Cruise in France on the Canal du Marne au Rhin in Alsace on the First Class Hotel-Barge LORRAINE
SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
The 22-passenger Lorraine has a cozy salon and bar area with barge modern furnishings, a separate dining room and a sundeck wreathed in flowers, chairs and parasols. On the lower deck are 11 comfortable cabins with twin beds and large opening windows.
A journey through Alsace - perhaps the most picturesque province in France - is a voyage of endless discoveries - of art and architecture, gourmet food and wine, history and heritage. The Vosges mountains dotted here and there with turreted castles, as well as picture-book villages with their brilliant displays of petunias and geraniums make this a most memorable cruise.
Features
- Size of barge: 128 ft by 17 ft
- Number of Passengers: 22
- Number of Cabins (all with private bath): 11
- Crew: 7
- Air Conditioning and Central Heating: Yes
- Salon: Salon with comfortable sofas, bar area and separate dining room with seating for 22.
- Bar: Cash bar - wine included with lunch and dinner
- Deck: Sundeck with tables, chairs, and umbrellas for shade.
- Spa Tub: No
- Cabin Features: Eleven cabins, all twin-bedded, each approximately 110 sq. ft., all with large windows
- Vehicle for Transfers/Excursions: Motor coach
- Accessibility: Steps to cabins.
- Bicycles: Yes
Lorraine's Deck Plan

Passenger Comments:
The Lorraine barge cruise was absolutely unbelievable. GREAT crew, GREAT fellow passengers, GREAT food, GREAT excursions, GREAT EVERYTHING. It was like being at sleep away camp in France!
--M.S., AZ
We're writing to thank you for all your help in setting up our trip to Alsace. The barge was wonderful, the staff super and the passengers delightful. The beauty of the countryside overwhelmed us as did the French chef's cooking.
-- B.H.
SAMPLE ITINERARY*
Alsace:
Canal de la Marne au Rhin, Canal du Rhone au Rhin
Krafft to Xouaxange
Saturday - Krafft
For those who have chosen our rail transfers we meet in the lobby of the Hotel Regina, 192, Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Train transfer to Strasbourg and motorcoach transfer to the boat moored in the village of Krafft, some twenty-five kilometers to the south of Strasbourg, close to the junction of the canal with the river Rhine. For those passengers who do not have our train transfers we meet at the Strasbourg rail station at our designated meeting point. The crew will welcome you aboard with aperitifs as your luggage is taken to your cabin. Dinner will be served at 7:30pm this evening.
Sunday - Krafft to Strasbourg
Morning cruise during breakfast on the Canal du Rhone au Rhin, a peaceful waterway that has seen little use since the building of the Grand Canal d'Alsace (the canalization of the Rhine) in the 1950s. After breakfast we leave the boat at a lock and travel by bus to visit Colmar (guided tour of the city center). With its magnificent medieval and Renaissance buildings, 13th century collegiate church and waterside 'little Venice' area. Lunch today is in a local restaurant and we have free time to explore the shops and museums, particularly the Unterlinden Museum, famous for its collection of Renaissance art works and specifically for the masterpiece of Mathias Grunewald, the Issenheim altar piece. Towards the end of the afternoon we shall head back northwards along the 'Route des Vins', a small road running at the base of the foothills of the Vosges parallel to the Rhine through the famous vineyards of Alsace, here we will have a private wine tasting in Riquewihr before returning to the Lorraine now moored in Strasbourg.
Monday - Strasbourg to Hochfelden
We cast off early and cruise during the morning today. Disembark after lunch for a guided walking tour of the principal sights of Strasbourg including the picturesque 'Petite France' riverside district and the remarkable cathedral of Notre Dame whose construction spread over five centuries from the Romanesque choir to the flamboyant Gothic spire. Afterwards, there will be free time to explore the capital of Alsace and perhaps visit one of the museums, take advantage of the excellent shopping, or just stroll through the cobbled streets of timbered houses before returning to the Lorraine for lunch. We return to the boat which will be moored in Hochfelden.
