Thursday, September 10, 2015

Barge L'Art de Vivre : A bit of history

The Many Lives of L’Art de Vivre

French Hotel Barge L'Art de Vivre has lived through many important historical times. Here is her story...

L’Art de Vivre is actually not the name with which this vessel came into the world. When she was built in 1917 in Deptford, England, she was christened with the name Marie Brizard after the 18th century creator of Anisette, the liquorice liqueur.

Since she was born in a time of war, she didn’t have the easiest start. Her initial purpose was to carry ammunition to Northern France to help the fight of the Allies in the Somme. She was built to withstand the harsh weather conditions and the groundings on the Channel's beaches. With a bit of imagination, you can still picture this barge with her strong, sturdy body as an ammunition ferry.

From Ammunition to Alcohol

When the First World War ended, her journey took a completely different direction. She was assigned the rather more cheerful task of delivering barrels of Cognac from Angoulême to Rochefort along the River Charente. Over the years Marie Brizard had many name changes including Cognac, Royal Cognac, Napoleon, Mark Twain, Magellan and Kir Royal; names with an alcoholic flavor!

Now Living the Good Life

It was in 1975 that Florian Waleski, a direct descendant of Napoleon, turned L’Art de Vivre into what whe is now: a beautiful hotel barge. In 1999 she was sold and her new and current owners gave her a makeover (including an interior refit of the cabins and galley) after their initial purchase and again in 2008,

L’Art de Vivre now cruises the inland waterways of Burgundy and allows her hotel barge passengers to indulge in the Burgundian "good life".

In two years time (2017), L’Art de Vivre will celebrate her 100th anniversary! Why not experience the magnificent history that is instilled in this hotel barge for yourself on one of their unforgettable cruises in Burgundy?

Looking forward to your inquiries...

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book L'ART DE VIVRE
View L'Art de Vivre's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com

It's not how far nor how fast, it's the pleasure of the journey that keeps people coming back for more.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Early Bird Specials for 2016 Barge Cruises

The following barges are offering a 10% discount off their standard 2016 prices for both private charters and cabin cruises. Deposit by December 31, 2015 except where noted.

BURGUNDY:

La Belle Epoque - April 3 & 10, 2016
L'Art de Vivre - April 10 & 17, 2016
Finesse - All May and June 2016

CANAL DU MIDI:

Anjodi - April 3 & 10, 2016
Enchante - March 20 & 27, April 3, 2016
Clair de Lune

Charter: March 27, April 3, 2016
Cabins: March 27, April 3 & 10, 2016

GASCONY:

Rosa - March 27, April 3, 10 & 17, 2016

ITALY:

La Bella Vita - March 27, April 3 & 10, 2016

SCOTLAND:

Scottish Highlander - April 10 & 17, 2016

ENGLAND:

Magna Carta - March 27, April 3, 10 & 17, 2016

Conditions:
Our normal Terms & Conditions apply. Some cruises may require a minimum of 4 passengers booked to guarantee the cruise.
These special offers are subject to availability, apply to new bookings only and cannot be used in conjunction with other offers. Offers such as single traveller offers cannot be combined with any other offers.

Our Cruises are All-Inclusive:

* 6 Nights accommodation on board in an air-conditioned, en-suite cabin.
* The services of an experienced Captain / Host, Chef, Hostess(es), Driver/Tour Guide.
* Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard. A local meal ashore, once per week on most barges.
* An excellent selection of fine regional and international wines and spirits, plus an all day open bar, tea and coffee.
*Daily excursions by chauffeured minibus and entry fees to castles, vineyards, markets and other local places of interest.
* Use of barge facilities such as bicycles, boules, barge library and on certain vessels, a spa pool.
* Return transfers to and from the local meeting/drop off point.

Contact Paradise Connections for either cabin bookings or private charters.

Looking forward to your inquiries

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

Wednesday, August 05, 2015

BARGE VACATION CRUISES: Availability for September 2015

Still Time for a September Barging Cruise

[Updated August 6, 2015]

September is always the most popular month for hotel barging. There are fewer holidaymakers, the weather is ideal and, in France it's the time of the wine harvest. We still have some availability for the month of September; some barges even have attractive special offers.

Click on the barge's name below to view our online brochure.

