French Country Waterways Offers 40 Percent Off Discount

French Country Waterways is offering 40 percent off select departures of barge cruises in July and August. The 18-passenger luxury barge Esprit makes its way through Burgundy's Côte d'Or wine-growing region for $2,995 per person, double, a 43 percent savings off the normal rate of $5,295. Standard fares of $6,595 and $6,795 for the eight-passenger luxury barge Princess, formerly the private barge of shipping magnate Daniel K. Ludwig, are reduced to $4,500 and $4,700. The July 6 departure of the company's newest barge, the 12-passenger Adrienne, which sails in Champagne between Maizy and Château-Thierry, is priced at $4,495, a 30 percent discount, and also includes a night at the Hotel Raphael in Paris.

These six-night cruises combine a leisurely upscale existence, tastings of dozens of Grand and Premier Cru wines and locally produced cheeses, and meals both aboard and at a Michelin-starred restaurants. Passengers can explore the villages, century-old vineyards, historic architecture and wine tastings in private cellars. The Esprit's route follows the narrow 18th-century Canal du Centre, the River Saône and the Canal de Bourgogne between St. Léger-sur-Dheune and Dijon. The Princess plies the Canal de la Marne au Rhin between Nancy and Hochfelden in the Alsace-Lorraine region. And the Adrienne sails on the Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne and the River Marne, showcasing champagne producers including the House of Ployez-Jacquemart and the vast cellars of Moët & Chandon. Prices cover accommodations, all meals, estate-bottled wines, open bar, daily sightseeing excursions, bicycles for riding along the towpaths and the surrounding countryside, and escorted transfers between Paris and the barge. Hot-air ballooning is an option. For more information 800-640-4899