Barge Cruise: Grand Cru
Cruise in France on the Canal de Bourgogne in Southern Burgundy Aboard the Ultra Deluxe Hotel-Barge GRAND CRU
BARGE CRUISES: SEVEN DAYS/SIX NIGHTS
The 8-passenger Ultra Deluxe Hotel-Barge Grand Cru offers private charter cruises in the famous Southern Burgundy Cote d'Or wine region. Designed and operated by the owners of the popular 8-passenger Ultra Deluxe barge Prosperite and 6-passenger deluxe Rendez-Vous, the luxurious Grand Cru offers the ultimate in barge cruising.
Exclusive to the Grand Cru's dining program, guests will enjoy pours of Grand Cru wines with all five dinners onboard. Selected from France’s esteemed wine regions, these Grand Cru samplings pair perfectly with the chef's market-fresh gourmet cuisine on board. Grand Cru also features craft cocktails made with the very best of regionally-sourced spirits and liqueurs. Guests also enjoy a spa pool on deck, a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen, a powder room on the salon level and a sommelier-selected onboard wine cellar.
The Grand Cru's modern design features four luxurious cabins with a king bed or two oversized twin beds, a vanity dressing area, TV and large ensuite bathroom with separate shower and bathtub. The comfortable furniture throughout the spacious salon and expansive deck are perfect for either conversation or quiet reflection. The crew of six ensures that guests are well looked after and include a private chef, a dedicated tour guide and of course the Captain.
For 2023 Grand Cru cruises on the Southern Burgundy Canal between Plombieres-les-Dijon and Vandenesse-en-Auxois, deep within France's iconic wine country on a beautifully preserved antique canal system. While cruising, guests can relax on deck and enjoy the unspoiled scenery along the canal and river or explore the route's charming canalside villages on the barge's bicycles or on foot. Daily escorted excursions reveal the area's most treasured resource: the pampered grapes of Burgundy's Cote d'Or region. Grand Cru's guests meet the entrepreneurs behind Burgundy's wine production thanks to a series of vineyard visits and private tastings. Guests also enjoy excursions to family-owned chateaux and gourmet food markets, as well as guided tours of the towns of Beaune and Dijon. This is the same cruise route that the barge Prosperite has been cruising on for many years. Tandem cruises of both barges are possible for groups up to 16.
We saw the Grand Cru during its construction five years ago and since then have visited twice with the operator and crew and found it to be exceptional. Every detail, from the luxurious contemporary furnishings, the integrated sound and entertainment system to the fine art and sculpture on display by local artists results in an impeccable environment for which to enjoy a week in the French countryside.
Features
- Size of barge: 128 x 16 ft
- Number of Passengers: 8
- Number of Cabins (all with private bath): 4
- Crew: 6
- Air Conditioning and Central Heating: Yes
- Salon: Large salon and separate dining room with panoramic windows and powder room
- Bar: Open bar
- Deck: Partially covered deck with dining table and spa pool
- Spa Tub: Yes
- Cabin Features: Cabins are 260 square feet each with king bed or twins and include ensuite bathroom with shower and separate bathtub
- Vehicle for Transfers/Excursions: Air-conditioned 9-passenger minibus
- Accessibility: Steps from salon to cabins
- Bicycles: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes - limited in some areas
LUNCH