Friday, August 01, 2008

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



Thursday, July 24, 2008

BARGE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER CHARTER TRIP COMMENTS

Better late than never... I meant to post these comments last year that we received from a couple we had aboard the Barge SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER. They had a wonderful time (of course!) and even had a special anniversary cake!

Cruise Loch Ness on the Barge Scottish Highlander with ParadiseConnections.com


Scottish Highlander - ParadiseConnections.com
Scottish Highlander - ParadiseConnections.com
Scottish Highlander - ParadiseConnections.com
Scottish Highlander - ParadiseConnections.com
Charter party = ELIZABETH F.
Charter dates = JULY 22, 2007
Barge = SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER

How did you enjoy your barging vacation?


Very well, thank you!!

Did you find your crew to be helpful, accommodating and friendly?

Yes, very good. The little side trips were well arranged and scheduled according to the time allowed. We enjoyed being taken to the places and not having to drive ourselves and/or find the castles, etc. The private concert by a wonderful piper was a real surprise as was the accordion playing by our barge captain!

Was Scottish Highlander comfortable, clean and well maintained?

Yes. the interior design is so complimentary to the country and "culture" of Scotland.

How would you describe the quality and presentation of the meals served on board?

Very, very good. Everything was so nicely presented and each course was a delight.

How did you find the services offered by Paradise Connections?

Excellent. We did not have to worry about a thing.

Would you be interested in taking another barging or yacht vacation in the future?

Probably

Thanks for your help!! Bettye



Scottish Highlander still has a few openings for this season, PLUS they are available for a 4-night New Year / Hogmanay cruise... That just sounds so cool. It really stirs my Scottish roots!

It is NOT too early to book for next year! The barges' calendars are already filling up for 2009 so don't wait... start planning your barging holiday now before your dates are taken by another group.

View SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER's online brochure: CLICK HERE

To book Scottish Highlander or for more information on barging holidays, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters: CLICK HERE

Visit our web site: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/

Monday, July 07, 2008

SPECIAL OFFERS / DISCOUNTS FOR BARGE HOLIDAY VACATIONS

We've been busy today with postings about special offers on various luxury hotel canal barges in France and Italy. Scroll down page, or click link below...
We hope you will be able to take advantage of one of these special discounts.

Remember, it is not too early to book for NEXT year, 2009. Many calendars are already filling up so don't wait too long!

Contact Paradise Connections for more information: CLICK HERE

Visit our web site: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/

French hotel barge l'IMPRESSIONNISTE special offer on special dates

UPDATED: The French luxury hotel barge l'Impressionniste is offering special discounts for selected weeks on Provence & Camargue cruises in the south of France.

French hotel barge l'impressionniste - Paradise Connections

25% discount for all remaining cabins for cruise departing July 20, 2008, and a 20% discount for a full-boat, private charter for cruises departing July 27, 2008 and August 24, 2008.
SPECIAL RATES & DATES:
  • July 20-26, 2008: US$2992/£1612 per person, double occupancy for a Junior Suite
  • July 27-Aug.2, 2008: 20% off for private full boat charter. US$36,640/£19,520for 12 people. (charters for 10, 11 & 13 people also available)
  • August 24-30, 2008: 20% off for private full boat charter. US$36,640/£19,520 for 12 people. (charters for 10, 11 & 13 people also available)

Every week is special aboard l'Impressionniste, though not a special discount for all weeks :) Inquire for other available dates.

View L'IMPRESSIONNISTE's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections to book or for more info: CLICK HERE

Visit our web site: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/

Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE special offer for 2008

The luxury hotel barge SAVOIR FAIRE has a special offer of a 15% discount for selected dates for the remaining 2008 season.

