Special Offers for Barges in France (... and England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Italy, too!)

Contact us for personal assistance in selecting the hotel barge that best matches your interests, needs, and price. You can rely on our twelve years of experience and frequent visits aboard all of the barges in France and the rest of Europe to give you honest answers to all of your questions, and to guide you to the experience of a lifetime. Note: Prices quoted and payable in US Dollars. Sale prices and special offers apply to new bookings only.
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THEME CRUISES FOR 2010
FAMILY CRUISE -- Children Free Or 50% off!*	While all barges have a policy that children are only accepted for charter cruises, the entire family (ages 5 years old and up) and extended families are welcome aboard the July 24-30, 2010, cruise of the 22-passenger LORRAINE in the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, cruising between Krafft (near Strasbourg) and Xouaxange (near Nancy). Lorraine's cabins can accommodate triple occupancy (with a pull-down bed), *so kids go free if accompanied by two adults in a triple occupancy cabin. For double occupancy cabins on this family cruise week, the cost is $2,790 for each adult, and 50% off -- $1,395 -- for each child accompanied by an adult. (Single occupancy cabins are $4,185.) Highlights of the week include exploring caves at the Grotte de la Glaciere, a visit to a zoo, and a natural history museum, a visit to the Peugeot museum and factory to see cars being built, a visit back to 19th century France at the Ecomusée d'Alsace in Ungersheim, and in Mulhouse, a choice of train museum, fire museum, car museum, and/or ELECTROPOLIS (electricity museum) for a day filled with learning and exploration! Click here to see the full family cruise itinerary on our Lorraine web page. Some restrictions apply. Call or email for details.
ELISABETH: Chocolate and Wine Cruise!	The 6-passenger hotel barge ELISABETH, cruising in Burgundy on the beautiful Canal de Bourgogne between Tanlay and Pouillenay for the 2010 season, is again offering its fabulous Elisabeth La Chocolat Cruise for Wine Lovers and Chocoholics. Highlights include: • Lunch in the village of Flavigny (where the movie "Chocolat" was made) and a walking tour of the village. • In Alesia, see the site of the last great battle between the Romans and the Gaules. The Roman ruins and amphitheatre date back to 345BC. • Wine tasting in Chablis and visit to the chocolaterie to hear the history of and taste the chocolate Pillars of Chablis. • Medieval Noyer, one of the top five prettiest villages of France. • Eppoisses for a cheese visit and a wine tasting. • Abbay de Fontenay, a UNESCO world heritage site • Special chocolate tastings, and demonstrations all through the week, with chocolate and wine pairings! For full details Click here for Elisabeth's Chocolate and Wine Itinerary.
HONEYMOON CRUISE	Honeymoon Special! aboard ELISABETH. Book a honeymoon or a special wedding annniversary charter cruise for two and be pampered and looked after by a crew of three for your private cruise week. Imagine Wine and Chocolate and Romance. Red roses and champagne in the cabin as an extra treat! Take the whole barge for yourselves at just USD$10,500 (2010 season). Spend time together away from the hustle and bustle of the real world. Relax and enjoy the privacy of your own intimate floating hotel. Let the crew of the Elisabeth do all the work and organization. Enjoy your special time together! Call or email for more information or to book your 2010 Honeymoon Cruise!
QUINQUENNIAL SPECIAL	quin-quen-ni-al: (kwin kwen’ e ?l), -n. 1. a fifth anniversary. -adj. 2. occurring every five years. The ADRIENNE, the HORIZON II, and the NENUPHAR, are offering for 2010 a quinquennial anniversary special. If you are celebrating a quinquennial anniversary, then the number of years of your marriage is the percent of discount you will receive off a luxury barge cruise. For example, 5% off for your 5 year anniversary. 20% off for your 20 year anniversary, up to 50% off for your golden anniversary. Only select cruise dates are available, and need not coincide with your actual anniversary, though each couple must submit a copy of their marriage certificate as proof of their quinary qualifications. Make your reservations early, as availability is limited. Call or email for more information or to book your 2010 Quinquennial Cruise!
TENNIS ANYONE?	In addition to regular excursions and fabulous cuisine aboard the 10-passenger ATHOS, the July 25-31, 2010, cruise week also offers the opportunity for early morning tennis at local courts along the historic Canal du Midi route in the South of France. Cost is $3,690 per person, based on double occupancy, plus modest charge for court time. This week is open to individual cabin bookings, and is guaranteed to cruise. May 23-29, 2010, cruise week also open to individual cabin bookings, at $4,350 per person, double occupancy.
WINE CRUISE: From Southern Rhone Valley to Languedoc	Join in on a special Wine Tasting Cruise May 16-22, 2010, aboard the 18-passenger LE PHENICIEN. This sommalier-accompanied cruise features five wine discovery excursions including an introduction to selected "appellations" among the best in Provence, introduction to wine tasting, wine making sciences and secrets, and visits to 6 vintners. Cost is $4,190 per person, plus wine cruise supplement of $670 ($4,860 total), based on double occupancy. Only a few cabins remain, so call or email for details and to reserve this special week!
