France
Champagne River Cruise with Alsace
Sit back and relax as Ker & Downey takes you on a sparkling sojourn through the vineyards and hamlets of northeastern France on a Champagne river cruise. Retreat to France’s Grand-Est for a luxury barging journey along the river Marne. Continue with a land-based private discovery of the artisans and alpine wine labels of Alsace before returning to Paris for a few days amid the bright lights and shopping in the city.
Of course, Ker & Downey’s Champagne River Cruise is all about simple sophistication and under-the-radar luxury. It begins first with a stay in the ultra-posh confines of Paris’s Hotel Lutetia. This refurbished icon of 1920s glamour sits amid the covetable streets of Saint-Germain-des-Près. From your luxury accommodations, meet with a renowned antiques specialist. He will take you on a guided shopping tour of the world’s most unique flea markets with over one thousand stands, galleries, and booths to explore.
Then you will be transferred to the Champagne region to begin your luxury Europe river cruise along the Marne River aboard the Belmond Hirondelle. You’ll have the chance to sample the famed champagnes of Moët & Chandon, a liquid legend with more than 200 years of history, in Epernay. Next, visit the abbey of Dom Perignon in Hautvillers. The vines he planted in the 17th century are still producing some of the world’s finest wines. Finally, explore historic champagne houses, idyllic riverside towns, and hidden medieval hamlets in Chalons-en-Champagne and Reims. Bistro lunches and elevated dinners await you at every turn on your luxury Champagne river cruise.
After six nights aboard your luxury barge, dive further into the Grand-Est region with a private guided tour through Alsace. Alsace represents a myriad of cultures and flavors. Discover the unique artisanal heritage of Alsace with a full-day introduction to France’s most important glassmakers: Daum, Baccarat, and Lalique. Their work conquered the world charming royalty like Tsar Nicolas II, the British Queen, and the Japanese Emperor. Then spend a day along Alsace’s famed Wine Route, witnessing Colmar’s colorful timber-framed houses. You will also visit the imposing Haut-Koenigsbourg castle and taste the Sylvaner Grand Cru Zotzenberg at the Mittelbergheim wine museum.
A riverboat tour of Strasbourg followed by a guided walk will allow you to soak in the city’s beautiful canals and Alsatian architecture before returning to Paris by train. On your final day in France, spend time shopping in Paris with a renowned antiques specialist, or customize your tour further with a specialist guide of your choosing. Then wrap up your journey with a festive dinner cruise on the river Seine.
Experience a Champagne River Cruise with Ker & Downey
Looking for additional France luxury river cruise inspiration? A Champagne River Cruise pairs beautifully with neighboring Burgundy. A Ker & Downey’s oenologist guide will lead you along the Route des Grands Crus for some of the most prestigious and exclusive wine tastings in the world.
Contact a Ker & Downey Travel Professional to personalize your own luxury exploration of the fine wines of France, and read more about the seasonality and pricing in Western Europe. For even more travel inspiration, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.