Hotel Barge SAVOIR FAIRE France Belgium Holland

SPECIAL RATES:
  • Charter the entire barge for up to 12 guests for only $35,700 (£18700)
  • Book a cabin for $3570 (£1913) per person, double occupancy

DATES:
  • July 27, 2008 - Upper Loire Cruise
  • August 17, 2008 - Chablis Cruise
  • August 24 - Champagne Region Cruise
  • August 31 - Champagne Region Cruise
  • October 5 - Chablis Cruise
  • October 19 - France & Belgium Cruise
  • October 26 - Belgium & Holland Cruise
View SAVOIR FAIRE's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections for more info: CLICK HERE

Visit our web site: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/

LA BELLE EPOQUE special offer family cruise August 2008

The French luxury hotel barge LA BELLE EPOQUE, is offering a special discount of 25% on their Family Cruise week which departs August 10, 2008. The route will be Auxerre to Clamecy, in the Bourgogne / Burgundy region of France.

French hotel barge LA BELLE EPOQUE

CLICK HERE to view the special family itinerary with kayaking, tree climbing, biking and lots of fun!

SPECIAL RATES for this week, August 10-16, 2008:
Junior Suite:
- per Adult: £1612 / $2992 double occupancy
- per Child, aged 0-17 years: £1500 / $2767

Suite:
- per Adult: £1687 / $3188 double occupancy
- per Child, aged 0-17 years: £1575 / US$2963 double occupancy
La Belle Epoque would be pleased to supply, at no extra cost, car seats, high chairs, bed guards, travel cots, children's bicycles and child bike seats and early children's tea's if required.

View our brochure for the French Hotel Barge La Belle Epoque: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections: CLICK HERE

Visit our web site: CLICK HERE

We hope you and your family can take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!

LA DOLCE VITA special offer for Venice Italy Barge Cruise

Inquire: CURRENTLY NOT CHARTERING - see LA BELLA VITA 





Cruise the waterways of Venice, Italy aboard the luxury hotel barge, La Dolce Vita.

LA DOLCE VITA Barge Cruise Venice Italy

LA DOLCE VITA is offering a special discount of $500/£250 per passenger (double occupancy) the following weeks:

August 10-16, 2008
September 14-20, 2008 : FIORITA REGATTA CRUISE
October 5-11, 2008
October 19-25, 2008

If these special offer weeks don't work out for you, they do have a couple of other open weeks available this season... inquire!

View LA DOLCE VITA's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Inquire: CURRENTLY NOT CHARTERING - see LA BELLA VITA 

Contact Paradise Connections for more info: CLICK HERE

Visit our web site: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/

Barge EMMA in Canal du Midi Special Rates for Special weeks 2008

Liz, from the Barge Emma which cruises along the Canal du Midi in the South of France, recently wrote to tell us about special offers for specific weeks...

French hotel barge EMMA - Paradise Connections
Rene & Liz, owner-operators of the lovely French hotel barge EMMA

July 26 - August 1, 2008:
Two cabins open. $3200/person (double occupancy)
Route: Carcassonne-Beziers

August 30 - September 5, 2008:
One cabin open. $3000/person (double occupancy)
Route: Carcassonne-Beziers

September 6-12, 2008:
Full boat charter (3 cabins). $18,500 for 6-person private charter.
Route Beziers-Carcassonne

September 27 - October 3, 2008:
2 cabins open. $3200/person (double occupancy)
Route Carcassonne-Beziers
There are a few other open weeks as well... inquire

View EMMA's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections for more info: CLICK HERE

View our web site: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/

Sunday, June 08, 2008

CRUISE IRELAND ABOARD THE SHANNON PRINCESS

Visit the Emerald Isle aboard the 10-passenger, hotel barge, Shannon Princess. Come and explore the lovely Irish countryside... not only the rich wildlife and spectacular scenery but their myths and legends as well. Pass by ancient monasteries, prehistoric cities, forts and Celtic vilages, while floating along the tranquil Shannon river.

There are still a few places available aboard the Shannon Princess for this 2008 season:

July 20: one suite open
August 31: two suites open
September 28: four suites open

View our brochure for Shannon Princess: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections: CLICK HERE

Visit our web site: CLICK HERE

Saturday, June 07, 2008

DISCOUNT FAMILY BARGE CRUISE, BURGUNDY FRANCE, JULY 2008

Take advantage of this exceptional offer of a family cabin cruise aboard the French barge LA BELLE EPOQUE, departing July 6 2008 AND receive a 25% discount!

