Bonheur FAQ's
  • Q. Why go on a Barge Holiday?
  • A. You will be hard pressed to find a more relaxing holiday as watching the world go by at walking pace. We will put together a mixture of cruising and trips out by car that will keep your interest but ensure that you go home refreshed and with everlasting memories of good food, wine and interesting places visited.

  • Q. Why charter a whole barge?
  • A. If you want to cruise but do not like the large crowd, impersonal service or detailed itinerary of a large cruise ship then chartering a barge for just you and your friends will provide intimacy, friendliness and flexibility. Not only will you experience relaxing days of discovery set to your pace and taste but also see France from a totally different perspective not available when travelling by road.

  • Q. How much does it cost and what is included.
  • A. The price to charter the whole barge with 2 crew for a week is 8,000 Euros. ‘Bonheur’ has 2 guest cabins each with either twin or ‘Queensize’ double bed, ensuite shower, toilet and washbasin. Included in the price is 3-5 hours cruising each day, stops at local towns and villages and guided tours with entrance fees to attractions, also use of the boats facilities such as library, music centre ,DVD collection, bicycles etc. Also included is full board food and local wines (apart from 3 evening meals taken ashore at passengers expense). Transport to and from local train station or airport. TRAVEL/CANCELLATION  INSURANCE IS NOT INCLUDED.

  • Q. What if we want a cruise longer than a week.
  • A. We are happy to discuss 10 day and 2 week cruises.

  • Q. How do we get to 'BONHEUR’
  • A. The most convenient TGV high speed train station to our route is Le Creusot. There is a direct TGV train from Paris to le Creusot taking about 1 hour 20 minutes.We will meet you at the station with our air conditioned people carrier and take you to where Bonheur is moored. We will return you to Le Creusot after the charter.

  • Q.  How do we make train reservations?
  • A. Train timetables can be found at the national French train site www.voyage-sncf.com If necessary click on the English flag for English.   It is best to make reservations in advance as they are very popular, particularly in the main summer months.

  • Q.  What time should we arrive and depart?
  • A.  ‘BONHEUR, is ready for boarding around 3:00 p.m. on day one and disembarkation time is around 10:00 a.m. on the final day. We arrive in our final port the night before leaving, giving plenty of time to organize departure.  We will transport you to the station.

  • Q.  What do I wear on the barge?
  • A.  Check out the Internet weather forecast for Dijon the week before you finally pack, to get current and forecasted temperatures. 
        http://fr.weather.com/weather/local/FRXX0036
        http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=4228&links
        We wear casual comfortable clothes, usually shorts and casual tops. A pair of non-             slippery deck shoes  are essential. For eating out in a typical small restaurant smart          casual is fine but if you would like to try somewhere more formal then it is probably          best to come prepared to dress a little more formally.
A good piece of advice is, pack lightly! If you are taking a train anywhere, the         platforms are mostly up and down stairs NOT escalators or elevators!

  • A.  Before you leave to join us we send out a questionnaire to request your food and drink preferences or dislikes, plus other final information. 
  Over your first dinner on board we will discuss where we are and where we will be          going.  Each morning we will have a continental breakfast (fresh pastries and                      bread, fruit, cereals, yougurt, fruit juice, coffee, tea, etc.).  We will also provide a                 buffet lunch, complete with local wines.  Included in the price are 3 evening meals             on board ‘BONHEUR’ and for the remaining 3 evenings you will explore local cafés            and restaurants.

  • Q.  Tell me more about the wine.
  • A.  Our route includes areas that grow famous well know wines. The wines we serve with meals are local vintage and also there will be opportunities to taste other wines at local cellars.

  • Q.  What about personal electrical appliances?
  • A.  We have hair dryers for each cabin, but if you bring hot curlers, camera chargers etc., they need to work with European 220 volts. 

  • Q.  What else do we need to bring?
  • A.   Bring your toiletries and personal belongings but we should have plenty of opportunities to shop for anything you forget. 

  • Q.  I don't want to just sit around all day.  What can I do that's active?
  • A.  We have bikes on board that you can use to cycle into local towns or villages or follow the route of the barge for a kilometre or two!

  • Q. Will there be  time for sight seeing?
  • A.  Absolutely!  We generally cruise for 3-5 hours per day and leave plenty of time to see the local sites.   On a couple of days we arrange for either a wine tasting tour or a visit to one of the magnificent chateaux on our route.

  • Q. What about cash?
  • A. The currency in France is the euro (€).  Your best bet is a debit card or credit card that can be used in the very available ATM's.  This gives you the best conversion rate and less worry about loss or theft.

  • Q. Is ‘BONHEUR’ accessible for the disabled
  • A. Unfortunately the very nature of boating make it very difficult for wheelchairs. However we have tried to make the boat as user friendly as possible with gentle stairs and handrails where possible.