Grand Victoria luxury barge cruises

Paris or Geneva to Auxonne: Let's begin with Champagne

Sunday

Your Grand Victoria experience begins here!  A private chauffeur meets our guests in Paris or Geneva for the journey to Auxonne, where we board the boat for a Champagne welcome by the cheerful crew. Sit and relax on board while the team install your luggage and enjoy the beautiful views. Our chef will delight you this evening with one of many incredible dinners to come.

Auxonne to St.Jean-de-Losne: Chateau du Clos de Vougeot

Monday

We continue our culinary adventure with a fabulous breakfast! Breaking free from the traditional Continental, the chef awakens your palate and other senses with an array of delicious and nutritious choices, including freshly baked croissants, fresh fruit platters, yoghurts, cappuccino, coffee or tea, but also a signature hot dish! Perhaps today will be almond French toast: Each breakfast will be a surprise.

This morning's cruise takes us along a beautiful stretch of the Petite Saône. Join your Captain in the wheelhouse, relax on the deck or enjoy a spot of cycling as we meander along one of the prettiest stretches of the Petit Saône.

After a delicious alfresco (weather permitting) picnic, it's time to discover the historic Chateau du Clos de Vougeot, where Cistercian monks once lived and worked off the land, creating the productive vineyards known worldwide. This excursion pleases historians and wine enthusiasts alike.  There will be time to enjoy an informal private wine tasting at a renowned Cote d'Or cellar before returning to Grand Victoria for evening cocktails while the chef prepares another gourmet dinner.

St.Jean-de-Losne to Seurre: A walking tour on market day with lunch in Dijon

Tuesday

A visit to Burgundy is incomplete without exploring Dijon, the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy. We begin our day with a walking tour of the historic centre, including the marketplace with its stunning buildings designed by Gustav Eiffel. Take time to admire the ironwork reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Now is the time to watch the locals at work sourcing the best fresh, locally-grown produce. With so much variety, no wonder French food is so delicious!

Dijon is full of beautiful architecture. Our historical tour of the Ducal Palace, the Cathedral of Notre Dame with its stunning gargoyles, and a typically narrow, 15th-century shopping street leading to the Place du François Rude, where lunch in an authentic bistro beckons.

After lunch, you can enjoy some free time to explore the area. There are many shops, galleries and boutiques, including the prestigious mustard store, the Maison Maille, founded in 1747.

We return to the Grand Victoria for an afternoon of cruising on the scenic River Saône to the medieval village of Seurre. Let's begin the evening with a soundtrack of jazz classics, cocktails and perhaps a gentle dance while the chef prepares our evening dinner.

 Seurre to Chalon-sur-Saône: Visiting the Hospice de Beaune & wine tasting

Wednesday

The day begins with a tour of the historic city of Beaune, famous not only for wine but also for one of France's most prestigious monuments, the Hospice de Beaune, founded in 1443 to care for the poor and most disadvantaged after the ravages of the 100 years war and plague. Behind the striking Gothic architecture and polychrome roofs, discover the lives of patients and nurses alike in the various rooms, including the hospital dormitory, apothecary, pharmacy and kitchens. A real treat for art lovers is viewing the polyptych of the Last Judgement, painted by Rogier van der Weyden.

We'll enjoy lunch in a local Michelin-starred restaurant, then return to the Grand Victoria for cocktails and to continue our journey along the beautiful River Saône. We'll arrive in the ancient town of Chalon-sur-Saône in the late afternoon. There will be time to cycle along the towpath for those wishing to explore by bicycle.

Happy Hour, which begins this evening on board with a selection of vinyl albums for a spot of nostalgia while the chef prepares another masterpiece.

Chalon-sur-Saône to Fragnes: Majestic Chateau Rully

Thursday

Another red-letter day! After a magnificent, hearty breakfast, we continue our historically enlightening adventure with a tour of the majestic 12th-century Chateâu de Rully, perched high in the vineyards, where excellent Chardonnays are produced. This chateâu has been in the same family since the 12th century and boasts all the features associated with designs through the ages: an encircling path, battlements, crenellations, merlons, loopholes, a dry ditch and a drawbridge.

We return to the barge and can take time to explore the streets of Chalon-sur-Saône, the ancient and modern quarters creating an interesting contrast.  This town was which was used as a port by the Roman Emperor Constantius II, and is also famous as the birthplace of photography.

An alfresco lunch awaits aboard. This morning, there is plenty of time to relax and enjoy the view from the spacious sundeck as we begin cruising along the Canal du Centre. The smooth towpath invites you to do some gentle exercise, either cycling or walking. We will pick you up at the next lock!
This evening we moor by a picturesque lock house for yet another gourmet dinner on board.

Fragnes to Chagny: Canal cruising and wine tasting 

Friday

After breakfast, we wave goodbye to Franges and enjoy a morning cruise to the village of Chagny, a settlement dating from 840, between the wine appellations of Rully, Bouzeron and Chassagne-Montrachet. Often warmed by the winds of the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the area enjoys an exceptional climate throughout the year, which lends itself to wine production.

