SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
The 8-passenger Le Bon Vivant is as comfortable and elegant as her sister ship, La Bonne Amie, but with an especially spacious sun deck, luxurious accommodations and the same incomparable attention to service found on La Bonne Amie.
Le Bon Vivant's four staterooms are located on the lower deck. Each beautiful, individually decorated bedroom is furnished with twin beds, king, or queen bed, closet space, heated towel racks, individual climate control, and a bathroom with wash basin and shower.
The salon is equipped with a BOSE CD System, a library of current books, up-to-date magazines and periodicals, and a well-stocked bar. Fresh flowers are the complement to a decor furnished to be as comfortable as it is elegant.
You will have first-hand knowledge of French cuisine's world renown. Your chef on Le Bon Vivant uses only the finest fresh local produce, procured daily, to give added dimension to the term "dining". Special dietary needs will be accommodated with the same dedication. Attention to every detail is evident in the use of beautiful table linens, fine china, crystal and silverware.
It was fantastic! We had previously taken a barge trip in Burgundy so we were somwhat familiar with barging. We were thrilled by Le Bon Vivant's beauty. She is spacious, comfortable and beautifully decorated and appointed. We loved all the wonderful Villeroy and Boch as well as Gien china used everyday. The crew was delightful and everything seemed so effortless, yet we know they worked so hard. It was great to meet the co-owners, Steve and Martine. But we must say a special thanks to Cyril, our captain, Betka, our server and mostly Patrice, our chef extrodinaire (as well as "jack of all trades"). The crew took such good care of us and we miss them. They were all delightful and made us feel both at home and very special. Everyday was wonderul, beautiful, relaxing AND delicious!
--A.L., CA, USA.
This was our second barge trip, but by far the very best. Thanks to the company, the world class crew, the fantastic food and wines, and the special places visited. This was a trip that we will remember until the end of time!!
--L.L. de R.
We have thoroughly enjoyed this experience - more than we would have imagined! It is a real value and your staff has been the best. We hope to relive this treat in years to come!
-- R.P.
Thank you for making our stay on The Bon Vivant so special. We always felt at home, a very magical home, with amazing food, wine & friends. We look forward to our next cruise with you, to be sure. Cheers!
Incomparable scenery, impeccable service, and a sense of tranquility and wonder that made our Honeymoon a huge success. Kudos to the crew!
Farewell to the Bon Vivant crew! Thank you for a lovely, memorable, magical experience. A delightful experience, a wonderful crew, a superb cuisine! A true experience. Que belle! Que magnifique! I've exhausted my French but the experience was marvelous. Angelique's artwork, Leon's artistry in the kitchen, Jose's pampering, the Captain's steady hand at the helm, and last but not least, a toast to Martine's humour, patience & informative tours, all made us feel like Royalty, and we really liked that! Thanks and good luck in future endeavours.
Canal de Briare, 65 kilometers, 32 locks and 1 Pont-Canal.
Sunday
We meet at your hotel in Paris and travel by private motor coach to Montargis where you will board your ship for a welcome reception with Champagne & petits fours, followed by a short cruise before dinner.
Monday - Cruise from Amilly to Montbouy, an old Gallo Roman site.
Possible excursions:
- Chateau de Fontainebleau, famous palace where the French kings used to hunt.
- The villages of Barbizon and Moret sur Loing, where Impressionists once lived and took their inspiration.
- Egreville with its 16th century covered market and the Garden Sculpture Museum of Antoine Bourdelle.
- Forest Jump: an exciting sport outing, walking above the ground from tree to tree (at additional cost).
- Golf de Fontainebleau or Golf de Vaugouard*
Tuesday - Cruise to Chatillon Coligny and its 12th century chateau, built by the Count of Sancerre.
Possible excursions:
- Arboretum des Barres, beautiful park featuring 10,000 specimens of trees.
- Gien with its famous faience chateau overlooking the Loire with its rich collections.
- Chateau de Sully sur Loire, a medieval fortress, beautiful example of military art.
- Golf de Vaugouard or Golf de Sully*
Wednesday - Cruise to Rogny and moor at the foot of a seven lock staircase built in 1604, an impressive engineering monument of the past, replaced by six automatic locks.
Possible excursions:
- Chateau St Fargeau, with its extraordinary history, beautiful park, and 19th century working farm.
- Guedelon, an incredible project taking you back in time, a site where workers, dressed in the garb of the 12th century, are building a medieval fortress with materials and tools of the times.
- Visit a 19th century working farm with its animals, machinery and tools from the time.
- Golf de Vaugouard or Golf de Sully*
Thursday - Cruise to Ouzouer sur Trezee.
Possible excursions:
- The Chateau La Bussiere, privately owned by a countess, is fully furnished and dedicated to fishermen. It is surrounded by a lake, moat, park, farm and a romantic 18th century vegetable garden.
- Chateau St Brisson, overlooking the Loire river, with its demonstration of Catapult.
- Briare, a picturesque town along the Loire River, its Romano-Byzantine mosaics church and its enamel porcelain buttons museum which have made the town famous.
- Golf de Sancerre*
Friday - Cruise to Chatillon sur Loire, crossing the Loire River over the majestic Pont-Canal de Briare, an aqueduct built by Eiffel. This is one of the highlights of your cruise.
Possible excursions:
- Shopping with the Chef at the local open Market of Briare.
- Extensive visit of a winery at Estate Bourgeois in Chavignol, and wine tasting of the famous Sancerre and Pouilly Fume, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, followed by a visit to the medieval village of Sancerre and its antique shops. Panoramic view over the vineyards and the Loire.
- Visit a goat cheese farm, the famous Crotin de Chavignol, and choose your own cheeses.
- Golf de Sancerre*
Saturday - After breakfast, return transfer to your hotel in Paris.
Note: this is a sample itinerary and it is subject to change at the discretion of your hosts or closures that may alter a day outing. As an option, a whole day excursion to the famous Chateaux of Chambord and Chenonceaux can be organized with lunch along the way. Upon request, a massage or beauty treatment by a beautician may be arranged aboard your ship (at additional cost). * Golf may also be organized at an additional cost upon request.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*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.
| LE BON VIVANT 2008 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS | ||
|---|---|---|
| ACCOMMODATION | VALUE Apr 6 thru Apr 26 Jul 27 thru Aug 23 Oct 19 thru Nov 1 |
REGULAR Apr 27 thru Jul 26 Aug 24 thru Oct 18 |
| Cabin (per person, double occupancy) |
$4,000 |
$4,500 |
| Charter for up to 8 |
$28,000 |
$32,000 |
What's Included
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in cabins with private baths
- 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 stocked to your specification
- all escorted side-excursions (hot air ballooning, golf, etc. at additional cost)
- use of bicycles on board
What's Not Included
- suggested minimum 5% gratuity for the crew, to be paid to the captain in equivalent euros
- overseas air transportation to Paris and return
 |
Special Places Travel, LLC "Barges in France (and the rest of Europe) ... for the experience of a lifetime!" ™
For booking information,
|