French Country Waterways Unveils “Casual Cruising” for 2010

French Country Waterways announced a new program called “Casual Cruising” for 2010 aboard its 18-passenger luxury barge Esprit. Pricing for this new style of barging is $2,495 to $3,495 per person, double. Guests aboard the Esprit, sailing in France’s Cote d’Or region between St. Leger-sur-Dheune and Pontailler-sur-Saone, are met at and returned to a Dijon hotel.

The sailings provide all lunches and three dinners on board. For the other dinners, recommendations and reservations are offered but are at the expense of the guests. Otherwise, guests receive the same French Country Waterways’ characteristics as on the other luxury barges: cuisine prepared by young chefs, who blend classic cooking techniques with the trend to lighter cuisine; four-course candlelit dinners accompanied by wines from Burgundy and other major French wine regions; service from a crew fluent in English and French; daily sightseeing excursions and private wine tastings; and time to relax on the sundeck and walk or bicycle along canal towpaths.

The Adrienne sails France’s Champagne region -- between Maizy and Château-Thierry –showcasing champagne producers including the House of Ployez-Jacquemart and the vast cellars of Moët & Chandon, as well as historic battlefields dating back to Julius Caesar. The vessel boasts six suites with king-size beds, armoires and bathrooms of granite and marble.

Prices range from $5,295 to $6,295. Horizon II sails through the “Historic Burgundy” region. The vessel is all suites with traditional French cherry furnishings. Prices on the Canal de Bourgogne sailings between Tanlay and Veneray-les-Laumes are $5,495 to $6,495.

The recently renovated 12-passenger Nenuphar, with custom cherry paneling and marble bathrooms, sails the Dijon-to-St. Léger-sur-Dheune route in France’s famed Côte-d’Or wine region. Fares are $5,095 to $6,295.

Fare ranges reflect a savings of $1,000 from high-season prices during the first five and last two departures of the season and $500 during value season sailings: the first two weeks of May, the six departures between July 11 and 15, and Oct. 17.