SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
The 12-passenger Savoir Faire offers luxury barging in Holland in the spring for its tulip cruises, then cruises in Northern Burgundy and Champagne in the summer and early fall, returning to Holland in October. The Savoir Faire dates back to 1932 when she was built as a transport barge in the Belgian estuaries. During World War II, her bow was replaced with a landing bow so she could sail up on the beaches. She was sunk during the war but later lifted from the river bottom and completely refurbished.In 1979, the barge was brought to Holland where she underwent a total metamorphosis and was converted into the elegant three-decked hotel barge that she is today. Carrying just 12 passengers and built on the largest hull that can cruise the waterways, the former "Etoile de Champagne" was substantially refurbished in 2005 and renamed the "Savoir Faire." She continues to maintain the very high standard of excellence in cuisine, accommodations and service that she has been known for. As an owner-operated luxury barge, the Savoir Faire prides itself in customizing your cruise week to your desires.
ABOUT YOUR HOST ... Chris Bennett has been the captain and owner since the end of 2004. His extensive experience on the waterways of France has included operating a successful hotel barge in Burgundy that received rave reviews from its passengers, setting the stage for his operations aboard the Savoir Faire. He is a gracious, attentive and knowledgable host assisted by a crew of four including a master chef.
The cabin accommodations were excellent. The boat, crew and owners were absolutely top notch and wonderful people. The meals and wines were the best in the world. We loved the 5 star chef!
-- G.M., IL, USA
We have fully enjoyed our stay aboard the Savoir Faire. Bar none, this has been the best vacation we have ever had. The service, food and tours have all been superb. We will be recommending you to all we know. Thank you so much captain Chris and your crew for your professionalism, willingness and the ability to make this such a fabulous vacation. It will be hard to beat this for our future anniversaries!
It was a seamless and wonderful trip, balanced like a fine wine. We now have a new standard for vacations
I'm sure you have all heard the old joke about heaven and hell... In heaven the chefs are French, the trains are English, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and everything is organized by the Swiss. In hell, the chefs are English, the trains are German, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss and everything is organized by the Italians. We have found a new heaven, the Savoir Faire, where the chef is Polish, the deckhand is German, the tour guide and steward are English and the whole thing is run by an British Captain. Thank you so much, this has been incredible!!
Captain Chris and crew... thank you so much for making our first trip to France the best ever. This voyage was by far the most memorable, interesting, fun and of course we owe you a huge thanks. We will recommend you to everyone who asks. You did a wonderful job of making our memories with our friends so much richer. The food, the service and the ship were beyond words. The trip of a lifetime! - hats off to all of you!The trip was simply excellent. We had a most congenial staff, captain and group. Much laughter. The flowers were at their peak and the fields just simply breathtaking. We all travel often but agreed that this trip was very special! Memories are truly made of this.
-- J.F., GA, USA
The whole barge trip was extraordinary and the perfect vacation for celebrating a 70th birthday. What a perfect way to travel with our entire family (14 in all). Please extend a thank you and lots of love to all aboard the Savoir Faire. We loved every minute of our trip. Thank you!
-- T.C., USA
What a fantastic boat! It is large, luxurious, sparkling clean, and in perfect condition. The newly decorated cabins are so clean and delightful -- we felt very special to be a part of this. Captain Chris Bennett is a dream -- intelligent, dedicated to your every comfort, precise and a joy to spend time with. The crew the week we sailed included some newcomers who tried so hard to make things perfect -- they won the hearts of all those aboard. We relaxed as we have not been able to relax in years -- we ate as we have never eaten -- healthful food that was gourmet all the way -- and the dedication to fine wines made us feel very special and pampered. The route was lovely and the last night in Paris was icing on a very special cake.
-- S.B., VA, USA
This was one of our favorite adventures. Captain and crew were exceptional as were the meals, accommodations and excursions. Great way to see the countryside. Our cabin was much larger than our hotel room in Paris! Wonderful service by staff. Very professional. Exceptional meals and a wonderful tour of French wines and cheeses. The excursions were a very nice mix of historic sites with some wine tasting and tours through the countryside. The barge route was lovely, peaceful route, wonderful towns along the way (I'm still trying to pick from over 1,000 pictures!).
I don't think things could have been any better. This was our first barge trip. My husband wasn't too sure about the whole idea initially but the second day out as we were riding bikes in the sunlight along the canal he said, 'I never want to leave this place.' We were planning our next barge trip that evening.
