French Country Waterways Offers April Romance Special Pricing
French Country Waterways is featuring $250 price savings during its April departures. For those who are celebrating quinquennial wedding anniversaries (which take place every fifth year), the company is offering discounts that equal the number of years – 5 percent for the fifth anniversary, 15 percent for the 15th year all the way up to 50 percent for the golden anniversary.
April fares, reduced by $1,000 per person for the shoulder season, will now range from $4,845 to $5,245 per person double, a savings of 20 percent. The “Quinquennial Anniversary’ program comes off the regular fares of $5,095 to $6,495. The cruises have weekly departures from April 4 to October 31; the offers cannot be combined and are subject to availability.
The eight-passenger Horizon II takes in “Historic Burgundy,’ the route between Tanlay and Veneray-les-Laumes on the Canal de Bourgogne. Highlights include Auxerre’s St. Etienne Cathedral and historic quarter; the Abbaye de Fontenay, one of the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries; the Forges de Buffon, founded by the 18th-century naturalist, Georges-Louis de Buffon; and the splendid Renaissance château of Ancy-le-Franc; as well as enjoy a private wine tasting in the vineyards of Chablis and dinner at the three-star Le Relais Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu.
The recently-renovated 12-passenger Nenuphar has moved to the Canal de Bourgogne in Burgundy’s fabled Côte d’Or wine-growing region for 2010. Her route follows the narrow 18th-century Canal du Centre overlooking vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, the meandering River Saône and the Canal de Bourgogne between St. Léger-sur-Dheune and Dijon.
Daily escorted sightseeing excursions include Dijon’s Ducal Palace and elegant shops; the privately-owned 18th-century Château de Longecourt; medieval Clos de Vougeot, surrounded by vineyards dating back to the 12th century; and a tasting of renowned Burgundies in the private cellars of a local vintner in Santenay. The Michelin dinner is enjoyed at the three-star Lamelois in Chagny.
The 12-passenger, all-suite Adrienne sails the Champagne region, where she cruises between Maizy and Château-Thierry on the Canal Latéral à la Marne, Canal de l’Aisne à la Marne and the River Marne. Besides dining at the two-star L’Assiette Champenoise in Tinqueux, guests visit the Cathedral of Reims, which served as the setting for the coronation of kings; the cellars Moët & Chandon, with 17 miles of tunnels; and the wheat fields and farms of Belleau, site of the American Cemetery and World War I battlefields.
French Country Waterways offers the highest standard in personal service, quality, comfort and safety for luxury barge cruising. The attentive and friendly crews, averaging one crewmember for every two passengers, are fluent in English and French and happily pass on their extensive knowledge of the wines, cheeses and history of the regions.
