Step aboard the Saraphina: Culture and Cuisine Beckons on the Canal du Midi
Step onboard the Saraphina…
Owned and operated by the seasoned barging couple Captain Finnegan and Chef Emily Campfens, the Charming class, 4-guest Saraphina brings a fresh ideal to classic French barge cruising, offering her pampered passengers a uniquely youthful world of culinary excellence and contemporary flair.
With two cozy cabins, a comfortable deck, and a welcoming wheelhouse, guests enjoy convivial cruising deep within the Languedoc, while the all-inclusive dining program of meals taken both onboard and ashore encourages locally-focused gastronomic exploration.
A longtime Barge Lady favorite, we are delighted to feature the Saraphina in our cruise collection as the perfect option for small families, adventurous foodies, and active couples.
Read all about what recent Barge Lady Cruise guests had to say about their sumptuous cruise on the Saraphina!
A VOYAGE OF A LIFETIME
After our champagne welcome aboard the Saraphina, we began a weeklong cruise on the Canal Du Midi that turned into a voyage of a lifetime. I truly cannot imagine a better hotel barge experience.
With only four guests onboard the crew is able to create a magical trip, leaving nothing out.
Captain Finn, Chef Emily, and Host Andras were each magnificent. We felt like royalty at the beginning of the trip and friends by the end.
THE BEST MEALS WE’VE EATEN IN YEARS
Host Andras was always there to make sure we had our drink glasses full and our mouths eating nibbles of the most wonderful variety.
From her simple galley kitchen, Chef Emily provided meals that were frankly some of the best we’ve eaten in years.
Captain Finn was always willing to not only answer questions about the barge and the history of the canal but any other topic one would like to discuss, a true renaissance man.
MARVELOUS INSIGHT INTO THE THE REGION
We cannot leave out Rex, our grand Tour Guide in describing our wonderful time on the Saraphina.
Rex was so knowledgeable and entertaining that we felt we had our own “Erduit de la Province” guiding us each day.
From the fortress of Carcassonne to the Abbey of Fontroide with vineyards and olive groves in between, Rex provided marvelous insight into the history, culture, and people of the region.
LET US STAY THERE FOREVER
What did we enjoy most?…EVERYTHING!!! The food, the wine, the scenery, the private concert, the land tours, just everything.
I could go on for hours telling you that our trip was nothing short of “decadent”.
Decadent is the only way to express how great our holiday on the Saraphina was. Let us stay there forever! — Devon and Courtney F.
Craft cocktails are another highlight of the Saraphina’s specialties, enjoy this recipe for their signature sip here. Find out more about why France Today is hopelessly smitten with the Saraphina here. To book your own decadent sailing on the Saraphina, click here.