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Barges In France: Alouette
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Cruise in the South of France on the Canal du Midi aboard the Ultra-Deluxe Hotel-Barge ALOUETTE

SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS: 4 PASSENGERS

The Alouette was completely renovated in 2008 to the highest standards with elegant Provencal decor throughout. It is now confiqured with two large staterooms -- beautifully appointed with its own private bathroom with shower, satellite TV and large windows that open well above the waterline. The spacious living/dining salon with large picture windows has a library area, writing desk, stereo, games, satellite TV and internet access. The sun-deck with lounge chairs and sheltering umbrellas is perfect for soaking up the scenery during the day.

The Alouette spends the entire season cruising on the historic Canal du Midi, between Béziers and Carcassonne. This beautiful tree-lined canal was built in the 17th century and was an engineering marvel for its time. Highlights of this area include Carcassonne, the most complete medieval, fortified city in existence. Excursions to fortified villages, castles and market towns plus a sophisticated gourmet and service tradition on board the Alouette create the ingredients for an exceptionally memorable barge cruise.

One day you may decide to bicycle through the countryside to visit Roman ruins, travel in your own air-conditioned mini-bus to an out of the way vineyard, or visit a local market or the historic towns and villages of the region. Then, at the end of a glorious day, return to your floating "country home" where your crew has been preparing an evening feast ... an elegant five course gourmet dinner graced by fine wines and cheeses unknown outside France. A sense of comradeship seems to prevail as you share the day's adventures with friends ... reliving memories that will carry your conversations for years to come.


Features

  • Size of barge: 98 ft by 15.9 ft
  • Number of Passengers: 4
  • Number of Cabins (all with private bath): 2
  • Crew: 4
  • Air Conditioning and Central Heating: Yes
  • Salon: Comfortable sofas, writing desk, internet, DVD, satellite TV, sofa bed, and dining area with picture windows
  • Bar: Open bar
  • Deck: Sundeck with lounge chairs and umbrellas
  • Spa Tub: No
  • Cabin Features: Two twin or queen bed cabins, 270 sq ft and 205 sq ft each, with satellite TV, DVD player, phone intercom and bathroom
  • Vehicle for Transfers/Excursions: Air-conditioned 8 seater mini-bus
  • Accessibility: Steps to salon/cabins
  • Bicycles: Yes
  • 3-night cruises: Available on request


Alouette's Deck Plan
Alouette's Deck Plan



Dining Aboard the Alouette
SAMPLE MENU

    Entree:

    Grilled Quail salad with a port and Fig Sauce

    Main Course:

    Oven Roasted Sea Bass & Nantua Sauce with Baby carrots and Fennel

    Dessert:

    Poached pear with a red wine Sauce & Crème Anglaise

Cuisine aboard Alouette


Passenger Comments:

Our week on the Alouette was an exquisite experience, from beginning to end.

The barge is very well laid-out, beautifully furnished, and completely comfortable. The cabins were well-appointed and quite stylish, in a Provencal manner. And even the smaller of the two cabins was better laid-out than many Paris hotel rooms.

The crew was splendid. They were attentive, friendly, and well-attuned to our special interests in food and wine. Sarah, the guide/driver/sommelier, took special care to arrange visits to food-oriented venues - an oyster farm, a boulangerie, a farmers' market, a vineyard and an olive farm cooperative, among others. She also did a fine job in selecting our wines and matching them well with the food – taking special note of the preferences we had expressed before the trip.

We thought the food would be good, but it surpassed our expectations. As Gus, the chef, got to know our tastes and interests, he worked even harder at trying to surprise us, and he succeeded. We were impressed.

Luke - the captain - was a cheerful and positive presence who made sure that everything was as we wanted it to be. And Moira, the hostess/waitress was relentlessly cheerful and energetic in dealing with our requests and questions.

More broadly, the crew members seemed to genuinely like each other, which made for a harmonious and positive feeling throughout the trip.

In looking back, the Canal du Midi was itself the star of the show. It is cinematically beautiful – a fantasy setting that is only lightly attached to the rest of the world. It feels as though you’re drifting within an Impressionist painting. It could only exist in France.

What a trip!

-- Bob Rosen, New York, NY. October 2008

Merci, merci, merci! What an incredible week ... every sense has been on vacation, from the beautiful vistas, the gourmet meals, the bold wines, the delightful napkins, the french music and the wonderful comraderie.
-- Rich & Irene M.

Our first barging experience was wonderful! All of you made it so special. Terrific food and wine, beautiful scenery and friendly service. Thank you all for a fantastic time.
-- Fran & Chuck J.

Very hard working team, charming experience. It was perfect!
--name withheld

SAMPLE ITINERARY*
Canal du Midi: Beziers to Carcassonne

Sunday - Béziers.
A champagne reception welcomes you on board and gives you a chance to meet the crew. Time permitting, enjoy your first cruising experience to the pretty village of Colombieres. Later that evening, enjoy your first dining experience on board.
 
Monday - Visit Abbaye de Fontfroide.  Cruise to Capestang.
This morning visit l'Abbaye de Fontfroide, a Cistercian monastery founded in the 11th century. Now privately owned, the abbey has been lovingly restored with a well-kept garden and peaceful cloister. Return to the barge for lunch and then an afternoon cruise along the beautiful Canal du Midi to Capestang.  
 
