C’est la Vie is owned and operated by the remarkable Olivier and Deb Megret, barge industry veterans since 1985 and 1986, respectively. Their reservoir of talent is apparent upon boarding the C’est la Vie, as every detail has been thoughtfully addressed.
Now managing the barge from land, the Megrets expertly oversee everything from the crew to the cuisine to the excursions. The C’est la Vie is a family affair, with Olivier’s son Tom now operating and piloting the barge. Hailing from a family who has been active in the industry since its inception, Captain Tom boasts an outstanding barging pedigree, having grown up on the French canals and working on luxury hotel barges since he was a teenager.
This handsome barge welcomes guests to four of the most spacious and luxuriously-appointed cabins on the canals, a wonderful amenity for those to whom personal space is paramount. While relaxing on the expansive teak deck, guests are pampered by the attentive crew, perhaps while savoring a glass of wine from Oliver’s well-stocked cellar. Active pursuits such as bicycling and strolling along the canal’s towpath are the perfect way to explore the region’s natural beauty, or guests can socialize in the window-lined salon and dining room and admire the pastoral scenery as it floats by.
Culinary delights reveal the region’s abundance of food and wine; locally-produced vintages, many from the celebrated vineyards of Sancerre, are perfectly paired with seasonally inspired gourmet cuisine. Guided excursions to the area’s attractions and antiquities encourage guests to explore the Upper Loire’s best sights and scenes.
