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Barge Cruise: Magnolia
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Cruise in France On The Canal de Bourgogne in Southern Burgundy Aboard The Deluxe Hotel-Barge MAGNOLIA


BARGE CRUISES: SEVEN DAYS/SIX NIGHTS
The 6-passenger Magnolia was originally built in 1956 and was completely reconverted in 2014 into a hotel barge. The barge cruises on the beautiful Burgundy Canal in southern Burgundy. It provides comfortable accommodations for up to six guests in two equal-size cabins and one larger bow cabin, all with queen bed or two twins and a large ensuite bathroom with shower.

The Magnolia is designed with contemporary furnishings throughout and features a large salon, dining area and bar, equipped with a TV, DVD player, library, Ipod dock and Wi-Fi. A large opening skylight and eight large portholes provide light throughout. The floating staircase provides access from the deck to the salon.

Outside you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Burgundy on the two sundecks, one with deck furniture, dining table, and outside demonstration kitchen, and the other, which is directly accessible from the cabin corridor, with a 4-person jacuzzi. You can also bicycle or walk along the canal towpath while the barge cruises if you like. Your experienced tour guide will take you to such famous nearby sites as:

- the castle of Châteauneuf en Auxois surrounded by its medieval village and its view of the Auxois valley.

- Beaune, the capital of Burgundy wines, which you will discover during private wine tastings at prestigious domaines, and at Hotel Dieu, the charity hospital founded in the 15th century.

- Dijon, the capital of the dukes of Burgundy, with its ducal palace, and picturesque covered market built by Eiffel.

We stayed on board with the owners and your hosts, Nicolas and Magali Rancelot, in August 2015, May 2016 and visited the barge and owners again in April 2017. We have always found them charming and welcoming. Both have years of experience in the hotel barge industry and love to share their passion for barging with passengers. The owners offer either full board cruises, with all meals included or half board, with four meals on shore at passengers expense, which offers you the opportunity to sample the cuisine at some of their favorite places to eat. They have now added a chef, hostess and deckhand to the crew. Their good natured black lab Gypsy can be found on deck or in the crew quarters.


Features




Magnolia's Deck Plan
Magnolia's Deck Plan




MAGNOLIA
2021 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS
TYPE REGULAR
Apr 3 thru Nov 5
Full Board Charter for 2
$18,500
Full Board Charter for 4
$21,800
Full Board Charter for 5
$25,300
Full Board Charter for 6
$28,300
Half Board Charter for 2
$14,800
Half Board Charter for 4
$18,000
Half Board Charter for 5
$21,800
Half Board Charter for 6
$24,700

MAGNOLIA
2022 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS
TYPE REGULAR
Apr 2 thru Nov 4
Full Board Charter for 2
$18,500
Full Board Charter for 4
$21,800
Full Board Charter for 5
$25,300
Full Board Charter for 6
$28,300
Half Board Charter for 2
$14,800
Half Board Charter for 4
$18,000
Half Board Charter for 5
$21,800
Half Board Charter for 6
$24,700

What's Included

Full Board Cruise:
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in cabin with private bathroom
- Pickup and drop off at the Dijon TGV station.
- All meals beginning with dinner on Saturday through breakfast on Friday. 
- Wines and open bar on board
- Daily escorted side-excursions including entrance fees
- Use of 6 bicycles


 Half Board Cruise:
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in cabin with private bathroom
- Pickup and drop off at the Dijon TGV station.
- All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners on board for Escommes - Dijon cruises; 3 lunches and 4 dinners for Dijon - Escommes cruises. Transportation provided to and from selected restaurants.
- Wines and open bar on board
- Daily escorted side-excursions including entrance fees
- Use of 6 bicycles

What's Not Included

Full Board Cruise:
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Transportation from Paris to Dijon and return
- Suggested minimum 5% gratuity for the crew, to be given to the captain in equivalent euros
- Trip cancellation insurance


Half Board Cruise:
- 4 meals ashore at passenger's expense (transportation provided)
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Transportation from Paris to Dijon and return
- Suggested minimum 5% gratuity for the crew, to be given to the captain in equivalent euros
- Trip cancellation insurance





Magnolia
2021 Season Cruise Schedule*
Week Route (Or Reverse) Season
Apr 3 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Apr 10 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Apr 17 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Apr 24 Dijon-Escommes Regular
May 1 Escommes-Dijon Regular
May 8 Dijon-Escommes Regular
May 15 Escommes-Dijon Regular
May 22 Dijon-Escommes Regular
May 29 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jun 5 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Jun 12 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jun 19 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Jun 26 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jul 3 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Jul 10 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jul 17 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Jul 24 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jul 31 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Aug 7 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Aug 14 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Aug 21 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Aug 28 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Sep 4 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Sep 11 Dijon-St. Leger Regular
Sep 18 St. Leger-Dijon Regular
Sep 25 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Oct 2 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Oct 9 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Oct 16 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Oct 23 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Oct 30 Escommes-Dijon Regular

Magnolia
2022 Season Cruise Schedule*
Week Route (Or Reverse) Season
Apr 2 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Apr 9 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Apr 16 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Apr 23 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Apr 30 Escommes-Dijon Regular
May 7 Dijon-Escommes Regular
May 14 Escommes-Dijon Regular
May 21 Dijon-Escommes Regular
May 28 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jun 4 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Jun 11 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jun 18 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Jun 25 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jul 2 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Jul 9 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jul 16 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Jul 23 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Jul 30 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Aug 6 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Aug 13 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Aug 20 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Aug 27 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Sep 3 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Sep 10 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Sep 17 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Sep 24 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Oct 1 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Oct 8 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Oct 15 Escommes-Dijon Regular
Oct 22 Dijon-Escommes Regular
Oct 29 Escommes-Dijon Regular


*Note: Cruise directions and sample itineraries may be in reverse and are subject to change and may depend on bookings and local navigation conditions. Alternate excursions of equal appeal are substituted when needed. For charter cruises special itineraries can be arranged.




