FRANCE LUXURY BARGE CRUISE
Sep 2-13, 2018
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Custom Land and Cruise tour designed and made exclusively for Focus Travel Club
$ 4,999 based on double occupancy
Tour Highlights
Round Trip Airfare from Denver
3 nights in Paris with sightseeing
6 nights Loire River Cruise on the Ms Déborah
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on the Cruise
Welcome Dinner in Paris
Full schedule of included excursions on the Ms Déborah
DAY BY DAY PROGRAM
Day 1 – Sunday, September 2, 2018:
Depart Denver for Paris: Board your overnight flight to Paris.
Day 2 – Monday, September 3, 2018:
Arrive in ParisArrive to Paris and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of your afternoon and evening will be free to explore the city. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 3 – Tuesday, September 4, 2018:
Paris (B,D)
Enjoy a city tour of Paris today, including a visit to the Musée D’Orsay. Drive past the major landmarks and icons of the city with your local guide and coach; see the 35-foot replica of The Statue of Liberty on the Île des Cygnes, Eiffel Tower, Louis XIV's gilded church dome of Les Invalides, Place de la Concorde, and Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe, and more. Next, explore the Musée D’Orsay, on the banks of the Seine River, the building itself considered to be a work of art. The museum exhibits collections of art from 1848 to 1914. Return to your hotel for the remainder of the afternoon. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4 – Wednesday, September 5, 2018:
Paris/Versailles/Paris (B)
Today, we will have a full day tour to the Palace of Versailles for a tour of King Louis XIV’s palatial home. A highlight of the royal residence is the historic Hall of Mirrors. Walk in the footsteps of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette and explore the magnificent interiors of the palace. Also scheduled for today is a walk through the spectacular gardens. Learn about the history surrounding the controversial couple during your tour. Return to Paris for a free evening and dinner on your own.
Day 5 – Thursday, September 6, 2018:
Paris – Nevers – Board Cruise (B,D)
Transfer by coach from Paris to join the ship in Nevers (the drive is about 2 hours and 45 minutes). Ship boarding is at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, enjoy meeting the crew and a welcome cocktail before dinner. At nightfall, we’ll leave on a romantic tour of Nevers with lanterns.
Day 6 – Friday, September 7, 2018:
Nevers – Marseilles-Lès-Aubigny (B,L,D)
This morning, join us for a visit of Nevers. Our visit will begin with the Espace Bernadette Soubirous, the final
resting place of the simple country girl from Lourdes who claimed to have seen the Virgin 18 times. We’ll then continue to the city center where we’ll be able to see Ducal Palace, considered the first of the Loire's castles. Built on the hill, the palace overlooks the center of the old town, the Republic Square and a large park. We’ll stroll through the remarkably preserved old quarter, with its half-timbered houses and picturesque streets, before reaching the Nevers Cathedral, dedicated to Saints Quriaqos and Julietta, a national monument of France. We'll have a brief visit to the pottery quarter before ending our tour with a tasting of local products. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising towards Marseilles-lès-Aubigny. Enjoy the scenery as it rolls by or borrow one of the bikes on board to ride along the canal. The evening is free to do as you please.
Day 7 – Saturday, September 8, 2018:
Marseilles-Lès-Aubigny – Herry (B,L,D)
We’ll leave by coach for the visit to the Fontmorigny Abbey, a privately-owned French historical monument. Now one of the main cultural sites in the area, it is testimony to over 8 centuries of French religious heritage. The contemporary stain-glass windows are not to be missed. We’ll continue on, to visit Apremont-sur-Allier and its floral garden. Classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, this small medieval jewel on the bank of the Allier is an absolute must-see. The village offers a stunning point of view of the castle that overlooks it, also a nice stroll along the Allier river.
Afterwards, we’ll return on board and continue towards Herry. During our journey, discover the unique abundance of nature, culture and heritage. You’ll have an outstanding view of the Val de Loire Natural Reserve. The evening is free to do as you please.
