Luciole
Barging in Burgundy

Guests: 14
Size: 100 feet long
Last Visited: 2009
Rating: First Class, A/C, Families

2010 LOW SEASON Rates Spring

Whole Boat Charter: $38,000
Double Cabin: $3,450
per person double occupancy
Single-Occupancy Cabin: $3,550

2010 LOW SEASON Dates - Spring

April 11 - 17	August 1 - 7	August 22 - 28
April 25 - May 1	August 8 - 14
July 25 - 31	August 15 - 21

2010 Mid SEASON Rates

Whole Boat Charter: $40,000
Double Cabin: $3,750  per person double occupancy
Single-Occupancy Cabin: $3,850

2010 Mid SEASON Dates

May 2 - 8	May 30 - June 5	June 27 - July 3
May 9 - 15	June 6 - 12	July 4 - 10
May 16 - 22	June 13 - 19	July 11 - 17
May 23 - 29	June 20 - 26	July 18 - 24

2010 high SEASON Rates

Whole Boat Charter: $44,000
Double Cabin: $3,750 per person double occupancy
Single-Occupancy Cabin: $3,850

2010 Mid SEASON Dates

August 29 - September 4	September 19 - 25	October 3 - 9
September 5 - 11	September 26 - October 2	October 10 - 16
September 12 - 18

2010 Low SEASON Rates - Fall

Whole Boat Charter: $42,000
Double Cabin: $3,450 per person double occupancy
Single-Occupancy Cabin: $3,550

2010 Low SEASON Dates - Fall

October 17 - 23
October 24 - 30
October 31 - November 5

Six night/seven day cruises depart from Paris every Sunday and return to Paris the following Saturday.

We love to visit LUCIOLE and were delighted to be aboard in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

LUCIOLE is the inspired creation of barging “pioneers” John and Penny Liley. Luciole cruises on the divinely beautiful Canal du Nivernais, cruising between Auxerre and Clamency. This vessel has a “country French” ambiance: dark green carpet sets off Provençal print fabrics on the casual furnishings, both inside and out. Luciole is known for an extremely personalized on-board atmosphere.

In July, 2009, we boarded as LUCIOLE was cruising a particularly beautiful stretch of the Canal du Nivernais. We had met before several members of senior crew. These included handsome French Captain Stephane, now in his third year with LUCIOLE, and guide Neil, now in his second year. (Neil is a superb guide who has taken care of our clients on other vessels, as well!) Adorable young chef Sophie Teague and her husband, Host Kevin Teague, are just starting an outstanding career in barging. Our fellow guests were a delightful collection of Americans and Brits. As is usual on LUCIOLE, they had relaxed and bonded. There was a lot of laughter at dinner that night, although we all fell silent when Sophie's Creme Brulee was placed before us and then DEVOURED.

In fact, Sophie's entire dinner was absolutely delicious!


Barge Lady's Debbie and Nicole Vaci cruised in June, 2007 and took many of the wonderful photographs on our site. For Debbie's cruise diary, go to The Barge Lady Blog and see her day by day account and more photos.

Luciole

Burgundy Barge Cruise Itinerary

Auxerre to Clamecy on the Canal du Nivernais

Sunday: Paris to Auxerre
Savor the sunset at our Delightful Mooring!

Our guests will be met at 2:30 pm in Paris at the Hotel Mansart, elegantly located off the Place Vendome on the Right Bank . (From 1:45 pm on, leave your luggage and enjoy tea and snacks in our private room.) You’ll then be chauffeured to the Luciole moored right on the Quai in Auxerre, a lovely town in the heart of the Burgundy vineyards. Enjoy the traditional Champagne Welcome and introduction to crew, then relax on deck as the sun sets over the old churches and cobblestoned streets of Auxerre. The first of many dinners on board introduces you to both your fellow guests and the high standard of cooking you will enjoy all week on Luciole!

Monday: Auxerre to Bailly
Exploring in Auxerre
A visit into the historic centre of Auxerre, pictured at right, is followed by a cruise out of the city into beautiful pastoral countryside. Now is the perfect time to walk or bicycle along the towpath which lines this gorgeous canal. Lunch on board will be taken at Champs, one of several attractive villages on the way. The afternoon's cruising through attractive reaches of the River Yonne concludes at the wine-making centre of Bailly.

Tuesday: Bailly to Vermenton
Wine! Wine! Wine!
A morning visit is made to one of the wine caves in the vicinity of Chablis. The picturesque villages of St Bris, Irancy and Escolives all stand close beside the waterway in wonderful surroundings, and a rendezvous will be made with one of the wine producers in the area. After lunch, we'll cruise through gorgeous scenery to our mooring at Vermenton.

