Nymphea
Why cruise on this ship?
The 6 passenger Nymphea is a classic Dutch design with shallow draft and is ideal for navigating the incredibly beautiful yet somewhat sandy reaches of the river Cher in the Loire valley.
Dining
The classic traditions of French and International cuisine are an unforgettable highlight of your cruise. The onboard chefs are experienced, highly-trained culinary artists, whose gastronomic creations are often rated higher by our discerning clients than those they have sampled in top restaurants.
Cuisine & Dining Onboard
Before you wake each morning, a crew member has visited the local patisserie to collect newly baked breads, buttery croissants and a variety of fresh pastries, which will be laid out in the saloon with an array of fresh fruit and other accompaniments. Together with the aroma of fresh coffee brewing, the day has just begun and you may want to enjoy your breakfast on deck.
Luncheon may be a colourful arrangement of salads, pâtes, savoury quiches and of course, a selection of cheeses, all accompanied by an excellent choice of wines from the barge cellar. This daytime feast is often enjoyed on the sun deck, perhaps while cruising.
Dinner is the culinary highlight of each day. Served by candlelight, each course is a delicious creation, complemented by fine wines. Your chef will use the best fresh ingredients, bought from the wonderful local markets and pick fresh herbs from the small onboard herb garden to skilfully produce mouth-watering regional and national dishes that are full of flavour.
Features
- Experience: Complimentary
- Food type: French
Entertainment
Each hotel barge has a library, games and a CD player/iPod dock and some of them a spa pool on the sun deck, TV/DVD, or computer with internet access, often WiFi. Some even have a telescope for an after-dinner gaze into the night sky. There is also, of course, an open bar stocked with a wide range of alcoholic and soft drinks.
Enrichment
Nymphea does not offer any dedicated enrichment facilities. She however visits many locations of historical or cultural importance. See below for more information on the Upper Loire and Western Burgundy.
Loire Valley
The spectacular Loire Valley and its main tributary, the River Cher, have carried cargo and passengers for over 2000 years, since pre-Roman times. The Valley of the Kings is a timeless region of spectacular beauty and grace and we are delighted to offer the only hotel barge navigating the heart of the Loire Valley. The Loire Valley is as rich in legend as it is in beauty and you will realise that, fortunately, little has changed over the centuries. Talk to a cheesemaker and find out why his is the most famous goat's cheese in France. Wind your way through the narrow streets of a centuries-old village, perhaps discovering hidden shops with hand-painted pottery, or stumble across an open market on your own.
Features
Burgundy
France is perhaps the most popular country for luxury barge cruises, due in no small part to the myriad waterways which cross not only its scenic countryside, but also some of its major cities. And while a Burgundy barge cruise may not be at the top of the list of options for holidaymakers visiting this European country, those who do choose to take a chance and go barging in Burgundy are sure not to be disappointed.
In fact, taking a Burgundy barge cruise down one of the region’s canals is a wonderful experience. Burgundy boasts some of the world’s finest wines with around 60,000 acres of sunlit vines and arguably the prettiest canals in France. The Burgundy Canal winds its way in smooth curves through the heart of renowned vineyards, medieval towns, elegant châteaux, magnificent cathedrals, picturesque villages and wonderful local markets. Barging in Burgundy guarantees our clients a wealth of sightseeing opportunities.
This is a region with a vast variety of cheeses, in all shapes, sizes and colours, strong in character or mild and fresh and all can be enjoyed with full-bodied red Burgundies, or perhaps with lighter white Chablis wines. Burgundy’s gastronomic tradition is certainly rich and diverse and a sedate Burgundy barge cruise along one of its delightful waterways will allow you to indulge in good food and wine: two of life’s essential pleasures.
Features
Upper Loire and Western Burgundy Cruise Highlights
- Excursion to the Château D'Amboise
- Cruise under the famed Château de Chenonceau
- Visit a Troglodyte cave dwelling and see the silkworm nursery
- Private tastings at Montrichard and Domaine de Fontenay
- Visit Château de Nitray and its rose garden
- Experience the colourful street markets
- Optional Hot air Ballooning
Features
Health and fitness
Nymphea does not offer any dedicated Health & Fitness facilities. However, 6 touring bikes are available for those looking to cycle through the areas visited.
Kids and teens
Nymphea does not provide any dedicated children's facilities.
Accommodation
Cabins
All hotel barges in the fleet benefit from an annual refurbishment and this may vary from redecoration and refurnishing of the accommodation or public areas of a vessel, to a complete refit of bedroom suites and their en suite facilities.
The accommodation on each hotel barge ranges from charming twin and double-bedded staterooms to suites with sitting areas – but all with closet and drawer storage and private en suite shower rooms. For any cruise, you can select a specific cabin, particularly if you book early.
Deck plans
Deck
- Crew
- Sun Deck
- Galley
- Dining Saloon
- Twin Cabins: Cheverny and Chambord
- Twin/Double Stateroom Chenonceau