The journey from Epernay to Paris aboard your own private barge combines fast-paced, big-city atmosphere with the slower-paced life of charming French villages. See the highlights of Paris and dive into the country’s culture as you explore champagne and cheese trades, discover ancient cathedrals, and more. Enjoy the intimacy, relaxation, safety, and all-inclusive nature of this unique cruising adventure!
All tours are completely customizable. Contact us to discuss your group’s unique interests and needs!
download brochureToday we transfer to the airport for our overnight flight to Paris, France.
Note: The airport location and airline will be confirmed no sooner than nine months before departure.
Upon arrival in Paris, we will board our motorcoach and make the drive to the Eiffel Tower for lunch. Good food and breathtaking views of the city will be a spectacular introduction to Paris! The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore the city known for its art, fashion, food, and culture. Called the “City of Lights,” Paris played a leading role during the Age of Enlightenment and was also one of the first European cities to use gas street lights on a grand scale on its boulevards and monuments. Fashion afficionados will love stepping into the luxurious world of Parisian couture with a peek inside the fashion houses of Dior, Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and more. Paris is also a food lover’s dream with the second-highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants plus countless cafés and bistros. We’ll head to our hotel in the late afternoon to settle in and have the evening on our own.
(Lunch included)
Relax at the hotel or do some more exploring during a leisurely morning. Our journey to Épernay will begin with a food tour in Montmartre. This famous area of Paris has served as the backdrop for many films and is rich in culinary delights. We’ll then continue on to Épernay to board CroisiEurope’s MS Raymonde for a six-night cruise down the Marne Canal. We’ve chartered the barge just for our group! After settling into our comfortable cabins, we will be introduced to the crew at a welcome cocktail reception with dinner to follow.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
This morning we will set off by coach on our excursion to Reims, known as the “City of Coronations.” Reims played a prominent role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the crowning of the kings of France. Today, many notable champagne-producing houses have their headquarters in Reims. We’ll take a guided tour of the city’s historic center as well as a guided visit to the cathedral, which receives about one million visitors annually. Built in the 13th and 14th centuries, this work of art is unique in its unity of style, stained-glass windows of rare manificence, and the “Smiling Angel” statue. Following the tour, we will return to the ship and relax during our afternoon cruise to Dormans.
(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
Today’s adventure will take us along the famous Champagne route and begin with a guided tour of Hautvilliers. This village was once home to Dom Perignon, a French Benedictine monk who made important contributions to the production and quality of champagne as we know it today. This picturesque village is located in the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park and is best explored on foot. Many of the little streets have names reminiscent of the history of this village that is often called “The Pearl of Champagne.” We’ll continue our tour with a visit to a prominent champagne house for a tasting before we cruise on through the beautiful Marne Canal landscapes to Château-Thierry.
(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
Enjoy breakfast this morning before we explore Château-Thierry and take part in a falconry show. It’s a chance to view these amazing animals up close and be immersed in an art that has been classified as Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO! Afterward we’ll return to the ship and cruise to Saint-Jean-Les-Deux-Jumeaux.
(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
We will cruise to Meaux this morning and spend the afternoon touring this charming town known for the Brie de Meaux cheese. Our guide will tell us the story of the cheese declared “The Prince of All Cheeses” by Talleyrand in 1815, after which we’ll enjoy a tasting. Our ship will meet us in Lagny-sur-Marne to end the day.
(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
Take advantage of a leisurely morning to enjoy the ship’s amenities as we cruise to Paris. Head to the sun deck with a drink in hand or relax with friends in the lounge. We’ll arrive in Paris this afternoon and set out on an excursion to see the major sites of the capital. Then we will take a walk through the unique Parisian covered walkways that will transport us back through time and history. These beautiful, glass-covered passages date back to the mid-1800s and are lined with antique shops, old bookstores, eateries, boutiques, and more. Following our tour, we’ll return to the ship and enjoy our gala dinner this evening.
(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
Enjoy one last breakfast buffet before we disembark and transfer to the airport for our flight home.
(Breakfast included)