PRIVATE CHARTER BARGE CRUISES
On our charter barge cruises your group has exclusive use of the barge. It’s like having your own floating private villa that moves to a different location each day and with the crew handling all the organisation, everyone can relax and enjoy their holiday.
Relax, bond and make memories with your favourite people
Able to accommodate up to six people, a charter barge cruise is great for groups of friends or family celebrating a special birthday, milestone anniversary or just getting together to relax and enjoy each others company.
You’ll quickly slide into the gentle routine of cruising and excursions, punctuated with delicious meals. With just your group on board the pace is up to you. feeling energetic? – then borrow a bike and explore before meeting the barge further down the canal. Want to just while away the afternoon soaking up the sun and enjoying a good book? – no problem.
Exclusive use
It’s just your group onboard – perfect for spending quality time with family or friends
Escorted excursions
Choose from our huge range of daily excursion and activity options to create your perfect cruise
Restaurant dining
Enjoy breakfast & lunch aboard and diners at fine dining restaurants – all included in your cruise price
Private car & driver
With an 8 seater vehicle and driver to chauffeur you around, your crew take care of all the details
Flexible dates
Choose the cruise length that suits your schedule and budget…from a weekend to a fortnight
A bespoke barge cruise, tailor-made for you
Our cruise route takes us through the heart of the Champagne region, along both the historic canal with it’s small locks and the Marne river which lazily winds it’s way through a valley covered in vineyards.
You can choose to charter the barge for a cruise with us for anything from a weekend to a fortnight, although 5 nights / 6 days is our most popular option.
Getting here is easy because Champagne is conveniently close to Paris, just 45 minutes by high speed train.
Or if you prefer we can pick you up and drop you off at your choice of location in Paris for an additional supplement.
Whilst the route Serenity will cruise along is pretty set, when you book a charter barge cruise we design a bespoke itinerary of excursions to suit you.
The process starts with a call to find out about you and your fellow travellers – is it your first visit to France?..what are your passions/hobbies?..are you a wine lover or a foodie?..do you want to do lots or simply sit back and relax?…etc
Based on this conversation and our local knowledge we put together a personalised itinerary which combines your interests with the best our region has to offer – whether that’s a visit to your favourite champagne house, taking a cooking class or discovering the hidden corners of centuries old villages.
Normally we offer you a choice of two or three excursions for each day of your cruise, giving you the ability to create your perfect trip. And of course we’ll do our very best to accommodate last minute requests once you are aboard.
Get inspired by some of the itineraries we’ve put together for previous charter cruise guests:
Personalised service in a homely atmosphere
We typically spend 3 to 5 hours cruising each morning, through the beautiful landscape of the French countryside including vineyards, châtaux and charming villages.
Travelling at around 3 miles per hour (6km/h), Serenity is in no hurry giving you the opportunity to truly get away from it all and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
While we are travelling, you can relax on deck and soak in the scenery, lose yourself in a book, take a nap in the sunshine or, if you want, ‘joijn the crew’ and help Graeme with the ropes. You can even soak in the jacuzzi with a glass or something as you watch the champagne countryside sliding past.
With a tarmac towpath alongside, the canal is perfect for walking or cycling and the short distances between the locks mean it’s never long before you can hop back on the barge.
Share our brochure with your travel buddies and get them excited about a barge cruise
Vines, villages and sparkling cities
In the afternoon you’ll enjoy an excursion accompanied by a member of the crew. While some visits are just a short walk from our mooring, most days we’ll use our comfortable 9-seater van to explore a bit further afield.
Having lived in the Champagne region for several years now we’ve done the ‘hard work’ for you and found amazing visits that showcase some of the best of the area’s culture, history, wine and landscapes.