The barge trip on the Savoir Faire was awesome!! The entire trip was well beyond all our expectations. Captain Chris and Fran were the perfect host and hostess - very attentive to all our needs and very warm and caring to our entire family. They were very intelligent and knowledgeable and great to talk to about so many things. They became part of our family. Our children and grandchildren were thrilled and delighted with every aspect of the trip.
-- T.C.
Your boat is magical - with a warmth and charm that is infectious. The beautiful meals and trips and cruising made for an all too short week. Thank you for all you did to spoil us throughout. Speaking for all of us, this week exceeded all expectations and has set a high bar for future trips that are sure to come. Many thanks for everything!
-- M. McG.
We meet at an Amsterdam hotel in the city centre at 2pm (Schipol Airport pickup can also be arranged) and transfer to the barge moored in the center of Haarlem for a champagne welcome. We will relax for the afternoon with a cruise to Zaandam, where we will moor for the night and you will enjoy your first gourmet dinner on board.Sunday
Guests are met at their hotel in Amsterdam at 2pm (pickup at Schiphol Airport can also be arranged) and driven to the Savoir Faire for a champagne welcome and a cruise through the heart of the city to the quaint little town of Ouderkerk.
Monday
Morning cruise along the canals to the town of Gouda, famous for its cheese. Afternoon visit to the Keukenhof Gardens, the largest display of flowers in the world. Here you will see hundreds of varieties of tulips, hyacinths and other bulbs. After we return to the Savoir Faire there will be time for a stroll around Gouda where we will find the most magnificent stained glass windows in Holland.
Tuesday
A cruise out of Gouda to the river Ijssel and across the Holland's Diep, part of the Dutch estuaries, to the charming old fortress town of Wilemstad. This town is preserved in its original state, with windmill dykes, an old church and a 15th century arsenal.
Wednesday
Today we will leave Holland and cross the border into Belgium and travel to Antwerp. Antwerp is the city of Rubens, where we can take a tour of Rubens' house, then a walk in the old quarter of this beautiful Flemish city.
Thursday
We catch the flood tide up the winding "Sea Schelde" which takes us to the town of Ghent. You will have plenty of time to visit this beautiful town in the afternoon.
Friday
You cannot pass through this part of the world without a visit to the beautiful little town of Bruges, known as the "Venice of the North." The chef will pack a picnic lunch, so there will be plenty of time to explore the many museums, buy some of the handmade lace or take a boat trip in the small canals that wander through the town. Rejoin the Savoir Faire in late afternoon to cruise along the river Schelde to the French/Belgian frontier.
Saturday
Guests who have selected 6 nights will be transferred to Brussels Airport or Ghent to arrive by about 11am. After passing the frontier, the Savoir Faire continues along the river Schelde, through the town of Valenciennes to the junction of Canal du Nord at the little French village of Arleux. The cars will take guests to Cambrai along the way.
Sunday
The Savoir Faire begins her climb over the Vermandois Hills of Picardie through the many locks and several tunnels of the Canal du Nord. The scenery is splendid -- rural France at her best, and a good towpath allows guests to walk between locks. After lunch, the cars take an excursion to Amiens to visit what must be one of the greatest of all the Gothic cathedrals with its powerful, towering columns.
Monday
The cruise continues along the Canal du Nord as it drops down into the valley of the river Somme; a short trip on the Somme before climbing over another watershed and down to the valley of the river Oise to moor in the riverside town of Compiegne. There are many places to visit, including the train where the World War I Armistice was signed, as well as the Royal Palace.
Tuesday
As the Savoir Faire continues down the lovely Oise River, guests are taken on an afternoon excursion to the old Roman town of Senlis with its quaint narrow streets, ancient churches and interesting museums, rejoining the Savoir Faire for an evening cruise to the river town of Pontoise.
Wednesday
Loaded down with a picnic lunch, deck chairs and tables, the cars take guests on a day excursion to Giverny to visit the home and gardens of the Impressionist Claude Monet. The gardens should be at their best at this time of the year, and we can visit the water lily pond and the Japanese bridge that inspired so many of Monet's paintings. Moor for the night in Pontoise.
Thursday
Cruise to Bougival in the morning and visit Malmaison, the home of Napoleon, its many rooms lavishly furnished by Josephine. Guests rejoin the Savoir Faire for an evening cruise into Paris and we moor in the heart of Paris, beside the Place de la Bastille.
Friday
A day moored in Paris with a chance for guests to tour and shop in Paris Centre. Your guide will be available to accompany you through Paris. Captain's Farewell Dinner on board.
