Highlights:
-Tour of world renowned Saint Emilion
-Cruise across the 1,900 foot Agen aqueduct
-Tour the Garonne River aboard a traditional flat-bottomed boat
-Wine, cheese and Armagnac tastings
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Classic Bordeaux Barge Cruise package includes:
– 6 night barge cruise aboard Rosa from Castet-en-Dorthe to Boe
– Gourmet meals prepared by the on-board chef, both onboard and ashore
– Select regional wines served throughout the cruise, a champagne welcome and an open bar with a large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
– Chauffeured and guided sightseeing excursions, including admittance fees (where stipulated)
– Use of non motorised bicycles (E-Bikes if available at an additional charge)
– Attentive service from an experienced crew
– Local transfers to and from the barge and designated meeting points^
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PRICING:
The fares shown here are full brochure fare. Please contact us for the best current offer. All rates in EUR.
Solo Travellers: Single cabins are capacity controlled. Single supplements apply.
CHARTER:
This barge is available for charter. When the vessel is chartered, you and your party will have the full capacity of the boat and may request certain deviations from the regular schedule and the service. When doable, the crews will make all efforts to accommodate. These special requests must be made known at the time of the first deposit and will be confirmed in writing. Please contact us for current charter rates.
THEMED CRUISES:
European Waterways offer a wide selection of themed itineraries available for whole boat private charters, which appeal to all types of interest groups, large or small. Some themed cruises will incur a supplement – please check with our reservations team at time of enquiry.
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Not included:
-Service charges/crew gratuities. Tipping is entirely discretionary but is greatly appreciated by the crew if you would like to acknowledge recognition for the standard of service provided.
-Superior Chateaux vintage wines, optional activities such as hot air balloon flights, items of a personal nature such as laundry, communication charges or purchases and any other items not specifically included in the cost of your cruise.
Special Conditions
Special Validity Dates
Cruise Itinerary
| Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 2025 | Castet-en-Dorthe, France |
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| 11 Aug 2025 | Meilhan-sur-Garonne, France |
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| 12 Aug 2025 | Lagruere, France |
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| 13 Aug 2025 | Buzet-sur-Baise, France |
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| 14 Aug 2025 | Serignac |
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| 15 Aug 2025 | Boe, France |
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| 16 Aug 2025 | Boe, France |
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
6 Night Cruise sailing from Castet-en-Dorthe to Boe aboard Rosa.
*This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction.
Sunday, Day 1 Castets-en-Dorthe
Embark Rosa. Following a champagne welcome, there is time for a stroll before returning for your first dinner on board.
Monday, Day 2 Castets-en-Dorthe to Meilhan-sur-Garonne
This morning, we visit the medieval town of Saint Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage site and centre of the most famous of the Bordeaux appellations. Later, we stop at Château Franc Mayne, producer of premier and grand crus wines, where we discover the secrets of the vine and, of course, enjoy a tasting. After lunch on board, we’ll follow the Canal de Garonne, to the port of Meilhan-sur-Garonne, before dinner on board.
Tuesday, Day 3 Meilhan-sur-Garonne to Lagruère
This morning we enjoy a cruise to the charming little village of Lagruère. At this time, you can cycle or walk the tow path and enjoy the stunning countryside. Following lunch on board, we tour the Garonne river aboard a traditional flat-bottomed boat, after which we visit the beautiful village of Le Mas d’Agenais, its 11th century church playing host to an ornate Romanesque doorway and an original masterpiece by Rembrandt. After this we take a short drive to an artisanal dairy farm where we experience the entire cheese making process, culminating in a delicious tasting. Dinner, if the weather permits, is a gourmet barbecue beside the barge, overlooking the River Garonne.
Wednesday, Day 4 Lagruère to Buzet-sur-Baise
This morning we depart early and enjoy the colourful market of Lavardac, before heading to the 13th century bastide village of Vianne to see a skilled glassblower at work. A delectable lunch of regional specialities will be served at restaurant ‘Le Moulin des Saveurs’, before returning to the barge for a cruise along the tranquil Canal de Garonne to our mooring at Buzet-sur-Baise, a pastoral haven. Dinner on board.
