'La Nouvelle Etoile'

Tulip Cruises in Holland, between Haarlem and Haarlem (out and back) Available between 29 March—09 May 2009

Sunday, Day 1—After your pick-up by our driver you will be taken to the barge moored in the center of Haarlem for a champagne welcome. We will relax for the afternoon with a cruise to Zaandam, where we will moor for the night and you will enjoy your first gourmet dinner on board.

Monday, Day 2—After an elegant breakfast we will take a short drive to the Zaanse Schans to visit a working windmill, a clog maker and a cheese maker. In the afternoon we will cruise to Amsterdam, through the heart of the city where the small canals and architecture will take you back to a previous century and then along the Amstel River to Ouderkerk.

Tuesday, Day 3—An early rise and drive to the colorful flower auction in Aalsmeer. Upon return we will set off for a cruise on the canals to the cheese Mecca of Gouda. After lunch, we will take a drive out to a local cheese farm. Besides cheese, you will find beautiful buildings, excellent shopping and the most magnificent stained glass windows in Holland.

Wednesday, Day 4—A morning cruise to Rotterdam through the center of this busy port and then onto Delft. Visit the Delft Pottery works, where porclain is still handmade and painted. Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling around this beautiful ancient Dutch city.

Thursday, Day 5—A morning cruise through the canals past Leiden, across the Brasemmer Lakes to Oude Wetering. Spend the afternoon at the famous Keukenhof Gardens with the largest display of flowers in the world. Here you will see hundreds of varieties of tulips, hyacints and other beautiful bulbs.

Friday, Day 6—Morning cruise to Haarlem, a picturesque town and the home of the famous Dutch painter Frans Hals where we will tour its museum. Farewell celebration on board and the last delightful gourmet dinner.

Saturday, Day 7—This will your last wonderful breakfast on board. You will then be driven to either the airport or your hotel.

The ‘Chablis Cruise’, between Paris and Auxerre (or reverse) Available between 31 May—13 June 2009 and 28 June—25 July 2009

Paris to Auxerre (Day 1)
After being met by our driver you will taken to the barge moored in the heart of Paris for a wonderful champagne welcome. We have the afternoon to relax and cruise past Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. We will moor that night in the Latin Quarter where you will enjoy your first gourmet dinner on board.

Paris to Auxerre (Day 2)
Scenic cruise out of Paris to Samois sur Seine. After lunch we will take an excursion to Chateau of Fontainebleau. To walk through Fontainebleau is to walk through the history of France. Every royal family has added its own architectural signature. Go on the charming village of Moret, where the Impressionist Sisley painted, and then rejoin the barge for an evening cruise to Montereau.

Paris to Auxerre (Day 3)
A morning cruise on the upper part of the Seine to Monterereau, where the smaller river the Yonne meets us. After lunch we will take a drive out to the Medieval town of Provins, also called the "City of Roses". Here we will watch the magnificent show of the byrds of prey. Return to the barge moored in a beautiful country setting.

Paris to Auxerre (Day 4)
A pleasant cruise along the beautiful river Yonne to the town of Sens, the oldest town in France. Visit the first great gothic cathedral, a magnificent building that dominates the main square. Time to shop, visit the museum or stroll around the town.

Paris to Auxerre (Day 5)
Winding up on the Yonne River we reach the pretty riverside town of Joigny. The beautiful narrow cobblestone streets stretching their way up to wonderful churchs perched on top of the town takes you back to another era. In the afternoon we will take a drive out to Chablis. We select one of the small family operations for an intimate tour of their vineyards and cellar.

Paris to Auxerre (Day 6)
Cruise along the upper reaches of the Yonne River to Auxerre, the most beautiful of all river towns whose skyline is punctuated by church spires and its streets lined with timbered 16th century houses. Time for shopping, visiting the old port or the 15th century clock tower.
Farewell celebration on board enjoying your last elegant gourmet dinner.

Paris to Auxerre (Day 7)
After your last wonderful breakfast you will either be transported to the airport or your hotel.

The ‘Champagne and Brie Cruise’, between Paris and Epernay (or reverse) Available between 14—20 June 2009 and 26 July—15 August 2009

Paris to Epernay (Day 1)
After your pick-up by our driver you will driven to the barge moored in the heart of Paris for a wonderful champagne welcome. Time to relax and cruise past Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Moor the night in the Latin Quarter where you will enjoy your first gourmet dinner on board.

Paris to Epernay (Day 2)
Morning cruise out of Paris onto the River Marne. After lunch you visit the magnificent Chateaux of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Rejoin the barge in Meaux in time to stroll around and vist the cathedral.

Paris to Epernay (Day 3)
Morning cruise from Meaux to La Ferte and an afternoon visit to Coulommiers, one of the centers of Brie cheese-making. You will enjoy a tasting of the variuos Bries of a master cheese maker, along with wines from his excellent cellar.

Paris to Epernay (Day 4)
We are now in Champagne and on our way to Charly-sur-Marne. Stop to enjoy the wonderful champagne of a small family vineyard before an afternoon cruise to Chateau Thierry, the scene of American battles in World War I. Optional visit to Belleau Wood battlefield.

aris to Epernay (Day 5)
The Marne takes us through covered hills dotted with small wine villages to the delightful little town of Damery. Afternoon visit to the cellars of Moet et Chandon for a private wine tasting.

