SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
The 6-passenger Saroche was designed to offer the atmosphere of an elegant home without sacrificing any of the luxury to be expected from a high-class hotel. She is one of the most attractive barges cruising the waterways of France, with classic hull, arched windows and sleek lines. The barge is owned by Kevin Tickell who has cruised extensively on board in the inland waterways of Europe and has spent several years on board a luxury motor yacht based in the Mediterranean. He has a deep love of the waterways, especially throughout France, which he has made his home - spending winters in the Camargue and summers in Burgundy. He also has a passion for good food and fine wines and has designed Saroche around this concept so that passengers can experience the true flavors of France while on board.
The specially selected crew of four with captain, chef de cuisine, guide and hostess, have years of experience in hotel barging and catering and combine this experience to ensure that cruising on board Saroche is a relaxing, comfortable, informative and gourmet experience. Passengers, who are made to feel at home and rapidly become friends, appreciate their friendly, cheerful personalities and sense of humor. Kevin is committed to offering guests not only quality in terms of the barge and its amenities, but also flexibility with regard to cruising, excursions and the food and beverages on board. Cruising routes allow for 3 to 4 hours cruising per day, stopping each evening either in one of the towns mentioned in the itineraries or in a country village, depending on guests' preferences. Wherever possible cruises can be tailored to fit in with passengers' requirements. It is the Saroche's aim to provide a cruise tailored for you. Guests are warmly welcomed on board and during the Champagne reception are encouraged to regard Saroche as their home.
Every cruise on board Saroche is a gourmet experience. Whilst the majority of other passenger barges have a set menu each evening, Saroche offers a choice of dishes each evening on its 5- course menu. The chef will discuss your personal preferences with you and tailor the week's menus to reflect these. We also cater for special dietary needs. Buffet lunch spreads include mouthwatering home made quiches, patés and terrines, cold cuts and crisp salads - rounded off with dessert or a selection of cheeses and all accompanied by excellent wines. Saroche carries a 'cellar' of some 200 bottles of wine and champagne - specially selected fine wines from Burgundy and Bordeaux are complimented with prize-winning vintages from lesser known regions, vineyards and châteaux. Many of these wines are virtually unknown outside their own region of production, however their excellence will speak for itself. Guests are invited to visit the "cave" and select their own wines each evening, although crew are always happy to recommend wines to accompany the menu selections.
The vessel has a split-level lounge/dining room, a quiet library and writing room featuring a foliage surrounded fish pond with goldfish and a large sundeck and parasol-covered dining deck - for meals 'al fresco'. The lounge/dining area was designed to reflect the colors of Provence, its subtle peach and cream decor highlighted with accents of amber and turquoise. The cool mosaic tiled dining area and white oak floored salon are complemented by wrought iron and hardwood balustrades. Large opening windows and a hexagonal skylight flood the room with sunshine and fresh air, as rippling reflections from the water dance across the wood timbered ceiling, flashing across brass ceiling fans - all reflecting and absorbing the atmosphere, bright colors and sunshine of the French countryside. The comfortable armchairs, wood burning fire, hardwood fully stocked bar, stereo/CD player, satellite TV, video and DVD player and library complete the cozy atmosphere - where passengers quickly feel at home.
Saroche's staterooms reflect the high standard to which the vessel was designed. The staterooms are bright, luxurious and spacious - more closely resembling a hotel room than a ship's cabin. All the beds can be converted into either twin beds or a queen bed. The staterooms have large wardrobes with ample hanging drawer and shelf space and alcoves with make-up/shaving mirrors above tiled washbasins. Bathrooms contain extra large fully tiled shower cubicles with high ceilings, easy access glass doors and adjustable speed shower nozzles. Hot water is abundant, hair dryers are provided in all cabins and large fluffy bath sheets add to the feeling of luxury. All cabins have opening windows, central heating and individually controlled air conditioning systems.
We had a fantastic time. Because this is our sixth trip, we do have something to compare it to. I have to say it was one of our favorites.
-- C.S. & A.S., MA, USA
They are the best..every detail was taken care of and when we needed advice or help, there were there every step of the way. Great service!