These are just some of the types of excursions you can choose from on a charter cruise:
- cellar visits and tasting at iconic names and small producers
- vineyard visits
- walking tours of historic cities and charming villages
- visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites – Reims Cathedral and the Palais du Tau
- château visits
- soft adventure activities – eg. E-bike tour or riding a segway through the vineyards
- fun activities for youngsters eg. zip-lining adventure, horse-riding and cable wakeboarding
- foodie activities – chocolate making workshop and cooking class
- WW1 and WW2 history tours
- hot air ballooning (additional costs for this excursion)
- golf days (additional costs for this excursion)
Fabulous food and wine
From relaxed BBQs to fine dining at Michelin starred restaurants, with Serenity Barge all-inclusive cruising doesn’t mean only eating aboard.
Each morning starts with a feast of croissants and gorgeous pastries from the best local bakery together with yoghurts, fresh fruit and cereals.
Lunch is your opportunity to try the pâtes, charcuterie, cheeses and quiches that France is famous for, all accompanied by a selection of tasty salads. And if you have still got room, there’s a light dessert to follow.
Served aboard while the barge is cruising, lunch is typically a relaxed affair at the top deck table, accompanied by a selection of wines, sourced directly from small independent vineyards. During your cruise you’ll have the chance to try famous Grand Cru wines and hidden gems you’ll never taste outside France.
Most evenings you’ll enjoy a meal at one of our favourite restaurants which offer excellent quality and a variety of dining experiences. As our cruises are all-inclusive, when eating off board the 3 course set menu if covered in your cruise price. Normally you will have the choice of several dishes for each course, or if something on the a-la-carte menu catches your eye instead, we will pay the equivalent value towards your meal.
Affordable and all-inclusive charter barge cruise
Our cruises are truly bespoke, meaning you can choose the length of your trip, as well as all the excursions and activities along the way. This tailor-made approach means we can create a cruise to suit your budget and wider travel plans.
All-inclusive pricing makes things easy for everyone – no need to manage a kitty – and each person or couple can pay their share of the cruise price individually.
You’ll pay the currently published price for your cruise whether you are booking for 2023 or 2024, so by booking early you’ll lock in the best price.
And don’t forget our charter cruises offer the lowest prices per person. So start recruiting your cruise group today – see my top tips for organising a charter cruise.
What's included?
- Exclusive use of the barge for your group
- Breakfast and lunch aboard each day
- All dinners, either at a restaurant (set menu or equivalent) or aboard
- All wines, beers and soft drinks aboard
- Daily excursion with one of the crew as your guide
- 8 seater vehicle with driver for excursions and transfers
- Private transfer to/from Reims (45 minutes by train from Paris)
- Use of all on board amenities including hot tub and wi-fi
- All taxes, fuel and mooring charges
4 nights / 4 days
2023 & 2024 - Wednesday start dates
4
6 guests = €15,000
€2,500 per person
5 guests = €14,100
€2,820 per person
4 guests = €13,200
€3,300 per person
3 guests = €12,300
€4,100 per person
5 nights / 6 days
2023 & 2024 - Wednesday start dates
5
6 guests = €17,500
€2,916 per person
5 guests = €16,600
€3,070 per person
4 guests = €15,700
€3,925 per person
3 guests = €14,800
€4,933 per person
Looking for something different?
Want a longer or shorter cruise?
Don’t want to start your trip on a Wednesday?
Book your charter barge cruise
2023 Availability
Please note that during September and October we are offering 4 night cruises which start on the dates marked with a border.
2024 Availability
If you’re planning ahead for next year get in touch to secure your cruise date.
How to book
Step One: Fill out our cruise enquiry form.
Step Two: Claire will email you and arrange a time for a phone or Zoom chat to find out a bit more about your travel group and answer any queries.
Step Three: We’ll put together a bespoke itinerary for your group with several excursion options for each day. If you have specific dates in mind we can put these on hold for your while you organise the rest of your travel plans.
Step Four: Confirm your cruise booking with a €500 per person deposit.
Step Five: Book your other travel plans – we can help with recommendations for Paris and getting to Reims.
Step Six: Pay the balance of your cruise price 60 days before departure – and start getting excited about your trip!