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Canal Du Midi, France
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Alegria
Canal du Midi Cruises
| Passengers: 4 | Your Host: Captain Olivier Baudry |
| Size: 100 feet long | English Speaking Crew of: 4 |
| Last Visited: 2010 | Bicycles: 4 |
| Rating: Deluxe | Air Conditioned: Yes |
Cruise Rate Includes: 6 nights/7 days in a cabin with a private bath, pick up and drop off to and from the barge at a designated meeting point near the canal (train station, local hotel, or car rental facility, all meals, from dinner the first night to breakfast the last morning, all wines with lunch & dinner, open bar, daily escorted excursions and use of onboard bicycles.
Cruise Rate Does NOT Include: Airfare to and from France, transportation to the cruise route (we will assist you with this), cancellation insurance and crew gratuity (suggested minimum amount is 5% of the cruise price)
2013 Value Season Rates
Whole Boat Charter of 2: $17,000Whole Boat Charter of 3: $17,700
Whole Boat Charter of 4: $18,400
2013 Value Season dates
| April 6 - 12 | July 13 - 19 | August 3 - 9 | August 24 - 30 |
| April 13 - 19 | July 20 - 26 | August 10 - 16 | October 12 - 18 |
| April 20 - 26 | July 27 - Aug 2 | August 17 - 23 | October 19 - 25 |
2013 High Season Rates
Whole Boat Charter of 2: $19,600Whole Boat Charter of 3: $20,300
Whole Boat Charter of 4: $21,000
2013 High Season dates
| April 27 - May 3 | June 1 -7 | June 29 - July 5 | September 14 - 20 |
| May 4 - 10 | June 8 - 14 | July 6 - 12 | September 21 - 27 |
| May 11 - 17 | June 15 - 21 | Aug 31 - Sept 6 | September 28 - October 4 |
| May 18 - 24 | June 22- 28 | September 7 - 13 | October 5 - 11 |
| May 25 - 31 |
Barge Lady Director of Sales and Marketing, Caroline Sack Klein boarded Alegria in July, 2010. Here is what she 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 Seine 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."
Alegria
Canal du Midi Barge Cruise Itinerary
Beziers to Trebes (Carcassonne) on the Canal du Midi
Saturday: Beziers to PoilhesWarm 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. (The cost of transfers to/from the cruise route is additional to the cruise fare and must be booked separately.) 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 CroisadeMingle 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
"The trip exceeded our expectations. The food and wine were superior and were a critical component of the overall experience. Our Guide service was very professional, friendly and flexible. Alegria was an extremely pleasant trip. I would highly recommend it to anyone who would be happy with a slow paced experience. It was a good value as well. Thank you to The Barge Lady and the Alegria crew."
- Gary Fernandes, cruised September, 2012
"Our trip was great, and one of the best aspects was planning it with The Barge Lady. Our experience on the barge was perfect. The cabins, cuisine and crew were fantastic. The tables were set with wonderfully beautiful and creative decorative ideas and the crew, especially Oliver, were delightful."
-Julia and Peter Smith, cruised September 2011
"The barge, the crew and the captain were all excellent. The food was terrific and absolutely everything, even the cabins, exceeded our expectations. The sightseeing was very interesting and we were impressed at how efficiently all of the arrangements were handled."
-Robert Hanafee, cruised August 2011
"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
Alegria | |
Alegria Floor Plan
100 Feet Long
Rive Gauche Cabin - 220 sq feet
-King size bed or 2 twins
-Ensuite bathroom with shower
Rive Droite - 190 sq feet
-King size bed or 2 twins
-Ensuite bathroom with shower
Also in the Cabins
-Mini fridge
-Heated towel rails
-Hair dryer and bath robes
-Outside and inside entrance to cabins
-Large porthole
In the Public Areas
-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
4 Bicycles
Topbike mountain bikes, 21 speeds, all in the racy color of red!
Barge Cruising is better with the Barge Lady
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