIVATE CHARTER, Value Season:

April 12-18, 2015
October 18-24, 2015
October 25-31, 2015

• up to 6 guests: $20,800 (normally $26,000)
• 7 guests: $21,600 (normally $27,000)
• 8 guests: $22,400 (normally $28,000) 

PRIVATE CHARTER, Regular Season:

April 26-May 2, 2015
May 17-23, 2015
June 28-July 4, 2015
July 5-11, 2015
July 26-August 1, 2015
August 2-8, 2015

• up to 6 guests: $22,400 (normally $28,000)
• 7 guests: $23,200 (normally $29,000)
• 8 guests: $24,000 (normally $30,000) 

RATES & AVAILABILITY FOR 2015 CABIN CRUISES

CABIN CRUISES: Value & Regular Season

April 5-11: 2 cabins open, 2 cabins booked

• Special rate of $3500/person, double occupancy

May 5-9: 1 cabin open, 3 cabins booked
May 10-16: 1 cabin open, 3 cabins booked
June 14-20: 1 cabin open, 3 cabins booked
August 9-15: 1 cabin open 3 cabins booked

• Standard rate of $3750/person, double occupancy (ie $7500/cabin)

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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. The 2015 barging season hasn't even started and they only have nine open weeks left.

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

Savoir Vivre offers both cabin cruises and private charters. They currently have 9 weeks which can be for private charters or individual cabin bookings as all cabins are open and 5 cabin cruise weeks which have one or two cabins available.

Hotel Barge Savoir Vivre moored for the night on the Burgundy Canal, France

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.

Looking forward to your inquiries

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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

 

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English Hotel Barge Magna Carta: Special Events for 2015

The English Hotel Barge Magna Carta has several special cruise weeks lined up for this season, plus some discounted weeks!

English Hotel Barge MAGNA CARTA - Cruising along the Royal River Thames

Over the past week we have published posts concerning these special cruises. Please click on the following links for more information:

• Special Downton Abbey Cruises 2015: March, July, August
• 800th Anniversary of Signing the Magna Carta Cruises: June
• Chelsea Flower Show Cruise: May 17th departure
• Hampton Court Flower Show Cruise: June 28th departure

Magna Carta also has many interesting theme cruises: art, antiques, family, Chelsea flower show, Hampton Court Palace flower show, golf, tennis, walking tour, World War II, West End theatre, Christmas, New Years... or ask if you have any other special interests...

This year marks the 500th anniversary of Hampton Court Palace. How interesting!

Besides special cruises there are also special offers!

• 20% off per cabin: March 29 (Downton Abbey Cruise)
• 10% off per cabin: April 12 & 19
• 10% off per charter: April 12 & 26

See current special offers (click here).

English Hotel Barge MAGNA CARTA - Cruising along the Royal River Thames

Moored at Hampton Court Palace

The all-inclusive, crewed, luxury, English Hotel Barge Magna Carta is approximately 120 feet in length and has two decks. The lower deck boasts four full-width luxurious staterooms each averaging 200 square feet with private ensuite bathrooms. The staterooms may be configured as Kings or Twins according to your preference. Magna Carta has the most sophisticated modern amenities, including air conditioning, WI FI internet access and underfloor heating in each of the four full width suites. Each suite has exceptionally spacious contemporary en-suite facilities and colour TVs and DVD players. The upper deck comprises the main salon and dining areas with large picture windows and stylish furnishings. Outside you have the sundeck with comfortable seating and the spa pool/jacuzzi. There are eight bikes on board to take at your pleasure for rides along the tow paths.

The Magna Carta offers 6-night, all-inclusive private charters, as well as cabin cruises.

See England from a different point of view...

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

 

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BARGE CHARTER VACATION CRUISES: 2015 SPECIAL OFFERS and DISCOUNTS

 Click link below to see current special offers / discounts for
Barging cruises / Barge charters / Barge trips / Barging vacations

> > > CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT SPECIAL OFFERS < < <

Want to go cruising on a luxury crewed hotel barge? We have some great special offers for you.

Contact Paradise Connections for both cabin bookings or private charters.

Looking forward to your inquiries

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

 

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Hotel Barge Magna Carta: Hampton Court Flower Show 2015 Cruise

The English Hotel Barge Magna Carta which cruises the Royal River Thames between London (Hampton Court) and Henley-on-Thames, has THREE CABINS available for their 2015 Hampton Court Flower Show cruise.

Photo from the Royal Horticultural Society

The six-night Hampton Court Flower Show Cruise on Magna Carta will be departing on June 28, 2015. This cruise along the Royal River Thames will really appeal to the horticulturalists amongst you because, as well as a visit to the world-famous flower show, there will be tours of the Cliveden Estate and Gardens, Kew Gardens with its glorious glasshouses, Savill Gardens in Windsor Great Park, and Christ Church in Oxford.

We have three cabins open. How many would you like?

Hampton Court

Kew Gardens

Savill Garden

The luxury, 8-passenger, all-inclusive, crewed English Hotel Barge MAGNA CARTA on the Royal River Thames will soon begin her 2015 season, and her cruise route brings you in touch with the very soul of England. The Magna Carta cruises from Hampton Court to Henley-on-Thames past Royal Palaces, quaint riverside towns and villages.  It is the perfect way to admire olde worlde England and the natural beauty of Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.


The all-inclusive, crewed, luxury, English Hotel Barge Magna Carta is approximately 120 feet in length and has two decks. The lower deck boasts four full-width luxurious staterooms each averaging 200 square feet with private ensuite bathrooms. The staterooms may be configured as Kings or Twins according to your preference. Magna Carta has the most sophisticated modern amenities, including air conditioning, WI FI internet access and underfloor heating in each of the four full width suites. Each suite has exceptionally spacious contemporary en-suite facilities and colour TVs and DVD players. The upper deck comprises the main salon and dining areas with large picture windows and stylish furnishings. Outside you have the sundeck with comfortable seating and the spa pool/jacuzzi. There are eight bikes on board to take at your pleasure for rides along the tow paths.

The Magna Carta offers 6-night, all-inclusive private charters, as well as cabin cruises.

Check out our Regional Guide to learn more about the area where Magna Carta cruises.

Let's Go Barging !

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

 

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