Hotel Barge L'IMPRESSIONNISTE - Barging in France - www.BargeCharters.com

Cruising the Canal de Bourgogne in Burgundy, France
Between Escommes and Fleurey-sur-Ouche

Facts About The Barge L'Impressionniste

The French Barge L'Impressionniste began life as a cargo barge in Holland before being converted into a stylish 12-passenger hotel barge cruising the Canal de Bourgogne in Burgundy, France.

French Barge Impressionniste - Cruising Southern Burgundy Barge charters in France

128 FEET LONG
6 CREW
12 PASSENGERS
2 JUNIOR SUITES
4 STATEROOMS
STARLINK INTERNET
AIR-CONDITIONED & CENTRALLY HEATED
SPA-POOL & SUN DECK
12 TOURING BIKES
2 AIR-CONDITIONED MINIBUSES

Barge Specifics

Your Crew On Board

Accommodation On Board

Maximum 12 passengers / 2 Junior Suites and 4 Staterooms all with en-suite shower, wash basin, and WC.

All cabins can be configured with as twin beds or 1 double bed.

Bed sizes:

Cabin Sizes

Monet Junior Suite (stern):

Renoir Junior Suite (bow):

Sisley Stateroom (mid-stern):

Degas Stateroom (mid-stern):

Pissarro Stateroom (mid-bow):

Cezanne Stateroom (mid-bow):

All sizes are approximate.

The en-suite bathrooms are included in the cabin sizes detailed above.

All bathrooms have a shower cubicle with tiled walls, WC, and hand basin. Each is supplied with wash gel, hand soap, shampoo, towels, robes, slippers and a hair-dryer.

Climate Control

Each cabin has Air Conditioning and Central Heating.

Computer and Telephone

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available on board for guests bringing their own appliances. Connectivity can be limited in remote locations. USB ports in the cabin.

There is no passenger telephone on L’Impressionniste.

Currency

The local currency in France is the Euro. L'Impressioniste is unable to accept credit or debit cards on board.

Cycling & Walking

You are welcome to walk or cycle using the on board bicycles as often as you wish. Most guests choose to disembark the barge at a lock and visit local villages, returning to the canal and meeting the barge a little further along. The barge travels at a slow speed therefore catching up is not a problem.

There are 12 bikes on board. Children’s bikes, helmets and child bike seats can be arranged if required on request. Please contact Paradise Connections at least 8 weeks prior to departure.

Dining Room & Saloon

The lovely and light Saloon is 25ft x 13ft (7.62m x 3.96m) and is elegantly furnished with banquette seating and a coffee table. There is a fully stocked bar with a drinks cabinet and fridge. The dining table seats all 12 guests at single sittings.

The staircase to the lower cabin deck has 9 steps and a 90° turn.

Electricity

The barge is wired for 220 and 240 volts and the socket in the bathrooms have 110 volts. We recommend you bring an adapter for your particular appliance, which corresponds to the standard French two-pin plugs. If you wish to use your electrical appliance on board, please speak to a crew member on arrival to ensure it is suitable for the barge’s electrical system.

We cannot be held responsible for unforeseen voltage fluctuations which sometimes occur when swapping from one voltage system to another.

Excursions

L’Impressionniste has two barge vehicles for transfers and excursions during your cruise. A 9-seater, long-wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter and a 7-seater Mercedes Vito. Both are air-conditioned. The vehicle capacity includes the driver. For charter bookings, the itinerary can be adapted to suit your group’s particular needs. If a destination or excursion is within a reasonable distance of the barge, we will do everything possible to arrange it. Please speak Paradise Connections in advance of your cruise and we can pre-arrange with the Captain.

Any guests not wishing to participate in an excursion are welcome to remain on board.

Facilities On Board

Food & Drink

All meals on board are freshly prepared by your chef and most meals are a set menu (there is no choice available). French and international cuisine is featured.

We are able to arrange special meals, e.g. vegetarian / no fish / vegan etc, and we are able to cater for any preferences or allergies. However, it is most important that we are notified of any specific requirements at least 8 weeks prior to your departure date. Failure to notify Paradise Connections in advance of your cruise may result in disappointment on board.

There is no assigned seating for meals and the dining area on board L’Impressionniste accommodates all guests at a single sitting.

Breakfast: Your day on L’Impressionniste starts with a wholesome and balanced variety of breakfast foods, along with fresh breads & pastries, freshly-squeezed orange juice, and hot beverages.

Lunch: A discovery of delectable regional specialities, in the chef's fashion, served in a relaxed but refined style accompanied with a selection of quality wines chosen by the chef.

Dinner: Always a gastronomic adventure created by your talented chef. A taste of regional cuisine by candlelight, complemented by fine wines, followed by a selection of regional cheeses, coffee and liqueurs.

Captain’s farewell dinner is held on the last night of your cruise. Guests may choose to dress slightly more formal.

