SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS: 4 PASSENGERS
The 4-passenger Alegria started cruising on the Canal du Midi in mid 2008
and is the largest barge on the canal. It has two large cabins with
en-suite bathrooms, totaling 190 to 210 sq ft each. These cabins each have
two entrances: one leading directly outside to the front of the barge near
the pool and another one opening inside to the lounge. This allows both
intimacy and independence. The rooms have large portholes which offer
panoramic views of the canal. The cabins are distinctive, light and bright,
and are fitted with king-sized beds that can be separated into twin beds
upon request. You will be supplied with bath robes, bath amenities (from "L’
Occitane en Provence") and a hair dryer. In your cabin, you'll also find a
mini-fridge full of cool drinks and a tea & coffee tray with biscuits. Both
cabins have air conditioning. In the event of a cool night at the end of the
season, the cabins are equipped with central heating as are the bathrooms,
which are also fitted with heated towel racks.
The large lounge/dining room has two big portholes offering direct views of
the Canal and its inhabitants, our friends the ducks and geese. A home
theatre with a selection of CDs will give you some added pleasure, as well
as a selection of books and parlour games. We offer internet access through
the connection of a 3G+ USB key to your laptop. For your important documents or anything else of value, a safe is
located near the lounge.
On deck enjoy the heated pool after a warm afternoon or just relax while
enjoying some pre-dinner drinks. Or try the very welcoming wheelhouse with
its authentic 1937 wheel, teak woodwork and a typically Provencal floor.
ALEGRIA is a Freyssinet type barge, built in 1937 at a shipyard in Thuin,
Belgium. She was originally 39 meters long and 5.07 meters wide, designed
for loads of 400 tons, but in 1999 the ship was converted to a houseboat and
shortened to 29.37 meters (100 feet). Her present length now allows passage
through the smaller locks of the famous Canal du Midi.
The barge cruise offers a week of relaxation, gastronomy, excellent wines,
fascinating culture, great landscapes and friendship in a beautiful country.
Every day is a new day of discoveries and of unexpected surprises. The
Alegria is docked near Poilhes, a village on the Canal du Midi, 12 km from
Beziers, 20 km from the Mediterranean Sea and close to Narbonne. You will
either embark or disembark from this charming village that contains many
remains from the Roman times. The Alegria will cruise at between 4 and 6
kms/hour depending on the meandering of the Canal, with between 3 and 4
hours a day cruising. The day is split between cruising and visiting some of
the exceptional sites in the region. Our Languedoc region offers many
vineyards from great winemakers. Depending on your taste and your
willingness to discover some of them, we will personalize each cruise with
these visits. Some winemakers have also committed that they will come on
board Alegria to give you a personalized wine tasting. You can also run or
cycle along the Canal and will go faster than the barge. While cruising
just relax, enjoy the scenery, enjoy the locks, get refreshed in the pool
and enjoy the drinks offered by your hostess.
The cuisine aboard Alegria will vary quite a bit. You will taste some
typical French local dishes as well as the best French gastronomy. Every
meal will be accompanied by different wines, both local (St-Chinian,
Minerve, and Corbières are becoming more and more renowned) and from other
regions of France (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, etc.) straight from our wine
fridge on board. You will never be offered the same wine twice during the
week (unless you want to drink one that you particularly loved again).
We set your table with different services for breakfast, lunch and dinner: from the festive one through the ethnic one to the classic one. When weather permits you can have your meal outside on the deck. Our Chef will cater specifically to your food preferences. We will also offer you some meals off the barge in some excellent restaurants! During the week you can count on at least two meals on shore. We will discuss all these possibilities while you are holding a glass of Champagne on board.
Our cruise on Alegria was a trip of a lifetime. Olivier and the crew did everything possible to make it a memorable experience. We would recommend it to anyone. Everyday was an adventure! The barge, the cabins, it all more than met our expectations. Gladys was a fabulous cook!
Christine M., California October 2011
We cannot possibly give the barge Alegria and its owner, Olivier, and his wife, Gladys, sufficient praise. The experience was fantastic and we enjoyed every moment. The barge itself is so homey and attractive. The owners have used some of their art collection from South Africa to decorate in a most charming fashion. The public spaces as well as the stateroom and bath are so well thought out and spacious. The food is divine and each meal is served with beautiful linens and glassware. Each evening the table had a different theme. The quality of service is A-1, very professional and yet warm and caring on a personal level. We always felt safe in the hands of Olivier who is ever so competent at manning his barge. The daily excursions were always of interest and our guide, Leslie, and her associate, Roget, were so informative and seemed to enjoy spending time with us. We would highly recommend this journey to anyone interested in a relaxing and yet stimulating sojourn in the south of France!
