On a barge cruise thru Burgundy france, you will often make a stop in Dijon France.
Author Archives: Jan European Barging & River Cruises
Meanderer 2013-Guided Biking Tours! Flexible choice of Excursions
Have you ever thought you can experience one of the most relaxing and luxurious ways to explore France? If you want to cruise its beautiful canals and rivers in a royal style and discover the green countryside, Meanderer 2013 is what you are looking for. Aboard this luxury barge cruise in France, you’ll get an opportunity to experience life there from a truly unique perspective. Carrying between 1-6 guests, this spacious barge cruise is ideal for a group of family or friends. You can charter your own barge or reserve a cabin with other guests.
Meanderer 2013 is known as one of the best crafts plying the European waterways. These floating hotels take you from great cities to remote landscapes of forests, fields and hidden villages you never knew. This all- inclusive cruise gently glides along while you relax and enjoy gourmet cuisine, fine wines and the company of fellow passengers.
Multiple Excursions Options is the latest offering on Meanderer 2013. It is a whole new concept introduced by this luxury barge cruise. It allows you to choose a specific program according to your interest. The most exciting is fully guided cycling tours as part of the multiple excursions options. The small region in Burgundy between Montargis within the Loire Valley and Nevers is suitable for both cycling and sailing. Following the flow of the Loire River, the bike route gently rolls through green countryside with charming little villages sporadically intermingled. The rich landscape bears many fruitful vineyards. The famous ones are the wines from Pouilly-sur-Loire and Sancerre; and of course there are the Burgundy (Bourgogne) wines, said to be among the most prestigious in the world.
This wholly new program can be expanded at will to include full Barge and Biking charters. The biking options are available to all or individual guests on any given day and custom designed in accordance with biking skills and level of comfort. Maps, GPS, water bottles, helmets and essential spare parts are available. Cyclists can also bring their own shoes and clip-on pedals.
Our biking program is designed to allow as much flexibility as possible. We shall always try to accommodate any specific group and individual preferences. However, there is only 1 guide available and therefore majority rules (GPS is available)
Combine your passion for cycling with one of the most pampered ways to travel — aboard our floating hotel Meanderer 2013 on the canals and waterways of France!
Golfing and Barging in Ireland
If you are interested in golfing in Ireland and you want to cruise the waterways of Ireland, Shannon Princess II is the only luxury hotel barge available. Much thought has gone into designing this ten passenger hotel barge. The captivating interior of the barge has panoramic windows through which you can enjoy watching the scenery. The barge has a comfortable saloon, dining area and bar. Shannon Princess II also has a full length rooftop sun deck that is perfect for enjoying a drink or watching the sunset.
Shannon Princess II has five suites with en-suite facilities. You are given a choice of twin or double bed configuration. The chef on the barge was trained at the Ballymaloe School and shows her perfection at every meal with her signature dishes. Your captain has piloted and managed the Shannon Princess II for several years.
Aboard Shannon Princess II, you will get some great food and wines while your luxury barge smoothly cruises the River Shannon. Baked Baby Lobster, Roast Shoulder of Lamb, Black Velvet Crepes filled with Raspberries and served with Champagne Sauce are some of the regional specialities. A wide selection of French and other European wines and fine Irish single malt whiskies are available. Some other delicious foods offered are: Cashel Blue Farmhouse Cheese, Boilie Goats Cheese and Carrigbyrne Soft Cheese.
Golf lovers will be particularly delighted that Shannon Princess II, during its course from Killaloe to Athlone, affords you an opportunity to visit some great golf clubs along with some spectacular sites.
Day 1 Sunday Glasson
We meet you at the **designated meeting place and transfer you by coach to Shannon Princess moored moor right next to the 17th tee at Glasson Golf and Country Club. Your Captain and his crew welcome you on board with Champagne, Black Velvets or Irish Coffees, then time perhaps for a stroll. Dinner on board.
Day 2 Monday Glasson to Althone
This morning, enjoy a round of golf at Glasson Golf and Country Club, a Christy O’Connor design quoted as “the best he has done so far”. The course presents you with many challenges and treats, as well as spectacular views from all 18 holes. (18 holes, 6400m, Par 72). After lunch back on board, we cruise around the beautiful Inner Lakes of Lough Ree and moor in Athlone. In the afternoon we visit the Kilbeggan Whiskey, dating from 1757 and the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, for a tour and, of course, a tasting. Dinner on board.
Day 3 Tuesday Athlone to Banagher
This morning we cruise through a wild life flora and fauna reserve, mooring on the way at the ancient ruins of Clonmacnoise, a famed 6th century university and early Christian settlement. After a guided tour we enjoy lunch on board, whilst cruising on north to Athlone through Europe’s richest example of “Callow” landscape, countryside little changed in over 1,000 years. After lunch we transfer to the K Golf Club, which hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup. The Arnold Palmer designed course is one of the premier parkland golf courses in Europe. (18 holes, 6815m, Par 72). Return to the barge for dinner on board, followed by a session of golf lore and music at a local pub.
