Cruising the Nivernais Canal in France

Yes! 

PARIS TRANSFERS
Free transfers between Paris and the Luciole are included in our cruise prices
We rendezvous on Sunday afternoons at the Hotel Mansart in central Paris
Left luggage facility provided for those arriving early

Pick up
Our Sunday rendezvous is at 2.15pm at the Hotel Mansart in central Paris, located one street away from the Place Vendôme and a stone’s throw from the Paris Opéra.

The hotel reception staff receive passenger names in advance and will direct our guests to the rendezvous point. We kindly request that passengers gather for the rendezvous no earlier than 1.30pm.

The Luciole Tour Guide, will meet and drive passengers in our bus to the barge, travelling in the region of 100 miles and arriving at the Luciole for a Kir Royal reception between 5 and 6pm. A rest-stop to stretch your legs will be made halfway along the route.

Arriving early?
A free left-luggage facility for Luciole passengers is provided at the Hotel Mansart for those arriving early and wishing to explore the area unencumbered. Breakfast at around 15 Euros is also available, which is particularly nice for passengers arriving very early to the hotel from overnight flights.

Drop off
At the end of each cruise, we provide a transfer service back to Paris, to the Place Vendôme, where taxis are available for onward travel. The estimated arrival time is at 1pm, allowing for a rest-stop along the route.

Charter groups
For Charter Groups we are able to organise a group rendezvous and drop-off at a location of your choice in Paris or at an airport. Please do not hesitate to ask.

Independent travel
Passengers preferring to join the Luciole, without making their way to Paris, are welcome to arrive directly at the barge. When the Luciole is moored in Clamecy, at the southern end of our route, our bus can make a small detour on the way there from Paris to meet passengers in Auxerre. Private car parking can also be arranged in Auxerre.

For on-going car hire in the region, Auxerre is the most suitable location. At the end of each cruise we are able to drop passengers directly at the car hire office of their choosing.

Onward travel
We expect to arrive in Paris between mid-day and 1pm, under normal conditions, though this can not be guaranteed.
We strongly recommend that flights are booked after 5pm and Eurostar trains after 3pm.
With regret, the Luciole transfer service is unable to take responsibility for any missed travel departures.

The majority of the barge crew are English and also speak French. The Captain however, is from Chile and speaks Spanish, as well as English and French.

We are easily able to accommodate dietary requests. It is always useful to know in advance, so our chef can prepare suitable alternatives. Once on board the Luciole, the crew will double check to ensure all is covered.

There is very little motion that you would experience while cruising. The Luciole is a very stable boat. Although the Nivernais Canal combines river and canal sections, since the waterway is not deep there really is no rocking, she gently glides through the water and a flat hull means people are suprised by her very good stability.

The barge has air conditioning and heating throughout. Cabin temperatures can be individually controlled by our passengers.

The Luciole can be booked for family and friends charter weeks. During these weeks we are very happy to accommodate children and our chef is always able to cook meals for the young ones.

We can also change and adapt the tours if requested to include different interests and children based activities

We highly recommend that you purchase travel and medical insurance for your trip at the time of paying your cruise deposit.

The cruise rate includes:

Transfer from Paris to the Barge Luciole and return to Paris at the end of your cruise. Our crew greet you with Champagne and Canapes.

All meals commencing with sunday evening dinner through to saturday morning breakfast, including all wines, open bar with a wide range of spirits.

Lunch on shore, in a classic French restaurant.

All excursions off the Barge in our air conditioned Mini Bus. All entrance fees to tours.

The use of our on board bicycles.

The Luciole has an WI-FI internet facility on board. However, due to the fact that it is a mobile connection and we are often cruising through remote areas, there is occasionally a slow download response. During the majority of our tours there is also access to internet cafes.

