Barge Lady Cruises

18/11/2022

Gals on canals, femmes in France, and women on the water! This all happened when Heidi Sarna of QuirkyCruise.com booked an all-girl cruise on a longtime Barge Lady favorite, the Luciole.

She reports:

"One of my very best besties Geo was turning 50 and I wanted to help put together something special for her and a small group of her friends somewhere in Europe, a convenient meeting point for Geo’s international posse.

We wanted a getaway that promised good food, lots of wine, comfortable rooms and some culture, history and beauty, but also time to relax and chat and do nothing.

Convenience and ease of planning was key for us.

The thought of a dozen women having to agree on booking restaurants, hotels and tours in some endlessly pinging group chat wasn’t appealing!

And so a private hotel barge charter in France seemed like a great idea.

I discovered the barge Luciole through Stephanie at Barge Lady Cruises, an agent who possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the Europe barge scene. She’s been on many of them herself.

Stephanie recommended Luciole, a lovely barge that started life nearly a century ago as a mule-drawn freight vessel, decades before being transformed into a luxury hotel barge plying the Nivernais Canal and Yonne River in Burgundy.

Start to finish, everything was taken care of — the essence of a luxury French barge cruise.

Each day was similar, a comfortable rhythm that began with a casual grazing breakfast around 7:30/8am that some of us enjoyed on deck soaking up the morning sun, while often cruising a short distance in the morning. (By the way, barges are always moored at night, typically cruising for just four to five hours each day.)

Then the day unfolded from there. Nice and easy. The way a barge cruise is meant to be..."

For even more of Heidi's expert insight into the beauty of barge cruising, check out her in-depth review on her adorable website, https://quirkycruise.com/ -- and happy belated birthday to Geo from the Barge Ladies!

Travel writers Heidi & Ted, & their contributors, share insider knowledge of small-ship cruising all over the world on vessels under 300 pax

27/05/2022

Care to sip flutes of French bubbly with a Baroness? Tour a chateau’s manicured grounds guided by its resident Count? When it comes to hobnobbing with modern nobility, you’re closer to the “creme de la creme” than you think!

A personal welcome at two aristocratic enclaves awaits when you cruise on the 12-guest La Belle Epoque...

Care to sip flutes of French bubbly with a Baroness? Tour a chateau's manicured grounds guided by its resident Count? When it comes to hobnobbing with modern nobility, you're closer to the "creme de la creme" than you think!

21/04/2022

Curious about cycling and sipping? Read what Barge Lady Cruise Correspondent Ava Roxanne Stritt had to say about her WHEELY fun time cruising the canals of France..

Nine places around the United States and Europe to go cycling, then kick back with a perfect post-ride drink.

23/03/2022

We couldn't have said it better ourselves!

Barge cruises let you float right through the most beautiful cities in Europe, visit medieval fortresses and vineyards, and take in breathtaking views, .

17/02/2022

New Barge Lady blog alert...LET'S EAT!

When it comes to the amenities onboard luxury French barge cruises, even the most fervent of foodies are sure to be pleased with gourmet meals crafted from locally sourced ingredients and casual cooking lessons in demonstration kitchens.

Culinary excursions ashore entice with authentic tastes and handmade treats; tasting pastries from boutique bakeries, shopping with Chef at regional markets, and sampling small batch spirits with the distillery’s owners are just a handful of the appetizing activities guests can enjoy.

Join the Barge Ladies for a tantalizing tour of three exciting culinary experiences debuting in 2022 on the idyllic canals of France!

Bon Appetit and Chin-Chin!

On luxury European barge cruises, guests are treated to exclusive gourmet experiences both onboard and ashore, and the Barge Ladies are pleased to predict this season's hungry passengers will dig right in!

25/01/2022

There are cheese carts. Cheese plates. Cheese shops. And now, as a newly minted barge cruise addict has just discovered, a cheese cruise...https://www.cheeseprofessor.com/blog/cheese-cruise-burgundy

29/12/2021

NEW BARGE LADY BLOG ALERT!

Chablis...or not Chablis...that is the question!

Made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes patiently coaxed from the mineral-rich soil of the Yonne River Valley, the white wine known as Chablis is renowned for the purity of its aroma and long finish of crisp acidity.

Pour a glass or two of your favorite white and join the Barge Ladies in Northern Burgundy as we explore the world of Chablis.

https://www.bargeladycruises.com/blog/chablis/

Made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes patiently coaxed from the mineral-rich soil of the Yonne River Valley, the white wine known as Chablis is renowned for the purity of its aroma and long finish of crisp acidity. Pour a glass or two of your favorite white and join the Barge Ladies in Northern Bu...

15/12/2021

Blessed with rustic landscapes, historic villages, and lush vineyards, the Canal du Midi runs through the Languedoc region of Southwest France and is home to many outstanding barge cruises.

One of the area’s most iconic delicacies is the olive. Grown in abundance throughout the sundrenched Languedoc, Lucques olives, colloquially known as “green diamonds”, are the delicious emblem of the region’s rich soil and Mediterranean climate.