HANDS-ON CUISINE CRUISE: Cooking Classes & Cruising	Interested in a HANDS-ON CUISINE CRUISE? Charter Parties: Enjoy Regional Cooking Classes & Cruise: The deluxe 6-passenger FANDANGO, the ultra-deluxe 4-passenger ALOUETTE, and the deluxe 18-passenger LE PHENICIEN offer private hands-on lessons and then the chance to enjoy your carefully prepared sumptuous meals and desserts! Cruise routes for this special program include Burgundy, Canal du Midi, and Provence. (Cuisine class supplement may apply.) Or, just looking to sit back and watch your chef? Then consider this gorgeous selection of barges, each equipped with demonstration kitchens: ROI SOLEIL, PROSPERITE, RENAISSANCE, and ENCHANTE. Call or email for details.
SPRINGTIME IN HOLLAND 2010: The TULIP and GARDEN CRUISE OF A LIFETIME!	Tulip Cruises in Holland: If you've not experienced the Keukenhof in Holland in the Springtime, with hundreds of thousands of tulips, there is still availability on Tulip Cruises from mid March to mid May in 2010. Please call or email us soon to check on availability! Select from the following luxury hotel barges: 8-passenger Absoluut2 12-passenger Marjorie II 8-passenger Nouvelle Etoile 12-passenger Savoir Faire Don't miss the amazing display of thousands of tulips at Keukenhof, the Aalsmeer flower market with up to a million flowers auctioned daily, up-close-and-personal encounters with the art works of the Dutch masters, the town of Gouda and cheesemakers, and the classic artistry of Delft's pottery works where porcelain is still handmade and painted. Priceless memories! Prices vary by barge, starting at USD$3,800 per person aboard Marjorie II and Savoir Faire, USD$3,950 aboard Absoluut2, and USD$6,150 aboard Nouvelle Etoile. (Prices are higher for later April/May cruise weeks on some barges.) Prices include Amsterdam transfers, all meals, guided excursions, wines with meals, and bar drinks. Call or email now to book your 2010 Tulip Cruise.
ACTIVE CRUISES: Professional Walking Tour Golf Cruises Cycling Cruises Tour de France Cruise Runners Cruise Paris Marathon Cruise	With your luxury hotel floating along with you, combine your interest in walking, golf, cycling or running with a barge cruise. If you are casually interested in these activities, nearly all barges can accommodate you during the course of a regular cruise week. If you would like to have cycling, golf, or the 97th TOUR de FRANCE (starting in Rotterdam and ending in Paris, July 3-25, 2010) or the 34th PARIS MARATHON (April 11, 2010) to be a major focus of your cruise, you can join in on a cruise week that is organized specifically for this or you can gather friends with similar interests and charter a barge to customize the week to match your interests exactly. Call or email for details -- we want to make this happen for you in 2010! CYCLING CRUISES can include casual cycling along the towpath and into villages (nearly all canal cruises offer this as part of their regular itineraries), or serious daily cycling (e.g., 25-50 miles each day) with or without a cycle tour guide -- this kind of cycle cruise is specially arranged, and typically provides rented bicycles that match your individual size and preferences. GOLF CRUISES can include as many three or four golf days at local courses along the cruise route, with separate excursions for non-golfers -- these are specially arranged golf cruise weeks. OR you can play golf on your own during most any cruise week aboard any barge, by arrangement with the crew. WALKING TOURS on board LA BELLE EPOQUE, for the week of October 10, 2010, with a professional walking guide may be arranged by chartering the barge. OR cruise on any barge in France or in other countries and set your own walking schedule, as you wish. Crew can provide guidance and maps. TOUR de FRANCE stages have been announced, and include routes that are on or very close to the cruise routes of several barges. If you're interested in planning a barge cruise around the stages in the TOUR de FRANCE, contact us soon, and we'll be happy to match you up with a barge cruising on or near one of the stages. Click here for a more information. RUNNERS and MARATHON WATCHERS/SUPPORTERS: PARIS MARATHON! Do you want to participate in or watch the 34th PARIS MARATHON (April 11, 2010) with accommodations aboard your own floating hotel, followed by a cruise to celebrate? OR arrange your own "cruise week for runners" with running circuits through the cruise week? Call or email now to set your arrangements (charter only). Here are details: "10 Nights for Price of 6" Paris Cruise on the 8-passenger RENAISSANCE On Sunday, April 11th, 37,000 athletes will be running their course through the City Of Light. The 8-passenger ultra deluxe hotel barge RENAISSANCE will be moored in central Paris for four days starting Wednesday, April 7th, where your floating hotel is positioned perfectly for you to explore the city, visit the nearby Latin Quarter and Notre Dame, or watch the marathon, and in the evenings dine in a wonderful Paris restaurant of your choice. SPECIAL OFFER: This special 10 night package aboard the luxurious hotel barge Renaissance is now available at the same price as a standard 6 night cruise - USD$5,450 per person, based on two people sharing a suite. Renaissance has 4 suites accommodating 8 people so places on this unique cruise are strictly limited. (The first 4 nights are on a bed-and-breakfast included basis, and the following 6 nights are fully inclusive -- all meals, open bar, cruise, accommodations, excursions, and Paris transfers.) Click here for the full itinerary.

