Barge cruising with who in France?

[cigloo]

Hello all.

 

We are a group of friends that want to do a barge cruise and we have heard of French Country Waterways and Orient.

 

Does anyone know anything about these and any recommendations?

 

Thank you!!

 

Jennifer

[tassietravellers]

I wil be interested to replies, as I only picked up a brochure today on France and have been reading with interest the pages on barge tours..some self drive,but the escorted ones interested me more. I havent heard alot of feedback about them, do interested in companies and experiences too, thanks Debbie

[Talisker92]

Dear Debbie,

There is a company called European Waterways at gobarging.com. I have their brochure in front of me. We used them for a cruise down the Caledonian Canal in Scotland and really enjoyed it.

They offer a number of barge cruises in France. I would recommend either a Burgundy or Canal du Midi cruise in France.

The barges carry between 6 and 20 people depending on the barge.

[tassietravellers]

Dear Debbie,

There is a company called European Waterways at gobarging.com. I have their brochure in front of me. We used them for a cruise down the Caledonian Canal in Scotland and really enjoyed it.

They offer a number of barge cruises in France. I would recommend either a Burgundy or Canal du Midi cruise in France.

The barges carry between 6 and 20 people depending on the barge.

 

Thanks Steve and Kathy

Will check that out :-) Deb

[nana541]

Also check out "French Country Waterways" I have had several of there. Brochures ....

[kdowneymd]

I have followed french country waterways for years and finally am able to book a cruise with them for September 2014. We decided on them for the small intimate size and reviews for outstanding service, food and wine

[Tarheel72]

We have been looking at these for several years and will probably take the plunge in the future. Interested to see reviews of anyone who has done this or will complete a cruise in the near future. European Waterways and French Country Waterways are the two we targeted. A few years ago French Country had a sale where they would give you a discount equal to your number of years of marriage if you sailed on your anniversay. Now that could be a good deal if the timing is right and they do it again.

[LoveBora]

I would go with FCW in a heartbeat. We took a canal cruise with them through Burgandy and it was an amazing experience: incredible food, service, and wine. The wines were all either Grand or Premier cru, a white and a red available each evening with bottles poured without limit. Bottles are also poured at lunch. The excursions are in a shuttle bus with the driver, who also is part of the crew, being our tour guide.

[gbucky]

In Sept barged on the Caprice, lovely trip. Check that one out. Be careful of stairs on the barges. I fell down them and broke ankle. What a way to end the trip with surgery in Macon. Happy barging.

[Balto Bob]

I have followed french country waterways for years and finally am able to book a cruise with them for September 2014. We decided on them for the small intimate size and reviews for outstanding service, food and wine

 

Kdowneymd....Please make sure you tell us all about the trip. My wife and I are now booked on FCW Nenuphar and decided on them for EXACTLY the same reasons.

 

:D

[nana541]

So envious!!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[notamermaid]

Hello,

 

just to inform you: CroisiEurope - the Strasbourg-based river cruise company - also offers canal tours. They have their own "peniches", they are small boats with accommodation. You would be among the French mainly on such a trip. Here is the website in French:

 

http://www.croisieurope.com/bateaux/canals-france

 

You might be able to switch to a page in English, my computer is set to picking up the German page, cannot get to the English from the French page.

 

Would like to go on one of these boats, I have seen similar ones on the Peak District canals in Britain. So peaceful.

 

notamermaid

[Balto Bob]

Notamermaid,

 

Thanks for the suggestion. For those who are interested, here is the English language web site I reviewed.

 

http://www.croisieuroperivercruises.com/cruises/marne-rhine-canal-strasbourg-lagarde-2015-0

 

This type of cruise is probably not for us, at this stage of our life. In a sense, it reminds me of the days when we did the smaller Caribbean Islands using the sailing boats of the "Windjammer" cruise line. Yes, it certainly is less expensive than FCW or the other lines popular with English speaking cruisers. Some of the things I noted, were that I could not really find a "wine centric" route, or some of the other high end touches that we have selected.

 

I believe that if we were at a much earlier stage of our life together, and interested in this type of cruising instead of scuba diving, CroisiEurope would have definitely been one to consider. Thanks again for your suggestion.

[Cruise_me_Crazy]

Notamermaid,

 

Thanks for the suggestion. For those who are interested, here is the English language web site I reviewed.

 

http://www.croisieuroperivercruises.com/cruises/marne-rhine-canal-strasbourg-lagarde-2015-0

 

This type of cruise is probably not for us, at this stage of our life. In a sense, it reminds me of the days when we did the smaller Caribbean Islands using the sailing boats of the "Windjammer" cruise line. Yes, it certainly is less expensive than FCW or the other lines popular with English speaking cruisers. Some of the things I noted, were that I could not really find a "wine centric" route, or some of the other high end touches that we have selected.

 

I believe that if we were at a much earlier stage of our life together, and interested in this type of cruising instead of scuba diving, CroisiEurope would have definitely been one to consider. Thanks again for your suggestion.

 

Thanks for the link. Those cruises look great!

[OctoberKat]

Last June we enjoyed an utterly wonderful barge cruise with European Waterways of the Briare Canal/Upper Loire Valley on the Renaissance. Sophisticated, savvy, kindly crew; exquisite environs, large cabins (for a barge), great bathrooms (for a barge), daily excursion to a chateau, vineyard or village market. Gorgeous countryside -- flowers, trees, ancient villages.

 

http://www.gobarging.com/renaissance-barge

 

Of course, we're going again next summer in July -- in Burgundy on the Le Semaine des Grand Crus, with Belmond.

 

http://www.belmond.com/afloat-in-france/holidays/grand_cru