August 30 to September 5 (6 Nights)

Hotel Barge	Region	Availability	Special Offer
La Belle Epoque	Burugndy	1 Cabin	YES
Anjodi	Canal du Midi	3 Cabins	YES
Rosa	Gascony & Bordeaux	Charter / 4 cabins	YES
Panache	Alsace & Lorraine	Charter / 6 cabins	YES
Savoir Faire	Champagne	Charter / 6 cabins	YES
La Bella Vita	Italy	4 Cabins	YES
Nymphea	Loire	Charter / 3 cabins	NO

September 6 to September 12 (6 Nights)

Hotel Barge	Region	Availability	Special Offer
*~~La Belle Epoque~~*	Burgundy	BOOKED	NO
La Bella Vita	Italy	5 Cabins	YES
*~~Scottish Highlander~~*	Scotland	BOOKED	NO

September 13 to September 19 (6 Nights)

Hotel Barge	Region	Availability	Special Offer
Panache	Alsace & Lorraine	1 Cabin	NO
La Bella Vita	Italy	1 Cabin	YES
*~~Shannon Princess~~*	Ireland	BOOKED	NO

September 20 to September 26 (6 Nights)

Hotel Barge	Region	Availability	Special Offer
La Belle Epoque	Burugndy	2 Cabins	NO
Clair de Lune	Canal du Midi	1 Cabin	NO
Nymphea	Loire Valley	1 Cabin	NO
La Bella Vita	Italy	Charter / 10 Cabins	YES
Magna Carta	England	1 Cabin	NO

September 27 to Oct 3 (6 Nights)

Hotel Barge	Region	Availability	Special Offer
Clair de Lune	Canal du Midi	Charter / 3 Cabins	NO
Rosa	Gascony & Bordeaux	1 Cabin	NO
La Bella Vita	Italy	Charter / 10 Cabins	YES
Magna Carta	England	2 Cabins	NO

Click HERE for discounts and special offers,

Plus, we have barges available for October... just ask!

Contact Paradise Connections for either cabin bookings or private charters.

Looking forward to your inquiries

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

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

BARGING CHARTERS VACATION CRUISES: 2015 SPECIAL OFFERS and DISCOUNTS

Book Now and Save

Special Offers for 2015 Barging Cruises / Barge Vacations

We have updated our Special Offers page

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

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

Contact Paradise Connections for both cabin bookings or private charters.

Looking forward to your inquiries

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

Saturday, June 13, 2015

La Bella Vita Opera Cruise Italy, Sept 2015 - Reminder

We would like to remind you of this exceptional opportunity... There are 5 cabins booked and 5 cabins open for La Bella Vita's opera cruise week.

Opera Cruises in Italy - Hotel Barge La Bella Vita

For the opera lovers amongst you, we would like to remind you about the special Opera Cruise aboard the Hotel Barge La Bella Vita in Italy which is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience.

Photo Courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona

Before your cruise from Venice to Mantua begins, you will be taken to Verona to visit to the fascinating Arena Muse Opera, a wonderful museum devoted to the history of opera, followed by dinner in the delightful courtyard restaurant.

Then comes the real highlight as you take your top-priced front stalls seats to enjoy a performance of one of the best-known operas, such as Puccini’s ‘Tosca’ or Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’, in the magnificent setting of the Roman amphitheatre, the Arena di Verona.

At the end of a memorable evening, you are transferred back to your hotel in Padua, where next day, there will be a guided tour of this, one of the Veneto’s most charming cities, before joining La Bella Vita in Venice.

During the 6-night cruise, there are visits to some wonderful baroque theatres, such as the Gran Teatro La Fenice, where the premières of operas by composers such as Rossini and Verdi were performed, and the intimate Teatro Bibiena in Mantua, with its bell-shaped interior that opened with a concert by a 13-year-old Mozart in 1770.

Photo Courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona

And, of course, there is a lot more to see as you cruise across the Venetian Lagoon past its colourful islands and on through the Po Valley - visits to the famous fish market in Chioggia, the Schifanoia Palace in Ferrara and the stunning Ducal Palace in Mantua, as well as wine tastings and dinner in a private stately home where Lord Byron wrote some of his best poetry.

This 7-day adventure is a wonderful combination for what Italy is famous for – wonderful food and wine, Renaissance architecture and of course – opera!