Thursday, Day 5 Buzet-sur-Baise to Serignac-sur-Garonne
This morning, enjoy a leisurely cruise to Serignac-sur-Garonne with time to explore the towpath, or relax on the decktop. After lunch on board, we visit the medieval town of Nerac and tread in the footsteps of King Henry IV and Queen Margot. The château was built in the 15th century, but much was destroyed during the French Revolution and today only the impressive north wing remains. We then stop at the Lapeyrade estate for a cellar tasting of Armagnac, the oldest alcohol in France. Dinner on board.
Friday, Day 6 Serignac-sur-Garonne to Boé
We start the day with a morning cruise towards our final destination of Boé, crossing the Plan Canal d’Agen, one of the longest aqueducts in France which spans the River Garonne. After lunch, we enjoy a stroll through the historic town of Agen to enjoy the colourful decorated cathedral dedicated to Saint Caprasius, before a tour and tasting of biodynamic wines at the family-owned Domaine du Bois de Simon. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Saturday, Day 7 Boé
After breakfast, guests disembark.
Rosa is an old Dutch “Klipper” barge that was built early in the last century to carry different cargoes on the offshore waterways of Holland. Now, as a charming hotel barge, she navigates the calmer canals of southwest France.
The prettily decorated saloon is particularly welcoming and features attractive wood panelling, comfortable seating, dining area and a cosy bar. The four cosy staterooms accommodating 8 passengers have individually controlled air-conditioning and heating, and full en suite facilities. Two staterooms have double beds, the other two staterooms have twin beds.
Outside there is a spacious sun deck with a dining area and parasols for enjoying an alfresco prepared by your chef. Comfortable loungers are also there to relax in as you take in the passing countryside on your sedate cruise along the Canal de Garonne.
Eight bikes are available for your use if you wish to perhaps venture into the next village along the towpath.
Rosa also featured with Anjodi in the successful television series, Rick Stein’s French Odyssey and you are sure to enjoy your own personal ‘odyssey’ through this colourful, captivating part of southwest France.
Ship Profile & Stats
- Length: 29.5 metres
- Maiden Voyage: 1907
- Refurbished: 2010
- Passenger Capacity (dbl): 8
- Crew Nationality: British
Ship Amenities
- En-Suite Facilities
- Air Conditioning
- Central Heating
- Hair Dryer
- 220 & 240 Volt Electricity (2 Pin French Plug)
Ship Facilities
- Dining Room
- Saloon
- Bar
- Sun Deck
- Spa Pool
We have been involved in all aspects of the hotel barge and travel industry for over 35 years including designing, building, owning and operating our fleet of luxury hotel barges. We have gradually refined our barge cruise holidays into unique travel experiences, which are just waiting to be discovered.
Our fully crewed, all inclusive luxury hotel barges cruise the inland waterways of nine European countries, along canals, rivers, lakes, lagoons and lochs, giving you the opportunity to experience life there from a truly unique perspective.
Our hotel barges are ideal for people looking for either an individual cruise with other like-minded people, or for those choosing a whole barge charter for a family or group of friends.
On your all-inclusive cruise, your ‘floating boutique hotel’ glides gently along while you relax and enjoy gourmet cuisine, fine wines and the company of fellow passengers. There will be guided tours to castles, chateaux, vineyards, markets and when you return to the barge, you can be sure our dedicated, professional crew will be there to look after you once more.
Select the Deck to view detail.
Select the Cabin to view detail.
4 Staterooms. All with closet, private bathroom, individually controlled air conditioning and central heating.
Cabin 1 Jean-Dominique Ingres Stateroom: (Bow) Twin Beds. Approx 107 sq feet including bathroom
Cabin 2 Jean-Francois Champollion Stateroom (Bow) Double Bed. Approx 104 sq feet including bathroom
Cabin 3 Deodat de Severac Stateroom: (Stern) Twin Beds. Approx 92 sq feet including bathroom
Cabin 4 Henri Toulouse-Lautrec Stateroom (STERN) Double Bed. Approx 110 sq feet including bathroom
BATHROOMS:
The staterooms have ensuite bathrooms with shower in a shower cubicle with toilet and sink. Supplied with: Washing gel, hand soap, shampoo, towels and face cloths.
* Unless otherwise noted all pricing is on a per person twin share basis. All prices based on cash payment - credit card fees may apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Special conditions may apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Any pricing not in Australian Dollars will be converted on the day of payment into the relevant currency based on our daily rate of exchange. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Please submit any data errors/omissions you may notice on this site.
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