Cruise in France on the Canal du Nivernais in Northern Burgundy aboard the First Class Hotel-Barge L'ART DE VIVRE. Newly renovated for 2009!

SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS

The 8-passenger L'Art de Vivre has been renovated for 2009 with four new reconfigured cabins. Cabins are now 100 - 110 sq ft including newly tiled ensuite bathrooms. Each cabin can be configured with two twin beds or a queen bed. The barge has a comfortable salon with dining table and a sundeck with jacuzzi and loung chairs. It started life as a Scottish munitions carrier and survived long enough to be transformed by a team of skilled crafts-men into a floating celebration of the Burgundian "good life". Your crew of four comprises Captain, Tour guide, Master Chef and Hostess, all with a love for the Nivernais canal, and a knowledge that their vessel represents L'Art de Vivre itself.

The region simply oozes charm and the cruise is a journey back in time along a magical waterway. The Upper Nivernais remains an undiscovered region, well off the beaten track on the edge of the Morvan hills. The sleepy hamlets, white grazing Charolais cattle, woods and forrests are typical of the scenery we cruise through. During the summer months we visit the Valley of Sardy, a canal section with smaller locks, where time seems to have stood still for over two hundred years. The hand-swung bridges are a delight and we pass old logging sites which are now almost forgotten memory for the local people. This is the original home of luxury hotel barging and yet today, a barge is a rarity, welcomed by all, and every journey is a great event.

Features

• Size of barge: 100 ft by 16.5 ft
  
• Number of Passengers: 8
• Number of Cabins (all with private bath): 4
• Crew: 4
• Air Conditioning and Central Heating: Yes
  
• Salon: Salon with picture windows, two sofas and a dining table seating 9.
  
• Bar: Open bar
  
• Deck: Deck with steamer chairs, reclining chairs, large dining table, parasols, and a jacuzzi
  
• Spa Tub: Yes
  
• Cabin Features: All cabins renovated for 2009, cabin 1 & 2 are 100 sq ft and cabins 3 & 4 are 110 sq ft, including newly tiled ensuite bathrooms. All with two twin beds or queen bed.
  
• Vehicle for Transfers/Excursions: Air-conditioned 9-seater (including driver) long wheelbase VW Caravelle minibus
• Accessibility: Steps to salon and cabins
  
• Bicycles: 8 touring (mountain) bikes

L'Art de Vivre: Deck Plan

Passenger Comments:

I really think the staff are excellent, and they obviously enjoy their job, which makes for a successful trip and puts travellers at their ease.
-- M.O.

Service was outstanding. The food (including the wines) was the highlight of the trip. It was fantastic! The trip was very relaxing, as contrasted with the typical ocean or large river cruise.
-- B.P., Saratoga, CA.

The cabins were perfectly laid out. Space was used efficiently but luxuriously. The bathrooms were lovely and water pressure was great. We found the beds to be very comfortable and towels and linens were of the highest quality.

We credit the crew (Martin, Dino, Rachel, and Rebecca) with making what would have been a great vacation, an extraordinary one. They were wonderful, professional, fun, and supremely accommodating.

All food and drinks were excellent - really 5 star. Rebecca is a gifted chef. Presentation, variety, quality of selections were of the highest caliber.

Barge route was breathtaking. We went as far as Auxerre. It was a fabulous combination of natural scenery, small villages, larger villages, and towns.

Barge and the cabin exceeded expectations. I knew it would be wonderful but it was so much more.

This was one of the most delightful trips we've ever had. We look forward to our next barge experience! Thank you!!
-- A.D. USA

*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.

What's Included

- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in a cabin with private bath
- transfers from Paris to the barge and return
- all meals beginning with dinner on Sunday through breakfast on Saturday
- all wines with lunches and dinners
- open bar
- all escorted side-excursions (hot air ballooning, golf, etc. at additional cost)
- use of bicycles

What's Not Included

- overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- suggested 5-7% gratuity for the crew, to be paid in equivalent Euros to the Captain

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) Outside of the U.S.: 001.443.321.3614 or E-mail: info@specialplacestravel.com