SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
The 6-passenger Caroline, built in Holland in 1928 as a cargo carrying
sailing 'Tjalk',transported goods between the islands of the North Sea and
the mainland. Converted into a luxurious hotel barge, she has 3 beautifully
appointed staterooms each with its own private bathroom with shower. There
is also a spacious living room/dining salon with a wood burning stove and a
carpeted sun-deck with lounge chairs and sheltering umbrellas.
On board Caroline you will find a relaxed atmosphere with a comfortable
lounge and dining area and a well equipped galley where our chef will
prepare meals of outstanding quality. You will be able to relax on deck and
watch the picturesque French landscape glide past at a serene 3-4 miles per
hour or you could use our bikes for an easy stress free ride on the towpath
or cycle ahead into the next village.
The unique sound and rhythm of Carolines huge three-cylinder diesel engine and her displacement of more than 90 tons will give you a smooth journey without any seasickness - guaranteed!
The huge flowered sun deck is laid with a carpet and is also the best place to admire the gurgling waters in the famous oval locks. Enjoy relaxing on the sundeck with a cool drink or sit on the bench in front of the steering postion under a shady umbrella watching the wonderful French countryside passing by.
The three air-conditioned guest cabins aboard are spacious. There is one double-bed and two twin-bed cabins. Each cabin has a private bathroom with shower, wardrobes and shelves for your clothes.
With three double cabins why not invite friends or family to experience the wonder and beauty of a holiday on the Canal du Midi?
Along the way you will be able to visit medieval villages, stroll through local markets or enjoy culinary delights in a local Auberge. Visit one of the many vineyards and taste the wonderful wines of the Languedoc. The mild climate and the relaxing and friendly atmosphere will make your holidays unforgettable.
Caroline travels the Canal du Midi between Etang du Thau, Beziers and
Carcassonne.
The friendly salutes from barge to barge, the old low bridges, which are often so narrow that it seems that the barge will not pass through, or the ancient locks only just big enough for Caroline to pass through.
Sunday
Guests are picked up at approximately 4pm by Uli, your Captain, at the pre-arranged meeting point and transferred by private air-conditioned minivan to the Caroline mooring. Champagne welcome aboard by Ute, your Chef, and time to settle in while Caroline starts her first little cruise to your evening mooring. Relax on deck and watch the picturesque French landscape glide past. Our mooring tonight overlooks a wide area with vineyards and what hopes to be many marvelous sunsets from our deck during your week. Four course welcome dinner on board.
Monday - Poilhes to La Croisade
Awaken to enjoy an extensive continental breakfast with freshly brewed coffee, tea, fruit juices, croissants and baguettes, jams, ham, cereals...
Before we start our daily cruise you might decide to have a morning visit to the pre-Roman site of Oppidum d'Enserunes, which is a historical site from around 800 BC and has been part of the Via Domitia. This area also overlooks the famous Etang de Montady. We set off cruising, meandering through truly unbelievable and stunning scenery. While we pass by the petite village of Capestang, with its extremely small and narrow ancient bridge, the Caroline almost appears not to fit! Ute will serve our 3-course lunch on deck al fresco. This afternoon while relaxing on deck with a chilled drink enjoy yourself and watch the countryside pass by as we cruise to our mooring destination for the evening. Tonight the mooring is only a few steps away from a wonderful Auberge, a restaurant where you are welcome to have your dinner.
As with all our days, if guests prefer a stopover during the day please just let us know. If you prefer a walk or a bicycle ride along the towpath, this is easy to arrange. Perhaps a stroll into a little village? Caroline can 'park' at nearly each and every point along the Canal.
Sample excursions: Pre-Roman site of Oppidum d'Enserunes, Vineyard Perdiguier
Tuesday - La Croisade to Ventenac
After breakfast, we will start our cruise towards the village of Le Somail were we will stop for lunch. Our evening mooring is the charming and petite Ventenac. Here we will moor in front of the local vineyard whose stonework is built much like an old Chateau. It invites you in for a wine tasting. Dinner tonight may be taken in one of the two typical open air restaurants just steps from the Caroline.
Sample excursions: Wine tasting in Paraza or a trip by car to Minerve.
Wednesday - Ventenac to Homps
Today's cruise will take us to our first locks. The first has a single chamber while the next lock has a double chamber. A total of 4 locks with 6 chambers will bring us to our evening stop at Homps. We moor on a quay in the middle of this little village where guests have a wide choice of restaurants for dinner and a stroll tonight.
Thursday - Homps to Pucheric
This morning our day begins with a visit by minivan to the open air markets of Narbonne, the Palace of the Archbishop, and the Cathedral St Just, with its impressive organ. From this vantage the ancient Via Domitia can be seen. While enjoying the markets you can look for souvenirs or maybe purchase a fresh fish or meat for a BBQ tonight instead of dining out?
After lunch we leave Homps, cruising again through locks, this time transporting us 'uphill' to the next level of the Canal. Watch out for the special lock 'Aguille' which is decorated with many funny sculptures, made by the lock-keepers. Our evening mooring tonight is away from the villages and in the countryside.
Sample excursions: Exploring ancient Narbonne and the markets by car.
Friday - Pucheric to Trebes
Our cruise continues today towards Trebes, our final port. We pass by barge through "the green cathedral", so called as all the waterway is covered by more than three hundred years old trees. After we have been lifted up again in a three chamber lock towards the new upper level, we find ourselves in the middle of the little village of Trebes. Our mooring here is underneath the huge plane trees. Why not take your dinner tonight on the terrace of the restaurant which is located directly at the lock?
Sample excursions: Tour of the famous walled city of Carcassonne, a fascinating fortified medieval fortress, situated on top of Carcassonne overlooking the city.
Saturday - Trebes
After a relaxing breakfast, we will say goodbye and take our guests to their next destination, arriving at approximately 10 a.m. Drop-off may be coordinated at your hotel, the rail station, or depending on our cruise direction, the Carcassonne Airport.
Typically Caroline will plan a half-day cruise each day. Depending on the stretch of the canal we are in and how many locks we have to pass, the cruise might be in the morning or the afternoon. We enjoy finding out together with our guests what their excursion preferences are. Some excursions may be at additional costs. Each day the Canal du Midi offers walking and biking along the flat and well maintained towpath. You might find that you are walking faster than Caroline can follow you...
Note: this is a sample itinerary and stops and excursions may be altered to suit guests individual ideas. On alternate weeks this cruise will run in the opposite direction.
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*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.
| CAROLINE 2008 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS | |
|---|---|
| ACCOMMODATION | REGULAR HALF-BOARD Apr 6 thru Nov 1 |
| Half Board Charter for 2 |
$5,160 |
| Half Board Charter for 3 |
$7,740 |
| Half Board Charter for 4 |
$10,320 |
| Half Board Charter for 5 |
$12,900 |
| Half Board Charter for 6 |
$15,480 |
What's Included
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in a cabin with private bath
- Transfers from Carcassonne or Beziers to the barge and return, depending on cruise direction
- Transportation to/from 2-3 points of interest in the area, as agreed with the barge owners
- Welcome dinner on Sunday, plus 3 or 4 course lunch and breakfast daily through Saturday morning.
- Open bar on board
- Use of bicycles
What's Not Included
- Five dinners ashore
- Guided excursions
- Suggested minimum 5% gratuity for the crew, to be given to the captain in equivalent Euros
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Transfers from Paris to the barge pickup point and return
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