Exploring the waterways of Burgundy and France on board "MS Niagara" is an unforgettable adventure.
The traditionally built motor yacht "MS Niagara" offers a travel adventure, back in time and an insight into France as it should be seen.
The air-conditioned main deck with its comfortable wheel house offers you an ideal occasion to assist the Captain in all manoeuvres. Sumptuous suites and bathrooms await a maximum of 6 passengers. On the upper level, you will appreciate the spacious sun-deck with Swimming pool and Jet-stream - depending on your desires; it can be warmed up to 85 °F or more. Just relax and enjoy the comfort of this casual cruise. Mountain bikes are always onboard and ready to go, for casual rides along the tow-path or cross country raids.
Everyday your chef delights you from morning to evening. The day begins with a hearty French breakfast in the wheel-house salon, then a traditional Burgundy lunch, accompanied with selected wines. During the calm afternoon coffee, tea and pastries are served. Every detail of your cruise is affectionately prepared by your first class crew.
The barge cruises into the late afternoon, taking you through the heart Burgundy's countryside and picturesque villages, famous for their cultural history and art. Everyday hectic life will rapidly disappear and is replaced by the rhythm of the canal locks. That's the French way of life.
The staff will always be attending to your needs and pampering you in a first class friendly style with genuine hospitality.
At the end of each day's cruise, your travel guide will escort you in the air-conditioned bus on sightseeing tours to discover the country and people of France. Learn the "savoir vivre" of Burgundy, with its famous wines, Roman art, feudal castles and abbeys.
When returning to your barge, happy and content the day's events, there is plenty of time for cocktails before your evening's candle light dinner. Beside delicious dishes and noble wines you also get to learn every evening several sorts of cheese. A wonderful opportunity to become not only a connoisseur of French specialities and grand Burgundy wines. but also an adept in French cheese art. The delightful evening can then close with drinks by the bar together with fellow passengers and new friends.
Itinerary
Friday: Day - Check in at Dijon
At the meeting point of Chatau la Chassagne, near Dijon, an air-conditioned bus will drive you to the barge at 5 pm. You are welcomed in grand style with a glass of the famous Kir Royal champagne. Your unforgettable cruise in Burgundy is about to begin. Once shown to your cabin and settled on board, you will discover the city of Dijon, ancient throne to the Dukes of Burgundy and birth town of Gustave Eiffel. The city is also know as the town of a "hundred bells", is famous for Cassis and the tradition of making Mustard. At your first evening on board you will be invited to our traditional welcome-dinner where you will learn all details about your cruise. Afterwards you can enjoy drinks on the sundeck and beside the pool. Naturally all drinks on board are inclusive around the clock.
Saturday: Day 2 - Cruise from Dijon to Fleurey sur Ouche
While having breakfast, "MS Niagara" leaves the port of Dijon and begins to pass through the locks on the canal; there will be a total of 45 during the cruise. Ever midday a splendid lunch menu or brunch is prepared and served by the crew, who will also be looking after you throughout the cruise. The barge passes by Lake Kir, then Plombières les Dijon and Velars sur Ouche. If you're not a connoisseur of grand Burgundy wines and specialties, as the barge continues to advance, you will soon become one. The barge has a snail like pace and the tempo is set by the canal locks, in the late afternoon the barge moors in the village of Fleurey sur Ouche. From there, late in the afternoon, your travel guide will take on an excursion in the surroundings. Back on board you will enjoy again a typical French dinner and the conversation with the other passengers.
Sunday: Day 3 - Cruise from Fleurey to Gissey sur Ouche
The voyage takes you into the heart of Burgundy and the magnificent Ouche valley. From the sun deck you can savour the real Burgundy while passing through traditional villages such as Pont-de-Pany, where Chatau la Chassagne is situated, then on to Saint Marie sur Ouche. The scenery and life along side the canal will seduce you. Tonight the barge is moored in a hidden romantic spot, beside the river Ouche and a Gallo Romain bridge, one of the most photographed and painted views in the village of Gissey sur Ouche. This is also the starting point of your daily sight seeing tour to get to know this wonderful region and its habitants. At the evening the traditional farewell party -which sometimes develops into a real midnight champain pool party- is an ideal opportunity to say good bye to the passengers who only booked a Mini-Cruise from Friday to Monday.