-- M.A., PA, USA
Both the barge and staff were outstanding. We would definitley take this trip again and recommend it to our friends. The food was superb, the itinerary perfect and the friendliness of the crew wonderful. I just don't have any suggestions to make to make it better, it was perfect just as is. We have barged before and therefore really appreciated the generous size of the cabins.The beds were comfortable, the bathroom more than adequate and the housekeeping meticulous. Our chef, Jodi, is an outstanding chef and the ability to actually choose our menus each evening was great fun. Everyone had an experience of a lifetime!
-- B.G. & S.G., CA, USA
Wonderful! Would do it again in a heartbeat. Nice people, great food and service. Beautiful barge. If all barges are this wonderful we will never do anything else again.
-- S.J. & M.J., CA, USA
The food, the wine, the boat, the excursions, the crew. The best was when we were moored in Aiges-Mortes, a woman approached us as we were leaving the boat and was complementing us on "our" boat and how lovely the boat is. Since we were the only passengers, I guess it was "ours".
-- D.S. & M.S., TX, USA
The barge trip turned out to be even more wonderful than we expected. We were very surprised at how much we loved the barge. We couldn't wait to get back to the barge when we were out. We loved the trips down the canals and we were entranced by the wilderness of the Carmargue region. The service and attention to detail on the barge was spectacular. We loved the "cottage" feel of the decor and the relaxing atmosphere, while the experience of the food, wine, and service was nothing but elegant. On top of that, we loved their music collection. We will always remember cruising and listening to great music. Kevin and Jody and the crew, made us feel welcome from the moment we were picked up at the train. They made us feel completely at home on the barge and we felt like they became dear friends.
-- B.G.
The barge trip was a nice and relaxing vacation with luxury accommodations, fabulous food and pleasant staff. Excellent. The staff did everything they could to make our trip comfortable. All requests were accommodated. The meals and wines were excellent with a capital "E". The meals were absolutely fabulous. They were upscale, gourmet food presentations with quality and flavor. Jody is an outstanding chef. The wines were superb. Each meal was graced by both a white and red wine. We were served a great variety of wines and all were excellent quality. This was a great trip and a fabulous experience.
-- B.T., NH, USA
I would like to say the historical tours and the Provence scenery were the highlights.... but the food & wine memories keep wafting back to the forefront of our minds!! And sitting in the hot tub with our wine glasses toasting our last sunset on the Saroche is a vivid memory as well.
-- B.D., CO, USA
Jody is an excellent chef. The food ranks at the top of our gourmet experiences...Our group all thought that Kevin and his staff had perfected the art of barging!!!
-- T.P. CO, USA
The first barge trip of the season and the boat and crew were just as sharp and well tuned as if they had practised all year. This trip exceeded all expectations - not only in the luxurious quarters, but excellent creative cuisine and interesting well planned excursions. For a once in a lifetime experience of France and the best an international crew can offer - the Saroche is it!
-- K.A., TX, USA
Thank you very much for suggesting the Saroche as our hotel barge in France. In a word, the week was glorious! It exceeded our every expectation. Captain Kevin Tickell and his crew made us feel immediately comfortable on Saroche from the initial champagne reception with Jody's fantastic nibbles to the last wonderful meal aboard. We were blessed with great weather which allowed us to really enjoy the deck of Saroche and the hot tub as we floated past the incredibly pastoral countryside of the Burgundy Canal. Back to the food - it was fantastic, and the nightly selection of wines complimented each course beautifully. The excursions we took were a great balance of history, scenery and wine tasting! Kevin was a great captain, making sure we were well cared for, and always happy to go the extra mile for our enjoyment. The 6 of all agreed that it was truly a vacation of a lifetime.
--T.H., GA, USA
What was once a fantasy is now a reality... what was only a dream is now a memory Saroche was the experience of the century!
Sunday - Dijon
Guests are greeted at the pre-designated meeting point and escorted to Saroche in Dijon. After settling in you are invited to join the Captain for a Champagne Reception and cruise safety briefing. Plenty of time for a stroll around Dijon or merely relax on board and enjoy the view.