Tuesday - Hochfelden to Saverne
We disembark this morning after breakfast to visit a microbrewery in the town of Uberach. After the visit we will return to the boat for lunch and begin cruising towards Saverne. You will have a lot of opportunities today to walk and cycle along the towpaths. The boat will be moored in front of the red sandstone chateau built by the Rohan family during the eighteenth century.
Wednesday - Saverne to Lutzelbourg
This morning we cruise along the beautiful valley of the Zorn river to Lutzelbourg. After lunch we will make a short drive to visit a crystal workshop and see how some of the most famous products of this area are still individually fashioned by hand.
Thursday - Lutzelbourg to Xouaxange
Cruise over the border into Lorraine where the canal still follows the steep sided, tree-lined valley of the river Zorn to the famous inclined plane of Arzwiller. Here a ladder of seventeen locks has been replaced by a counterbalanced barge lift that hauls us up nearly 150 feet to the summit level of the Marne to Rhine canal. We then cruise through a cutting and two tunnels under the peak of the Vosges Mountains before mooring for the evening at a quiet spot near the village of Xouaxange. Enjoy an afternoon drive to Sarrebourg and visit the chapel of the Cordeliers where we can see the stained glass window created by Marc Chagall. We will have time for a stroll in town before returning to Lorraine for our Farewell Gala Dinner.
Friday - Xouaxange
Depart the Lorraine after breakfast and transfer to the Nancy train station in time for the return train to Paris.
Note: This is a sample itinerary and it is subject to modification in the case of unforeseen circumstances such as canal closures. The boat cruises in the opposite direction on alternate weeks.
Lorraine
2008 Season Cruise Schedule* |
| Week |
Route |
Season |
| Mar 8 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
Low
|
| Mar 15 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
Low
|
| Mar 22 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
Low
|
| Mar 29 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
Low
|
| Apr 5 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
Low
|
| Apr 12 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
Low
|
| Apr 19 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
Low
|
| Apr 26 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
Low
|
| May 3 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| May 10 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| May 17 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| May 24 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| May 31 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Jun 7 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| Jun 14 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Jun 21 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| Jun 28 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Jul 5 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
|
| Cruise Schedule* ... continued |
| Week |
Route |
Season |
| Jul 12 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Jul 19 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| Jul 26 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Aug 2 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| Aug 9 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Aug 16 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| Aug 23 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Aug 30 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| Sep 6 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Sep 13 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| Sep 20 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Sep 27 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| Oct 4 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Oct 11 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
High
|
| Oct 18 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
High
|
| Oct 25 |
Xouaxange-Kraft |
Low
|
| Nov 1 |
Kraft-Xouaxange |
Low
|
|
*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.
LORRAINE
2008 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS |
| ACCOMMODATION |
LOW Mar 8 thru May 2 Oct 25 thru Nov 7 |
HIGH May 3 thru Oct 24 |
|
Cabin (per person, double occupancy) |
$2,215 |
$2,415 |
|
Single Occupancy Supplement |
$500 |
$500 |
|
Charter for up to 22 |
$44,300 |
$48,300 |
What's Included
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in a cabin with private bath
- Transfers from Strasbourg or Nancy to the barge and return
- All meals beginning with dinner on Saturday through breakfast on Friday
- All wines with lunches and dinners
- All escorted side-excursions
- Use of bicycles
What's Not Included
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Transfers from Paris to the barge and return ($250 per person additional for first class round trip train tickets)
- Bar drinks: beer & wine 3 Euros, mixed drinks & champagne 5 Euros, cognac & Armagnac 6 Euros, soft drinks 2 Euros (payable on board in euros). For charters only, an optional bar package can be purchased in advance for all passengers for $150 per person.
- Suggested gratuity for the crew (barge suggests 100 Euros per passenger, to be given to the barge manager)
 |
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
|
Return to TOP of PAGE
Text and images Copyright © 2004-2007, 2008 Canal and Co. Web design by Special Places Travel, LLC.
Last Update: January 16, 2008