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Experience barging in France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Germany, or Italy to see why everyone says this is the most pampered experience along waterways of incredible beauty. MOST BARGE CRUISES ARE ALL INCLUSIVE: Unless noted, all canal and river cruises are seven days and six nights. The majority start their cruise on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The all-inclusive trip price includes all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), alcoholic beverages, transfers, and excursions, except where noted. Most French barge cruises in Burgundy include transfer from and to Paris in their price (some even on the TGV train), whereas barges in the Canal du Midi, for example, typically don't include transfers from Paris. In Ireland, Scotland, England, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Italy, prices usually include transfers from and to the major gateway airport or hotel or train station. "Value season" is typically early April and end of October, and July and August for some barges; "regular season" is all the remaining months. Call or email.

MORE ABOUT BARGES and SPECIAL OFFERS:

This edition of our specials page highlights offers for the 2010 season and provides additional suggestions for special cruises -- including Spring Tulip Cruises in Holland, a fabulous cruise in Burgundy for chocolate and wine lovers, and cruises for runners, walkers, cyclists, golfers, antique-hunters, as well as cruises with emphasis on special interests, including garden cruises, archaeology, history, etc. If you've never cruised aboard a hotel barge, now is the time to discover why hotel barges are the best kept secret in travel!

If you've ever thought about cruising the canals of France (or waterways in England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Germany, and Italy) and being pampered like you've never imagined -- call toll-free from US/Canada at 1-877-642-2743, or email us at info@SpecialPlacesTravel.com to discuss "the best kept secret in travel" -- a vacation experience like no other! (Outside US/Canada, call 001.443.321.3614 or email.) We suggest you call early because many of the most popular weeks are already sold out on some barges -- but there are still many openings. So if you are considering cruising in 2010 or beyond contact us soon!

All special price offers apply only to new bookings, and are subject to availability. Unless otherwise noted, all prices are in US Dollars. For a full description of each hotel barge listed on this page, click on the barge name.

Are you thinking of planning a family reunion, high school or college reunion, family celebration of a special anniversary or birthday? We will work with you to make the most memorable lifetime event for groups of 4 to 90. Do you have at least ten people who MIGHT go, but the group may expand to more, where you would like flexibility to eventually accommodate, 14, 16, even 18 total passengers? If so, call or email us soon, and we will work with you to create the most perfect imaginable reunion or family/group celebration for anytime in the 2010 season! Group sizes from 4 to 88!

Hotel barging offers something for everyone:

• Garden Tours/Tulip Cruises, especially springtime in Holland with visits to Keukenhof!
• Barge Cruises for Walkers -- featuring casual or vigorous walking programs
• Golf and Tennis Cruises -- the most memorable golf or tennis cruise you'll ever experience.
• Running and Cycling Cruises -- create your own runners or cycling barge week, or join a formal cycle tour. Cycling can be as vigorous or as easy as you want -- and there are a lot of possibilities. Call or email to help decide. For details, see
  http://www.bargecycle.com: Cycle Tour Ideas: Barges in France and elsewhere in Europe
• Gourmet cuisine showcase weeks -- All barges provide exceptional dining experiences from on-board chefs, and some barges offer restaurant touring as well. Special gourmet cruise weeks on some barges raise the gourmet emphasis to an even higher level. Special cooking classes can also be hosted on some barges either for on-board demonstrations, or visiting local chefs in local chateaus or restaurants. Call or email to set up your Gourmet Cruise week.
• Wine connoisseurs go barging! -- All the hotel barges in France and elsewhere in Europe feature excellent wines through the cruise week, and most offer visits to wineries. A few barges offer special wine cruises with premier cru and grand cru tastings and winery visits. Call or email for information.
• Antique hunters cruise weeks -- A few barges offer special antique cruise weeks with outstanding opportunities to discover a wide range of antique items, led by a veteran antique shopper. Call or email to arrange!

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

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