Day 8 – Sunday, September 9, 2018:
Herry – Ménétréol-Sous-Sancerre (B,L,D)
We’ll leave by coach for a tour of La Charité-sur-Loire and an authentic farm. We’ll begin our visit with the priory, one of the most important restoration sites in Burgundy for the past 15 years. We’ll then visit a farm deep in the countryside, where we’ll experience the rustic calm and authenticity that can be found only in France. A nice stop- over and a perfect way to get to know the animals typically local or coming from other areas: sheep, pigs, goats, donkeys, African or Highland cattle, llamas, ostriches, and of course, ducks! After we return on board, we’ll cruise towards Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre. The evening is free to do as you please.
Day 9 – Monday, September 10, 2018:
Ménétréol-Sous-Sancerre – Léré (B,L,D)
We’ll leave by coach for a visit of Pouilly-sur-Loire, where we’ll visit the Tour de Pouilly-Fumé: a wine-tourism center located in a beautiful setting. We’ll visit the vineyards, the wine cellar and enjoy a tasting. Once we return on board, we’ll continue towards Léré. Take advantage of this moment to ride along a portion of the EuroVélo 6, the bike route traveling from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. The evening is free to do as you please.
Day 10 – Tuesday, September 11, 2018:
Léré – Briare (B,L,D)
We'll set off for an excursion to Sancerre and a goat farm. Set in the historic Berry region, Sancerre overlooks the gorgeous Loire Valley. We’ll discover this beautiful medieval city by following the Fil d'Ariane: a red line painted on the streets taking you past the old wine-making neighborhoods, bakeries, fascinating buildings, and lovely art galleries. The Fief Tower (significant stairs to climb) is the only remaining tower of the 14th-century medieval castle. Afterwards, we’ll visit a goat farm and have a tasting of its trademark cheeses and the local Sancerre wine. The family on the farm is raising approximately 200 goats and 60 cows and will be happy to share their cheese-making secrets with you. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising the Briare, cruising through the Briare Aqueduct whose 14 masonry supports were built by the Eiffel Company. Until recently it was the longest navigable aqueduct in the world. Tonight is our festive gala evening.
Day 11 - Wednesday September 12, 2018
Briare - Paris Airport Hotel (B)
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking. Transfer by coach with a tour along the way, including a stop at Chateau Fontainebleau and the village of Barbizon. Start with a visit of the Chateau. The hateau Fontainebleau was the home to sovereigns for the eight centuries from the ruling dynasties of France, including Napoleon Bonaparte. Dinner on your own tonight at the hotel.
Day 12- Thursday, September 13, 2018:
Depart Paris for Denver (B)
Day 1 – Sunday, September 2, 2018:
Depart Denver for Paris: Board your overnight flight to Paris.
Day 2 – Monday, September 3, 2018:
Arrive in ParisArrive to Paris and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of your afternoon and evening will be free to explore the city. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 3 – Tuesday, September 4, 2018:
Paris (B,D)
Enjoy a city tour of Paris today, including a visit to the Musée D’Orsay. Drive past the major landmarks and icons of the city with your local guide and coach; see the 35-foot replica of The Statue of Liberty on the Île des Cygnes, Eiffel Tower, Louis XIV's gilded church dome of Les Invalides, Place de la Concorde, and Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe, and more. Next, explore the Musée D’Orsay, on the banks of the Seine River, the building itself considered to be a work of art. The museum exhibits collections of art from 1848 to 1914. Return to your hotel for the remainder of the afternoon. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4 – Wednesday, September 5, 2018:
Paris/Versailles/Paris (B)
Today, we will have a full day tour to the Palace of Versailles for a tour of King Louis XIV’s palatial home. A highlight of the royal residence is the historic Hall of Mirrors. Walk in the footsteps of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette and explore the magnificent interiors of the palace. Also scheduled for today is a walk through the spectacular gardens. Learn about the history surrounding the controversial couple during your tour. Return to Paris for a free evening and dinner on your own.
Day 5 – Thursday, September 6, 2018:
Paris – Nevers – Board Cruise (B,D)
Transfer by coach from Paris to join the ship in Nevers (the drive is about 2 hours and 45 minutes). Ship boarding is at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, enjoy meeting the crew and a welcome cocktail before dinner. At nightfall, we’ll leave on a romantic tour of Nevers with lanterns.
