Friday - Dijon
Check in at Dijon. At the meeting point of Chateau la Chassagne near Dijon, an air-conditioned bus will drive you to the barge at 5 pm. You are welcomed in grand style with a glass of the famous Kir Royal champagne. Your unforgettable cruise in Burgundy is about to begin. Once shown to your cabin and settled on board, you will discover the city of Dijon, ancient throne to the Dukes of Burgundy and birth town of Gustave Eiffel. The city is also known as the town of a "hundred bells," is famous for Cassis and the tradition of making mustard. At your first evening on board you will be invited to our traditional welcome-dinner where you will learn all the details about your cruise. Afterwards you can enjoy drinks on the sundeck and beside the pool. Naturally all drinks on board are inclusive around the clock.

Saturday - Dijon to Fleurey sur Ouche
Cruise from Dijon to Fleurey sur Ouche. While having breakfast, "MS Niagara" leaves the port of Dijon and begins to pass through the locks on the canal - there will be a total of 45 during the cruise. Every midday a splendid lunch menu or brunch is prepared and served by the crew, who will also be looking after you throughout the cruise. The barge passes by Lake Kir, then Plombières les Dijon and Velars sur Ouche. If you're not a connoisseur of grand Burgundy wines and specialties, as the barge continues to advance, you will soon become one. The barge has a snail-like pace and the tempo is set by the canal locks, in the late afternoon the barge moors in the village of Fleurey sur Ouche. From there, late in the afternoon, your tour guide will take on an excursion of the surroundings. Back on board you will enjoy again a typical French dinner and conversation with the other passengers.

Sunday - Fleurey sur Ouche to Gissey sur Ouche
Cruise from Fleurey to Gissey sur Ouche. The cruise takes you into the heart of Burgundy and the magnificent Ouche Valley. From the sundeck you can savor the real Burgundy while passing through traditional villages such as Pont-de-Pany, where Chateau la Chassagne is situated, then on to Saint Marie sur Ouche. The scenery and life along side the canal will seduce you. Tonight the barge is moored in a hidden romantic spot, beside the river Ouche and a Gallo Romain bridge, one of the most photographed and painted views in the village of Gissey sur Ouche. This is also the starting point of your daily sightseeing tour to get to know this wonderful region and its inhabitants. In the evening the traditional farewell party - which sometimes develops into a real midnight champagne pool party - is an ideal opportunity to say goodbye to the passengers who only booked a Mini-Cruise from Friday to Monday.

Monday - Beaune
Private excursion to Beaune for the 6 night cruise passengers. Check out/check in for 4-days/3-nights Mini Cruise passengers. Today, you will take an excursion into the vineyards of Burgundy and the wine capital town of Beaune, with wine tasting with experts to guide you and answer all your questions, visits to some of the most important names in Burgundy such as Corton, Volnay and Mersault. For lunch you will be invited to a highly reputed village restaurant surrounded by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines. In the afternoon there is plenty of time to visit the famous Hospice de Beaune, visit the charming boutiques lining the cobbled streets of the historic market town. Return to the barge is via the "Hautes Cotes" along the country roads and past the source of the river Ouche. With a drink at the bar you will get to know the new passengers who have booked the 4-days/3-nights Mini Cruise and have come on board in the meantime. For dinner your chef will surprise you with something very special...

Tuesday - Gissey sur Ouche to Pont d'Ouche
Cruise from Gissey sur Ouche to Pont d'Ouche. "MS Niagara" leaves Gissey sur Ouche in the morning and heads on to Saint Victor sur Ouche and La Bussiere. After a delicious lunch buffet the cruise goes on along Veuvey to reach today's destination Pont d'Ouche. When your hotel barge is moored, you will be invited to visit Chateauneuf en Auxois, which you will pass tomorrow with the barge. Walk into this medieval village with its cafes, antique, and curiosity shops along the picturesque streets and its bistro bars which invite you to settle in with a drink in hand. There is also a fantastic view over the Auxois plains, with lakes and the distant Morvan hills. Back on board enjoy the typical French dinner.

Wednesday - Pont d'Ouche to Vandenesse en Auxois
Cruise from Pont d'Ouche to Vandenesse en Auxois. Your captain will work even harder today, passing all the locks between Pont d'Ouche and the final destination of Vandenesse. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy the countryside, relax on the sundeck, walk or cycle ahead. In the surroundings of Crugey you will have a Burgundy menu for your lunch break. After the barge has arrived at the port of Vandenesse, it is up to you to decide the destination of today's excursion: the water Chateau of Commarin, the tunnel entrance in Pouilly-en-Auxois or a nearby cheese dairy. However, sometimes we organize a petanque championship between the passengers and the crew. Beginning with cocktails on board, you can learn the art of "Sabrage," where you slash open a Champagne bottle with a sword, like the Dukes of Burgundy did hundreds of years ago. Then everybody will be in the right mood for the great farewell dinner and the remittance of your "Lock Diploma" as wells as a selection of several Dijon mustards.

Thursday - Vandenesse en Auxois
Check-Out. After a grand breakfast, disembarkation is generally at 10:30 am. Depending on your personal plans we can drive you to the meeting point hotel Château la Chassagne, to the railway station or airport.