Opera Cruise in 2015

ITINERARY: This is a 7-night special "Opera Cruise" - Includes 1 night, Saturday September 5, in a hotel in Padua and a performance of Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’ at the Arena di Verona (best seats in the house). The cruise is then for 6 nights and the direction is between Venice & Mantua. See the itinerary in full.
DATES: September 5-12, 2015
AVAILABILITY: There are currently 5 cabins open and 5 cabins booked.
PRICES, for the 7-night itinerary:

Michelangelo (upper deck) Junior Suite: $5940/person, double occupancy
Tintoretto (lower deck) Stateroom: $5140/person, dbl occ
Veronese (lower deck) Stateroom: $5140/person, dbl occ
Caravaggio (lower deck) Stateroom: $5140/person, dbl occ
Tiepolo (lower deck) Stateroom: $5149/person, dbl occ

La Bella Vita is a stylish 20-passenger vessel offering comfortable, fully air-conditioned accommodations with a choice of single or double beds. She has two upper-deck junior suites and eight lower-deck staterooms, all with en-suite facilities; and a bright, spacious dining room/bar area. Louvred doors open to the side decks to give a perfect viewing platform. Above, there is a huge sun deck with comfortable loungers to relax on with a drink and a good book, or just watch the world go by.

Click on map to enlarge

The variety of charming waterways between Venice and Mantua (Mantova) promises a unique and magical cruising experience. The itinerary includes fascinating excursions that offer a real insight into the many cultures -- Roman, Etruscan, Istrian, Byzantine and, of course, Renaissance -- that have influenced the arts, architecture and history of the region over many centuries. Enjoy the diverse landscapes and nature en route, from picturesque lagoon islands with their colourful houses, to wild beach dunes and pine woods with an abundance of birdlife; from the charming Venetian port of Chioggia via the River Po and Bianca Canal to the captivating lakeside setting of the Renaissance city, Mantua.

Looking forward to your inquiries...

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLA VITA
View La Bella Vita's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com

It's not how far nor how fast, it's the pleasure of the journey that keeps people coming back for more.

Monday, June 01, 2015

BARGING CHARTERS VACATION CRUISES: 2015 SPECIAL OFFERS and DISCOUNTS

Book Now and Save

Special Offers for 2015 Barging Cruises / Barge Vacations

We have updated our Special Offers page

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

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

Contact Paradise Connections for both cabin bookings or private charters.

Looking forward to your inquiries

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

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Hotel Barge Shannon Princess - Golf Cruise in Ireland

We have a guest post today from Ruairi and Olivia, owner-operators of the Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess regarding their Golf Cruise while journeying through the countryside of Ireland along the Shannon River.

Golfing in Ireland

History of Golf

Golf in its current form has been around since the 15th century, the origins of which are traced to Scotland. Through the centuries it has seen a lot of changes including a ban by the Scottish Parliament in 1457 because it was interfering with archery practice which was a cause of concern for the nation’s defence! Thankfully the ban was lifted in 1500 and by 1552 the Old Course at St Andrew’s, Scotland, was opened to residents of the area.

The first of Ireland’s golf clubs were founded in the 1880’s, one of which is Lahinch golf club which we visit during our golf cruise. In 1910 the Irish Golfer’s Guide was published and by 1911 the Irish Professional Golfers’ Association was established.

Combining Golf with a Luxury Barge Cruise

What better way to play golf in Ireland than to combine it with a luxury barge cruise on board the Shannon Princess.

During the 6-day break, we visit four world class golf courses:

Lahinch Golf Club

Adare Manor Golf Club

K-Club

Glasson Golf Club

The Golf Cruise Experience

Starting the morning with a scrumptious breakfast, we will then transport you by luxury coach to the golf course. With an average transfer time of one hour, it won't be long before you will be playing a round of golf.

Set among the backdrop of lush Irish countryside and scenery, you will play on some of the finest golf courses in Europe.

No doubt all that fresh air will have created an appetite and in the evening you can sit back on board the barge and relax while we present you with a 7-course gourmet dinner.

With an array of elegant dishes, our foods are freshly sourced, free range and organic. We will cater to your dietary needs and can offer low fat, healthy eating options. If you still have energy after all of this, perhaps a visit to one of the local bars onshore for a bit of Irish craic and banter will finish the day in true style!

Thanks for your contribution, Ruairi and Olivia. We appreciate it!

Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess

Visit the Emerald Isle aboard the owner-operated hotel barge, ShannonPrincess II, cruising the River Shannon between Athlone and Killaloe. 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.

Shannon Princess 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 and local artists.