Wednesday:
Vermenton to Mailly-la-Ville
Shop in a beautiful village
Today's excursion is to Noyers-sur-Serein, pictured at left, considered to be in the top 100 prettiest villages in France. Enjoy a cheesetasting in the market; then visit a local potter and tour his shop. Many Luciole guests are finding delightful momentos to take home! After lunch Luciole continues southwards along a waterway in which winding stretches of canal mingle with sparkling river sections, before our arrival at the village of Mailly-la-Ville. Now is the perfect time to walk or bicycle along the tow path and enjoy the spectacular countryside as it floats by.


Thursday: Mailly-la-Ville to Lucy-sur-Yonne
Imposing Chateau
Cruising ever deeper into the countryside, Luciole enters a region in which dramatic cliffs stand by the waterside, with many opportunities for cycling, strolling - or simply enjoying the scenery from the sun-deck. Visits during the day can include the hill town of Mailly-le-Chateau, or the imposing chateau of Bazoches, pictured at right, home in the 17th Century of the Marquis de Vauban, France's great military engineer.

Friday: Lucy-sur-Yonne to Clamecy
Basilica at Vezelay
From an overnight mooring at the village of Lucy-sur-Yonne, we make the short journey in our bus to Vezelay, to visit the spectacular 12th Century Basilica, which dominates the town. Here St. Bernard preached the 2nd Crusade and from this hillside a swathe of rural Burgundy can be seen. Traveling onwards, Luciole then reaches the delightful Medieval town of Clamecy, a worthy venue for the climax of our cruise.

Saturday: Clamecy to Paris
A Sad Farewell
Depart at 9:30 for your chauffeured transfer to Paris . (We can stop in Auxerre to drop off guests picking up a rental car.) Expected arrival back at the Hotel Mansart is at 1:00 pm. The crew will help you and your luggage into a waiting taxicab. For those wanting to fly out of Paris on the last day of the cruise, do not book a flight before 4:00 pm. Bon voyage! We hope you will reap a lifetime of memories on the Luciole.


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 Barge cruises in Burgundy Or call us toll free at (800) 880-0071.

Luciole

Guest Book

"Our holiday on the Luciole was one of the best ever!  The barge is well and comfortably appointed, the pace of the trip was comfortable, the food (the cheeses and the wines) was of a very high standard and nicely varied, as well as beautifully served.  The crew did all they could to meet our every request, and even the weather was perfect.  There was a nice balance between onboard activities, excursions and walking/cycling at will.  The group of passengers (including 12 strangers) and the crew were very compatible.  I highly recommend this trip!"
-Bob and Janet King, 2009

"This was my third barge trip in France, and if the owners had another barge, I would go again.  Wonderful and peaceful.  I was treated like a king!  Thank you so much for all your help."
-Burt Eikleberry, 2009

"Our family had an absolutely wonderful trip.  My husband and son would go out biking along the canal and into villages.  My daughter would sketch the countryside.  We all enjoyed the tours, especially the churches and historical stops.  Our guide was so nice and helpful, as were the entire crew.  Finally, the food...we all loved the adventures in French cuisine."
-Bret and Dana Hartman, 2009

"Excellent tours, food, wine and staff.  We are foodies - It's hard to impress us - but every meal was phenominal!  Neil, our guide, gave excellent commentary.  And he was flexible and made arrangements for us to experience sights outside of the regular schedule.  Overall, the barge staff delivered a tremendous experience!  We felt that we were in their home - and would have been equally happy to have them in our home."
-Jan Fisher, David Inkster and Aidan Inkster, 2009

"Our week on the Luciole exceeded our expectations even though we have been on two previous barge trips in Burgundy.  The setting is idyllic, the food outstanding, the staff friendly, and the tours interesting.  Don't forget the wine and cheese!"
-Allen and Faith Hastings, 2009

"The cruise exceeded our expectations: Great food and wine, beautiful scenery and an exceptionally friendly and accessible staff.  The Chef even shared her recipes!  Probably what our party enjoyed most was daily bicycling along the beautiful canal and river.  The staff was very helpful in constantly loading/unloading bicycles and giving us info about paths.  Outstanding!  We hope to go again."
-Jean Felsted, 2009

"The cruise exceeded my expectations in every way, but especially in the area of excursions.  Neil hit exactly the right note: interesting; thoroughly prepared, but  not "academic;"  endlessly patient, excellent driver.  This was the great surprise of the trip."
-Joyce McNabb, 2009

"We loved everything about our barge trip.  All the crew members were terrific - knowledgeable, friendly, talented and helpful.  We particularly liked the many opportunities to walk and bike along the canal.  The well-planned excursions added a great deal to out appreciation of the area.  Our travel companions were very congenial and compatible, which made for a fun, relaxing and interesting trip.  We recommend this experience without hesitation."
-Mimi and Bob Eisenbeis, 2008

"Great food, great wine, great friends and a great time!"
-Al and Ginny Ehle, 2008

