Barge Cruise: Magnolia
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
- Size of barge:131 ft
- Number of Passengers:6
- Number of Cabins (all with private bath):3
- Crew:5
- Air Conditioning and Central Heating:Yes
- Salon: Large, open salon with modern furnishings, dining
area, bar and TV. Large portholes and skylight.
- Bar: Open bar
- Deck: Forward deck with spa pool and aft deck with lounger
and dining table with chairs & outside kitchen.
- Spa Tub: Yes
- Cabin Features: Cabin 1 (139 sq ft), cabin 2 (136 sq ft)
and the bow cabin (160 sq ft) have a queen bed or twin beds and an ensuite
bathroom with shower. Cabin 3 has a separate ensuite toilet room.
- Vehicle for Transfers/Excursions: Minivan
- Accessibility: Stairs with 4 steps, landing and 7 steps
from deck to salon. No steps to cabins.
- Bicycles:Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes (limited in some areas)
- Menu Plan: Offers full board or half board cruises
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
Canal de Bourgogne
Plombieres to Escommes (Half and Full Board) 2023
L'Or-des-Valois Truffle Farm
Burgundy Market
Côte de Beaune Vineyard
Châteauneuf-en-Auxois
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
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
This page last updated December 25, 2023