Paris to Epernay (Day 6)
We leave the river Marne for a small canal leading to Epernay. Visit the Abbey of Hautvilliers where the monk Dom Perignon first made champagne. Afternoon drive to Remis Cathedral. Wonderful farewell celebration on board and your last gourmet dinner on board.

Paris to Epernay (Day 7)
After your last great breakfast on board you will be driven to either the airport or your hotel.

The ‘Alsace-Lorraine Cruise’ between Strasbourg and Nancy (or reverse) Available between 23 August—19 September 2009

Nancy to Strasbourg (Day 1)
After pick-up by our driver you will be driven to La Nouvelle moored in the heart of Nancy for a wonderful champagne welcome. We will then take a leisurely late afternoon cruise at sunset before the locks close and you will enjoy your first gourmet dinner on board.

Nancy to Strasbourg (Day 2)
We will enjoy a morning cruise to Einville and then to Nancy for a walking tour of the city beginning at the elegant "Place Stanislas". Flanked by handsome Baroque palaces and enclosed by ornate gold and wrought iron entry gates, the square is considered on of the grandest in all of France. The Art Nouveau movemnet originated in Nancy, and you may choose to visit the Ecole de Nancy to see its fine collection.

Nancy to Strasbourg (Day 3)
After a morning cruise past tidy farms and pasturelands, we will drive to the privately owned Chateau de Fleville. This graceful Renaissance residence adjoins a 14th century castle keep. The interiors are richly furnished with 18th century antiques. We then return to La Nouvelle moored in the peaceful village of Schneckenbush for the night.

Nancy to Strasbourg (Day 4)
Each day we travel on the canal we have been gradually climbing to the crest of the Vosges Mountains. After navigating two tunnels carved into the mountaintop, we will encounter the Inclined Plane at Arzviller. This unique lock allows a barge to glide effortlessly up or down the mountainside using a sophisticated system of weights and balances. A short drive along the way will take us to the Christallerig of Harz village where fine crystal is still hand blown. We continue the cruise through the Zorn Valley where the surrounding hilltops are dotted with ruins of feudal castles. Our overnight stay will be in Lutzelbourg.

Nancy to Strasbourg (Day 5)
We wind through the heart of Saverne, past the regal 18th century Bishop’s Palace. From Saverne, we will take an afternoon drive along the Route du Vin d’ Alsace to the old fortified town of Obernai where we will visit the Marker Square and the 14th century ramparts that surround the city. Stop along the way at Winegrowbr to taste some of the best Alcasian wines.

Nancy to Strasbourg (Day 6)
Today we will finish the cruise in the busy port of Strasbourg. Our afternoon tour of Strasbourg includes the folk museum and the 11th century gothic cathedral, leaving enough time to stroll around to explore the fine shops. Returning to the barge we will celebrate our cruise with a lovely farewell dinner.

Nancy to Strasbourg (Day 7)
After your wonderful breakfast on board you will be driven to the airport or your hotel.

The ‘Germany Cruise’, between Koblenz and Remich (Luxembourg) (or reverse) Available between 20 September—24 October 2009

DAY 1 SUNDAY: After being met by our driver we will take to La Nouvelle that will moored in the heart of Koblenz for a wonderful champagne welcome. There will be a short late afternoon cruise to Winningen, one of the oldest and largest wine growing villages in the area where we will stop and you will experience the first of many gourmet meals on board.

DAY 2 MONDAY: A morning cruise guides us through the lowest part of the Mosel River up to the charming town of Cochem. In the early afternoon we will drive you to the castle of Burg Eltz, also called the “Queen of the German Castles” as it is one of the few that were not destroyed by the French King Louis XIV in 1689. A guided tour takes us through this fascinating 12th century castle. We return to La Nouvelle in Cochem in time to stroll through this delightful little village.

DAY 3 TUESDAY: After breakfast we will take a leisurely cruise past numerous vineyards in beautiful scenery. This is one of the most beautiful towns on the Mosel and is famous for its wines. Visit the cellars of Dr Josef Weiss, just outside of town for our first wine tasting.

DAY 4 WEDNESDAY: Cruising up this very picturesque part of the Mosel we reach Bernkastel, another famous wine village. Here you will find the “crème de la crème” of Mosel wines. In the afternoon visit the private cellars of Pauli Bergweiler for a sampling of his superb wines. Finish our day with a stroll around the village of Bernkastel.

DAY 5 THURSDAY: This morning we will cruise to the oldest town in Germany, Trier. Trier will take you back to the old Roman times from hundreds of years before Christ. Visit the Porta Nigra, part of the old town wall and the magnificent St. Peters Cathedral, or stroll the old town to shop or browse.

DAY 6 FRIDAY: This morning we will cruise our last part on the Mosel into Luxembourg to the small village of Remich. In the afternoon, there will be time to visit the nearby capital of Luxembourg. Tonight, Captain Jan Meijer and his wife Diana will join you for a farewell dinner on board.

DAY 7 SATURDAY: After your last elegant breakfast on board you will be taken to either your hotel or the airport for your onward travel.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THESE ITINERARIES ARE PROVISIONAL AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE AT ANY TIME.