After lunch onboard the Grand Victoria, we take a scenic drive through the beautiful vineyards, starting in Chassagne Montrachet and ending with a private wine tasting in Beaune. Our tour is stunning and educational, revealing many facts about the Burgundy appellations, wine production and history.  
We return to the Grand Victoria for a fabulous evening. During our final dinner together, there's time to kick back with a cocktail and reflect on the week.

Chagny to Paris/Geneva: Champagne breakfast and departure

Saturday

Our final morning together, and what better way to celebrate these last moments than a Champagne breakfast before you depart the Grand Victoria at 9am. Your private chauffeur will drive you back to Paris or Geneva.

Au revoir!

Avignon: Let's begin with Champagne

Sunday

Your Grand Victoria experience begins here!  A private chauffeur meets our guests in Avignon at the TGV station, which is easily accessible from all major French cities, where we board the boat for a Champagne welcome by the cheerful crew. Sit and relax on board while the team install your luggage and enjoy the beautiful views. Our chef will delight you this evening with one of many incredible dinners to come.

Avignon to Vallabrègues: The Palace of the Popes

Monday

Wake up to the river's gentle sway and the aroma of freshly baked pastries. After a fabulous breakfast, it's time to step ashore for a guided tour of Avignon, once the papal capital. The Palais des Papes, one of the most stunning medieval Gothic structures in the world, is a sight to behold. Wander the charming streets of Avignon, where you'll find charming boutiques and sun-drenched cafés where you can enjoy a café crème while taking in the Provençal atmosphere. We'll enjoy a delightful lunch at a local bistro that showcases the region’s rich flavours, followed by a Private Château wine tasting.  Back on board, there will be plenty of time to recline on the sundeck with a glass of fine local wine, savouring the view before indulging in another exquisite chef-prepared dinner.

Vallabrègue to Gallician: Scenic cruising and Art!

Tuesday

Take a private excursion this morning to Les Baux-de-Provence, a picturesque village on a hilltop where time seems to stand still. Carrières des Lumières is an immersive digital art exhibition set within an ancient limestone quarry where masterpieces come to life. Visitors can wander through medieval streets and experience the exhibition.
Once back on board, we cruise past the magnificent 15th-century castles of Tarascon and Beaucaire, their silhouettes a striking contrast against the golden Provençal countryside.
 A gourmet lunch awaits as the Grand Victoria sets sail along the Rhone, before entering the Canal du Rhône à Sète.  Why not relax with a dip in the heated jacuzzi or a hand-crafted cocktail as you listen to the gentle rhythm of the water? Tonight, mooring in Gallician, retreat to the refined dining salon for a gourmet dinner expertly crafted by your private chef. Indulge in a multi-course feast featuring the finest Provençal ingredients, complemented by an exquisite selection of regional wines.  The evening is enhanced by the dining room's elegant atmosphere, which ensures a delightful dining experience and intimate conversation.

 Gallician to Aigues Mortes: In the footsteps of Van Gogh and wild creatures

Wednesday

After a leisurely breakfast, we begin the day in Arles, where history and art blend seamlessly. There will be time to wander at your leisure if you wish.
 A leisurely lunch at a charming bistro invites you to savour the flavours of the region, set against a backdrop that once fuelled the creativity of a genius.  The afternoon features a carefully selected selection of exclusive excursions, such as a private safari through the Camargue, where wild white horses roam, or a visit to a local ranch (manade), where you can observe the region's renowned black bulls. For wine enthusiasts, an intimate tasting at a prestigious estate promises a sensory delight.
Dinner will be served aboard.

Aigues Mortes to Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone: Medieval Aigues-Mortes

Thursday

This morning, step back in time as you explore the perfectly preserved medieval town of Aigues-Mortes, its impressive stone walls whispering tales of knights and kings. Surely one of the highlights of the region, you'll get a great view of the Camargue's shimmering salt marshes as your guide takes you along the ancient ramparts.
As we sail toward Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, we will return to the Grand Victoria for an elegant outdoor lunch, weather permitting. The afternoon is yours to enjoy—whether lounging on deck with a book, indulging in a leisurely nap, or sipping on a crisp rosé as the warm breeze drifts by.  Alternatively, take a walk or cycle ride before dinner.

Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone to Frontignan: The beautiful fishing village at Sète 

Friday

This morning’s adventure takes you to Sète, often called the “Venice of the Languedoc” for its winding canals and lively port. We can wander along the bustling waterfront, watching fishermen mend their nets and admiring seafood markets overflowing with the freshest catches of the day. Indulge in a Michelin-starred lunch, where the treasures of the sea take centre stage.
Back aboard, our journey continues to Frontignan, famed for its exquisite Muscat wine.
As the sun begins to set, indulge in a refined wine tasting on deck, savouring the delicate notes of this local nectar before your grand farewell dinner—a culinary masterpiece celebrating the finest flavours of Provence. This evening will be the perfect time to reminisce over your week aboard.

Frontignan: Champagne breakfast and departure

Saturday

Our final morning together, and what better way to celebrate these last moments than a Champagne breakfast before you depart the Grand Victoria at 9am. Your private chauffeur will drive you back to Beziers train station, where First-Class TGV tickets await your return journey to Paris Gare de Lyon. 

Au revoir!