La Nouvelle Etoile

Paris to Chablis Cruise

Passengers: 8	Your Hosts: Jan and Diana Meijer
Size: 128 feet long	English Speaking Crew of: 5
Last Visited: 2012	Bicycles: 8
Rating: Ultra Deluxe	Air Conditioned: Yes

Cruise Rate Includes: 6 nights/7 days in a cabin with a private bath, chauffeured transfers from Paris to the barge & return, 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, cancellation insurance and crew gratuity (suggested minimum amount is 5% of the cruise price)

2014 paris to chablis Value Season rate

Whole-Boat Charter for 8: $51,900
Individuals: $6,790 per person double occupancy
Single Supplement: $3,395

2014 Paris to Chablis value season Cruise Date

July 20 - 26

Auxerre to Paris

2014 paris to chablis Regular season rate

Whole-Boat Charter for 8: $55,900
Individuals: $7,290 per person double occupancy
Single Supplement: $3,645

2014 Paris to Chablis regular season Cruise Date

June 1 - 7

Paris to Auxerre

Take a lazy cruise between the bustling streets of Paris to the deep Burgundy countryside - in ULTRA-Deluxe style on NOUVELLE ETOILE! You'll moor in such ancient towns as Sens, Joigny and Auxerre: Very nice places to shop, stroll and soak up the quaint atmosphere. Winetasting at Chablis and a tour of the royal chateau of Fountainebleau add interest. This is a beautiful and fascinating route.

Jan and Diana Meijer run one of the most accomplished and congenial operations in barging - beginning with the vessel itself. NOUVELLE ETOILE boasts a long list of innovations: an elevator, a handicap access cabin, computers in every cabin (with e-mail and a navigational system that the passengers can access), an exercise room, a washer and dryer for the guests and sput poles that allow the barge to stop anywhere without tying up.

NOUVELLE ETOILE ("New Star") is the dream barge of Captain Meijer, who was born into a Dutch shipping familly - and thus knows more than the average barge captain about design and navigation. But not at the expense of elegance and comfort!

The spacious suites boast oversized showers, double sinks and rich interiors design. The salon-dining room is designed for socializing. Guests congregate at the gorgeous bar. There is lots of good seating - even a piano for those so inclined.

The Meijers run a top operation - one defined by divine cuisine, the depth and breadth of the wine selection, and extremely literate sightseeing. This attractive couple is front and center; tending bar, pouring champagne, and creating a lighthearted on-board ambiance.

The Barge Lady and her husband Monsieur Le Barge Lady criused in summer, 2008. Please go to The Barge Lady Blog for my day to day diary of this fabulous trip! We now understand due to our own first-hand experience why Jan and Diana have so many repeat guests!

La Nouvelle Etoile
"Paris to Chablis Cruise" Dates

Paris to Auxerre
Sunday: Board in Paris
Private Paris Cruise!
Our driver will meet you in the lobby of your central Paris hotel at 3:30.  Transfer to the barge, moored in the heart of Paris for our traditional champagne welcome. We have the afternoon to relax and cruise past Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. We will moor that night in the Latin Quarter where you will enjoy your first gourmet dinner on board.

Monday: Paris to Samois sur Seine
Splendor of the French Kings at Fountainbleau
Scenic cruise out of Paris to Samois sur Seine. After lunch we will take an excursion to Chateau of Fontainebleau. To walk through Fontainebleau is to walk through the history of France. Every royal family has added its own architectural signature. Go on the charming village of Moret, where the Impressionist Sisley painted, and then rejoin the barge for an evening cruise to Montereau.

Tuesday: Samois sur Seine to Montereau
Falconry Show!
A morning cruise on the upper part of the Seine to Montereau, where the smaller river the Yonne meets us. After lunch we will take a drive out to the Medieval town of Provins, also called the "City of Roses". Here we will watch the magnificent show of the birds of prey. Return to the barge moored in a beautiful country setting.

Wednesday: Montereau to Sens
Great Gothic Cathedral
A pleasant cruise along the beautiful river Yonne to the town of Sens, the oldest town in France. Visit the first great gothic cathedral, a magnificent building that dominates the main square. Time to shop, visit the museum or stroll around the town.

Thursday: Sens to Joigny
Winetasting in the Burgundy vineyards
Winding up on the Yonne River we reach the pretty riverside town of Joigny. The beautiful narrow cobblestone streets stretching their way up to wonderful churches perched on top of the town takes you back to another era. In the afternoon we will take a drive out to Chablis. We select one of the small family operations for an intimate tour of their vineyards and cellar.

Friday: Joigny to Auxerre
Stroll and shop in a beautiful river town
Cruise along the upper reaches of the Yonne River to Auxerre, the most beautiful of all river towns whose skyline is punctuated by church spires and its streets lined with timbered 16th century houses. Time for shopping, visiting the old port or the 15th century clock tower. Farewell celebration on board enjoying your last elegant gourmet dinner.

