Cruise on the Rivers and Canals of Germany, Holland, Belgium, or in France in the Upper Loire, Burgundy or Provence aboard the Deluxe Hotel-Barge SERENITE
SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
In 2012 the 12-passenger Serenite cruises in Germany in the spring, starting in southwest Germany on the rivers Main, Rhine, Mosel and Saar and then cruising to Berlin and the Mittelland Canal, Elbe, Havel, Spree and lake region. In the summer it cruises to Holland and Belgium and then to France for cruises in the Upper Loire region, Burgundy and on to Provence. In the fall it cruises to Alsace and back to southwest Germany on the rivers Rhine, Neckar, and Main.
The 12-passenger Serenite was built to match the ship owner's intentions of serenity, the perfect name for an entire week of cheer, calm, relaxation, and the luxury of forgetting daily life. As soon as you step aboard the small exclusive riverboat, you leave behind the stress of everyday life. There is no rush, hustle and bustle. You just lean back and enjoy nature and the good life. While most of the large riverboats sail during the night to reach another port for another excursion, Serenité follows a different rhythm. She sails by daylight hours through magnificent landscapes and stopping at various places of interest. At night she may rest in a quiet and idyllic port, in a bustling city or perhaps in the middle of nowhere. While you do nothing but enjoy the serene travel, the experience ashore, maybe a night cap before retiring, and no noise will disturb your sleep.
Sailing Serenité gives you the feeling of a strolling on a river rather than a city-hopping trip. Of course there is a day-by-day schedule for each cruise. However, this is only tentative, and may be changed due to water and weather conditions, lock repairs or local events. That’s why the captain discusses the route with his guests shortly after embarkation. But even during the cruise you may say "Stop, it’s nice here, we want to stay here."
Is there anything better than enjoying fine dining in good company? Either in the elegant restaurant or al fresco on the sundeck, as weather permits. The chef prepares new fresh creations every day, using what is offered by the regions and seasons. Just accompany him shopping in the market and help choose your next meal. In addition, fine local wines are offered with meals. And if you feel like a cocktail in between, just have one; all bar drinks are included in the cruise rate as well.
As ships get larger and larger to accommodate more and more tourists, individuality and flexibility have ever more value. Serenité offers both. There are six comfortable cabins on the lower level with twin beds or a queen bed, TV/VCR and ensuite tiled bathrooms. On the main level guests can enjoy the comfortable lounge, bar and sundeck with whirlpool, deck chairs and dining table. This makes the boat ideal for a full charter by a small group of like-minded guests, good friends or family or for a company’s incentive trip.
Features
- Size of barge: 126 ft by 17 ft
- Number of Passengers: 12
- Number of Cabins (all with private bath): 6
- Crew: 5
- Air Conditioning and Central Heating: Yes
- Salon: Large salon with comfortable seating and dining room, all with picture windows.
- Bar: Open bar
- Deck: Sundeck with jacuzzi, recliners and parasol. Upper sundeck with recliners
- Spa Tub: Yes
- Cabin Features: Six suites, 130 sq ft each with twin beds or queen bed and ensuite bathroom with shower. Sauna on lower level
- Vehicle for Transfers/Excursions: Air-conditioned minibus
- Accessibility: Steps to cabins and to upper sundeck
- Bicycles: 6 mountain bikes
Serenité's Deck Plan
SAMPLE ITINERARIES*
Germany: Mittelland Canal, Elbe, Havel, & Spree Rivers, & Lake Region
Berlin to Waren 2012
Friday - Berlin to Waren
Embarkation on Serenité, moored in Waren Center, is around 3pm. Pick-up in Berlin is at 1pm. Driving time to Waren is approximately 2 hours. After the welcome onboard you may take a stroll through idyllic Waren, know as the pearl of the Müritz lake. The town of Waren is the main tourist center of the region and lies on the northern shores of the lake. In addition to the two parish churches of St. Georg and St. Maria, the old and new town halls and the Löwenapotheke draw the eye. There are beautiful restored house facades along the main pedestrian street. Serenité stays overnight in Waren.
