Hotel Barge Cruise on Luciole
By Georgiana Verdonk-Sim
When my best friend Heidi Sarna, co-founder of QuirkyCruise.com proposed the idea of celebrating my 50th on a week-long barge cruise along the French Nivernais Canal, I must admit, I was skeptical at first.
The 12-pax barge Luciole. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
My fears in the exact order were:
- A hotel barge cruise? Can it house 12 women sufficiently?
- What’s the service like? I did say 12 women, didn’t I? And women who are accustomed to Michelin-starred restaurants and 5-star hotels during their travels.
- What happens if someone has motion sickness?
My fears were allayed during the run up to the event due to the meticulous attention to detail by Penny, co-owner of the hotel barge Luciole. Even before we arrived, Penny worked tirelessly with Heidi behind the scenes to ensure everyone’s needs and wishes were catered to.
The hotel barge cruise experience was beyond outstanding and a trip (and birthday!) of a lifetime! The memories that we shared on and off the barge can fill up an entire book or as my son would say, a ‘Netflix series.’
My fears dissipated as quickly as that first glass of champagne that welcomed us on the barge on Day 1.
One of the many toasts of the week. Cheers! * Photo: Heidi Sarna
There was plenty of space for us all
The barge had more than ample space to house us all. The itinerary was designed in a way that allotted us ample time to seek ‘me-time’ in our respective cabins if we needed it.
Not once did I feel that there was a lack of personal space or privacy, even though I shared a room.
All of us have fond memories of sitting on the deck either as a group laughing and sharing a bottle of bubbly or on our own, stealing some private moments to ourselves while enjoying the pristine landscape.
Time for quiet reflection. * Photo: Agnes
Impressive service & staff aboard Luciole
We all raved about the excellent meals we had but when someone mentions the staff of the hotel barge Luciole, everyone has this look of love on their faces.
Don’t get me wrong, the meals were of top-notch quality, but the staff and their relentless service was on a higher planet altogether.
I lost count on the number of times on Day 3 when Sean our deck hand had to unfold the umbrellas, remove them before we arrived at yet another bridge, and reinstate them as soon as we passed under it, just to provide shade to those of us sitting on the deck enjoying the landscape and the countless number of bridges our barge passed along the way.
All this effort to ensure our comfort can certainly get to your head and indeed, I was starting to feel like a princess.
We were treated like royalty. No task was beyond them. You could feel that they genuinely wanted us to have the best of times.
What service! No glass needed! * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Smooth sailing on Barge Luciole
Onto my final fear — motion sickness. Really? Who had time for that?! The water on the Nivernais canal is very calm. As a result, I hardly felt any motion.
Geo relaxing aboard the Luciole. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Luciole glided smoothly over the water’s surface. None of us experienced any motion sickness and we did not lose anyone overboard!
And the itinerary is designed in a way that passengers can walk (or cycle) alongside the canal if they choose to, when the barge is cruising.
Cycling along the towpath on one of Luciole’s bikes. * Photo: Zaina
If this is what turning 50 looks like, I say, “Bring it on!”
My Birthday Barge Cruise was a success!
Twelve women on a private barge for a week and no one was made to walk the plank — that’s an amazing achievement on its own!
Hotel Luciole was the perfect venue designed to help us create these wonderful memories that I was lucky to enjoy as part of my turning the dreaded 50.
So much fun! Weeeee! * Photo: Vincent
It is the ideal setting for 12 friends or 6 couples or an extended family reunion.
The experience was worth every penny as the wonderful memories will keep me aglow for a lifetime.
I am ever so grateful to Heidi and QuirkyCruise for organizing something so special.
RELATED: Read Heidi’s full review of the Luciole hotel barge cruise review here.
For booking info, click here.
RELATED: Is a barge canal cruise for you? Check out our barge cruise tips.
A pair of besties on a barge cruise. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
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HEIDI SARNA