Day 6 – Friday, September 7, 2018:
Nevers – Marseilles-Lès-Aubigny (B,L,D)
This morning, join us for a visit of Nevers. Our visit will begin with the Espace Bernadette Soubirous, the final
resting place of the simple country girl from Lourdes who claimed to have seen the Virgin 18 times. We’ll then continue to the city center where we’ll be able to see Ducal Palace, considered the first of the Loire's castles. Built on the hill, the palace overlooks the center of the old town, the Republic Square and a large park. We’ll stroll through the remarkably preserved old quarter, with its half-timbered houses and picturesque streets, before reaching the Nevers Cathedral, dedicated to Saints Quriaqos and Julietta, a national monument of France. We'll have a brief visit to the pottery quarter before ending our tour with a tasting of local products. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising towards Marseilles-lès-Aubigny. Enjoy the scenery as it rolls by or borrow one of the bikes on board to ride along the canal. The evening is free to do as you please.
Day 7 – Saturday, September 8, 2018:
Marseilles-Lès-Aubigny – Herry (B,L,D)
We’ll leave by coach for the visit to the Fontmorigny Abbey, a privately-owned French historical monument. Now one of the main cultural sites in the area, it is testimony to over 8 centuries of French religious heritage. The contemporary stain-glass windows are not to be missed. We’ll continue on, to visit Apremont-sur-Allier and its floral garden. Classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, this small medieval jewel on the bank of the Allier is an absolute must-see. The village offers a stunning point of view of the castle that overlooks it, also a nice stroll along the Allier river.
Afterwards, we’ll return on board and continue towards Herry. During our journey, discover the unique abundance of nature, culture and heritage. You’ll have an outstanding view of the Val de Loire Natural Reserve. The evening is free to do as you please.
Day 8 – Sunday, September 9, 2018:
Herry – Ménétréol-Sous-Sancerre (B,L,D)
We’ll leave by coach for a tour of La Charité-sur-Loire and an authentic farm. We’ll begin our visit with the priory, one of the most important restoration sites in Burgundy for the past 15 years. We’ll then visit a farm deep in the countryside, where we’ll experience the rustic calm and authenticity that can be found only in France. A nice stop- over and a perfect way to get to know the animals typically local or coming from other areas: sheep, pigs, goats, donkeys, African or Highland cattle, llamas, ostriches, and of course, ducks! After we return on board, we’ll cruise towards Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre. The evening is free to do as you please.
Day 9 – Monday, September 10, 2018:
Ménétréol-Sous-Sancerre – Léré (B,L,D)
We’ll leave by coach for a visit of Pouilly-sur-Loire, where we’ll visit the Tour de Pouilly-Fumé: a wine-tourism center located in a beautiful setting. We’ll visit the vineyards, the wine cellar and enjoy a tasting. Once we return on board, we’ll continue towards Léré. Take advantage of this moment to ride along a portion of the EuroVélo 6, the bike route traveling from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. The evening is free to do as you please.
Day 10 – Tuesday, September 11, 2018:
Léré – Briare (B,L,D)
We'll set off for an excursion to Sancerre and a goat farm. Set in the historic Berry region, Sancerre overlooks the gorgeous Loire Valley. We’ll discover this beautiful medieval city by following the Fil d'Ariane: a red line painted on the streets taking you past the old wine-making neighborhoods, bakeries, fascinating buildings, and lovely art galleries. The Fief Tower (significant stairs to climb) is the only remaining tower of the 14th-century medieval castle. Afterwards, we’ll visit a goat farm and have a tasting of its trademark cheeses and the local Sancerre wine. The family on the farm is raising approximately 200 goats and 60 cows and will be happy to share their cheese-making secrets with you. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising the Briare, cruising through the Briare Aqueduct whose 14 masonry supports were built by the Eiffel Company. Until recently it was the longest navigable aqueduct in the world. Tonight is our festive gala evening.
Day 11 - Wednesday September 12, 2018
Briare - Paris Airport Hotel (B)
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking. Transfer by coach with a tour along the way, including a stop at Chateau Fontainebleau and the village of Barbizon. Start with a visit of the Chateau. The hateau Fontainebleau was the home to sovereigns for the eight centuries from the ruling dynasties of France, including Napoleon Bonaparte. Dinner on your own tonight at the hotel.
Day 12- Thursday, September 13, 2018:
Depart Paris for Denver (B)