The 12-guest river cruise ship La Belle Epoque offers premier comfort and elegance in Burgundy cruising. A heritage vessel refitted for modern luxury barging, she features a sundeck with a spa pool, spacious common areas, and well-designed accommodations with marble ensuite facilities.
This 126-foot ship is a spits barge built in 1930 to carry timber between Burgundy and Paris. Renovated by European Waterways in 1995, she now serves as a deluxe hotel barge ferrying passengers through the lovely region of Northern Burgundy. Her classic looks, modern amenities, spacious cabins, and wide range of daily excursions make the La Belle Epoque barge ideal for leisurely Burgundy cruises.
125 - 130 sq. ft. featuring twin or double beds, private bathroom with shower, wardrobe and a small table.
Junior Suites
150 - 165 sq. ft. featuring win or double beds, private bathroom with shower, wardrobe and a small table.
Deckplan
Staterooms & Suites
Barging Burgundy is more comfortable than ever, with guests coming home to the gracefully appointed Le Belle Epoque cabins. The hotel barge features four Staterooms (125 to 130 square feet) and two Junior Suites (150 to 165 square feet), with a choice of twin or double beds. All rooms are equipped with marble-clad ensuite facilities, warm lighting, a window or porthole, and individually controlled air-conditioning.
Amenities
A highlight of a La Belle Epoque cruise is the range of hotel-like facilities available on board, whether guests want to mingle indoors or relax under the sun.
Saloon/Dining Room: The wood-paneled saloon and dining room offer a fantastic space for socializing on the cruise ship, especially with the open bar on hand. Bespoke, handmade seating, and quality detailing of teak and brass create a refined atmosphere, while large picture windows keep the room light-filled and airy.
Sun Deck: Spend rain-free days on the spacious sundeck, where guests won’t miss any of Northern Burgundy’s spectacular scenery as La Belle Epoque drifts along the canal. There’s a large table under a canopy shade for al fresco dining, as well as comfortable loungers for passengers who want to nap, read a book, or gaze at the passing sights. A spa pool is also available on the deck.
Guests can travel in ease at all seasons with air-conditioning and central heating. Additionally, a six-man crew is on board to assist the passengers during the week-long cruise.
Dining
Full meals are served aboard the La Belle Epoque barge. The chef prepares fresh and contemporary dishes using local ingredients, giving passengers a taste of the region’s culinary delights. Wine pairings are carefully selected from Burgundy vineyards enhance the flavors while showing off the region’s esteemed wine-making legacy.
La Belle Epoque Itinerary
La Belle Epoque cruises on waterways in Burgundy, passing through the rolling French countryside, medieval villages, and heritage sites.
Enjoying Northern Burgundy’s stunning and diverse scenery is an essential element of a cruise trip to this area. Exclusive tastings at renowned wineries, private tours to historical and cultural landmarks, and even a special audience to local aristocracy are just some of the activities that are part of the Burgundy cruise excursions in France.
Optional adventures include a hot air balloon ride. There is also an excellent towpath for cycling and walking; guests may use the bicycles stowed on board at no additional cost.
A private charter of La Belle Epoque is also available.
La Belle Epoque Specifications
Year Built: 1930
Length: 126 feet
Passengers: 12
Crew: 6
About European Waterways
Established in 1977, European Waterways is an international cruise company known for delivering top-quality barge vacations in Europe’s most beloved waterways. The operator is based in Berkshire, England, but cruise destinations are far-ranging to places like Ireland, Scotland, and Mantua. The small-ship cruises in Europe that the tour operator specializes in are ideal for reaching acclaimed yet lesser-known locations.
European Waterways developed its fleet by taking old trading barges from all over the continent and renovating them into luxury boutique hotel barges. Each boat in the collection can accommodate four to 20 passengers, plus three to eight crew members. Expect an intimate cruise experience; travelers can also charter each barge for private cruises.
Spacious suites, professional service, and a highly personalized barging experience made the La Belle Epoque cruise a standout among guests. Many guests made it a point to praise the exceptional cuisine prepared by the onboard chef, with a new wine served every day. Excursions are fun and well-spaced from each other to ensure guests aren’t too tired to appreciate the tours.
For information or a detailed comparison of La Belle Epoque and other Burgundy cruise ships, contact our Adventure Life travel experts.
Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!
Justin Chappelle
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