While most guests are understandably intrigued by touring the olive groves and tasting the different oils and tapenades, Rebecca Taras, a Barge Lady Cruise Correspondent who spent a week in the Canal du Midi onboard the Esperance, brought a slightly different perspective to her time at L’Oulibo...

Blessed with rustic landscapes, historic villages, and lush vineyards, the Canal du Midi runs through the Languedoc region of Southwest France and is home to many outstanding barge cruises. Lifestyles here are leisurely and locally focused. A preponderance of water and wine sets the easygoing ambian...

15/12/2021

15/12/2021

02/12/2021

There are many reasons to go to France: idyllic countryside, splendid architecture, dynamic culture, and unparalleled cuisine.

Then, there is the wine…!

From the full-bodied reds of Bordeaux to the flinty whites found in Northern Burgundy, French barge cruises offer an insider’s view into the vines and wines along any cruise route.

Join us for vineyard visits and sommelier-selected samples as we introduce five French wine regions with some of our favorite tastings, tours, appellations, and pairings.

Chin-chin from the Barge Ladies!

From the full-bodied reds of Bordeaux to the flinty whites found in Northern Burgundy, French barge cruises offer an insider's view into the vines and wines along any cruise route. Join us for vineyard visits and sommelier-selected samples as we introduce five French wine regions with some of our fa...

08/11/2021

NEW BARGE LADY BLOG ALERT!

Gracious, glamourous, and gorgeous…you’re invited to an exclusive peek into the signature table settings aboard the barge Esperance!

A longtime Barge Lady favorite for Francophiles and foodies, the barge Esperance is celebrated not only for her quintessential Canal du Midi cruises, but for owner and Captain Mathias Gilles’ singular vision of elegant entertaining, which includes whimsical table settings, eye catching dishware, and handcrafted centerpieces.

On behalf of Captain Mathias and the Esperance, The Barge Ladies invite you to take a seat, pour a glass of rosé, and enjoy this intimate look into the elevated hospitality offered on this beautiful 4-star, 6 guest vessel. Ellen Sack Hotel barge esperance

@

Gracious, glamourous, and gorgeous…you’re invited to an exclusive peek into the signature table settings aboard the barge Esperance! A longtime Barge Lady favorite for Francophiles and foodies, the barge Esperance is celebrated not only for her quintessential Canal du Midi cruises,…Read More....

28/09/2021

NEW BARGE LADY BLOG ALERT!

Everyone knows about “farm to table dining”, but what about “potager to potable” drinking?

Combining the practicality of the English vegetable plot with the sophistication and style of French fashion, a “potager” (translating to kitchen garden) is a backyard garden incorporating fruits, vegetables, and herbs with flowers, trees, and other ornamentals to create a space both functional and festive.

Step on the 3-star, 4 guest barge Saraphina, where owner-operator Chef Emily Renwick-Campfens introduces her pampered passengers to a fabulously French world of backyard gardens, barge cruises, and very cherry cocktails.

Many thanks to Chef Emily, who shared her special recipe for The Potable Potager, a marvelous mixed drink served exclusively by, for, and on the barge Saraphina!

Step into a fabulously French world of backyard gardens, barge cruises, and very cherry cocktails! Combining the practicality of the English vegetable plot with the sophistication and style of French fashion, a “potager” (translating to kitchen garden) is a backyard garden incorporating fruits, ...

20/08/2021

Multi-generational vacations with grandparents, adult children, and “les petites” are a desirable yet challenging endeavor.

For private parties up to 12, selecting a destination that offers appropriate accommodations, exciting activities for all age groups, and scrumptious meals for all palates can be overwhelming and frustrating.

Happily, the Barge Ladies offer the perfect solution…Welcome aboard your week of fabulous floating “Family Fun” aboard an all-inclusive European barge cruise! Honorary Barge Lads and Ladies Barge Lady Cruises Elegant Waterways - French Barge Cruises Hotel Barging Nostalgia Hotel barge Luciole Private charter canal and river cruises, Burgundy, France.

Multi-generational vacations with grandparents, adult children, and “les petites” are a desirable yet challenging endeavor. For private parties up to 12, selecting a destination that offers appropriate accommodations, exciting activities for all age groups, and scrumptious meals for all palates ...

24/06/2021

NEW BARGE LADY BLOG ALERT!

For casual cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts who are keen to explore the European countryside on two wheels, recreational bicycling along France’s towpaths are one of barging’s most indelible pleasures.

Built concurrently with the canals hundreds of years ago, France’s towpaths now serve as an extensive and inviting inland network of marvelously manicured adventure trails.

With luxury “Bike and Barge” cruises becoming a popular option for small groups of active travelers, enjoy this blog post on how to prepare and plan for France’s best recreational bicycling.

Barge Lady Cruises Elegant Waterways - French Barge Cruises Barge Meanderer - French Canal Cruises Dana Howard Freeman

Luxury “Bike and Barge” cruises are becoming more and more popular with small groups of active guests. Enjoy this blog on how to prepare and plan for France’s best recreational bicycling