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News
ABOVE: The lounge of the Hirondelle, which cruises in Western Burgundy and the Upper Loire. INSET BELOW: Go Barging offers 2009 wine cruises on Orient Express hotel barges
Guests on Hirondelle will attend a private wine tasting at the fabulous 15th Century Chateau Tracy in Sancerre and also visit Tharenay for an appreciation of the famous and very distinctive Pouilly Fumé, said to have a scent of gun flint. On other weeks, Hirondelle cruises further east towards Dijon, through the heart of Burgundy, stopping at the Clos de Vougeot, headquarters of the Chevaliers de Tastevin who are charged with selecting the finest Cote d'Or vintages. Tastings take place here and at Beaune, Burgundy's wine capital as well as at several lesser known family run wineries along the way. Elsewhere in France, Hirondelle's sister ships Alouette and Napoléon also cruise classic wine-producing regions:
As well as wines of the cruise region, all guests will be served other French classics onboard, starting with a Champagne welcome on arrival. Wines accompany gourmet cuisine in an intimate atmosphere, with guests looked after by an attentive and knowledgeable crew. Ensuite cabins and public areas are truly spacious with elevated sundecks to watch the peaceful French countryside glide by. Special offers: For 2009, guests travelling on Hirondelle and Napoléon are offered complimentary 1st Class Return TGV train tickets from Paris to the departure point, whilst those heading to Alouette in the Midi can benefit from two complimentary nights, pre- or post-cruise, at the stunning 4-star Hotel de la Cité in Carcassonne. All reservations must be made by 30 April 2009. Further details can be found on the "Special Offers" page at www.gobarging.com. About Go Barging: Go Barging is a subsidiary of European Waterways, the largest luxury hotel barging company in Europe, offering 6-night/7-day cruises in seven countries and carrying approximately 2,000 passengers a year. We have built a reputation for providing high quality barging holidays to a discerning clientele in search of a truly unique experience. Founded over 35 years ago, Go Barging design, build, own and operate a private fleet of luxury barges with exclusive cruises in France, Scotland, England, Ireland, Holland, Belgium and Italy. Our hotel barges accommodate between 4 and 12 passengers and are ideal for people looking for either an individual cruise with other like-minded people, or for those wanting a whole barge charter for a family or group of friends. Go Barging's hotel barge cruises include accommodation aboard in air-conditioned, ensuite cabins, gourmet meals, fine wines, an open bar and all excursions. All our vessels are fully crewed with a Captain, gourmet chef, hostess and tour guide, with a private air-conditioned mini-bus taking passengers on excursions. Go Barging offer well-planned and interesting daily itineraries that give passengers the opportunity to visit cultural and historical places of interest, vineyards and markets in each region. We also offer tandem cruises for larger parties and a wide selection of themed cruises, such as wine appreciation, golf and we even offer honeymoon charters on three barges. Go Barging was the first company to put a barge on the Upper Nivernais Canal
in Burgundy, and in the "real" Loire Valley. We are also the only company with
barges in Scotland and in the Venetian lagoon, as well as the first to offer an
Avignon-to-Amsterdam 6 week trans-Europe cruise. Top, 2nd, 4th photos © Ryan
Davies/Orient Express Hotels (UK) Ltd. |
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WINDSOR, ENGLAND - Go Barging, Europe's largest luxury barge cruising
company, has announced a new cruise itinerary for the luxury Orient
Express-owned hotel barge Hirondelle. Passing through Western Burgundy
and the Upper Loire, tours will feature visits to some of the most prestigious
wine producers of the region to sample Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé vintages.
Prices for a 6 night, all inclusive cruise start at US $4,775 per person, based
on an 8-passenger charter. 
Alouette
navigates the 300-year-old Canal du Midi through the
Minervois and Corbieres "appellations". Passengers visit Chateau Auris to
try their renowned whites and also Peyrioc-Minervois to sample full bodied
reds. 
Napoléon cruises the Rhône,
passing through Avignon for tastings in the nearby world famous wineries of
Chateauneuf du Pape and onward up the river flanked by the vineyards of Côtes
du Rhône, where the barge stops to
sample the local Crozes-Hermitages vintages and the celebrated Côte
Rotie. 