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Cruising by barge through the rivers and canals of southern France... Can there be a more relaxing holiday experience? Each morning will be spent cruising along the canals and waterways as we sail leisurely between Sète and Arles. The small and intimate environment of our private barge along with a dedicated crew provide the perfect setting for a relaxing vacation. Enjoy first-class French cuisine watching the gorgeous landscape pass by.

After spending three wonderful nights in Barcelona, we transfer to Sète to embark on our chartered barge, specially designed for this leisurely adventure as we cruise along historic inland waterways. All of our excursions have been included; no need to worry about what to do or where to go. In fact virtually everything is included: sightseeing, meals, service charges, taxes, and all tipping, leaving you free to enjoy every minute of our canal cruise. Finally we end our journey with three nights in Lyon.

Space on this cruise is extremely limited. Maximum group size will be 22. Singles are on request.

Return economy airfare between Canada and Europe

3 nights first class hotel accommodation in Barcelona

6 night cruise in a comfortable outside cabin on the ms Anne-Marie

3 nights central hotel accommodation in Lyon

Transfers between airports, hotels and the ship

Baggage handling throughout

29 meals included as noted in the itinerary (B - 12 breakfasts, L - 9 lunches, D - 8 dinners) plus plus lunch and dinner during the cruise include wine, beer, or soft drinks

Shore excursions included in each village visited

All beverages from the bar while cruising (premium drinks at extra cost)

Welcome Captain’s cocktail reception and festive farewell dinner onboard ms Anne-Marie

Free Wi-Fi on board

On board entertainment

All gratuities, surcharges, taxes and fees for included services

Airport transfers in Canada or equivalent value with purchase of group airfare

Services of your cruise/tour escort and/or cruise director

The ms Anne-Marie (built 2014) has three decks and 11 compact and efficiently designed cabins, each about 100 square feet. All staterooms have a window, flat screen TV, radio, telephone (internal calls only), safe, and compact bathroom with shower. Cabins are on the lower level, with free Wi-Fi and air conditioning/heating.

A spacious lounge area with bar, separate dining room, and open terrace (with tables, chairs with umbrellas and a hot tub) can be found on the main deck. The top deck is open with comfortable lounge chairs. Small bicycles are available for use by all guests. There are 5 dedicated staff ready to take care of our every need - captain, cruise director, chef and crew.

Arles - Credit CroisiEurope

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Spend the afternoon cruising to Palavas-Les-Flots. Enjoy some free time to discover the spa resort of Palavas-les-Flots, whose rich identity reaches back for more that three centuries. BLD

May 7, Tuesday Palavas-les-Flots / Sète Set out on a tour to discover a manade (herd of local livestock) and the life of its herders. Travel by wagon and witness the sorting of the bulls. Enjoy a delicious snack made of products from the farm. Relax this afternoon as we cruise towards Sète, arriving in the early evening. BLD May 8, Wednesday Sète We shall visit Etang de Thau, a lagoon famous for its shellfish. Visit the museum to learn of the shellfish farmers and fishermen and taste some of the shellfish while taking in the beauty of the basin from a terrace. The afternoon will be dedicated to a tour of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, one of the most beautiful villages in France. Tonight is our gala dinner on board. BLD May 9, Thursday Sète / Avignon / Lyon Saying farewell to our floating home, we transfer to nearby Avignon to visit the Palais des Papes, or Pope’s Palace, the home of 14th century papal power and one of the largest gothic buildings in Europe. Continue north to Lyon, set at the meeting place of the Saône and Rhône Rivers, with its 2,000 year history. Mercure Lyon Centre Plaza Republique (3 nights) BL May 10, Friday Lyon Start the day on a gastronomic tour of Lyon. Visit the Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse and enjoy a tasting of local pork and cheese products along with a glass of wine. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue our exploration of the city visiting Fourvière Hill and Basilica, Terreaux Square, the Rhône River quays, Bellecour Square and the traboules (passageways) of Old Lyon. BL May 11, Saturday Lyon Today has been left completely free to enjoy the beauty of Lyon with its beautiful pedestrian-only streets and excellent shopping. Explore the Old Town and the central core of the city. Dinner will be at a selected local restaurant. BD

May 12, Sunday Lyon / Canada All too soon our journey comes to an end as we transfer to Lyon airport and fly back to Canada. B

