Alegria

Canal du Midi Cruises

Passengers: 4
Size: 100 feet long
Last Visited: 2010
Rating: Deluxe, A/C

2011 Value Season Rates

Whole Boat Charter of 2: $17,000
Whole Boat Charter of 3: $17,700
Whole Boat Charter of 4: $18,400

2011 Value Season dates

April 2 - 8	July 16 - 22	August 13 - 19	October 22 - 28
April 9 - 15	July 23 - 29	August 20 - 26
April 16 - 22	July 30 - Aug 5	August 27 - Sept 2
April 23 - 29	August 6 - 12	October 15 - 21

2011 High Season Rates

Whole Boat Charter of 2: $19,600
Whole Boat Charter of 3: $20,300
Whole Boat Charter of 4: $21,000

2011 High Season dates

April 30 - May 6	June 4 - 10	July 9 - 15	October 1 - 7
May 7 - 13	June 11 - 17	September 3 - 9	October 8 - 14
May 14 - 20	June 18 - 24	September 10 - 16
May 21 - 27	June 25- July 1	September 17 - 23
May 28 - June 3	July 2 - 8	September 24 - 30

2010 SPECIAL: It's not too late to book a 2010 cruise aboard Alegria. Alegria is offering a special price of $16,000 on new 2010 bookings.

The Barge Lady Ellen Sack and her daughter Caroline Sack Klein boarded Alegria in July, 2010. Here is what they saw:

Caroline said, "We were fortunate enough to be able to eat lunch on board the Alegria with Barge Lady guests. The look and feel of the Alegria is a mix of nautical meets South Africa, which is very unique to barging. French owner/captain Olivier Baudry operated passenger barges on the River Siene in Paris, followed by 15 years in the travel industry in South Africa. Such an international background is also unique to barging.

We shared a divine lunch starting with brie and apple tart appetizer, then sausage paella and an endive salad with walnuts, and for dessert, the famed Chocolate Mellow - individual molten chocolate cakes garnished with strawberries and a cherry in the center as a lovely surprise. Most memorable was the cheese course with the porcelain cows, sheep, and goats sticking out of each cheese to indicate what animal the cheese was derived from – a fun twist to the regular cheese platter!

The salon boasts comfortable red leather couches, and native art accent pieces. There is a petite swimming pool on deck, and massive circular windows in every room. After lunch we explored the rest of the barge, and our guests were gracious enough to invite us into their cabins.Of course, the same South African and nautical themes were present in a subtle and tasteful manner. Each cabin had a mini fridge stocked with the guest’s favorite drinks – what a nice touch! A private staircase leads from the cabins directly to the swimming pool. I adored the Alegria and cannot wait to return soon."

Ellen said, "Alegria is unique and modern, with a true "boutique" feel. Warm reds, oranges, and browns add contrast to the white hardwood floor. South African artwork from Captain Olivier's personal collection adds an exotic charm.

This was my first meeting with the welcoming Captain Olivier and crew. Our guests were full of praise: "The crew gives 150%", "Gladys does not just cook: she creates". Chef Gladys is Olivier's partner and she, too, brings a unique background - she was a broadcaster on French television and a passionate amateur chef. Her interest in cooking eventually led Gladys to attend culinary school and work in top restaurant kitchens. Besides being a fabulous cook, Gladys is an elegant and refined presence. I had never seen a barge chef prepare a meal in a sheath dress and pointed stilettos!

The rest of the staff is just as talented. Charming hostess Sylvia created tablescapes at every meal. An old friend of ours, Sally Shaw, guides three days a week at the historian level, while Captain Olivier takes guests the other three days, emphasizing local markets, wine tasting, and the good life along the Canal do Midi.

Now, about that Chocolate Mellow! I devoured all of mine and half of Caroline's - so it was well worth the wait!"

We are very excited to offer Alegria in 2011 - the Canal du Midi's only "boutique barge!"