Monday: Day 4 - Private excursion to Beaune for the 6 night cruise passengers
Check out / check in 4-days / 3-nights Mini cruise passengers
Today, you will make an excursion into the vine yards of Burgundy and the wine capital town of Beaune. Wine tasting with experts to guide you and answer all your questions, visits to some of the most important names in Burgundy such as Corton, Volnay and Mersault. For Lunch you will be invited in a highly reputed village restaurant surrounded by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines. In the afternoon there is plenty of time to visit the famous Hospice de Beaune, visit the charming boutiques lining the cobbled streets of the historic market town. Return to the barge is via the "Hautes Côtes" along the country roads and past the source of the river Ouche. With a drink at the bar you will get to know the new passengers who have booked the 4-days/3-nights Mini cruise and got on board in the meantime. For dinner you chef will surprise you with something very special...
Tuesday: Day 5 - Cruise from Gissey sur Ouche to Pont d'Ouche "MS Niagara" leaves Gissey sur Ouche in the morning and heads on to Saint Victor sur Ouche and La Bussière. After a delicious lunch buffet the cruise goes on along Veuvey to reach today's destination Pont d'Ouche. When your hotel barge is moored, you will be invited to visit Chateauneuf en Auxois which you will pass tomorrow with the boat. Walk into this medieval village with its cafes, antique and curiosity shops along the picturesque streets and it's bistro bars which invite to settle in a drink in the hand. There is also a fantastic view over the Auxois plains, with lakes and the distant Morvan hills. Back on board enjoy the typical French dinner.
Wednesday: Day 6 - Cruise from Pont d'Ouche to Vandenesse en Auxois
Your captain will work even harder today, passing all the locks between Pont d'Ouche and the final destination of Vandenesse. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy the countryside, relax on the sun-deck, walk or cycle ahead. Iin the surroundings of Crugey you will have a Burgundy Menu for lunch break. After the barge has arrived in the port or Vandenesse, it is up to you to decide the destination of today's excursion: the water château of Commarin, the tunnel entrance in Pouilly-en-Auxois or a nearby cheese dairy. However, sometimes we organize the petanque championship between the passengers and the crew. Beginning with cocktails on board, you can learn the art of "Sabrage", where you slash open a Champagne bottle with a sword, like the Dukes of Burgundy did hundreds of years ago. Then everybody will be in the right mood for the great farewell diner and the remittance of your "Lock Diploma" as wells as a selection of several Dijon mustards.
Thursday: Day 7 - Check-Out
After a grand breakfast, disembarkation is generally at 10:30 am. Depending on your personal plans we can drive you to the meeting point hotel Chatau la Chassagne, to the railway station or airport.
As this is a one-way cruise, the itinerary is also operated in the opposite direction according to starting date.
We reserve the right to alter the cruise program.
2009 Departure Dates
Tour
Departure Date
Disembarkation Date
1
17-Apr-09
20-Apr-09
20-Apr-09
23-Apr-09
2
24-Apr-09
27-Apr-09
6
22-May-09
25-May-09
25-May-09
28-May-09
7
29-May-09
1-Jun-09
1-Jun-09
4-Jun-09
9
15-Jun-09
18-Jun-09
10
19-Jun-09
22-Jun-09
22-Jun-09
25-Jun-09
13
10-Jul-09
13-Jul-09
13-Jul-09
16-Jul-09
15
24-Jul-09
27-Jul-09
27-Jul-09
30-Jul-09
18
14-Aug-09
17-Aug-09
17-Aug-09
20-Aug-09
20
28-Aug-09
31-Aug-09
31-Aug-09
3-Sep-09
21
4-Sep-09
7-Sep-09
7-Sep-09
10-Sep-09
23
18-Sep-09
21-Sep-09
21-Sep-09
24-Sep-09
2009 Cruise Rates
Cabin Description
4 days / 3 nights
Friday to Monday or
Monday to Thursday
7 days / 6 nights
Friday to Thursday
Suite Commodore
$2250
$4300
Suite Royale
$2400
$4600
Suite Imperial
$2550
$4900
Supplement for single cabin
$1100
$2200
Contact us for special pricing
Contact us now to book this cruise or for more information Contact
Prices Do Not Include: Insurance nor gratuities.
For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the cruise line and the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.
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