September 12 through September 18, 2017, I’ll be hosting a trip for only 20 people. Want to go? I have one stateroom remaining. We’ll be on a small, luxury hotel barge with an all-inclusive menu – tours, beverages, and lots of enrichment. The cost is $3,250 per person based on double occupancy. Please complete the form above if you’d like me to contact you to book.
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DAY 1: PARIS
Boarding in the end of the afternoon in Paris. Presentation of the crew and welcome cocktail. Dinner on board. Overnight.
DAY 2: PARIS – LAGNY-SUR-MARNE
Excursion to Paris, through the major sites of the capital: the Place de la République, the main boulevards, the Opera, the Place de la Madeleine, Place Vendôme and the Louvre. Original walk along the prettiest covered walkways in Paris. Departure of the cruise to Lagny-sur-Marne. Arrival during the evening. Overnight.
DAY 3: LAGNY-SUR-MARNE – MEAUX – SAINT-JEAN-LES-DEUX-JUMEAUX
Morning spent sailing to Meaux. In the afternoon, visit of this charming town, from Meaux Cathedral to the Bishops’ Palace, passing the Gallo-Roman ramparts and the magnificent Bossuet Garden, traditionally believed to be an early work of Le Nôtre. Your guide will tell you the story of the famous cheese of the region: the Brie de Meaux followed by a tasting of the cheese, hailed as “the King of Cheeses” at your return on board. Overnight in Saint-Jean-Les-Deux-Jumeaux.
DAY 4: SAINT-JEAN-LES-DEUX-JUMEAUX – CHÂTEAU THIERRY
Morning spent sailing, passing Champigny and Drachy, through the heart of the Seine-et-Marne countryside and its Champagne vines. In the afternoon, arrival in Château Thierry and you’ll participate in a falconry show with live demonstrations. Discovery of the town of Château Thierry passing the castle walls and the Hotel Dieu. Overnight.
DAY 5: CHÂTEAU THIERRY – DORMANS
Departure of the boat to Dormans. Arrival in Dormans. In the afternoon, departure by coach for the excursion of Reims, guided tour of the historic center and its cathedral. Return on board in Dormans. Overnight.
DAY 6: DORMANS – EPERNAY
In the morning, departure of the boat to Epernay. The afternoon, excursion along the famous Champagne route. Discovery tour of the village of Hautvilliers, birthplace of Champagne. Visit of a major Champagne house followed by a tasting of champagne. Gala evening. Overnight.
DAY 7: EPERNAY – Paris
Buffet breakfast on board. Disembark in the morning. Transfer by coach to Paris. End of our services.
Our Barge, ms Raymonde
Number of cabins : 11
Maximum passenger capacity : 22
Number of crew members : 5
Amenities on board : spacious lounge with bar – restaurant – sun deck with loungers and parasols – barbecue deck – Jacuzzi at the prow of the barge – bicycles on board available for use by passengers – complimentary wifi on board.
Highlights
The most modern barge fleet in Europe
Fabrics by Missoni Design
Bicycles available on board
EXCURSIONS INCLUDED
- Paris & Its Covered Walkways. We’ll see the major attractions as well as the Parisian covered walkways. These pedestrian shortcuts have a life all to their own within the heart of the bustling city.
- Meaux, with its historic and gastronomic heritage
- Exploration of Reims. Known as the “City of Coronations,” Reims played a prominent role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the crowning of the Kings of France. Many notable champagne-producing houses have their headquarters in Reims.
- Château Thierry and the Jean de la Fontaine Museum
- Champagne. We’ll travel along the Champagne route to discover the vineyard-dotted valleys of the region. We’ll tour the village of Hautvillers, once home to Dom Perignon, the French Benedictine monk who made important contributions to the production and quality of champagne as we know it today.
***
Unlimited complimentary onboard beverages, including beer, fine wine, spirits, mineral bottled water, soft drinks specialty coffees and tea.
All meals onboard for Superb French Cuisine
Farewell Gala dinner
Free WiFi
Complimentary Samsung Galaxy Tablet for guests’ use
Port Talk
Captain Welcome cocktail Reception
Assistance from our onboard multi-lingual host/hostess
Travel assistance and repatriation insurance
All port fees
A Few Interior Photos
In 2015, I hosted a trip on a sister vessel to Raymonde, the Anne-Marie. These photos will give you a taste of what Raymonde is like The ships are identical.
From Hungary, Cruise Director Zoltan welcoming us aboard and explaining some of what we would see in the coming days. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
Anne-Marie is one of four new barges that Strasbourg-based CroisiEurope has put into operation. Two more barges are coming next year. CroisiEurope’s barges are custom-built for hotel barging, as opposed to being modified from cargo barges. Anne-Marie featured bicycles, included excursions, jacuzzis, and complimentary WiFi that actually worked well — and the all-important open bar.
Relaxing in the living room with a glass of complimentary rose wine. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
Our living room, with access to the outdoor decks. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
Our Stateroom on Anne-Marie
Two beds that could be placed together. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
Many of you have said you were curious about the staterooms. They are down one deck from the living room and bar, cozy, measuring 110-square-feet, and exceptionally well-configured, with plenty of space for storage. Knowing that the staterooms were small before boarding Anne-Marie, I found that the cabin exceeded my expectations, though it could be crowded when two of us were angling for space while getting ready to go out on excursions or preparing for dinner.
The staterooms featured smartly designed storage in the headboards of the twin-bed configured staterooms, as well as a small closet for hanging clothes and storage of suitcases underneath the beds. I was pleased to see the bathroom had plenty of storage, in a smartly configured drawer beneath the sink, and that the shower was large enough to accommodate all of my 6’5″ body, even with the glass doors closed and elbows extended when washing my hair.
Smart storage at the head of the bed. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
The shower was large enough for me at 6’5″. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
Dinner On Anne-Marie
The dining room. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
Unpacked and cleaned up, we were ready for dinner. Dinner was served course-by-course, beginning with an amuse-bouche, followed by a starter, then the main course, then cheese, then dessert — all complemented by complimentary wines from the region, which just so happens to be the largest wine-producing region in France. We enjoyed Côte du Rhône, Provençal Rosé as well as Chablis and Chardonnay, along with other wines on our voyage.
Ready for dinner. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
For those with food allergies or food preferences, the galley could be flexible, serving alternative dishes. Bottled water was at our table, both sparkling and still. Specialty coffees and soft drinks, as well as spirits and beer, were all available at no extra charge.
The dining room on Anne-Marie. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
Rabbit, tasted like chicken, on Anne-Marie. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
The Cheese Plates
We had two cheeses for lunch and two for dinner. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
More cheese. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
Cheese and wine. © 2015 Ralph Grizzle
July 2015, 2015, France’s Camargue, Arles to Sete on the Canal du Rhone
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 10, Our Trip Comes To An End, Wrapping Up
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 9, Montpelier
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 8, Exploring Sete
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 7, Palavas-les-Flotes & Sete
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 6, Aigues Mortes & Palavas-les-Flots
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 5, Gallician & Aigues-Mortes
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 4, Arles & Gallician
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 3, Avignon, Chateauneuf du Pape, Pont du Gard
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 2, A Surprise Trip To Uzes
- Barging In The South Of France: CroisiEurope’s Anne-Marie, Day 1, Arriving In Arles, Almost