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Alegria

Canal du Midi Barge Cruise Itinerary

Beziers to Carcassonne on the Canal du Midi

Saturday: Beziers to Poilhes
Warm Welcome Aboard!
From 4pm we have the pleasure of welcoming you at the train station, airport, rental car office or local hotel, all in Beziers or immediate environs. On the way we may pop into the City of Beziers to see the famous locks of Fonséranes. After you settle down on the barge, you'll a welcome drink of a glass of Champagne and the crew will be introduced to you. Alegria might even take you for a short introductory cruise, depending on the navigation conditions. We'll also explain you how the week will work and we'll give you the necessary instructions for your stay on board. We'll serve your first dinner and spend the night in Poilhes, our "home mooring".

Sunday:  Poilhes to La Croisade
Mingle with the locals on market day!
Sunday is "Le Jour du marché" in Capestang: your French Captain, Olivier, will teach you all the secrets of a French Public Market ... We may even find something tasty to buy for lunch which will be served along the beautiful bank of the Canal. The afternoon takes you to La Croisade underneath the lowest bridge on the Canal: the famous bridge of Capestang. Mind you head! We spend the night in a restful place a stone's throw away from ... an old 17th century stone bridge.



Monday:  La Croisade to Rubia
Pre-Roman archeological site
Should you be interested in archeology, you can visit an exceptional site today: the Oppidum of Ensérune, one of the largest around the Mediterranean. This takes you back to pre-Roman times in the South of France, from the 6th century BC. Then cruise on the idyllic canal, see right, to Le Somail, one of the most charming villages along the Canal. Should you need a book for the week you can buy one from a unique book shop that has approximately 50 000 second-hand books in stock ... in many different languages!
We move to a quiet canalside mooring in Rubia for the night.

Tuesday:  Rubia to Homps
Fortified village high in the hills
In the morning we visit Minerve, a fascinating site and a previously fortified village in a very special rocky environment. Minerve was attacked in 1210 by the terrible army led by Simon de Montfort: the right time for us to tell you about the Crusade of the Albigeois in the 13th Century, one of the harshest stories of our past … After the afternoon cruise you'll be offered a dinner "à terre", off the barge. It's the perfect opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of a French restaurant! We spend the night in the beautiful area of Homps, a significant harbor on the Canal.

Wednesday:  Homps to Pulcheric
Lunch out in fascinating Narbonne - go shopping, too!
In the morning we drive through the landscape and we visit a beautiful town, Narbonne, pictured at right. Narbonne is full of Roman history and includes the "Palace of the Archbishop". You will love its Mediterranean and Gothic style. And ... we'll offer you lunch there. After lunch we drive back to the barge for the afternoon leg, up to Pulcheric, where we'll stay for the night


Thursday:  Pulcheric to Trebes
Carcassonne - Europe's largest extant Medieval city
In the morning we visit the great City of Carcassonne, the biggest medieval City in Europe. You will be fascinated by the size of the walls and the narrow streets inside. You will be right there in the middle of French history! There also many shops where you can buy typical souvenirs to bring back to friends or children. After lunch we embark on the last leg of the cruise for the week, from Pulcheric to the area of Trebes. We spend the last night there after the "Captain’s Farewell Dinner".

Friday:  Carcassonne Transfer
A Sad Farewell
After your breakfast, it is unfortunately time to conclude this unforgettable cruise. We will transfer you back to the  train station, airport, rental car office or local hotel, all in Carcassonne or immediate environs. … so that you can continue your adventure in Europe or wherever!!!

Please note: this is a sample itinerary which may be subject to change depending on local conditions. The route will run in reverse on alternate weeks. Contact The Barge Lady for reservations and more information about Cruises on the hotel-barge Alegria and barging the Canal du Midi Or call us toll free at (800) 880-0071.

