Champagne Barge Cruise 2023

Welcome to C’est la Vie!

You’ll be met at 3:00pm in the lobby of your Paris hotel and chauffeured to the C’est La Vie.

For charter groups in the lobby of one hotel, mutually agreed upon by the group. Guests on individual cabin sailings will be picked up and returned to the Hotel Madison, 43 Boulevard St Germain,75006 Paris,Tel; +33 (0)1 40 51 60 00.

After the traditional champagne welcome from the Captain and crew, there is time to unpack and take a stroll, before enjoying the first of many gourmet dinners on board.

Sightseeing, WW1 battlefield and cemetery of Belleau-wood and the American monument

Cruise to Joulgonne.

Begin the day with our breakfast buffet, featuring village-baked pastries just warm from the oven! Then relax on deck while cruising on the River Marne as C’est La Vie floats toward the village of Joulgonne, through heavily-wooded countryside. Adorable villages hug the shore and patient fisherman wave as we pass. After lunch (served on deck weather permitting) we’ll visit the French-American Friendship monument, built in 1929 it overlooks Chateau Thierry and the Marne valley, then we take a short drive to the WW1 battlefield and cemetery of Belleau-wood which was the scene of the second battle of the Marne in the spring of 1918, this battle ended the last German offensive of World War I. The cost was 8,000 American troops killed, missing or wounded. We will then pay our respects at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery.

Return to the C’est La Vie for dinner aboard

Sightseeing, Epernay, Boizel, Haultvilliers

Cruise to Damery.

After another delicious breakfast, cruise to Damery, a town on the banks of the Marne River, through a gorgeous landscape of villages, vineyards, pastures, and forests. After lunch take a short drive to visit the famed champagne producer Boizel in Epernay. Founded in 1834 by Auguste Boizel and Julie Martin, a young married couple, they joined forces to create their own Champagne House. Originally pastry chefs, born and bred in the Côte des Blancs, they shared the same strong entrepreneurial spirit. Julie’s ancestors were winegrowers in Ay and Mareuil-sur-Ay. They chose Epernay as the home for their new venture, and both lent their names to the House: ‘Boizel-Martin, After a tasting and visit to their cellars we will take a short drive to Haultevillers, a pretty champagne village perched high over the vineyards. Tour the unassuming church of monk Dom Perignon, credited with inventing the champagne-producing process.

Back on board for your gourmet dinner.

Sightseeing, Chocolaterie “Thibaut”

Cruise to Mareuil sur Ay.

After breakfast we take a short drive to the town on Pierry, where we will learn the art of Chocolate making and have the chance to make your own to take away with you. Returning to the C’est La Vie for lunch and an relaxing afternoon cruise to Mareuil sur Ay, through scenery that could have been painted by the Impressionists, we will leave the river Marne for the canal Lateral a la Marne, perfect time to put your working shoes on or ride a bicycle along the tow path and catch the C’est la Vie at the next lock.

There’s plenty of time to prepare for your dinner shore at the 2 star Michelin restaurant Les Crayeres.

Sightseeing, Family champagne domaine

Cruise to Vaudemange.

Another opportunity before lunch to put on your walking shoes or ride a bicycle along the tow path and catch the C’est la Vie at the next lock. We leave one canal the Lateral a la Marne, to join another the canal Marne a la Aine. After lunch, driving through vineyards as far as the eye can see, we will pay a visit to a small family run vineyard, for the 2nd of your champagne tasting experiences.

Back to the C’est La Vie moored in for drinks and dinner.

Sightseeing, Reims with the Cathedral

Cruise to Reims.

Cruise this morning to Reims. There is time to walk or bicycle on the towpath as C’est La Vie winds its way along the canal passing through a tunnel, after lunch, we drive to Reims, an important city from Roman times onwards. Visit the great Reims Cathedral, which is even larger than Notre Dame in Paris and where many of the French kings were crowned. Visit the Archbishops place which has been turned into a museum and step back in time.

Walk along the pedestrian streets in this vibrant city, or take a coffee in many of the side walk cafes and watch the world go by.

Head back to the C’est La Vie for The Captain’s Dinner which ends your cruise in style!

Return to Paris

Departure time is 9:30AM after breakfast. You’ll then be chauffeured back to Paris for the end of the morning.

We hope to see you again on the “C’est la Vie”!