Saturday
After breakfast, guests will leave the barge at 9:30am and are driven either to their Paris hotel or to the airport.
Note: This is a sample itinerary. Itineraries are flexible and may be changed according to passenger requests and local conditions. In May, the cruise route is Amsterdam to Paris; in October, the cruise route is Paris to Amsterdam.
"Champagne and Brie Cruise"
A glorious week of cheese and wine tasting while cruising on the Marne, one of the most beautiful rivers in France.
Sunday
You are transferred by air-conditioned minivan from your Paris hotel or airport at 2pm and driven directly to the Savoir Faire, moored in Cumieres, 2km from the heart of Epernay. After an introduction to your ship, you are given time to settle in to your cabin before joining your captain and crew for our welcoming champagne reception. There will be time to stroll through the village before coming back on board where your master chef will delight you with the first of many delicious meals.
Monday
This morning, after breakfast, we visit Reims and its magnificent cathedral. We then join the Savoir Faire for lunch and a short cruise to the delightful little town of Damery, with its 13th century church, which was part of a former Benedictine priory. Later this afternoon we visit the Abbey of Hautvilliers where the monk Dom Perignon first made champagne. Dinner aboard.
Tuesday
You are now entering the true Champagne region. Your hosts have arranged a pre-lunch visit to the world famous cellars of Moet and Chandon for a tour and tasting. We then continue to cruise to Chateau Thierry, were we shall moor for the night. This pretty town offers a promenade along the original walls of the town with views over the Marne valley. This whole area was the scene of American battles in World War I. Nearby is the American Monument. Built in 1929, at an altitude of 660 feet, the monument keeps alive the memory of the American troops who fought in WWI. Optional visit to Belleau Wood battlefield and the American cemetery. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday
Your cruise today will take you through picturesque landscapes so loved by both the French and visitors abroad. Today we have arranged a tour of some of our favorite places and a selection of visits to small family-run vineyards so that you can try their fine selection of champagnes. Our mooring for the night is at La Ferte, which offers beautiful, refreshing promenades along the river. Dinner aboard.
Thursday
Today we cruise to Meaux, in the very heart of Brie, famous for its wonderful cheeses of the same name. Nearby, on the route to Soissons, stands a monument that commemorates the 5th September 1914, the extreme point of advance of the German troops and the date of the French counter-attack. We visit Coulomniers, one of the centers of Brie cheese. Your personalized visit to a master cheese maker will enable you to see the cheese-making process first hand and to sample a variety of the world famous Brie cheese, along with wines from his excellent cellar. Dinner aboard.
Friday
This morning we leave Meaux and head towards the mighty Seine which will take us into the very heart of Paris. Our cruise will take us past Coupvray, the birthplace of Louis Braille, the inventor of the alphabet for the blind. At St. Maur des Fosses we pass through the tunnel, which enables us to bypass the shallow waters of the Marne Loop. Today we visit the magnificent Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte. The wonderfully-proportioned chateau and its exquisite gardens are the highlight of this visit. Built between 1656 and 1661 for Finance Minister Nicolas Fouquet, the chateau's construction was monstrous even for those days. Entire villages were razed and 18,000 workmen called in. Famous architects, painters, and landscapers were called in to reflect Fouquet's refined tastes. So lavish was the housewarming party, that Louis XIV threw a fit of jealousy and hurled Fouquet in jail. Just to prove who was boss, Louis XIV began building Versailles.
We finish our journey with an exclusive evening cruise through Paris. As the Savoir Faire glides past the magnificent church of Notre Dame, the resplendent Louvre art gallery and the symbolic Eiffel Tower, you will be joined by your captain and his wife for cocktails followed by the farewell Captain's Dinner. Paris by night is referred to as the 'City of Lights' and is one of the greatest sights to behold anywhere in the world. As we pass beneath the Eiffel Tower and the floodlit bridges, you can see from our panoramic observation deck why this capital has been the focus of so many creative artists and authors. The very essence of Paris comes flooding down to the banks of the Seine, overwhelming the senses and firing the imagination. Our final berth for the night is in the Arsenal, a stone's throw from the lively district of the Bastille.
Saturday
After a hearty breakfast, you will depart the barge at 9:30am and our chauffeurs will drive you to your hotel or airport in Paris.
Note: Itineraries are flexible and may be changed according to passenger requests and local conditions. The itinerary is in the reverse direction on alternate weeks.
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