Alegria

Guest Book

"Our experience on Alegria was the highlight of a fabulous 19 days in France.  While we loved the rest of our trip, our week on the barge was exceptional.  We knew we were in for a special treat as we got our first glimpse of Alegria and were greeted by the friendly, welcoming crew.... and Pommery champagne!  Life on Captain Oliver's barge was addicting with exquisite cuisine courtesy of chef Gladys, paired with outstanding wines selected by Oliver, and delightful table settings and superb service from our hostess Sylvia.  Floating along the canal, soaking in the beauty and the serenity of our surroundings was beyond relaxing.  The sights from the barge were beautiful - stately trees lining the banks of the Canal du Midi, vineyards galore, and little villages here and there.  Being up close and personal with the multiple locks we passed through was a fun experience.  The off-barge excursions were a great mix of history and local life, thanks to super knowledgeable tour guide Sally as well as Oliver.  We came away with such an appreciation for the Languedoc region and with fond memories of our time on Alegria."
-Margaret Cerrudo and Joe Flores, 2010

"A trip in the Hotel Barge Alegria is a magical moment in one's travel experiences.  Every aspect of our week was memorable.  The barge itself is beautiful - modern, full of light, large staterooms, lots of places to sit outside to absorb the beauty of the Canal du Midi.  It even has a small swimming pool which was well-appreciated on several of the hot days we experienced.  The staff is both professional and very friendly.  We became good friends with all of them by the end of our trip.  The meals and wine were excellent - lovely fresh table settings; creative, very tasty meals, beautifully presented by a chef who really knew how to use spices and herbs (there was even a small herb garden on the top deck of the barge); excellent local wines (served in copious quantities) carefully selected by the Captain.  Our sightseeing trips were customized to what we wanted to see with plenty of time to explore the towns and areas we visited.  The Captain even gave us our choice of 1) whether we went slowly or more slowly and 2) where we spent our overnights - town vs. countryside.  Lastly, the Canal du Midi is beautiful with its long stretches shaded by plane trees, its lovely small towns and its marvelous old locks.  We like the Alegria and the Canal du Midi so much that we can't imagine doing another barge trip anywhere!"
-Claire and Al DeLaurio, 2010

2009 Guests Said:
"What a wonderful treat!!  The barge, the food, the wine, the information plus all the smiles were exceptional.  We lived in France for 6 years and have always wanted to do a canal cruise - now we finally have!  We are glad we did it with you!  What you are creating is a wonderful experience..keep it up!"

"Thank you so much for a wonderful week on the Midi Canal.  The weather was exceptional, the food was excellent (great pairing of wine and food), your service met all of our expectations and of course the scenery and tours were top notch!"

2008 Guests Said:

“We have traveled by barge before and our expectations were surpassed. Algeria gave us 5 star service the entire trip. The chef provided wonderful food for us lunch and dinner. Wine was skillfully paired with each course of food, and the meal was explained along with the wine selection. Peter's cooking skills and personality could easily support a television cooking show.  Eating his food was delightful. Olivier who is both the owner and captain made sure that any need/desire we had was met and quickly.  Monique our hostess on board studied to see the foods  and drinks we preferred and made them readily available to us.  I can't imagine anyone doing a better job in her position then she did. The cabin was larger than our hotel room in Paris. It was nicely decorated, had large port windows, good linens, heated towel racks nice French soaps.. we were very pleased.  The service was fabulous. Every day arrived with something which blew me away.  I said it all except you have Alegria listed as deluxe and I think it was definitely ultra deluxe.”

Alegria Floor Plan

100 Feet Long
- 2 cabins: Rive Gauche at 220 sq. feet.  On the floor plan, Rive Gauche is the room closest to the salon with a hallway to the bathroom.  Rive Droite is 190 sq. feet, and does not have a hallway to the bathroom.
- In each cabin: King size bed or 2 twins, mini fridge, heated towel rails, hair dryer and bath robes
- Satellite TV, DVD and CD player
- Internet access for your laptop with our USB 3G+ modem available for use at no charge.
- 1 dining deck and 1 sunning deck
- Heated Swimming Pool