Article about Paris Canals

This article appears to be from 2003, but it is still interesting. Read about the Canal Saint-Denis, Canal Ourcq and the Canal Saint Martin.

This system, built in the early 1800s by Napoleon Bonaparte, today includes a network of waterways stretching 81 miles across very different Paris neighborhoods and into the suburbs.

The Bassin de l'Arsenal is a beautiful park-like marina located at Bastille where the canal meets the Seine. Highly recommended spot to hang out for a bit! We use to visit there every week or two to see cruisers who were passing through.

Read more here : http://www.paristempo.com/canal.html

French Hotel Barge Clair de Lune - Cabin Available

The French Hotel Barge Clair de Lune has one cabin available on their Canal du Midi cruise taking place from Carcassonne to Beziers, May 31 - June 6, 2008.



All inclusive luxury French hotel barge Clair de Lune:

• 100-ft Long
• Four Crew
• Six Guests
• Three guest cabins with ensuite bathrooms
• Cabins can be made up with either a Queen or 2 Twin beds
• Large picture windows
• Outdoor Jacuzzi
• Air conditioning
• Central heating

Price:

• $9,400 per cabin (double occupancy)
• $2,400 supplement for single occupancy ($7,100)
  

View Clair de Lune's brochure: CLICK HERE
Book now! Contact Paradise Connections : CLICK HERE

LE PREMIER : Cabin Week May 2008

Le Premier has one cabin available for the week of May 11-17, 2008. This is the only scheduled cabin week as of October 26, 2007.

If this week isn't good for you, let us know and we can inquire if Le Premier would open another week for cabin charters.

Visit LE PREMIER's brochure : CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections to book Le Premier : CLICK HERE

Books on the French Canals

Here are some books about the canals of France... Patience while it loads :)




Enjoy!

BONNE HUMEUR: New barge brochure

We have just added a new barge brochure to our web site, Bonne Humeur!



Bonne Humeur's route includes cruising on the River Seine, the Canal de Loing and the ancient Canal du Briare with stops in the beautiful towns of Samois-sur-Seine, St Mammes, Nemours, Nargis and Rogny les Sept Ecluses.

Golf packages available !

See Bonne Humeur's new brochure : CLICK HERE

View all of our all inclusive, luxury, hotel barges : CLICK HERE

Contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS to plan your 2008 barging holiday vacation : CLICK HERE

Spend Happy Holidays in the UK this year

What an exceptional way to spend the holidays this Christmas season... Scottish Highlander for Christmas, followed by bringing in the New Year aboard the Thames barge, Magna Carta!


You can do either the 4-night Christmas Cruise with Scottish Highlander from December 23-27, 2007 or the 5-night New Year's Cruise aboard Magna Carta from December 28, 2007 through January 2, 2008. But BOTH would be BETTER :)

These two cruises follow on from each other very nicely as you can depart Scottish Highlander on the 27th December and be driven to Inverness Airport where you can fly to London Heathrow Airport or London Gatwick Airport, stay near Heathrow or Central London overnight and then be met by Magna Crew on the 28th December either at a hotel near Heathrow Airport or the Stafford Hotel in Central London.

Scottish Highlander has two staterooms available. $2400/room per person, based on double occupancy. CLICK HERE for Christmas itinerary.

Magna Carta has three suites available. $3400/room per person, based on double occupancy. CLICK HERE for New Year's itinerary.

Sounds great to me, but Bob & I have already made plans to be aboard our sailboat, So It Goes, in St.Barths over the holidays.

Don't think about it too long! Just pop us an email (CLICK HERE for email address) and we'll be in touch ASAP.

Here's the link to our Barge Page where you can see all of our barge brochures:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

La Belle Epoque - Wayfarers Walking Cruise

LA BELLE EPOQUE has three cabins available for their special theme cruise, Wayfarers Walking Cruise, for the week of October 21-27, 2007. CLICK HERE for details of the Walking Cruise.

Take advantage of this special offer, as:

• Theme cruises are normally offered for full boat charters only and not with individual cabin cruises.
• The extra supplement for a professional walking guide has been waived. Book a cabin at the standard price. A Junior Suite is $4350/person, double occupancy, and a Suite is $4590/person, double occupancy.

LA BELLE EPOQUE cruises along the Nivernais Canal in the Bourgogne Region between Auxerre and Clamecy, Burgundy, France.

View LA BELLE EPOQUE's brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS for more information: CLICK HERE

2007 availability on selected European barges

Here is current availability for 2007. Click boat name for the Barge's brochure.