Drinks included in the cruise price: Non-alcoholic beverages and regular or decaffeinated tea and coffee, whole or low fat milk, are offered with all meals. The well-stocked bar is open 24 hours, which includes wines, spirits, beers, and soft drinks. All wines are provided with meals and there is a Champagne welcome on arrival.

Drinks not included in the cruise price: Some Champagnes (with the exception of the Captain’s reception) and special vintage wines, however these can be purchased in advance of your cruise at cost price, please speak to Paradise Connections. We do not recommend specific beverage orders unless you are chartering the whole barge.

Hot Air Balooning

Once on board, the Captain can arrange this directly with the hot air balloon company on your behalf. Flights usually last between 1 and 1½ hours and are weather dependent. The cost is approximately 250 Euros per person. You will need to contract and pay the balloon company directly on the day of the flight (they do accept credit cards).

Please contact Paradise Connections in advance if you are interested in ballooning. The main balloon operators they work with are Air Escargot and France Montgolfieres.

Laundry

We recommend you bring sufficient clean clothing for your cruise as there are no laundry facilities on board. However, the crew may be able to assist in an emergency on a request basis.

Luggage / What To Pack

Please try and fit everything for your cruise into one reasonably sized suitcase per person. Soft bags are preferable. There is only enough space on the barge for up to 12 suitcases and 12 pieces of hand luggage.

Practical comfort and casual clothing is the norm aboard L’Impressionniste and for most excursions. The dress code for dinner is relaxed and informal. For the Captain’s Farewell Dinner on the final evening, guests often dress up, which is optional.

The weather in France is generally warm. June, July, and August is the warmest often being in the mid 30s°C.

Suggested things to pack:

Medical

Please let us know in advance of your cruise if you require frequent or ongoing medical attention.

The crew are unable to administer medicines but can accompany you to a chemist for you to purchase any necessary medicines. Due to your cruise often being in a rural location, we recommend you bring all necessary medication with you.

Doctors are usually not far away for an urgent consultation and the Emergency Services can be called if required.

Problem During Your Cruise

If you have a problem during your cruise, please give us the immediate opportunity to make things right. Please bring any concern to the private attention of your Captain who will often be able to solve any issue immediately.

Restricted Mobility

Please let us know in advance of your cruise if you have a physical disability and require any assistance.

L’Impressionniste has a gangplank from the bank to the barge with 2 handrails and there are 2 wide steps between the Deck and the Saloon. There are 9 steps from the saloon deck to the cabins, the stair-case has a 90° turn and a handrail on the right and the wall on the left when descending.

Wheelchairs cannot be used on-board and can only be used to assist on excursions, however many visits encounter cobbled streets or rough ground which may hinder wheelchair access.

If you would like to hire a wheelchair to be available for your arrival, please notify Paradise Connections at least 8 weeks before departure. The small hire charge should be paid directly to the barge Captain on arrival and is approximately 100 Euros.

Safety & Security

Once you are on board, the Captain will talk you through the Cruise Safety Procedures. Safety Instructions are detailed below.

We cannot be responsible for any valuables that you bring on board. We strongly recommend that you do not bring valuables with you unless required and that you ensure that all valuables are covered by your travel insurance.

Safes are provided in each cabin on board but cabin doors are not usually locked, for safety reasons.

Smoking

We have a strict non-smoking policy for safety reasons and for the comfort of your fellow passengers.

If you would like to smoke we request that you do so outside or on the deck away from fellow passengers.

Sundeck

There are 2 sundecks. The first is 12ft 6" x 35ft (3.8m x 10.6m). and the second is 12ft 6" x 9ft 6" (3.8m x 2.9m). Both decks are made of African Iroko hardwood and there is a heated Spa pool (hot-tub) for up to 6 passengers.

For al-fresco dining there is a large table plus 2 smaller ones and 11 chairs and 2 recliners.

Themed Cruises

Wine Appreciation, Golf, and Family cruise itineraries are available for charter groups, please contact Paradise Connections for more details. Special interest cruises often have a supplement, for details please visit L'Impressionniste's Itinerary page and Rates page.

Tipping

Gratuities are not included in the cruise fare. Tipping is entirely discretionary but is greatly appreciated by the crew if you are fully satisfied with the level of service on board. As a guideline, the average tip given by our guests from around the world is approximately 5% of the cruise fare.

The usual way to give the tip is to give the amount in cash as one lump sum to the Captain / Cruise Director on the last day of the cruise. They will distribute the amount equally amongst the crew.

Euros or Dollars are equally appreciated. ATMs are accessible for cash withdrawal on most itineraries during the cruise and the crew can advise where these are located.

Transfers

For details of the L’Impressionniste vehicles, please see “Excursions”, above. The approximate transfer duration between Paris and L’Impressionniste is 3 hours 15 minutes.

Water

Tap water in France and on board L’Impressionniste is potable and bottled water is available.

Safety Instructions On Board L'Impressionniste

On arrival the Captain will talk you through the Cruise Safety Procedures on board.In addition, it is important that all passengers are familiar with the safety instructions detailed below.

Please ask a member of the crew on board if you require any further safety advice

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