Up to $2,000 Off Per Cabin and 10% Off Whole-Boat Charters on Select Hotel Barge Cruises in October
(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - September 19th, 2014 - For travelers seeking to take advantage of excellent sightseeing weather throughout Europe and Italy,European Waterways announced last-minute Fall specials on some of their most popular luxury hotel barge cruises. Among these deals are $2,000 off per cabin and $6,000 off the whole boat charter for select cruises in October on the Scottish Highlander in Scotland, and $2,000 off per cabin on the Renaissance in Burgundy. Cruises must be booked by September 30.
“European Waterways takes pride in being one of the very first to offer truly immersive, experiential travel, and Fall is the perfect time to see regions of Europe and Scotland on a luxury hotel barge,” said Derek Banks, managing director of European Waterways. “For 40 years, we have been offering cruises where travelers can enjoy walking, biking and other popular pastimes at a leisurely pace, ensuring unique and intimate, up close and personal experiences with the regions they are cruising through.”
Feel “Reborn” Aboard Renaissance in Western Burgundy
The word Renaissance literally means “rebirth”. A hotel barge cruise along the Canal de Briare in Burgundy is one of the best ways to experience a “rebirth” of the senses, enjoying the region’s gastronomic offerings and the visual delight of the colorful countryside in the Fall.
The eight-passenger Renaissance is European Waterways’ flagship and provides a true luxury cruise experience. Among its amenities are spacious suites, an on deck heated spa pool, and a forward deck for alfresco eating – all while enjoying the undivided, personal attention of a five person crew that includes a captain, tour guide, master chef and two hosts/hostesses.
For a memorable experience steeped in the region’s rich gastronomic tradition, it’s hard to surpass the Burgundy region, renowned for some of the best food that France has to offer. Boasting over 60,000 acres of vines, Burgundy is also celebrated for being the origin of the world’s best wines. Among “ports of call” aboard the Renaissance is the village of Sancerre, home to some of the best known vineyards in the world. The vineyards can be traced back for a thousand years and were once proclaimed by the kings of France to be, “some of the most exquisite of the Kingdom.”
In addition to indulging in choice cuisine, travelers can walk among some of France’s most impressive historic landmarks and famous cultural sites, such as the beautiful Château de Fontainebleau, one of the largest palaces in France with over 1500 rooms surrounded by 130 acres of parkland. The chateau, once described by Napoleon as, “the true home of kings, the house of ages,” is also the only royal and imperial chateau to have been continuously inhabited for over seven centuries.
Another historically significant stop on the cruise is Chateau de St. Fargeau, the 1000-year old castle that housed many famous royal families from the fifth through the fifteenth centuries. Its architecture is considered one of the finest examples of French classicism.
Another memorable excursion on the Renaissance’s itinerary takes guests to a chateau that looks as if it jumped straight out of a fairytale, the Château de Sully-sur-Loire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the doorway to the Loire Valley. Built at the end of the 14th century, the castle served as a refuge and safe haven for many famous figures throughout history, including Voltaire during his exile from Paris.
For Fall 2014, European Waterways is offering $2,000 off per cabin for the October 26th departure, with deposit due by September 30. It is also offering 5% off whole boat charter prices, good for all October departures.
High on the Highlands Aboard the Scottish Highlander
The 117 ft. Scottish Highlander accommodates eight passengers, with an itinerary designed to immerse them in the culture, gastronomic traditions, and scenic beauty of Scotland. The vessel is decorated with tartan furnishings and landscape paintings and, as with all of European waterways cruises, guests are happily catered to by the hotel barge’s crew, including a Master Chef who prepares wonderful, traditional Scottish fare.
For those looking to be surrounded by the vast and stunning beauty of the Scottish Highlands, hotel barge cruising along the Great Glen could be the perfect activity. Sailing between Inverness and Fort William on the Caledonian Canal, the Scottish Highlander offers dramatic views that include beautiful lochs, majestic mountains, and sandy beaches.
No visit to Scotland is complete without a tour of one of its famous malt whisky distilleries, Glen Ord, among the oldest in Scotland. Before indulging in the distillery’s signature delight – a 12-year-old single malt whisky which is sweet, malty, and dry on the palate – visitors are invited to learn the secrets of the distillation process. As the only remaining single malt distillery on the Black Isle, Glen Ord has received awards and recognitions, including the International Wine and Spirits Collection and Monde Selection.
There are fun spots to check out along the route, too. While cruising through the famous Loch Ness, see if you can spot “Nessie”, otherwise known as the Loch Ness Monster. And near Inverness, become enchanted by Cawdor Castle, said to have been the inspiration for William Shakespeare’s famous play, Macbeth. If that isn’t enough, the Scottish Highlander also transports you 4,000 years back in time with a visit to “Clava Cairns”, one of Scotland’s oldest and pre-historic burial sites.
European Waterways is offering $6,000 off the whole-boat charter price for the October 5th departure and $2,000 off per cabin for the October 12th departure on the Scottish Highlander.
All cabin specials are based on double occupancy. Other restrictions may apply. Similar October specials are also available on other European Waterways hotel barges. For more information, visit: www.gobarging.com or contact sales@gobarging.com. Excellent videos of European Waterways cruises are available on Youtube.
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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