Betting On Barges For Small-Group Luxury Getaways
For some luxury vacationers, a river cruise ship is too small; for others, it’s too big. For clients in the latter group, there’s another option: barge cruising.
Aside from a diminutive size—it typically accommodates a dozen or perhaps 18 people—a luxury barge allows travelers to focus on a small region of interest on routes that rarely exceed 50 miles. Barges ply canals, and not usually rivers, so the small villages and towns along the way are usually quieter and less crowded. For authentic local immersion, barging can be hard to beat.
For example, the food and wine of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or wine-growing region is the focus of French Country Waterways’ six-night cruise aboard the 18-passenger luxury barge Esprit. The Esprit’s route follows the narrow and scenic 18th-century Canal du Centre overlooking vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, the meandering River Saône and the Canal de Bourgogne between St. Léger-sur-Dheune and Dijon.
Barge cruises travel at a snail’s pace from destination to destination, so relaxation is the name of the game. Onboard Espirit in Burgundy, clients tour a 12th century chateau, taste wines in Beaune, stroll through the medieval abbey of Clos de Vougeot and its vineyards, and take a leisurely bike ride into Dijon if they wish.
Clients can tailor their activities, and many do so while traveling with family and/or friends. Some groups charter a whole barge.
“The ships are chartered every year by families looking to celebrate an event—but the focus is much more on spending quality time together in a
Article source: https://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/Betting-On-Barges-For-Small-Group-Luxury-Getaways