Carol and Ken J., California October 2011
Wonderful. One of the best ways to experience France, and I've been to France over a hundred times. Cabin accommodations can't get any can't get any better. Since the Alegria is as large as will fit through the locks on the Canal du Midi and there are only 2 cabins, the rooms had king beds and were absolutely spacious. Gladys is very inventive with her cooking. She had some original dishes which contributed to the truly French experience. All the wines were local, which we thoroughly enjoyed, and were expertly explained by our Captain and sommelier, Olivier. Every meal was a delight. If you are looking for a true French experience, this fact can not be overstated, Olivier and Gladys are fabulous. Their hotel barge is spacious and beautiful, the deck areas are perfect for cruising, and there is a pool!
Steve and Kathleen, TN., USA, September 2010
An absolutely fabulous experience. Olivier and Gladys were superb host and hostess. I would recommend this highly to anyone wishing a relaxing as well as informative trip with many interesting side trips. They both have unique talents. 10 stars. Some beautiful countryside, lots of vineyards, and interesting locks and bridges. The overnight stops gave us opportunities to explore some small villages.
J and M, Michigan, September 2010
Our expectations were exceded in every way. Our chef was an excellent cook and sweet, our sommelier was well-educated and a delight, our guide was fully prepared, knowledgable and a joy to spend time with. Our captain was skilled and very good company. His assistant's boating skills were also a delight to watch. The food, cheeses, wines, and archeological trips were just what we had hoped for. This is a trip not to be missed, and worth every penny.
M.L. of OR, USA. September 2009
Everything with the cruise was FANTASTIC!! Truly, this was one of the most amazing and magical travel experiences I have ever had. Olivier has really created something very special -- his welcoming presence and good humor, all of the ways he found to surprise and delight us, even including a wonderful picnic one day and an evening spectacular of light and music on another -- made for an experience unsurpassed.
P.J. of WA, USA. September 2009
Olivier who is both the owner and captain made sure that any need/desire we had was met and quickly.The cabin was larger then our hotel room in Paris. It was nicely decorated, and had large port windows, good linens, heated towel racks nice French soaps.. We were very pleased. Monique our hostess on board studied to see the foods and drinks we prefered and made them readily available to us. She found out that we wanted to do more walking off the barge and found local side trails that offered good views of the countryside. We asked about the trees lining the canal and she immediately went to research our question. I can't imagine anyone doing a better job in her position then she did.
We have traveled by barge before and our expectations were surpassed.
J and D.W. of TN, USA. September 2008
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*Note: Cruise directions and sample itineraries may be in reverse and are subject to change and may depend on bookings and local navigation conditions. Alternate excursions of equal appeal are substituted when needed. For charter cruises special itineraries can be arranged.
| ALEGRIA 2012 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS | ||
|---|---|---|
| ACCOMMODATION | VALUE Apr 7 thru Apr 27 Jul 14 thru Aug 31 Oct 13 thru Oct 26 |
HIGH Apr 28 thru Jul 13 Sep 1 thru Oct 12 |
| Cabin (per person, double occupancy) |
$4,600 |
$5,250 |
| Charter for 2 |
$17,000 |
$19,600 |
| Charter for 3 |
$17,700 |
$20,300 |
| Charter for 4 |
$18,400 |
$21,000 |
| Three Night Charter for 2 |
$11,900 |
NA |
| Three Night Charter for 3 |
$12,390 |
NA |
| Three Night Charter for 4 |
$12,880 |
NA |
What's Included
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge, in a cabin with private bath
- Transfers from Beziers, Montpellier or Carcassonne to the barge and return
- All meals beginning with dinner on Saturday, through breakfast on Friday (2 meals at a restaurant included)
- All wines with lunch and dinner
- Open bar
- All escorted side excursions
- Use of internet on board
- Use of bicycles and helmets
Three-Night Discovery Cruise:
- 4 days and 3 nights on the barge, in a cabin with private bath
- Transfers from Beziers, Montpellier or Carcassonne to the barge and return (to be confirmed with the owner at the time of booking)
- All meals beginning with dinner on Saturday through breakfast on Tuesday, or dinner on Tuesday through breakfast on Friday (on shore restaurant meals are included if applicable)
- All wines with lunch and dinner
- Open bar
- All escorted side excursions
- Use of internet on board
- Use of bicycles and helmets
What's Not Included
- Suggested 5-10% gratuity for the crew to be given to the captain in equivalent euros at the end of the cruise.
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Transportation from Paris to the barge pick up point and return.
Three-Night Discovery Cruise
- Suggested 5-10% gratuity for the crew to be given to the captain in equivalent euros at the end of the cruise.
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Transportation from Paris to the barge pick up point and return.
 |
Special Places Travel, LLC "Barges in France (and the rest of Europe) ... for the experience of a lifetime!" ™
For booking information,
|
