Randle

Barging in Burgundy

Passengers: 2 - 4	Your Host: Captain Tim Harrold
Size: 70 feet long	English Speaking Crew of: 3
Last Visited: 2011	Bicycles: 4
Rating: Charming Class	Air Conditioned: Yes

Cruise Rate Includes: 6 nights/7 days in a cabin with a private bath, chauffeured transfers from Paris to the barge and return, daily breakfast and lunch onboard , all wines with lunches, open bar on board, daily escorted excursions and use of onboard bicycles.

Cruise Rate Does NOT Include: Airfare to and from France, all 6 dinners during the cruise at local restaurants are at the guest's expense (Captain Tim will make reservations and provide transportation), cancellation insurance and crew gratuity (suggested minimum amount is 5% of the cruise price)

2013 Value Season Rates

Whole Boat Charter of up to 4: $9,564

2013 value season dates

March 31 - April 6	April 14 - 20
April 7 - 13	April 21 - 27

2013 Regular Season Rates

Randle

Burgundy Cruise Itinerary

Clamecy to Auxerre on the Canal du Nivernais

Sunday: Paris to Clamecy
Welcome Aboard!
At 2:00 pm, your party will be met at one location of your choice in central Paris and chauffeured to the Randle, moored in the adorable village of Clamecy. Estimated driving time is three to three and a half hours. After a welcome-aboard champagne reception, there is time to either relax on board or take a short walk around this cobblestoned town, perched high on the hillside. Perhaps take a peek into the Clamecy Museum in the former mansion of the Duke de Bellegarde, or browse in the gallery on the quai with its selection of local ceramics and crafts.There are two great restaurants in Clamecy: “2 Pieces” and the “Auberge de la Chapelle” for your evening dining. Our crew will take you to the restaurant, get you settled and go over the menu, if you desire.

Monday: Clamecy to Lucy sur Yonne
Explore by Bicycle as Randle Cruises deep into the Countryside
After a breakfast of village-baked croissants just warm from the oven, you’ll welcome the chance to walk on the towpath or get out and about on one of the bicycles! Or, just relax on deck and watch gorgeous scenery drift by on the way to Lucy-sur -Yonne. After a buffet lunch served on board, it’s time to pick from a number of fascinating excursions. You could visit the Chateau de Bazoches, pictured below, home of the French military architect Marecal Vauban. Or, what about Vezelay – a sublime walled village crowned at the top by the Romanesque basilica of St. Mary Magdelene –not to mention stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The cobblestoned main street offers a chance to browse in craft shops and art galleries – or to return to dinner here tonight, too!

Tuesday: Lucy sur Yonne to Mailly le Chateau
Cruising, Climbing, History, Dining: A Great Day on Randle!
Today we continue our cruise in the Yonne River Valley to our lunchtime mooring beneath the dramatic cliffs of Le Saussois, pictured below. If you’d like, climb up to the top for a fantastic view of the surrounding countryside. Then it is on to Mailly-le-Chateau, an adorable town set high on a ravine. This afternoon, there is another choice of excursions. Those enchanted by the lifestyle in historic French towns won’t want to miss Noyers, which with its elegant Medieval core, is considered one of the most beautiful. An even older era is offered at the Grottes d’Arcy-sur-Cure, an amazing illuminated cave with Paleolithic cave paintings from 28,000 years ago. Return to the mooring at Mailly-le-Chateau and have dinner at "Le Castel", an authentic auberge right in the town square.

Wednesday: Mailly le Chateau to Accolay
Catch your lunch at a Trout Farm!
Today we’ll continue our cruise on the Canal du Nivernais – past gorgeous scenery and canalside homes. Today, it is the turn of the guests to prove the luncheon entrée! We will stop at a trout farm, one originally founded by Cistercian monks and revived today within the walls of the old monastery. Catch your fish – and we will serve it on board 30 minutes later! After lunch, our cruise continues to tonight’s mooring at Accolay. Choose to visit either the Abbey de Regny, a beautifully preserved monastery with gardens or a Roman villa and bathhouse. Dine tonight at the "Hostellerie de la Fontaine".