ANJODI - Canal du Midi, France

• Oct. 28 - One cabin
• Nov. 4, 11 - Two cabins
• Nov. 18 - Four cabins (or private charter)
  

ART DE VIVRE - Canal du Midi, France

• Oct. 28 & Nov.11 - Four cabins (or private charter)
  

HIRONDELLE - Burgundy, France

• Oct. 21 - Three cabins

L'IMPRESSIONNISTE - Provence, France

• Oct. 21, 28 - Six cabins (or private charter)
  
• Nov. 11, 18 - Six cabins (or private charter)

LA BELLE EPOQUE - Burgundy, France

• Oct. 15 - Five cabins
• Oct. 21 - Three cabins
• Oct. 28 - Six cabins (or private charter)
• Nov. 4, 11 - Six cabins (or private charter)

MAGNA CARTA - Thames, England

• Sept. 16 - Four cabins (or private charter)
  
• Sept. 30 - Four cabins (or private charter)
• Oct. 7 - Four cabins (or private charter)
• Oct. 14 - Three cabins
• Nov. 4, 11 - Four cabins (or private charter)

SAVOIRE FAIRE - France, Belgium, Holland

• Oct. 14 - Six cabins (or private charter) - Auxerre - Paris
• Oct. 21 - Six cabins (or private charter) - Paris - Ghent
• Oct. 28 - Six cabins (or private charter) - Ghent - Haarlem

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER - Caledonian canal (Loch Ness), Scotland

• Sept. 16 - One cabin
• Sept. 23 - Four cabins (or private charter)
• Oct. 7 - Two cabins
• Oct. 14, 21 - Two cabins
• Oct. 28 - Four cabins (or private charter)
• Nov. 4, 11, 18 - Four cabins (or private charter)
• SEE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CHARTER
  

SHANNON PRINCESS - Ireland

• Sept. 16 - Five cabins (or private charter)

Contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS for more info: CLICK HERE

Christmas: Loch Ness, Scotland aboard barge Scottish Highlander

We have TWO cabins still available for the Christmas Cruise departing 23rd December 2007 in Scotland.



The price is $3,590 (£1890) per person for a stateroom and $3,990 (£2090) per person for the suite (based on 2 sharing each cabin).

Price includes:

• Transfer from Inverness to the barge on Sunday,
• 6 night Christmas Cruise,
• all meals on board catered for by the on board Master Chef,
• open bar 24/7 with a large range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks,
• all wines served throughout the cruise,
• all special Christmas Festivities and celebrations, excursions and admittance fees as per the itinerary,
• use of barge facilities which includes bicycles
• transfer back to Inverness the following Saturday morning.

Here is the itinerary:

** SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER ITINERARY - CHRISTMAS CRUISE **
Sunday 23rd December : Dochgarroch to Fort Augustus

• At 4pm we meet at the Glenmoriston Town House Hotel in Inverness and transfer to Scottish Highlander moored at Dochgarroch. Champagne welcome and dinner aboard, followed by good old-fashioned Scottish entertainment.

Monday 24th December, Christmas Eve: Dochgarroch to Fort Augustus

• In the morning we take a trip up to Moniack Castle, famous for its wines, liqueurs and preserves. On returning to the barge, we cruise past Urquhart Castle on our way along the northern shore of Loch Ness, then cross the loch to the village of Foyers. On arrival in Foyers we can enjoy a small Whisky tasting with the captain before lunch. In the afternoon we take a trip into the Inverfarigaig forest for a delightful walk to the Falls of Foyers and a drive into the hills to see the deer. It will also be possible to attend a Christmas Eve service at a local church. Dinner on board and entertainment while presents can be put round the Christmas tree.

Tuesday 25th December, Christmas Day: Fort Augustus

• We are moored for the day in Fort Augustus, a charming village at the south western end of the Loch Ness, its prominent feature being a splendid lock staircase. Lunch and Christmas present opening are followed by jolly accordion music. The afternoon can be spent with a gentle saunter around the village or maybe a game of croquet or putting. Scottish afternoon cream tea. CHRISTMAS DINNER ON BOARD.

Wednesday 26th December, Boxing Day: ort Augustus to Cullochy Lock

• After breakfast we leave Fort Augustus this morning and cruise to Cullochy Lock via Kytra We can we visit the Loch Ness Visitor Centre where the myth of the Loch Ness monster is explained, along with an interesting exhibition on her sightings and the search for her over the years. Donner on board followed by a trip out to a local inn for live music.

Thursday 27th December: Cullochy Lock to Gairlochy

• Leave Cullochy Lock for a morning cruise via two locks at Laggan, and through Lochs Oich and Lochy to Gairlochy. In the afternoon there is a chance to see either the World War II Commando memorial, the woollen mill at Spean Bridge, selling traditional knitwear and tweeds, or the Clan Cameron museum. Dinner aboard.

Friday 28th December: Gairlochy to Banavie

• Morning visit to the mystic battlefields of Glencoe. On the way back visit the Glen Nevis distillery for an insight into the secrets of the various stages of Whisky preparation and taste a wee dram or two. In the afternoon we cruise to Banavie and Neptune’s Staircase, a flight of eight locks that is a spectacular feat of engineering. Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard followed by a trip out to a local inn for live music.

Saturday 29th December: Banavie

• Passengers disembark for the transfer to Inverness by minibus after a hearty Scottish breakfast.

Minimum 4 people required to guarantee this cruise. This itinerary is subject to change.

View SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER's brochure : CLICK HERE
Contact Paradise Connections for more info: CLICK HERE

Treat yourselves to a very special Christmas this year!

All the best!

Magna Carta - Summer 2007 Special

Cruise the river Thames in England!



Magna Carta is offering a $750 discount per cabin on all available departures in 2007.

View their brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS for more information: CLICK HERE