Day 4 Wednesday Banagher to Shannonbridge to Terryglass
After breakfast we cruise down through Meelick lock, pausing as Portumna swing bridge is opened to allow the Shannon Princess passage onto idyllic Lough Derg. We moor at Terryglass Harbour where there is time to explore this charming hamlet. In the afternoon, we visit Leap Castle, reputed to be Ireland’s most haunted house. You will be greeted by Sean Ryan and his family who will invite you into their unusual home and Sean, a renowned musician, will tell you the fascinating history of the castle and the part it played in founding the American Constitution. Sean will gladly play a few tunes with possibly the added bonus of being joined by his talented young daughter who will demonstrate her amazing dancing skills. Dinner on board.
Day 5 Thursday Terryglass to Mountshannon
A sunrise cruise before we transfer you to Adare Manor Golf Resort, an exquisite 18-hole Championship course featuring 230 acres of lush Irish countryside with lakes and a river meandering through it. The Adare course was designed by legendary Robert Trent Jones Senior. (18 holes, 6815m, Par 71). We return to Shannon Princess and set sail across beautiful Lough Derg, passing Forrest Park and ancient mountains to our mooring at Mountshannon, a lovely lakeside village perched above the Lough. Dinner on board.
Day 6 Friday Mountshannon to Killaloe
This morning we continue our cruise south on Lough Derg past her many islands re-joining the River Shannon to our final mooring at Killaloe, once home to the court of the greatest High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. Before lunch, there is time for you to visit the town, then we transfer you to Lahinch Golf Club – ranked in the World’s top 100 and dating back to 1892, making it one of Ireland’s oldest clubs. The golf course is a 70 minute drive each way, but well worth it! (18 holes, 6115m, Par 72).Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 7 Saturday Killaloe
After breakfast you will disembark. Departure for Dublin Airport or hotel.
Double the enjoyment by combining your love of golf with one of the most relaxing and luxurious ways to travel-aboard our luxury floating hotel Shannon Princess II. We assure it will be an experience of a lifetime!
Contact Europeanbarging for more details. 888-869-7907 or jan@europeanbarging.com Barge and River Cruise Specialist since 1998.
EU Christmas Markets
The origin of Christmas markets dates back to early 1400’s in Germany. With the passage of time, these markets came to be held in countries all over the world. Christmas in Europe is a time for elaborate celebration. Christmas markets are captivating street markets where the romance of holiday meets with grand tradition. Christmas markets celebrate the traditional sights, sounds and scents of Christmas and are staged throughout the Advent period from the end of November to the third week of December. Some of these markets open till New Years. Every city, town and village of Europe lightens up to Christmas celebrations with beautifully decorated shops and houses.
Christmas markets-tradition and celebration
Christmas markets are usually staged in town squares. As you stroll through these markets, you get mesmerized with the atmosphere that is truly traditional and nostalgic. Smells of mulled wines, gingerbread and roasting sausages waft through the cold air, handmade ornaments adorn ancient fir trees and master glassblowers and other artisans ply their crafts in wooden stalls. Delightful festive lights and charming gifts completely absorb you in the grand celebrations.
Christmas market cruise helps you visit maximum number of Christmas markets
Next, the river cruise will take you to Rudesheim featuring over 120 market stalls from 12 countries in “The Christmas Market of the Nations” and Europe’s largest Nativity scene, Frankfurt’s “Weihnachtsmarket” , Fussen Germany Christmas Market; Strasbourg with France’s oldest Christmas Market or Colmar Christmas Market or Mulhouse’s Christmas Market.
You can’t resist the temptation to visit as many Christmas markets as you can. So how will you do that? Here is when Christmas market cruise comes to your help. A river cruise can help you quickly move from one Christmas market to another so that you can see the maximum number of these charming markets. Let’s see how a river cruise can be helpful for you. Cologne is situated on the Rhine River with its Christmas Market near the Cathedral or its Medieval Christmas Market on the banks of the Rhine with entertainers, minstrels and jesters. Through a river cruise you can move from Cologne to Koblenz- where the Rhine and Mosel rivers meet, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, visit over 130 decorated stalls or listen to a Christmas concert at the Town Hall.
In Germany, along the Main River, there are Nuremburg Christmas Markets, Rothenberg Christmas Market and Regensburg Christmas Markets. A river cruise can quickly take you from one Christmas market to another. Along Danube, there are the Passau Christmas Markets, the Vienna Christmas Markets and Salzburg Old Town Christmas Markets (usually offered an an excursion from the ships).
We can provide you with several Christmas market cruise itineraries. For example, seven night cruises on the Rhine and Danube and a shorter Danube Christmas Market cruise that has several land extension options are available. To know more about our packages, please feel free to call us at this number or click here! There is nothing like a river cruise that can work wonders for you during the holiday season! Book one of our river cruise and indulge yourself in the charming, sparkling and those so inviting Christmas markets!