La Belle Epoque would be happy to supply, at no extra charge, car seats, high chairs, bed guards, travel cots, children's bicycles, child bike seats.... ALSO early children's tea if desired.

DISCOUNTED RATES:

- Junior Suite: per person, double occupancy
Adult: US $2,992 / £1,612
Child (0-17 years old): US $2,767 / £1,500

- Suite: per person, double occupancy
Adult: US $3,188 / £1,687
Child (0-17 years old): US $2,963 / £1,575

CONTACT PARADISE CONNECTIONS: CLICK HERE

FAMILY ITINERARY - JULY 6-12, 2008
LA BELLE EPOQUE
AUXERRE TO CLAMECY

  • Sunday, Day 1 Paris to Auxerre
Guests are met at Hotel Ampere in Paris at 1:30 PM and transferred to the elegant La Belle Époque in Auxerre, Burgundy. Following a Champagne Welcome, you are free to explore the medieval town of Auxerre by bicycle or foot or take a stroll along the banks of the River Yonne before returning for dinner aboard.
  • Monday, Day 2 Auxerre to the Caves de Bailly
There is a choice this morning or either ice-skating, swimming and perhaps if there is time a game of 10 pin bowling as well. An alternative tour is St Bris with its extraordinary network of medieval passages beneath the town. A wine tasting introduces you to the outstanding Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines produced in Monsieur Bersan’s 12th century cellars. Dinner aboard.
  • Tuesday, Day 3 The Caves de Bailly to Accolay
This mornings choice of excursions depends on the children ages but you can choose quad biking (12+) Paint Balling (16+), potholing (10+) or pony riding (3+). Alternatively visit Auxerre and discover the medieval town centre. Originally the capital of Lower Burgundy, Auxerre prides itself on its fine churches. We cruise through rich pasturelands and past grazing Charolais cattle to Accolay. Dinner ashore in a local auberge.
  • Wednesday, Day 4 Accolay to Mailly la Ville
Visit the caves this morning of Arcy sur Cure. The site of Arcy sur Cure, a major one for the medium and late palaeolithic age in northern France, is located between Auxerre and Avallon. It includes a set of caves dug out by the Cure River into a coral massif that emerged at the end of the secondary era. Alternatively this morning, we visit the charming mediaeval village of Noyers, one of the most beautiful villages in France, on an excursion through delightful countryside. We then return to the barge for a cruise southwards through the Yonne valley past dramatic steep cliffs to the market town of Mailly. Dinner aboard.
  • Thursday, Day 5 Mailly la Ville to Lucy sur Yonne
In the morning we cruise past the Saussois cliffs where an international climbing centre creates a spectacular setting, mooring at Lucy sur Yonne. All ages will love a canoeing trip or rafting on the River Cure near Vezelay. The canoeing really is a fantastic excursion, which we feel, should not be missed. For those a little less adventurous we can visit the Chateau of Bazoches, whose illustrious visitors included Richard the Lionheart and which was later remodelled by Maréchal Vauban. Dinner aboard.
  • Friday, Day 6 Lucy sur Yonne to Clamecy
This morning we visit Cardoland, which is a vast wooded park about 7km from Vezelay. The sculptor, Cardo, created this wonderful prehistoric world of life size dinosaurs. It has a museum, caves, exhibition and prehistoric play area. Cardoland is a wonderful visit for families with younger children. An alternative to Cardoland is an excursion to the town of Vézelay, one of Burgundy’s most famous treasures with the Romanesque Basilica of St Mary Magdalene, craft shops and fine views of the surrounding countryside. A cruise this afternoon takes us through beautiful countryside then takes us to Clamecy. Take a short walk into Clamecy to visit the town, the Cathedral and also the Logging and Barging Museum. The narrow streets lined with ancient buildings also present an opportunity for shopping. Captain’s farewell dinner aboard.
  • Saturday, Day 7 Clamecy to Paris.
Disembark after breakfast and arrive at Hotel Ampere in Paris by about 1pm.

* * * * *

View our brochure for the French Hotel Barge La Belle Epoque: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections: CLICK HERE

Visit our web site: CLICK HERE

We hope you and your family can take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!