Tuesday - Tour Oppidum d'Enserune.  Cruise to Le Somail.
After breakfast enjoy a visit to Oppidum d'Enserune, a pre-Roman hill-top settlement and one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. The top of the hill affords a panoramic view of the pond of Montady drained in 1247 and transformed into a curious pattern of cultivation. On the way back to the boat we stop off at local wine producer for a tasting.  Return to the barge for lunch followed by a relaxing afternoon taking in the grandeur and beauty of the Canal du Midi, with its fine locks, buildings and aqueducts, scarcely changed from their completion over 300 years ago.   
 
Wednesday - Visit Narbonne and the market. Cruise to Homps.  
This morning, experience the wonderful covered market in Narbonne with the chef and help choose what is on the menu for dinner!  Narbonne is a lively Mediterranean city playing an important role as a wine-producing centre.  The municipal, military and religious architecture, the river banks of the Robine and its shaded boulevards, all contribute to its charm.   Enjoy lunch at a bistro just in front of the market and then return to the barge for an afternoon's cruise to the port at Homps.
 
Thursday - Visit Minerve. Cruise to Trebes.
After breakfast, visit Minerve, an old village on a limestone cliff, which dominates the vineyards below.  Its now ruined castle was once a Cathar stronghold besieged and captured by Simon de Montfort. This village is full of history of days gone by.  On the way back to the boat stop at Peyriac-Minervois for wine tasting. Return to the barge for lunch and then enjoy the ever changing views from the comfort of the deck, or perhaps walk or cycle along the tow path.  Tonight we moor in the pretty town of Trebes.
 
Friday - Cruise to Carcassonne.  Visit Carcassonne.
Finish the week with a tour of Europe's largest medieval fortress - Carcassonne. Explore the intricate fortifications of the two castellated walls, one inside the other, about a mile in circumference.  The views from the battlements towards the Pyrenées are stunning.  Visit the Cathedral remarkable for its stained glass rose windows, elegant Romanesque nave and Gothic transepts.  Meanwhile the chef is busy preparing your farewell gala dinner on board.
 
Saturday - Carcassonne.

After breakfast disembark the boat for your onward travel arrangements.

Note: The day to day itinerary described is a typical cruise. However, on any one cruise, the moorings may change and the places visited may vary depending on the season and guest preferences.



Alouette
2010 Season Cruise Schedule*
Week Route Season
Apr 4 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Apr 11 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Apr 18 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Apr 25 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
May 2 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
May 9 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
May 16 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
May 23 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
May 30 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Jun 6 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Jun 13 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Jun 20 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Jun 27 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Jul 4 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Jul 11 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Cruise Schedule* ... continued
Week Route Season
Jul 18 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Jul 25 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Aug 1 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Aug 8 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Aug 15 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Aug 22 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Aug 29 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Sep 5 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Sep 12 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Sep 19 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Sep 26 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Oct 3 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Oct 10 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular
Oct 17 Beziers-Carcassonne Regular
Oct 24 Carcassonne-Beziers Regular


Alouette
2011 Season Cruise Schedule*
Week Route Season
Apr 3 Dijon-St Leger Standard
Apr 10 St Leger-Digoin Standard
Apr 17 Digoin-Guetin Standard
Apr 24 Guetin-Rogny Standard
May 1 Rogny-Chalon Standard
May 8 Rogny-Chalon Standard
May 15 Rogny-Chalon Standard
May 22 Chalon-Tain L'Hermitage Standard
May 29 Tain L'Hermitage-Avignon Standard
Jun 5 Avignon-Beziers Standard
Jun 12 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Jun 19 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard
Jun 26 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Jul 3 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard
Jul 10 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Cruise Schedule* ... continued
Week Route Season
Jul 17 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard
Jul 24 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Jul 31 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard
Aug 7 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Aug 14 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard
Aug 21 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Aug 28 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard
Sep 4 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Sep 11 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard
Sep 18 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Sep 25 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard
Oct 2 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Oct 9 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard
Oct 16 Beziers-Carcassonne Standard
Oct 23 Carcassonne-Beziers Standard


*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.


ALOUETTE
2010 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS
ACCOMMODATION REGULAR
Apr 4 thru Oct 30
Charter for 2
$20,750
Charter for 3
$22,875
Charter for 4
$25,000
Optional Train Ticket (per person round trip)
$300



ALOUETTE
2011 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS
ACCOMMODATION STANDARD
Apr 3 thru Oct 29
Charter for 2
$21,150
Charter for 3
$23,300
Charter for 4
$25,450


What's Included

- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in a cabin with private bath
- Transfers from Carcassonne or Beziers train station, depending on cruise direction, to the barge and return
- All meals beginning with dinner on Sunday through breakfast on Saturday
- All wines with lunches and dinners
- All escorted side-excursion
- Use of bicycles

What's Not Included

- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Train transfers from Paris to Carcassonne or Beziers and return (available at extra cost)
- Suggested minimum 5% gratuity for the crew, to be paid to the captain in equivalent euros


Special Places Travel, LLC
"Barges in France (and the rest of Europe) ... for the experience of a lifetime!" ™

For booking information,
Phone (toll-free): 1-877-64-BARGE (1-877-642-2743)
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or E-mail: info@specialplacestravel.com



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Last Update: August 6, 2010

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CLIA-Cruise Lines International Association, OSSN-Outside Sales Support Network. 
Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Cards Welcome