Staff Profile - Maire Touchet

How long have you worked for GoBarging?

What did you do before coming to GoBarging?

My typical day onboard La Belle Epoque?

In the morning, the other hostess and I mainly take care of the breakfast service, the cleaning of the cabins, the laundry and the cleaning of the salon. We then finish the laying of the lunch table. During the lunch service, we make sure that the guests enjoy their meal in the most comfortable way (wines speech and wines services, water and bread service. A cheese speech, coffee and tea to finish the meal).

In the afternoon one of us usually assists the tour guide during the visit, while the other person finishes the cleaning of the lunch service& the laundry then greets the guests with freshly made cocktails. We then get ready for the dinner service, which is a full four course gourmet meal that is prepared and served with a lot of care. Afterwards, the guests are invited on the deck, when the weather permits, are served coffee, tea &liquors. We then prepare the table for breakfast, finish the washing-up and go to bed.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What is your favourite destination?

What is the funniest moment of the European Waterways?

There have been many funny moments since I have been working with European Waterways and it is difficult to say which one was the most, but one of them occurred only a few weeks ago. The passengers had come from Singapore on a family reunion and after a wonderful week and a beautiful captain's dinner we all gathered in the salon. We spent the rest of the evening singing songs to the rhythm of the guitar that one guest was playing and the guests turned out to be much better singers than the crew - which was very embarrassing, but we did laugh a lot.

"CRUISING DOWNSTREAM ON THE THAMES"
Birtan and Ralph Collier

The timing, fortuitous as it may have been, was perfect. This April was the warmest since 1945 in England, the Thames Valley was enchanting and the attributes of the elegant hotel barge, Actief, were similarly fortuitous.

"The river glideth at his own sweet will" is how Wordsworth described the Thames in 'Upon Westminster Bridge'.

Not unlike other great rivers such as the Danube and the Seine, it creates the illusion of flowing not only through the rich countryside, but through long centuries of history, as well. Actief is a long vessel and the Thames is narrow in its northern extremities but the skipper shows that she is nimble as a squirrel as he turns her about for mooring purposes.

The countryside grows increasingly more beautiful and spring is everywhere: primroses in hedgerows, ducklings on the riverbanks, as the intimate 11 passenger barge, an ideal ship for this fascinating voyage of utter serenity, floats from Christchurch to magnificent Windsor Castle.

She is equipped with a small library and the onboard ambience is enhanced by an open bar, a cordial staff, an experienced skipper and guiding by a savvy young captain who offers insights that add texture and historical context to the many experiences along the river.

Very much to the delight of the passengers, he turns out to be a winner on a cruise that serves as a highly pleasurable reminder that most Americans have no idea of the charms of this kind of boating. Don't let Actief slip by you - it's a true gem."

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GoBarging makes Reine Pedauque wheelchair-accessible
By David Yeskel

The Reine Pedauque, a luxury barge that plies the waterways of the Burgundy region of France, has been refitted with wheelchair lifts, stair lifts and bathroom handrails. Doors on all decks are wide enough for wheelchair access. The showers in the two Royal Suites feature a shower seat and handrails, and beds are just 28 inches high. Also, the minibus that shadows the barge is wheelchair-accessible. These enhancements are designed to offer disabled guests the same luxury experience and choice of excursions available to all passengers.

According to Derek Banks, Go Barging's CEO, the Reine Pedauque is the only wheelchair-accessible barge in the industry. Banks, who has helmed his business for more than 30 years, said he firmly believed "that every company in the holiday industry should attempt to accommodate physically challenged travelers."

Despite the small size of the eight-passenger Reine Pedauque, luxury is not compromised. The air-conditioned vessel has a dining room, lounge, sun deck and four suites, ranging in size from 184 to 320 square feet. Each suite is equipped with a private bath.

The barge's English-speaking crew of four has a singular mission: to accommodate individual passenger desires while providing outstanding service. In fact, Banks likened the GoBarging experience to a "moving house party with good food, good wines and sophisticated company."

The gastronomic experience is paramount. It is France, after all. Go Barging's European chefs take guests' culinary tastes into consideration when planning the day's meals and may even take those guests to local markets to select provisions for dinner, which typically features geographically appropriate French specialties, regional wines and an extensive cheese selection.