Monday - Dijon to Fleurey sur Ouche
Our first day cruising leaves behind the bustling centre of Dijon as we journey upwards to our evening halt in the village of Fleurey sur Ouche nestling in the Ouche valley. Climb to the top of the church of Notre Dame to view the marvelous panoramic view over the surrounding countryside.
Excursion: Tour the Côte de Nuits vineyards known as the Champs Elysées of Burgundy. Visit the Château of Clos de Vougeot, established by the Cistercian monks and famous for its wines. The Chevaliers du Tastevin meet here to sample the wines and confer their medals on selected vintages.
Tuesday - Fleurey sur Ouche to Gissey sur Ouche
This morning we continue upwards in the tranquility of the countryside and the lush scenery of the Ouche valley through Pont de Pany and Saint Marie sur Ouche to this evening's halt at Gissey sur Ouche. Plenty of opportunities to stroll or cycle alongside the vessel as it slowly meanders along between locks to work up an appetite for this evening's meal ashore at a typical country restaurant.
Excursion: This morning is set aside for a tour of Dijon which has many places of interest such as the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy housing the Fine Arts Museum with its paintings from the 14th Century to the present day. Climb the 3l6 steps of Philip the Good's Tower to get a wonderful view of the region.
Wednesday - Gissey sur Ouche to La Bussière
Today's cruise takes us through sloping tree laden reaches and the picturesque village of Saint Victor to La Bussière where you can visit the buildings and the grounds of the medieval abbey.
Excursion: Visit the abbey of Fontenay which was founded in1118 by Saint Bernard and built in the Romanesque style by the Cistercian monks in the 12th Century to the 15th Century. In 1906 it was turned into a paper mill by the Montgolfier brothers but was reinstated by their descendants in 1820.
Thursday - La Bussière to Pont d'Ouche
Cruising along the tree-lined valley we pass through the canal-side villages of La Forge and Veuvey sur Ouche en route to Pont d'Ouche where Charollais cattle graze peacefully in the pastures alongside the canal.
Excursion: Beaune, Burgundy's wine capital - tour the Hôtel Dieu with its honeycombed, colored tiled roof, built in 1443 as a Hospice for the sick and needy it is now famous for its collection of pottery jars and its annual wine auctions. Visit the cellars of Patriarche Pere et Fils, the largest cellars in Burgundy, for a tasting of some of its fine wines.
Friday - Pont d'Ouche to Vandenesse
Our final morning's cruise takes us ever upwards towards the summit level as the canal winds round past the hillside villages of Bouhey and Châteauneuf. The cruise culminates in the Captain's Farewell Dinner ashore at a Burgundian restaurant.
Excursion: Visit the magnificent Château of Commarin with its forbidding stone walls and towers, and the romantic 12th Century village of Châteauneuf, former seat of the Duke of Burgundy, prominent upon its hilltop overlooking the Canal.
Saturday - Vandenesse
Time after breakfast for one last chance to sit on deck before your departure from Saroche.
Note: It is our aim to provide a cruise tailored for you. Wherever possible we will adjust the cruise to fit in with your requirements. This is a sample itinerary and it is subject to change. On alternating weeks, the cruise operates in the reverse direction.
Sunday - Beaucaire
Guests are greeted at the pre-designated meeting point and escorted to Saroche in Beaucaire. After settling in you are invited to join the captain for a champagne Reception and cruise safety briefing. Enjoy your pre-dinner aperitifs during an early evening cruise from Beaucaire port into the countryside.
Monday - Beaucaire to Saint Gilles
A morning excursion to Avignon for a guided tour of the Palace of the Popes and the famous Pont d'Avignon followed by some free time to explore the town before returning to Saroche for lunch. The afternoon cruise begins by passing through the only lock on the canal and then continues through the lush vegetation of the Rhône valley to overnight mooring spot in the country where frogs and nightingales sing the night away.
Excursion: The magnificent city of Avignon.
Tuesday - Saint Gilles to Arles
Your morning cruise is to the Provençal city of Arles. A walking tour of Arles to visit the Roman arena and some of Van Gogh favorite haunts before returning to Saroche for a relaxing afternoon cruise through the reed beds of the Camargue where reed cutters work, black bulls and white horses graze, and birds of prey soar over Europe's largest wetland wilderness, to our overnight mooring at the village of Franquevaux.
