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Dining Aboard the Marjorie II, SAMPLE MENU:
- Continental and Hot Breakfast:
- Breads, Cereals, Fruits, Yogurt + Daily hot breakfast items which may include pancakes, Belgian waffles, eggs, bacon, etc.
- Lunch:
- Hearts of Palms and tomato salad with oregano dressing
- Chicken fillet in an Almond crust with a choice of dips
- Home made Banana ice-cream topped with Chocolate sauce
- Fried Goats Cheese wrapped in Bacon on a bed of Assorted garden Greens and Pink grape fruit dressing
- Wok fried shrimps and Crispy vegetables accompanied with Bell-Pepper oregano tagiatelle
- Fresh Fruit salad Marinated in White wine & Honey
- Stew of Green & white Asparagus served with Croutons & Bacon
- Chiabatta vegetable Cheese toast
Evening Meals:
- Terrine of Foie Gras with Tarragon Port Wine gelée
- Cream of Forestier mushroom Soup
- Pan fried baby Turbot accompanied with Wild Rice, broccoli and a Bell-pepper sauce
Departure dates:
May 30 Givet-Maastricht (Low season)
Jun 6 Maastricht-Givet (Low season)
Jun 13 Givet-Maastricht (Low season)
Jun 20 Maastricht-Givet (Low season)
Oct 3 Givet-Maastricht (High season)
Oct 10 Maastricht-Givet (High season)
Oct 17 Givet-Maastricht (High season)
Route: Givet, France to Maastricht, Holland on the Meuse River (Belgium & Ardennes) or the reverse. Includes pickup and return to Brussels for the cruise noted below.
Rate/Low season: Cabin (per person, double occupancy) $3,800; Single Occupancy Supplement $1,900
Rate/High season: Cabin (per person, double occupancy) $4,100; Single Occupancy Supplement $2,050
MARJORIE II, Sample Cruise Itinerary, 2010: Belgium, beginning in Givet, France & finishing in Maastricht, Holland on the Meuse River (or the reverse)
The area of Northern France and Southern Belgium known as the Ardennes is well known for its beautiful landscapes, castles, abbeys and Belgian delicacies, including chocolate, beer and wine. The Meuse River offers excellent and ample opportunity for cycling, walking and golfing.
Sunday
We meet in Brussels at your hotel or other designated location for your transfer to the Marjorie II, moored in the picturesque village of Givet in France. After a Champagne welcome, there is time for an evening stroll before dinner on board.
Monday
Today we will visit the magnificent Chateau and Gardens of Freyr. This most magnificent sight in the country is home to an outstanding estate exuding a touch of Versailles about it (16th & 18th century). You will be able to enjoy the beautiful interiors and the authentic furnishings of the Dukes of Beaufort-Spontin. In the afternoon, we cruise to Dinant, home to cathedrals and fortifications as well as the home of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone.
Tuesday
Today's excursion is to the 13th century Abbey de Leffe, which is famous for their beers. This afternoon, we will cruise to Namur, which is located at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse Rivers. The city boasts an impressive Cathedral and Citadel, among other highlights.
Wednesday
We drive to the Waterloo Battlefield, preserved almost as it was in 1815. Find out about this great, historical battle, which pitted Napoleon's troops against those of Wellington and Bluecher. We will cruise this afternoon to Huy, one of Belgium's oldest towns.
Thursday
We cruise in the morning to Liege from where we drive to Eupen, the German speaking region in Belgium. We visit the Jacques chocolate factory founded in 1896. This educational museum uncovers everything from the cultivation of cacao to the finished products, from the origins to the fabrication of chocolate as well as the ceremonial rituals that accompanied the tastings in times gone by.
Friday
We cruise this morning to Maastricht. A short drive brings us to the "Wine Castle" of Genoels-Elderen. With its 50 acres of vineyards, it is the largest winery in Belgium. The microclimate on the hills of Limburg produces excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines. We have a guided tour and a wine tasting. There is time to browse in town before our evening's farewell dinner.
Saturday
After breakfast, disembark and transfer to Brussels, where your tour ends.
Note: This is a sample itinerary and may run in reverse on your cruise week. The captain reserves the right to adjust if deemed necessary.
All rates and cabins are subject to availability.
For complete price information and availability, please contact us: kate@specialgrouptours.com or 866 725 5250
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GENERAL INFO ABOUT HOTEL BARGES AND BARGE CRUISES...Historically, they were working barges (peniche, in French), but have been transformed into elegant floating hotels ... and the vacation experience of a lifetime!
Cruise Length: Hotel barges typically cruise for seven days and six nights. Most start on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Each day barges typically cruise for several hours and also offer a guided excursion to points of interest near the cruise route.
Cost: You can charter a barge for friends, families, groups, OR book individual cabins on most barges. Charters are a fantastic way to celebrate friendships, family reunions, and other special occasions. Or you can book an individual cabin and share in the adventure with other passengers; many passengers have found friendships for life. All rates are in US Dollars and range from $2,500 to more than $6,000 per person, based on double occupancy. (The main differences are sizes and elegance of cabins and public space aboard the barge.) A couple barges have single cabins with no single supplement.
Category: Categories primarily relate to the amount of on-board cabin space, with "Ultra Deluxe" offering the most spacious cabins -- typically 160 square feet or more -- and a very high level of overall elegance in decor and appointments throughout the barge. "Deluxe" barges typically have cabins of 120 square feet or more, and "First Class" barges typically offer cabins that are from 70 to about 100 square feet. We're introducing a new category this year: the "Pilot-Only" category refers to a new style of barge offering without meals, beverages, or excursions, but with pilot and comfortable barge accommodations. In this category is the new self-catered barge, "Maria."
What's included and not included: Barge cruises are typically ALL-INCLUSIVE: your cabin with private bath, all meals, wines, open bar, escorted side excursions and transfers from a major city to the barge and return, unless otherwise noted. Some barges offer half-board as an option instead of full-board. (One new barge, Maria, offers pilot-only cruises in 2010.) Airfare, transfers to the barge pickup point and return and crew gratuity are not included. In France, Paris transfers are included where noted, below. Otherwise a direct train can take you to the rail station to meet the barge crew to start your cruise. In England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Holland, and Italy, transfers are included from a major city near the cruise route.
About the barges and cruise routes: The barges carry from 4 to 22 passengers, plus the 88-passenger River Cloud II. Most barges are 16.5 feet wide, and 80 to 128 feet long. All of the barges in France are air-conditioned. The Scottish Highlander and Shannon Princess are not air-conditioned. In France, barges primarily cruise in Burgundy, Alsace, Normandy, Champagne, and the South of France (Provence and the Canal du Midi). We think that the Nivernais and Briare Canals in the Burgundy region, and the Canal du Midi in the South of France are particularly beautiful, but all cruise routes offer something special. The barges in England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Italy cruise through beautiful regions unique to each country.
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