"Our experience on the Luciole was absolutely amazing.  Not only did we reunite with our Key West friends in a completely different environment, but also, so enjoyed the wonderful personalities of the crew.  They could not have done more to accommodate us.  The barge provides an excellent opportunity to visit and view the spectacular French countryside.  We returned with a wealth of knowledge regarding wine, cheese and local history.  We are still salivating over the meals that were served to us with the utmost care.  We wish all of those who are dear to us could experience the fabulous experience of cruising on the Luciole."
-Bob and Beverly Arnold, 2008

"A great experience that we would want to have again at some time in the future.  Liked the size of the group (14) and the format, half day touring and half day cycling/walking.  We prefer to have some physical activity and we were happy the weather did not confine us to the barge.  We had the opportunity to stretch our legs and meet a few locals.  The dining - especially the cheeses - was excellent."
-Felice and Mary Raimondo, 2008

"The voyage, the trip was a "treat!"  We could not have asked for a better week.  We were well taken care of and the itinerary was wonderful."
-Varya Anderson and David Milne IV, 2008

"We thought Neil, our guide, did an excellent job.  We enjoyed all our side trips and walking along the canals.  Sophie's food was out of this world.  We enjoyed everythinig - food, company, and the trip.  What we enjoyed least was leaving."
-John and Carol Wickes, 2008

"The barge trip was a new, adventurous experience for us.  We were introduced to wine, cheese, and foods that we totally enjoyed.  The beauty and charm of the French countryside was matched by the fantastic crew of the Luciole....they were wonderful!  We were treated by a surprise visit from the owner, Penny Liley-She's a doll!"
-James and Deborah Patton, 2008

"Howard and I both enjoyed the Luciole trip!  The whole trip was just great.  We got to meet Penny Liley, the barge owner and we really enjoyed the cew very much.  They bend over backwards to make the trip a pleasure.  Thank you for steering us to the Luciole."
-Barbara Schneider, 2008

"A very enjoyable experience.  Relaxing, interesting trip with a compatible small group.  Every member of the crew did an excellent job."
-Terence and Madeline Welsh, 2008

"I can't imagine a better vacation for three generations to share.  Each member of our family-from the 80-year old grandparents to the youngest grandchild (7)-enjoyed every minute and long to be back on the Luciole.  The highlights for me were the breathtaking scenery and the incredible cuisine, lovingly prepared by Sophie.  I especially am grateful for the care she took in personalizing the vegetarian meals for me!!"
-Elaine Bayles and James Marr, 2008

"Trip of a lifetime!  The captain and crew were wonderful with all the children who have thanked us over and over for arranging this trip.  Having a family of 14 on a 14 passenger barge was grand!  The barge was fine, but it  was the crew who made the trip marvelous!"
-Barbara and Phil Bayless, 2008

"The cruise was enjoyable.  The crew was so very pleasant!  They really worked as a team and made us feel at home."
-Clint and Marion Frey, 2008

"Terrific experience in every way - cuisine, wine, cheeses, idyllic countryside - and the barge staff were very nice and helpful."
-Ed and Martha Young, 2008

"Being on the Luciole this spring was fabulous.  We could not have asked for more.  Sophie is a wizard in the galley; her meals were superb.  The crew was delightful and very helpful.  It was one of the best vacations ever."
-Bill and Susan Northcutt, 2008

"My husband and I have traveled over most of France. We have always wanted to do a barge trip - and voila - we finally did it! It was such a relaxing and wonderful way to enjoy a small area of France we had never seen. The Luciole is so charming. It is not a 5* star (nor are its prices) - but the staff, excursions, food, ambiance and entire fabulous cruise was a 10* star!"
-Beverly and Bob Mann, 2007

"The pickup was smooth. The barge staff were wonderful. The food was great. Bicycling and walking along the canal was a wonderful way to work off the meals. The company was marvelous. We must have had the noisiest barge on the canal. Laughter, jokes, conversation.
4 Australians
4 Americans
2 English
2 Canadian
I wish the world could have such harmony."
-Jim Austin and Patricia McKerchar, 2007

"Barge tour was supreme. Good barge, great canals, good weather, superb crew and guide, wonderful food and equally as good fellow passengers as two years ago on the Rhone."
-Bob and Joan Moir, 2007

We were delighted to welcome back Bob and Joan who had cruised on Le Phenicien in 2005.

"A wonderful experience for our family and friends! It was well-planned and executed from start to end. every meal was delicious - the explanations helpful - the staff so anxious to please. I would recommend it to any group!"
-Carolyn Cunningham, 2007

Carolyn's group experienced both the Tour de France and Bastille Day!

Luciole Floor Plan

100 Feet long
- 6 cabins (107 sq ft) with twin or double beds, 2 single cabins.
- Large picture windows in salon and dining area.
- Sundeck with tables, chairs, and umbrellas.