Saturday - Waren to Fürstenberg
During breakfast we leave Waren and cross the Müritzlake, the largest lake in Germany (42 square miles). The name comes from the Slavic word morcze, meaning small sea. It takes us about 2.5 hours to reach the southern shore. After lunch we reach the small town of Kleinzerlang, from here we start an excursion to Rheinsberg where we visit the Renaissance castle with romantic gardens situated right on the lake and immortalised by Kurt Tucholsky's "Picture book for Lovers". It was the favorite summer residence of Frederick the Great before he became emperor. Back on board we sail a little stretch and stay overnight in the small town of Fürstenberg.
Sunday - Fürstenberg to Zehdenick
We start cruising again during your breakfast, cross the last Mecklenburg lake and then reach the river Havel meandering its way through the Schorfheide Nature Reserve. It is the day to sit on the top sundeck, just relax and watch the incredible scenery pass by. Nature is totally untouched and you can see plenty of different birds like kingfishers, ospreys, herons, ducks and swans playing in carpets of water lilies that line the shore. We make an afternoon stop in Zehdenick, where you see a typical old East German town as well as the remains of a Cistercian monastery. We find a quiet mooring place in the green for the night.
Monday - Zehdenick to Oranienburg to Tegel
A short excursion can be made to Oranienburg to visit the renovated castle and its museum, (also close by is the memorial site of Sachsenhausen concentration camp which can be visited on request). We continue during the afternoon and sail on the Havel-Oder-Canal and early evening we reach Berlin-Tegel, an idyllic suburb of the capital situated on the Tegeler Lake.
Tuesday - Tegel to Potsdam
This morning we cross the Tegeler Lake and reach Spandau from where we change on to the river Havel. We cruise the Wannsee - Berlin's "green lungs" and pass under the Glienicker Bridge into former East Germany. This bridge was well known from movies, as it used to be the exchange place for espionage agents and prisoners between East and West. In Potsdam you take a trip with an historical bus to see all the sights of the former Imperial Town, the Sans Souci castle, summer residence of Prussian King Frederick II, the Cecilienhof Castle, where the Potsdam treaty was signed in 1945. We drive through the former KGB quarters, the Russian settlement, the Dutch quarter and the quirling center of Potsdam. Here we stay overnight.
Wednesday - Potsdam to Berlin
This morning we cross the Wannsee Lake again and after the Spandau look we reach the river Spree that flows through the center of Berlin. On our cruise we see lots of the famous sights like the Charlottenburg Castle, the new government buildings, the old Reichstag, the Museums island with the fabulous museums like the Bode museum, the National Gallery, the Pergamom Museum and the Berlin Dom, Europe's largest protestant cathedral. We continue to the East end of the city, before we turn around and find our mooring place in the center, a few steps away from the Reichstag.
Thursday - Berlin
After breakfast we bid you farewell about 9.30 -10.00am. Our transfer takes you back to Berlin airport or town centre.
*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.
SERENITE
2012 SEASON CRUISE SCHEDULE* |
Serenite is fully booked for 2011.
May be available for charter only on selected weeks in May and June, 2012
on the Berlin to Waren (and reverse) route in Germany.
Contact us for further details and suggestions. |
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SERENITE
2012 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS |
| ACCOMMODATION |
REGULAR
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Charter for 12 |
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What's Included- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge, all cabins with private bath
- transfers from transportation center nearest cruise route and return
- all meals beginning with dinner on Friday through breakfast on Thursday, or other days depending on cruise schedule
- all wines with lunches and dinners
- open bar
- all escorted side-excursions (hot air ballooning, golf, etc. at additional cost)
- use of bicycles
What's Not Included
- overseas or in-country air or train transportation to local pickup point in cruise region and return
- suggested 5-7% gratuity for the crew (to be paid in equivalent Euros to the captain).
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