Saturday: Return to Paris
A Sad Farewell
Depart at 9:00am for your chauffeured transfer back to central Paris or Charles de Gaulle Airport.  Estimated arrival time is 11:00am; at the airport, estimated arrival time is noon.  Please book your departure flight based on this basis.  Breakfast is your last on-board meal.  We hope to welcome you back to La Nouvelle Etoile again - maybe next time in Holland or Germany!

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 Barging the canals and waterways of France Or call us toll free at (800) 880-0071.

La Nouvelle Etoile

Guest Book

"La Nouvelle is the best barge! Jan and Diana are wonderful, and the chef is amazing."
Larry and Beth Burtschy (repeat guests), cruised May, 2013 

"Our trip on the Nouvelle Etoile was wonderful. We had high expectations, but this exceeded them. Jan and Diana were most gracious and tireless hosts. It soon became clear that Jan had thought of everything for the comfort of his guests. Frank was most knowledgeable about the places we visited, an excellent tour guide. In addition he entertained us in the evenings with his piano playing, and some of us even danced. As to Chef Richard - what can we say! Any five star restaurant would be happy to have him as their chef. We loved Diana's wine and cheese explanations. Also, her flowers on deck were so beautiful. The cabin facilities and deck were extremely comfortable, and reflected the great care Jan had given to outfitting the Nouvelle Etoile. We hope to take another trip on the Nouvelle Etoile next year."
- Dorit and Gerald Paul, cruised June, 2012

"Dear Ellen, I wanted to drop you a note telling you how FABULOUS our trip on La Nouvelle Etoile was! WOW---Jan and Diana are fabulous----Frank, the tour guide is magnificent, and Richard, the chef could easily open a Michelin starred restaurant---the food was sublime. I was skeptical that anything could top the Horizon II (our first barge cruise we took a few years ago) , but this DID! The barge is so lovely and well cared for---what a shell shock to re-enter the "real world" when we left. I can't rave enough about how wonderful the entire experience was---it far exceeded any of our expectations. Many thanks!"

- Eloise Paul and Bill Lee, cruised June, 2012

"The La Nouvelle Etoile cruise exceeded our expectations! It was a "top shelf", and Ultra deluxe experience. The cabin was so spacious with lots of storage. We could not believe how large the bathrooms were - even double sinks! Each cabin had a computer, and this was a nice feature. The cuisine was excellent, and was 5-star restaurant quality. The crew was superb, friendly, helpful, and welcoming. We had a lot of fun with the crew, and they each did his/her job extremely well. The excursions were well organized. We were very, very pleased from beginning to end, and hope to go on another barge trip"
- Barri and David Drury, cruised April, 2012

"Jan and Diana are fabulous hosts. What can one say about Chef Richard? His cuisine has probably ruined us for anyone else! Each meal was gourmet quality and outstanding. The cabins ere beyond expectations. They were much roomier than previous barge cabins we have been in. The fresh flowers were a nice touch - loved it! Overall, our group a wonderful experience. No one felt hurried, and the meals were on time and delicious. Everything was done exceptionally well! We were the only ones in our charter group who had barged before and everyone loved the experience. It is the best way to travel...we hope to repeat the trip again."
- Judy and Gary Jorgensen (repeat guests), cruised April, 2012

"The crew was excellent! They were very friendly, professional, and did everything they could to ensure we were enjoying ourselves. Richard is a gourmet chef, and every meal was terrific! We ate all three meals and enjoyed every one of them. The wine selection was outstanding! Our cabin was much nicer than we anticipated - lots of room, large bathroom and very clean. Overall, Nouvelle Etoile was absolutely fabulous! It was a Five Star experience! We would definitely cruise again on the Nouvelle Etoile.

- Mary and Carl Strohmaier, cruised April, 2011

"Our barge trip was a true vacation. You can't help but slow down and enjoy the wonderful experience of food, scenery and history."
-Allan and Nancy Miner, 2010

"The cruise was deluxe and better than anything we expected. The Meijers were not only superb operators, they are delightful, cheerful, entertaining people. Richard the Chef was over the top wonderful. I would follow him on any barge. Every effort was made to accommodate all wishes. We got off and walked - much needed as food and wine was abundant at meals. I would do the trip again but lose at least 5 pounds before departure!"
-Deborah and Richard Kessler, 2010

La Nouvelle Etoile

Floor Plan

128 feet long
Four suites over 200 sq ft
-One queen or two twin beds
-TV, internet access, picture windows
-Brand new touch-screen computer in each cabin
-Ensuite bathroom with shower and double sinks
-One suite wheelchair accessible
In the Public Areas
-Beautiful, elegant salon/dining area with picture windows
-Lovely piano in the salon
-Elevator
-Washer/dryer for guest use
-Exercise room with treadmill, home trainer bicycle, free weights and step
-Large screen satellite television (hidden behind a sofa in the salon)
-Sun deck with retractable canopy for shade
-Jacuzzi on deck
-Wifi on board
8 Bicycles
Batavus Weekend model. Four are women’s with a frame height of 48 inches, Four are men’s with a frame height of 53 inches. Features include: 8 gears, adjustable handle bars and seats, front/back shock absorbers and a bell.