Savoir Faire

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.

Holland is famous, of course, for its tulips, but as a land with a rich artistic and cultural history, it has a lot more to offer. The western provinces of the land of water are populated by windmills which sit above the polders and along the very river that gave its name to Amsterdam. The fully crewed Holland river cruises reveal this country’s hidden gems to the spellbound guests who visit the Netherlands in this unique way.

Visitors who join one of the Holland barge cruises will glide past flowering wildflower meadows. From the colours of the bulb fields to the magnificence of the formal gardens such as the world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens tourists appreciate the unique horticultural expertise of the Dutch. And those who stop off at cities along the way, marvel at the architecture and engineering feats of the innovative people of Holland. River cruises are an ideal opportunity to experience the best of this nation.

Lovers of culture come from far and wide to tour the renowned Dutch museums. Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Haarlem will charm you, just as they did the great artists, while other attractions such as the Delft Blue potteries and Gouda cheese market are equally memorable.

Holland is famous, of course, for its tulips, but as a land with a rich artistic and cultural history, it has a lot more to offer. The western provinces of the land of water are populated by windmills which sit above the polders and along the very river that gave its name to Amsterdam. The fully crewed Holland river cruises reveal this country’s hidden gems to the spellbound guests who visit the Netherlands in this unique way.

Visitors who join one of our Holland barge cruises will glide past flowering wildflower meadows. From the colours of the bulb fields to the magnificence of the formal gardens such as the world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens tourists appreciate the unique horticultural expertise of the Dutch. And those who stop off at cities along the way, marvel at the architecture and engineering feats of the innovative people of Holland. River cruises are an ideal opportunity to experience the best of this nation.

Lovers of culture come from far and wide to tour the renowned Dutch museums. Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Haarlem will charm you, just as they did the great artists, while other attractions such as the Delft Blue potteries and Gouda cheese market are equally memorable.

Belgium is perhaps one of the most under-rated countries in Europe, but a cruise on one of the hotel barges along its waterways, with tours of charming cities will convince you that it is a diverse and culturally rich land. Often called the ‘Essence of Europe’, Belgium is both multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the north, a land crisscrossed by waterways, is particularly proud of its medieval cities Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent.

Suspended in time centuries ago, Bruges, the ‘Venice of the North’, is one of Western Europe’s prettiest medieval cities, with its picturesque market squares and network of canals.

Antwerp on the other hand boasts the country’s most impressive cathedral and tucked away in cobbled lanes and backstreets are antiques shops, art galleries, exclusive chocolate outlets and, of course, diamond shops.

There is also the attractive medieval canal-side city of Ghent with its imposing architecture of churches and the former houses of rich traders. The city has an extensive network of canals and endless streets to explore and boasts the largest number of listed buildings in Belgium.

Paris, the ‘City of Lights', is one of the world's truly great cities. The River Seine, lifeblood of the city, splits it neatly in two, flowing past the Ile de la Cité and the famous cathedral of Notre Dame. The history and culture of Paris can also be discovered throughout its distinctive districts. The village atmosphere of hilly Montmartre with its elegant landmark the Sacre Coeur; the Marais district and its winding streets that evoke medieval Paris; and the grand 19th century boulevards that dominate so much of the city.

Paris has so much to offer with its huge variety of heritage, architecture and culture, from the grace of the Louvre Museum, to the ultra modern Opera de la Bastille; from the wondrous Eiffel Tower, to the Champs-Elysées headed by the Arc de Triomphe. All this, together with wonderful restaurants and some of the best shopping in the world make Paris an unmissable place to visit.

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 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.

Cruise Highlights:

• See the beautiful Château de Saint-Fargeau
  
• Wine tasting in Sancerre
  
• Visit Apremont-sur-Allier to tour the stunning Floral Park
  
• Visit Gien, home of the Faience pottery
  
• Tour the majestic cathedral in Reims
  

Since the reign of the Emperor Charlemagne, the Champagne region has been one of the great agricultural regions of Europe and now thanks to a type of sparkling wine to which the region has given its name, the word Champagne is known worldwide.

The region starts around 75 miles from Paris, around the city of Meaux and stretches along the beautiful River Marne to the city of Epernay, home of such renowned Champagne houses as Moet & Chandon. There is a plethora of vineyards spread across the undulating plains as far as the eye can see, brilliant green with the new leaves of spring, turning to gold as the grapes ripen in the autumn.

Also famous for its Champagne houses, Reims is one of the capitals of Champagne and certainly the most prestigious. It boasts one of the finest medieval cathedrals in the country where once the kings of France were crowned, including most famously, Charles VII, orchestrated by the loyal Joan of Arc.

The Champagne region is rich in other products, particularly its wonderfully creamy cheeses, with Coulommiers at its heart.

Cruise Highlights:

• Enjoy a private champagne tasting in the vast cellars of Moët et Chandon
  
• Visit elegant Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
  
• Cruise through Paris past the floodlit Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame
  
• Visit Coulomniers, one of the centres of Brie cheese