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

View our online brochure for the Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess which includes their various themed itineraries such as their golfing cruise. Then contact Paradise Connections to start planning your barging vacation.

Why wait any longer... Go barging in Ireland !
and do a bit of golf, too...

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

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Hotel Barge La Bella Vita Opera Cruises in Italy

Opera Cruises in Italy - Hotel Barge La Bella Vita

For the opera lovers amongst you, we are delighted to inform you about a special Opera Cruise aboard the Hotel Barge La Bella Vita in Italy which is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience.

Photo Courtesy of Fondazione Arena di Verona

ITINERARY: This is a 7-night special "Opera Cruise" - Includes 1 night, Saturday September 5, in a hotel in Padua and a performance of Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’ at the Arena di Verona (best seats in the house). The cruise is then for 6 nights and the direction is between Venice & Mantua. See the itinerary in full.
DATES: September 5-12, 2015
AVAILABILITY: There are currently 5 cabins open and 5 cabins booked.
PRICES, for the 7-night itinerary:

Michelangelo (upper deck) Junior Suite: $5940/person, double occupancy
Tintoretto (lower deck) Stateroom: $5140/person, dbl occ
Veronese (lower deck) Stateroom: $5140/person, dbl occ
Caravaggio (lower deck) Stateroom: $5140/person, dbl occ
Tiepolo (lower deck) Stateroom: $5149/person, dbl occ

Click on map to enlarge

Looking forward to your inquiries...

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book LA BELLA VITA
View La Bella Vita's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com

It's not how far nor how fast, it's the pleasure of the journey that keeps people coming back for more.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

RECIPE for Clafoutis from Hotel Barge Rosa

Chef Mike Crowson from the French Hotel Barge Rosa has sent us this recipe for the French dessert clafoutis (pronounced kla-foo-TEE).

Clafoutis, a popular French dessert aboard Hotel Barge Rosa

The most popular lunch dessert & most requested recipe at the beginning of this season has been the classic & humble Clafoutis.

Clafoutis is a sweet batter mix that is baked filled with unstoned cherries. The stones are left in because they give the batter a slight almond flavour during baking.

Clafoutis comes from the Limousin just north of our crousing route & its popularity spread throughout France during 19th century. The name comes from the Occitan word clafotis meaning to fill, as in a batter filled with cherries, which describes the dish perfectly.

These days clafoutis are filled with lots of different fruits such as apricots, apples, pears & nectarines. However, when filled with anything other than cherries it should be called a flaugnarde, a similar dish from the Limousin & Perigord.

CLAFOUTIS RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

Flour, 100 grams

Eggs, 3 + 1 yolk

Milk, 160 ml

Cream, 160 ml

Caster sugar, 90 grams

Lemon zested, 1

Salt, pinch

Butter, melted, 70 grams

Cherries, with or without stones (pits), 600 grams

METHOD

Using a 24-28 cm baking dish or cake tin, either line with baking parchment or in a baking dish brush with butter & coat with sugar as you would a soufflé.

Pre heat the oven to 180 C, 350 F, gas 4

Put the flour, lemon zest & sugar in a mixing bowl. In a jug, mix all the wet ingredients then add this to the flour mixture to create a smooth batter.

Finally, fold the cherries into the batter & pour into the prepared baking dish & bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, cool just slightly & sprinkle with caster sugar,

Serve with a warm crème anglaise, pouring cream, or crème fraîche.

Thanks, Mike!

French Hotel Barge Rosa at their mooring at the port in Montauban

Rosa's charming accommodation for eight guests features two double and two twin-bedded staterooms, all with private ensuite bathrooms, and a saloon that gives direct access onto the spacious sundeck. A cruise on Hotel Barge Rosa is the ideal way to explore this beautiful, pastoral region of Southwest France.

Rosa has two routes for cruising the Gascony/Bordeaux area:

Agen to Montauban (view itinerary): from March 29 through August 22, 2015
Castet-en-Dorthe to Boé (view itinerary): from August 23 through October 31, 2015

See if Rosa has any special offers/discounts available: CLICK HERE

Enjoy yourself this summer with a cruise aboard Rosa!

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

Friday, May 08, 2015

BARGING CHARTERS VACATION CRUISES: 2015 SPECIAL OFFERS and DISCOUNTS

Book Now and Save

Special Offers for 2015 Barging Cruises / Barge 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

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