Thursday: Accolay to Vincelles
Wine, wine, wine!!
After all, you are in Burgundy! Cruise this morning to Vincelles. After lunch on board, let’s go taste some wine! You might select the artisanal wines Pinot Noir and Caesar from the caves of William Chariot in the beautiful village or Irancy. Or, what about the sampling the local sparkling wine, Cremant de Bourgogne. Eight million (!) bottles are stored in Caves de Baily. Along the way, drive through the gorgeous vineyards and pop into the town of Chablis to shop or taste even more wine.

Friday: Vincelles to Auxerre
Shop and sightsee in historic Auxerre
You last cruise ends at the large quai in Auxerre, an historic cobblestoned town that is also a regional commercial and transportation hub. Many personalities visited Auxerre – from Joan of Arc to Napoleon – and many eras represented in the architecture. This is the perfect place to shop for that last-minute souvenir and then enjoy a wide choice of dining choices for your last night on the Canal du Nivernais.

Saturday: Auxerre to Paris
A Sad Farewell
Depart at 9:00 am for your chauffeured transfer back to Paris. Estimated arrival time is noon to 1:00 pm. Please make all onward travel plans on the basis of this timing. We hope that your cruise on Randle has made a lifetime of memories.

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Randle Guest Book

"The trip was wonderful. We loved the Randle and Captain Tim. He made us feel so comfortable and was really fun to get to know. The service and food were wonderful. Chef Gael made us an amazing new lunch everyday and it was fun to try village restaurants for dinner. Carolyn the guide was super knowledgeable and catered her tours to the type of things we were really interested in. The actual barging was super relaxing and the Canal de Nivernais is so beautiful. We enjoyed getting off the barge and biking or walking along the tow path each day. I can’t recommend a crew and barge more highly. They are all friendly and down to earth, while at the same time provide wonderful service. It was a very special and super relaxing vacation. Thank you to Ellen and Caroline for setting it up. We’d love to go again!"
- Jennifer Nuckton and Curtis Myers, cruised October, 2012

"All in all, we LOVED the Randle and would recommend it highly to anyone wanting a very intimate experience. Chef Gael's food was awesome and Captain Tim is very sweet and really tried to meet our needs. He has that subtle Brit humor, which we all enjoyed. However, we cannot speak highly enough of the food on the barge itself. It was great to have the barge “all to ourselves” and the barge itself is a little gem—every aspect of its construction and décor was crafted with obvious great care. It was great, beyond expectation.
- Wendy Earl, cruised September, 2012

“The barge is pristine. Built in 2001 to the highest standards, and maintained to perfection. Many people thought our barge was the prettiest on the canal. The barge and its crew – very informal, which was different than what we expected. Captain Tim in a lovely guy and a very accomplished skipper. He’s very relaxed, low key and friendly. Chef Gael is marvelous – she’s coming to live with us so we can gain even more weight! Gael is a Brit but cooks French. Quite terrific! The Burgundy countryside is beautiful beyond belief. And it never seems to end. We visited four wine tastings and each visit was a private tour/tasting, which was great. This was different from an all-wine tasting trip – seeing medieval villages and towns, sitting on the deck, reading and watching lovely scenery.”
- Don and Judy Rothman, cruised May, 2012

Randle Floor Plan

70 Feet long
Master cabin - 100 sq ft
-Queen bed
Guest cabin - 80 sq ft
-Upper and lower twin bunk beds
Also in the Cabins
-Ensuite bath and shower
-Opening skylights in both cabins
-Individual cabin climate control 
In the Public Areas
-Brass and hardwood fitting and fixtures throughout with marble and granite tops
-Central heating and air conditioning
-Wheelhouse with comfortable seating for six persons
-iPod player
-3G GPRS WiFi
4 Bicycles
-2 Dawes Classic bikes with three speeds, one lady’s and one men’s
-2 Rock Rider mountain bikes with 21 speeds