SAMPLE ITINERARY*
Canal de Bourgogne
Plombieres to Escommes (Half and Full Board) 2023


L'Or-des-Valois Truffle Farm
L'Or-des-Valois Truffle Farm

Burgundy Market
Burgundy Market

Côte de Beaune Vineyard
Côte de Beaune Vineyard

Châteauneuf-en-Auxois
Châteauneuf-en-Auxois

Saturday - Plombières
Guests are met at the Dijon train station and transferred to the barge moored in Plombières. Welcome drink on board, presentation of the boat and the crew. Dinner on board (included)

Sunday - Plombières to Fleurey sur Ouche
Morning visit to a truffle farm, truffle hunting at l'Or des Valois. Lunch at the truffle place included on half board cruise (or on board for full board cruise). Afternoon cruise to Fleurey sur Ouche, with an opportunity to take a bike or walk along the canal. Dinner on board (included).

Monday - Fleurey sur Ouche to Lock 34
Morning cruise to Lock 34. Lunch onboard (included). Afternoon visit to Vosne Romanée for a prestigious wine tasting in the domaine Rion. Dinner at lock 34, an authentic lock house reconverted into a welcoming and gourmet "guinguette" (or on board for full board cruises - not included for half board cruise).

Tuesday - Lock 34 to La Bussière
After breakfast, visit to Dijon, the capital of the dukes of Burgundy and its covered market built by Eiffel, accompanied by our chef who will help you choosing fresh product that he will cook for lunch "à la plancha" on our outdoor kitchen. Lunch onboard (included). Afternoon cruise to La Bussière. Dinner at l'Abbaye de La Bussière (or onboard for the full board cruise - not included for half board cruise).

Wednesday - La Bussière to Pont d'Ouche
Morning cruise to Pont d'Ouche. Lunch on shore at the Bistrot du Port (or onboard for full board cruises - not included for half board cruise). Afternoon visit to Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy with its 15th century charity hospital. "Home hosted" dinner at a Burgundian family house (included).

Thursday - Pont d'Ouche to Escommes
Day cruise to Escommes. Lunch in Chateauneuf en Auxois (not included for half board cruise - lunch onboard for full board cruise) and visit to the castle and its medieval village. Afternoon cruise to Escommes. Farewell dinner onboard (included)

Friday - Escommes

After breakfast, transfer to Dijon train station.

Note: This is  sample itinerary and is subject to change. It cruises in the reverse direction on alternate weeks.


Dining Aboard The Magnolia:
SAMPLE MENU

A taste of the gourmet cuisine served aboard the Magnolia. SATURDAY:
DINNER:
Asparagus & Quail eggs with sundried tomato vinaigrette
Cuisse de Canard & Blackcurrant sauce
Fromages: Morbier, Délice de Bourgogne & Bleu des Causses
Mousse au chocolat with Amaretto
Wines: White Saint-Véran & Red Savigny les Beaune

MONDAY:
LUNCH:
Quiche Lorraine
Carrot Salad & Mixed leaf Salad
Escargots de Bourgogne
Crêpe Suzette
Wines: White Saint-Romain & Red Monthélie

TUESDAY:
LUNCH:
Plancha (Grill) with Market's Delights on the outdoor kitchen
Poached Salmon with Hollandaise sauce
Tuna, prawns & White fish (Sole)
Fromages: Valençay and Comté
Apple tart
Wines: White Rully & Red Haute Côtes de Nuits

DINNER:
Warm goat cheese salad with crispy vegitables and red wine vinaigrette
Pork tenderloin stuffed with apricots baby potatoes tender stem brocoly and sage sauce
Meringue with hazelnut spread
Saint Veran white & Beaune red

WEDNESDAY:
LUNCH:
Stuffed courgettes and Toulouse Sausage
Mixed Salad
Poached figs & fresh strawberries with vanilla ice-cream
Wine: Red Auxey-Duresses

THURSDAY:
LUNCH:
Assiette Anglaise
Charcuterie
Jambon
Fromages: Brillat-Savarin, Fourme Montbrisson
Wine: Red Mâcon Pierreclos

DINNER:
Scallops & Noilly Prat Sauce
Fillet of Charolais with Gratin Dauphinois
Crème Brûlée
Wines: White Meursault & Red Chambolle Musigny


Passenger Comments:

Fantastic. The best large family trip we've ever done. The service was amazing on both barges (tandem cruise with L'Impressinniste). The meals and wines were excellent and the excursions wonderful. Everyday was a new adventure. Hard to pin point any one high point. We loved the cruise route and plan to do more.
L.W. CA USA



LINKS to Magnolia Information


Barges In France, bargesinfrance.com



This page last updated December 25, 2023