NEW YORK -- The luxury barge market is providing new vessels and
itineraries plus an expanded choice of special interest cruises for
agents to sell.
The 20-passenger Marguerite became the 13th barge in the
Continental Waterways fleet and will operate six-night Tulip
Cruises in Holland through April 27.From May 12 to Nov. 24, Marguerite will cruise through the
Franche-Comte and eastern Burgundy regions of France, between
Besancon and Verdun-sur-le-Doubs. Cruise fare ranges from $1,690 to
$1,990 per person, double.
The vessel has 10 cabins, each with a window/porthole, a
wardrobe, a writing table and a bathroom.
Its main deck houses the dining room and a lounge.
Continental Waterways can be booked through Abercrombie &
Kent, the Barge Broker and Premier Selections.
In July and August, French Country Waterways will put its
spotlight on couples celebrating their 25th or 50th anniversaries
by offering 25% and 50% discounts, respectively, aboard the
12-passenger Horizon II and the 18-passenger Esprit, cruising on
different routes in Burgundy.The hallmark of French Country Waterways cruises is a meal
ashore at a three-star Michelin restaurant.
Celebrating couples will dine at either La Cote d'Or in Saulieu
or at Lameloise in Chagny, depending on the sailing; cruise fares
range from $3,195 to $4,795.
Go Barging, a division of European Waterways, is adding a new
dimension to cruising aboard its 12-vessel fleet with barge and
golf vacations that don't require a group booking.Barging and golfing departures are scheduled April through
October in the following areas:
Scotland. Aboard the eight-passenger Scottish Highland, courses
featured include Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Fort Augustus, Skibo and
Gleneagles.England. Aboard the 11-passenger Actief, courses featured
include Huntercombe, Sunningdale, Denham Golf Club, Stoke and
Wentworth.Ireland. Aboard the 12-passenger Shannon Princess; rounds are
offered at the Lahinch Golf Club, Portumna, Galway Bay and Glasson
Golf and Country Club.France. Aboard the eight-passenger l'Art de Vivre or
12-passenger l'Impressionniste, clients can play the Joiny and
Domaine du Roncemay; aboard the eight-passengerAnjodi, golf is at Golfe de St. Thomas and La Grande Motte.
Six-night cruises include accommodations, all meals with wines,
open bar, greens fees and sightseeing. Rates range from $2,500 to
$4,190.
Family holidays are a specialty of Abercrombie & Kent,
which has reserved special dates for family travel on a variety of
barges in its cruise program.The 22-passenger l'Abercrombie cruises the Burgundy Canal
between Dijon and Auxois, departing July 21; the 22-passenger
Lafayette cruises in Burgundy from Dijon to St. Jean de Losne to
Chagny, departing July 14; the 24-passenger Chanterelle cruises in
the Upper Loire between Nevers and Rogny, departing July 21; the
24-passenger Mirabelle cruises the Canal du Centre in Burgundy,
departing July 7 and Aug. 11, and the 11-passenger Actief cruises
England's Thames River Valley, departing July 22.
New to the Abercrombie & Kent canal and river cruising
program is the state-of-the-art River Cloud II, which makes its
debut this year on Italy's Po River, sailing for seven nights
between Cremona and Venice.
The 88-passenger vessel is of Mediterranean character and
design.
It features a large lounge, a dining room with a gourmet menu of
northern Italian specialties and selected wines from top
vineyards.
Cruise dates are June 3, July 15, Aug. 12 and Oct. 7, and the
seven-night cruise cost is $3,300 per person, double; daily shore
excursions, bar drinks and transfers are not included.
Sales are strong and steady for self-skippered boating
holidays, and according to a Crown Blue Line spokesman, the leading
cruising ground is France in general, with Venice specifically an
almost sold-out destination.Crown Blue expanded its 450-vessel fleet to include the new,
36-foot Clipper CrownClass, which offers accommodations for four
people in two cabins, each with bathrooms, plus a saloon, a galley
on the lower level and two steering positions.
These ships sail in Holland, Germany and France (Alsace,
Burgundy, Aquitaine, Midi), and the cost ranges from $1,880 to
$2,860, per person, per week.