Regarding attire, the Luciole has a relaxed ambiance: our crew do not wear a uniform and we hope everyone quickly feels at home. Casual comfortable clothes are the best to bring and in any of the seasons, be it late spring, summer or early autumn, layers of clothes are always the most useful to have with you.

For gentlemen during the day: trousers/shorts, shirt/T shirt and jumper. In the evening, occasionally, a jacket may be worn and even sometimes a tie, but we would certainly not say this is the norm, probably just a change of shirt for supper, should you wish.

For ladies during the day: trousers/shorts/skirt, blouse/T shirt and jumper with a change of top for the evening, possibly a change of trousers but not always.

For the last evening onboard, guests might wear something a little dressier, but again it is certainly not necessary. Low-heeled comfortable shoes are the most suitable for the boat and tours while a rainproof is a good idea too.

We do hope this helps you with your suitcase packing!

Molton Brown toiletries are provided in each cabin, consisting of: soap, shower gel, shampoo, body lotion and a useful travel kit.

Yes, hairdryers are available - just ask when you arrive onboard.

Yes, your cabin and bathroom are cleaned every day and fresh towels provided.

Smoking is strictly forbidden inside the Luciole. We request that passengers who do smoke on the deck or off board, do so with due consideration for fellow guests.

The Luciole has 220 volt electricity.

Are plug sockets are standard European fittings. So electrical equipment will require adaptors if travelling from outside the EU or UK and we recommend you pick an adaptor before you leave home or when passing through the airport, as we cannot provide then onboard.

There is no luggage limit on the Luciole. However, we are always grateful when passengers pack compactly. Once unpacked, suitcases can be stored in the bow for the duration of the cruise.

The Luciole has a music system in the saloon, with a good collection of CDs. Alternatively passengers are welcome to plug in their own streaming devices.

There is a library on board with a good selection of reading and reference books. Cards and board games are also available and for charter groups with children, there are many other toys available upon request. 

Auxerre - a walking tour

The first part of the tour is up via Place St Nicholas to the Cathedral of St Etienne. This is a steep walk initially but flattens out at the cathedral and remains so for the 5 - 10 minutes into the town centre, part of which is over large flat cobbles. For passengers with walking difficulties, we are able to take them up to the cathedral in our bus and can easily bring them back down the hill again by bus if required.

Chablis - visit to the winery of Brocard and then into the vineyards

The winery of Servin has easy access for visitors, since there is very little walking and it is all on the flat. Chairs are readily available for those who find standing for too long a problem. The visit to the vineyards will be adapted accordingly to suit everyone.

Noyers sur Serein - walking tour of the market town

A lovely easy walking tour on the flat around the medieval town. For those not wanting to walk too far there are cafés where we can drop passengers at the beginning of the tour and meet up with them again 30 minutes later. Its very much a do as you wist visit with free time to wander and absorb the atmosphere - sit in a café to watch the world go by or of course do both!

Vézelay - visit to the Basilica of St Mary Magdalene on the Eternal Hill

Our tour is able to drive up the Eternal Hill where there is an optional short walk to the panoramic view from the ramparts, followed by a tour of the Basilica. After the tour passengers are able to stroll and browse the delightful shops down the hill or call into one of the many cafés. Passengers with difficulties, however, can enjoy the café at the top of the hill, near the Basilica.

Bazoches - tour of the chateau, home to the Marquis of Vauban

It has to be said that this is the trickiest of our tours. Access is through the gardens and via the imposing outside stairway to the ground floor of the chateau. There is a stone spiral staircase, with hand-rail to the first floor and towards the end of the tour a staircase down, followed of course by the descent back into the gardens. Our tour guide will do all he can to enable every passenger to see as much as possible but, should anyone find the ascent to the first floor too challenging, the ground floor armoury room and the chateau courtyard are delightful places to absorb the chateau atmosphere while the group proceeds through the remaining chateau rooms.

We sincerely hope this answers your queries and should you have further concerns, do speak to our Tours Guide, when you arrive on barge Luciole.