French Finesse, Bien Sûr! Spacious Staterooms, Gourmet Cuisine, and Vineyard Visits Beckon
Everybody needs a little Finesse!
Appropriately named, the Deluxe-class, 8-guest Finesse brings contemporary comfort, generous personal space, exceptional cuisine, and gracious service to the canals of Southern Burgundy. From the panoramic salon and inviting open kitchen to four of the largest cabins found on the French waterways, every experience, amenity, and accommodation has been designed for a chic week of effortless enjoyment.
Or, as Barge Lady Ellen says, “Finesse by the boatload!”
Recent Barge Lady guests Jay and Karol are seasoned barge cruisers, so their praise carries considerable weight. They described their cabin as “well-appointed and the largest cabin we have had on any barge.” Fellow guests Jim and Mary were equally delighted by their experience, especially the service. “The barge crew were incredible,” they reported after returning home. “Very friendly yet highly professional.”
Stepping inside Finesse, guests immediately discover an exceptionally spacious salon and dining area enlivened by colorful contemporary décor, comfortable furnishings, and panoramic windows framing the passing landscapes of Southern Burgundy.
Gracious living is furthered in the Finesse’s four identical cabins, located on the vessel’s lower level. At 265 square feet each, these beautifully appointed staterooms rate among the largest and most luxurious on the French canals.
Attention to detail in the cabin is everywhere from the ample storage to the adorable loveseat to the decadent bedding. Bathrooms are kitted out with double sinks and a walk-in shower, augmenting the glamorous ambiance.
MICHELIN-QUALITY CUISINE FROM THE BARGE’S OPEN GALLEY
The open demonstration kitchen is one of Finesse’s defining features, allowing guests to watch, converse with, and occasionally collect a few culinary secrets from the onboard Chef. For both couples, Chef Jean’s culinary creations were remarkable. Jay and Karol called the cuisine “superb” and described Jean as “really the best chef we have ever had on any barge.” Jim and Mary agreed. “Chef Jean’s food was Michelin-quality at every meal, and the wines were well paired,” they said.
Menus aboard Finesse celebrate French culinary tradition with seasonal ingredients and gourmet presentation. Leisurely lunches and multi-course dinners are paired with hand selected wines, while platters of French cheese offers another delicious taste of the region.
The open galley adds an element of theater to every meal, inviting aspiring culinarians into the kitchen with Chef Jean to watch daily preparations, observe classic French cooking techniques, and perhaps collect a few professional secrets along the way. By the end of the cruise, dining aboard Finesse becomes far more than a daily pleasure; it is one of the journey’s most memorable attractions.
An homage to fromage! Guests aboard French barge cruises taste many cheeses during their cruise week!
BURGUNDY WINERIES AND UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURES
Ashore, daily chauffeured excursions reveal the wines, architecture, history, and personalities of Southern Burgundy. For Jay and Karol, visits to Burgundy’s wonderful wineries were the highlight of the sightseeing program. Private introductions to local vintages offered opportunities not only to taste the wines, but also to meet the people whose knowledge, traditions, and talents bring them to life.
The week’s excursions also reached far beyond the vineyards. An exhilarating falconry demonstration delivered one of the journey’s most unexpected highlights.“The birds of prey were over the top!” Jim and Mary said. “It isn’t every day you get to feed a raptor from your gloved hand.”
Indeed, it does not. Coming face-to-face with a magnificent bird of prey is exactly the kind of only-in-France encounter that transforms an enjoyable outing into a story guests will be telling for years.
From oversized cabins and a salon made for stylish lounging to Chef Jean’s dazzling cuisine onboard and days ashore filled with wineries, châteaux, and one very memorable bird of prey, Finesse knows how to sweep guests into a fabulous week of grand cabins, glorious cuisine, vineyard adventures, and unmistakably French joie de vivre.
To book your week of Southern Burgundy’s best served with French flair, and, naturally, plenty of Finesse, click here.
No cruise could be more fun, more authentic, more friendly or more delicious than a barge cruise in France. We took a voyage on L’Impressionist several years ago and the experience was absolutely the best. Thoughtful folks attending to all of our needs every day, a most comfortable environment on board and enough daily scenery to wear out a camera. In the pre-cruise request for information about dietary needs and favorite beverages I suggested three brands of bourbon that would be available in France. When we arrived at the barge, there were all three brands of bourbon. Every meal complimented our experiences for that day – incredible. Riding bikes along the tow path, helping the lock masters or just visiting the small villages along the way were daily treats. At the end the barge captain drove us to the train station so we could continue on to Lyon to meet with old friends. Great guy. The whole experience was great. We’re going again for sure. And the Barge Ladies handle everything.