April 29, Monday Depart Canada Group members gather today for our overnight flight to Barcelona, Spain. April 30, Tuesday Barcelona, Spain Upon arrival we are greeted by our local English speaking assistant and transferred to our hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure with dinner at our hotel. Catalonia La Pedrera (3 nights) D May 1, Wednesday Barcelona Enjoy a full day tour of Barcelona today, including visits to Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Barcelona Cathedral, and La Rambla Boulevard. This evening has been left free to explore and try one of this city’s wonderful restaurants. BL May 2, Thursday Barcelona Today has been completely left free to explore the bustling city. You may wish to visit the beach, stroll the streets and shop, or visit some of the varied museums or galleries. B May 3, Friday Barcelona / Arles, France Heading north along the Costa Brava we head to the South of France. Just across the border we make a diversion to visit the walled city of Carcassonne. Arriving in Arles in the late afternoon, we embark on our barge. After settling in, we will meet our crew and enjoy our first dinner on board. MS Anne-Marie (6 nights) BLD May 4, Saturday Arles / Gallician This morning we tour Arles, with its preserved historic centre and Roman ruins. Visit a farm dedicated to the growing of olive trees and the production of the highest quality olive oil. This afternoon relax on board as we cruise to Gallician on the Rhône River and the Rhône-à-Sète Canal. BLD May 5, Sunday Gallician / Aigues-Mortes We set out on an excursion to the Camargue. After we can enjoy some free time in the splendid coastal city of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where we recommend a visit to its fortified church. After our visit, we’ll return to the ship by coach, before cruising towards Aigues-Mortes. BLD May 6, Monday Aigues-Mortes / Palavas-les-Flots Enjoy a city tour of Aigues-Mortes, a fortified city with a rich heritage. Located in the middle of the marshes it is one of the most beautiful sites in Provence. We'll board a tourist train and tour the salt marches and visit the salt museum.

The majestic Palais des Papes in Avignon - Credit CroisiEurope / Gregory Gerault

Take in the Spanish lifestyle in Barcelona

This journey

travels at a leisurely pace but some excursions and land arrangements may include considerable walking with some stairs and uneven surfaces. Cobblestones are used in many European cities, making walking more difficult. Stairs on the barge will be steep and narrow. Members should be in good physical condition, able to climb stairs and to enjoy walking excursions to fully enjoy this cruise.

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Cruise / Tour Only ..................................................... $6,155 Toronto ...................................................................... $7,375 Montreal / Ottawa ...................................................... $7,435 Halifax / St. John’s / Fredericton................................ $7,535 Winnipeg / Thunder Bay ............................................ $7,565 Regina / Saskatoon ................................................... $7,675 Calgary / Edmonton / Vancouver............................... $7,595 Victoria ....................................................................... $7,675

Single supplement ..................................................... $3,625

Rates are per person based on sharing an outside twin cabin. Airfares from other gateways are available on request. Airfares and air carrier are subject to change and will be confirmed prior to final payment. Refer to Inclusive Features for details.

See Deck Plan for more information on available staterooms. Singles are extremely limited and on request. Cruise price is based on sharing a twin-bedded cabin with window and private bathroom. Prices are based on a minimum 20 members and on rates, taxes, and fees effective February 2018 and are subject to change due to factors beyond our control.

Prices DO NOT INCLUDE the cost of insurance which is available and is highly recommended. Premiums vary with the cost, length of the trip, and the traveller’s age. For passengers up to and including 74 years on departure date, premiums will range from $314 to $486 pp plus applicable taxes. Cost supplements for travellers aged 75-85 will range from $191 to $404 pp plus applicable taxes. This insurance is effective from the date of purchase and carries limitations on pre-existing medical conditions. Please discuss your insurance coverage prior to booking. Check our website for the most current information. Refer to the enrollment form for general information and conditions.

Final payment will be due December 12, 2018 Deposit is $1,200 per person

To reserve your spot on this tour, simply complete the enclosed enrollment form, indicating the cruise you wish to join and your home city, and forward it with your deposit to:

Leading this exciting journey will be Janet Williams. Janet recently retired after 35 years in the teaching profession, most recently as a Vice Principal. According to Janet, being a group escort is the perfect retirement activity! It combines her passion for travel and love of new experiences and cultures with the enjoyment of sharing all of this with passengers from all across Canada. She has done extensive personal travelling and has also led successful trips on our behalf to many parts of the world. This includes Myanmar, China, Russia, Australia and New Zealand, Egypt, Tunisia, Madagascar, South America as well as many parts of Europe. She is looking forward to sharing this wonderful travel experience with you!

Basilique de Fourvière in Lyon, France - Credit Mélanie Biel T

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Enjoy the delightful onboard service - Credit CroisiEurope