Note: As this is a one-way cruise, the itinerary operates in reverse on alternate weeks. We reserve the right to alter the cruise program.

Friday - Vandenesse
Check in at Vandenesse. At the meeting point at "Chateau la Chassagne," Pont de Pany near Dijon, an air-conditioned bus will transfer you to the barge. You are welcomed on board with a "Kir Royal" by the crew. An unforgettable cruise is about to begin in Burgundy. Your first exceptional candlelight dinner will mark your introduction to regional specialties and wines with great names. The bar and sun deck provide a warm atmosphere to share drinks with fellow passengers. Naturally, all drinks served on board are "all inclusive" and available around the clock.

Saturday - Vandenesse to Pont d'Ouche
Cruise from Vandenesse to Pont d'Ouche. The Captain has a hard day's work ahead, with many locks between Vandenesse and the destination of Pont d'Ouche. The navigation is very interesting and is a wonderful occasion for you to enjoy the countryside as the barge glides along the canal. While you have a hearty breakfast, La Reine Pedauque leaves the port of Vandenesse and begins to pass through the first locks (there are a total of 45 locks during the week's cruise). Arriving in the village of Crugey at midday, the chef will enchant you with a typical Burgundy menu. After the lunch time break the barge continues the cruise to the tempo of the canal locks to Pont d'Ouche. When your hotel barge is moored, you will be invited to visit Chateauneuf en Auxois which you passed by today. Walk into this medieval village with its cafes, antique and curiosity shops along the picturesque streets. There is also a fantastic view over the Auxois plains, with lakes and the distant Morvan hills.

Sunday - Pont d'Ouche to Gissey sur Ouche
Cruise from Pont d'Ouche to Gissey sur Ouche. Today the barge cruise will take you into the magnificent Valley of the Ouche, a journey back in time passing through a unique landscape as the canal twists through the narrow valley. You will have many occasions to be active with walking and cycling along the towpath. La Reine Pedauque will pass through the villages of La Buissiere sur Ouche, Saint Victor, to Gissey sur Ouche. There the barge is moored in a hidden romantic spot, beside the River Ouche and a Gallo Roman bridge, one of the most photographed and painted views. After dinner there will be a great farewell party on board for the passengers who only booked the Mini-Cruise. Passengers and crew will have a lot of fun.

Monday - Beaune
Grande excursion to Beaune for the 7 day cruise passengers. Check out/ check in for the 4-days/3-nights Mini Cruise passengers. Today you will make an excursion to the capital of Burgundy wines, the town of Beaune. You'll be in some of the finest vineyards of France, such as Aloxe Corton, wine tasting some of the greatest Crus, with expert advice from wine Connoisseurs. Lunch is offered in an traditional restaurant, with the vines in the background and dishes to delight your palette. In the afternoon, there is plenty of time to visit the famous Hospices de Beaune built in 1443 and stroll along cobbled streets with boutiques of all kinds. The return to the barge takes you through the "Hautes Cotes" vineyards and past the source of the river Ouche. The chef has prepared a special dinner for you and to welcome the new passengers who have booked the Mini Cruise on the second part of your journey.

Tuesday - Gissey sur Ouche to Fleurey
Cruise from Gissey sur Ouche to Fleurey. As the valley slowly unfolds, the barge passes through the charming villages of Saint Marie sur Ouche and Pont de Pany, with Chateau la Chassagne on the hillside. The barge heads on to the village of Fleurey sur Ouche. There are many opportunities to use the mountain bikes and explore the surroundings or a short walk to a nearby cafe. Once moored in Fleurey sur Ouche there are possibilities to discover more about the region, from Gallo-Roman ruins to feudal castles with dramatic histories or more wine tasting at Chateau la Chassagne. Today the passengers tell the guide where they would like to go. On returning to the barge, your dinner will delight you with carefully prepared dishes and selected wines. Like every other day, typically French so "Bon Appetit."

Wednesday - Fleurey to Dijon
Cruise from Fleurey to Dijon. On today's journey the barge will follow the route via Plombieres les Dijon. La Reine Pedauque passes beside the "Lac Kir", built for Canon Kir, once mayor of Dijon, after whom the famous aperitif was named. The barge finally arrives in the splendid port of Dijon, near the heart of the city. The ancient palace to the powerful Dukes of Burgundy, Notre Dame, Rue de la Chouette are just some of the splendours of Dijon, the city of a hundred bells. As Dijon is the world's capital of mustard, an assortment of local mustards is offered to you as souvenir. For tonight's cocktails on board you can learn the art of "Sabrage," where you can slash open a Champagne bottle with a sword, like the Dukes of Burgundy did hundreds of years ago. Then everybody will be in the right mood for the grand farewell dinner and the remittance of your "Lock Diploma. "

Thursday - Dijon
Check out at Dijon. After a copious breakfast, passengers will generally disembark at about 10:30 am. Depending on your personal plans we will take you back to Chateau la Chassagne, the railway station or even the airport at Dijon.

Note: As this is a one-way cruise, the itinerary operates in reverse on alternate weeks. We reserve the right to alter the cruise program.