Excursion: Visit Arles and the Roman arena and theatre - walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh and maybe take a drink in the Starry Nights Café made famous by his painting.
Wednesday - Franquevaux to Aigues-Mortes
A morning cruise to Aigues-Mortes, 'the jewel of the Camargue' built by Louis IV as a departure port for his Crusades, stands boldly on the salt flats guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean. Visit the colourful morning street market and enjoy the shopping, galleries and sightseeing, or walk the ramparts of this medieval town.
Excursion: Village and vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape. Lunch at a selected restaurant, followed by a tasting of the world famous red wine. The return trip to Saroche takes in the 2000 year old Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard, one of the treasures of the Roman Empire.
Thursday - Aigues-Mortes to Maguelone
After your morning excursion time to relax on an afternoon cruise through the inland lakes teeming with bird life, to Maguelone, an ancient settlement on a pine-clad hill by the sea - its cathedral dating back to the sixth Century. Watch the nesting colonies of bee-eaters and white egrets along the canal banks and the flocks of hundreds of flamingos gracefully wading through the etangs.
Excursion: Today's excursion is a visit to Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer with its fortified church and magical stories or visit the world famous Perrier source and bottling plant.
Friday - Maguelone to Sète
The last day's cruising takes you to the bustling Port of Sète, France's second largest sea port. The picturesque town is criss-crossed by small canals which link the Mediterranean with the inland lake the 'Etang de Thau'. The captain's farewell dinner this evening is at a canal-front restaurant where fish come directly into the kitchen from the fishing boats moored at the quay. Local Mediterranean dishes are a specialty.
Excursion: The afternoon excursion to Sète includes a trip to the hilltop for breath-taking panoramic views of the town and surrounding waters, followed by a stroll through the streets of the old town.
Saturday - Sète
Time after breakfast for one last chance to sit on deck before your departure from Saroche.
Note: It is our aim to provide a cruise tailored for you. Wherever possible we will adjust the cruise to fit in with your requirements. This is a sample itinerary and it is subject to change. On alternating weeks, the cruise operates in the reverse 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.
| SAROCHE 2010 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCOMMODATION | SPECIAL Apr 4 thru May 1 |
VALUE May 2 thru Jun 5 Oct 3 thru Nov 6 |
MAIN Jun 6 thru Jul 3 Jul 11 thru Oct 2 |
| Cabin (per person, double occupancy) |
$4,000 |
$4,500 |
$5,000 |
| Single Occupancy Supplement |
$1,000 |
$1,500 |
$2,000 |
| Charter for 4 |
$18,000 |
$21,000 |
$24,000 |
| Charter for 6 |
$22,000 |
$26,000 |
$28,000 |
| SAROCHE 2011 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCOMMODATION | SPECIAL Apr 10 thru Apr 30 |
VALUE May 1 thru Jun 11 Oct 9 thru Oct 29 |
MAIN Jun 26 thru Oct 1 |
| Cabin (per person, double occupancy) |
$4,200 |
$4,750 |
$5,250 |
| Single Occupancy Supplement |
$1,500 |
$2,000 |
$2,500 |
| Charter for 4 |
$19,800 |
$23,000 |
$26,000 |
| Charter for 5 |
$22,500 |
$25,750 |
$28,750 |
| Charter for 6 |
$24,200 |
$27,300 |
$29,400 |
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in a cabin with private bath
- Transfers from Dijon (for Burgundy cruises) or Montpellier/Avignon (for Provence cruises) to the barge and return
- All meals from Sunday dinner through Saturday breakfast
- Wine with lunch and dinner
- Open bar
- Captain's farewell dinner ashore
- All escorted side excursions
- Use of bicycles
What's Not Included
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Transportation from Paris to Dijon or Montpellier/Avignon and return
- Suggested minimum 5% gratuity for the crew, to be given to the captain in equivalent euros
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Special Places Travel, LLC "Barges in France (and the rest of Europe) ... for the experience of a lifetime!" ™
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