Luxury Hotel Barge “Magna Carta” Adds Tours of Highclere Castle, Site of Critically Acclaimed TV Series, to April 13 and April 20, 2014 Departures

(TRAVPR.COM) NEW YORK - November 13th, 2013 - European Waterways, Europe’s largest luxury hotel barge cruising company, announced that it will once again offer a special treat next Spring to passengers aboard its Magna Carta hotel barge, which cruises England: a tour of Highclere Castle. This unique excursion to the iconic castle and fictional site of the highly popular TV series, “Downton Abbey,” is a limited opportunity, available only for departures April 13 and April 20, 2014.

“Passengers aboard Magna Carta enjoyed the tour to Highclere Castle so much this year, we decided to bring it back for the Spring itinerary,” said Derek Banks, managing director of European Waterways. “It’s a very popular tour, but we were able to secure admission for two departures.  It’s a one-of-a-kind experience for fans of ‘Downton Abbey’ that allows them to walk the real-life setting made famous by their favorite television drama.”

Traveling in Style to “Downton Abbey”

Designed by Sir Charles Barry, who was also the architect of the Houses of Parliament, the “real” Downton Abbey has been owned by the Carnarvon family since 1679, and the current Lord and Lady Carnarvon still live there today.  Located west of London in Berkshire, not far from European Waterways’ cruise route, it is considered one of the finest Victorian homes still in existence, with sprawling grounds that are four times the size of New York City’s Central Park. Avid fans of the show know it as the beautiful Victorian castle that sits on an expansive estate surrounded by a luscious lawn, and is home to the fictional Crawley family.

Cruising along the famous River Thames in England, passengers aboard luxury hotel barge Magna Carta will enjoy “royal” views and excursions to majestic castles, palaces and cathedrals. Magna Carta’s itinerary also features a private tour of Dorney Court, a remarkable Tudor home on the banks of the Thames, where “Elizabeth”, “The Other Boleyn Girl”, and Agatha Christie’s series “Poirot” were all filmed.  The cruise concludes with a tour of Christ Church, one of the most prestigious colleges at the University of Oxford and one of the settings for Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”.  An excellent video of European Waterway’s Magna Carta cruise in England is available on Youtube.

“Highclere Castle, with its massive architecture and elegant surroundings, is truly a sight to behold. Passengers will feel as if they stepped onto the set of ‘Downton Abbey’ itself,” noted Banks. “But it is just one of many memorable experiences included in the Magna Carta itinerary. On every departure, our guests will enjoy a relaxing vacation cruising along the Royal River Thames, combined with impeccable service, fine wines, gourmet cuisine, and an attentive crew, offering a taste of the grace and elegance that was ‘fit for a king’ in the bygone age.”

Rates for Magna Carta’s April 2014 departures start at $4,350.00 per person, and include all meals, wines, an open bar, daily escorted excursions and local transfers and admissions. Rates are based on double occupancy. Whole boat charters are also available starting at $28,000.

About European Waterways

The hotel barging experience is different from large vessel river cruising. It offers a slower paced, “gentle voyage of discovery” along the more intimate canals and waterways of Europe, allowing a small number of guests to become more fully immersed in the culture, history and gastronomy of the region. European Waterways is Europe’s largest all-inclusive luxury hotel barging company, offering vacations in nine countries and carrying over 2,000 passengers a year. Founded nearly 40 years ago, they own, operate and market a private fleet of luxury hotel barges with cruises in France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.  Pioneers in hotel barging, they were the first company to operate a hotel barge on the Upper Nivernais in Burgundy, and the “real” Loire Valley. They are also the only cruise company offering barge cruises in Scotland and in the Venetian lagoon and River Po valley. Please visit www.gobarging.com for more information. See our Special Offers at www.gobarging.com/special-offers.php#offers.  

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