Passengers may get on and off the barge to walk or bicycle along the towpath, all the while keeping pace with the slowly moving vessel. Most mornings, passengers gather to explore local cultural attractions via the company's air-conditioned minibus, typically returning to the barge in time for lunch. Afternoons are usually enjoyed on deck as the barge passes idyllic country vistas on its meandering route, which covers only about 70 miles during the course of six days.

GoBarging's largely English-speaking passenger mix skews about 70% North American, with the remainder comprising of Britons, Australians and South Africans. The product generally appeals to well-traveled urbanites in their 50s, according to the company.

Departing from Dijon and sailing down the Burgundy Canal, the Reine Pedauque negotiates 45 hand-operated locks. The barge cruises six nights, from Fridays to Thursdays, in April through October. The voyage includes all meals, open bar (including regional wines) and daily escorted excursions. The passenger-to-crew ratio is typically 2-to-1. All-inclusive rates range from $3,550 to $3,950 per person, depending on accommodations and dates selected.

Asked what attracts U.S. guests to his product, Banks pointed to what he described as the three major advantages of barging over large-ship luxury cruising: intimacy, flexibility and a true immersion.

In addition, GoBarging prices its fares in U.S. dollars, which is to Americans' advantage as the dollar continues to sink against the euro. But the real kicker is that GoBarging creates such a stress-free and relaxing environment that, according to Banks, a sail on the Reine Pedauque is, in effect, "like two weeks' vacation in one." And that, he said, is the deal closer. Contact us here for more information on Reine Pedauque   back to top

Wimbledon, Its not just tennis...

Nowadays Wimbledon is synonymous of course with the world grass court tennis championships.

This year's tournament is just about to start, but for next year, why not try a pre or post Wimbledon tennis cruise onboard Actief or Magna Carta, cruising the tranquil upper Thames river. Booking for Wimbledon 2008 can be made via our reservations department Sales@Gobarging.com

Steve Furgal's International Tennis tours - Wimbledon

As traditional as Strawberries and cream Perfect Pimm's® No.1 and Lemonade

Served in a jug with lots of ice, the refreshingly fruity taste of Pimm's is irresistible.

May Lock-keeper Competition

For our May Lockkeeper competition we had a hard backed copy of La Mia Venezia by the the famous photographer Fulvio Roiter to give away.

June Competition

Published to accompany Rick Stein’s new TV series for the BBC, this new book starts where French Odyssey left off – After jumping ship ( well barge actually) the Anjodi has been moored up in favour of public ferries crisscrossing the Mediterranean and the result is wonderful new book.... Mediterranean Escapes.

We would like to wish Rick success with his new series and book.

We are offering two lucky lock keeper competition winners a copy of Mediterranean Escape (out in August 2007).

Rick Stein Book competition.   

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News

Special Offer

“Tuscan Sun Festival” held in Cortona Italy, August 2007 is a fabulous way to start your Italian experience followed by a river cruise on board La Dolce Vita...see itinerary & booking information

The Tuscan Sun Festival has been previously called “One of the Ten Best Summer Arts Festivals in Europe”, by The Independent newspaper in the U.K. Concerts in Cortona in both the Teatro Signorelli, as well as other picturesque settings, The Tuscan Sun Festival will also be celebrating with unique cookery and literary events, wine tasting, receptions, yoga sessions and art exhibitions that will be taking place not only throughout the town of Cortona, but in the beautiful surrounding areas.

Musical program boasts distinguished artists such as: Joshua Bell & Anna Netrebko, and more…..


Extend your Italian experience by booking

A week on board the luxury hotel barge La Dolce Vita, GoBarging has the only hotel barge in Venice. This 6 passenger vessel will take you down the breath taking Brenta River; where you can discuss your newly learnt cookery skills with the Dolce Vita’s unique chef Eros or put to test your recently honed wine tasting skills!.
Bookings for the Tuscan Sun Festival and La Dolce Vita must be made separately.

To book your cruise email Sales@GoBarging.com or Call + 44 (0) 1784 482439 toll free 1 800 394 8630 to enable this cruise to take place 6 passengers must book either separately or a whole barge charter.

2008 prices available

Our new price sheet for 2008 is now available for clients to download at http://www.gobarging.com/cruise-rates.html on our web site and if you would like hard copy posted please email Sales@GoBarging.com

Loch Ness Bids For World Heritage Status

Fromages.com's 10th Anniversary

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