Frequently Asked Questions

There are small grocery shops or in some cases large supermarkets along the route as well as butchers, green grocers, bakers, patisseries, traiteurs (who sell ready-prepared local dishes) and at least one opportunity to shop for provisions at a spectacular local farmer's market.

The kitchen is well equipped with: Kettle, coffee machine, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, oven, hob, a selection of crockery, cutlery, glassware, cooking utensils, pans and baking trays. There is also a barbecue on board.

• Fruit bowl
• Fresh flowers
• Fresh bread
• A bottle of red, white and sparkling wine
• Tea, coffee, milk, sugar, butter, jam, bottled water
• Hand soap, shower gel and shampoo in both bathrooms
• Washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, washing detergent, toilet tissue and cleaning materials

Yes! Just about anywhere - from wine producers themselves, in supermarkets, in specialist shops and from the markets. We even have a stock of excellent regional wines (the whites are already chilled in a wine fridge) available for you to purchase onboard the barge.

There are restaurants at most of the mooring locations and if they are not within walking distance they are a short cycle or taxi ride away.

Very little other than personal clothes and possessions - whatever you would normally take to a hotel or villa.

Yes, both cabins have hairdryers

There are frequent trains from Paris Gare de Lyon station (in central Paris) direct to Montargis. The barge's own vehicle will collect you from the station in Montargis and take you to the barge at the start of your cruise and will drop you at the station at the end of your cruise. The train journey takes about 85 minutes so you would need to leave Paris no later than 15.00 on Monday to get to the barge and we will arrange for you to catch a train which will return you to Paris no later than midday on the return journey.

If not arriving by train or if staying locally, you can check in anytime between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on your arrival day. We ask you to vacate the barge by 9.30am on the day of departure.

Should you wish to keep your car with you during the cruise, your Captain can assist you to move your car before or after cruising each day so that it is always parked where you are moored. This service is provided free of charge.

Should you wish to leave your car parked for the duration of your cruise, we offer free, secure, open-air parking nearby. We will transfer you to and from the parking area free of charge at the start and finish of your cruise.

• Paris Charles de Gaulle: 136kms
• Paris Orly: 104kms
• Paris Beauvais: 197kms
• Tours: 188kms

*Montargis is at the northern end of our route. Chatillon sur Loire (the southerly most point) is a further 45 mins/45kms away from Paris.

Yes, we can arrange for a reliable local taxi company to collect you or return you to Paris or the airports. An example of their approximate price is Montargis to Charles de Gaulle Airport at €325 (one way for four passengers not including gratuity).

No, your Captain can easily handle the barge alone but you may be asked to take a rope from him occasionally. All of the locks on the canal are automatic or manned so there is no need to operate the locks but your offer of help will never be declined if you would like to aid the lock keeper and your Captain.

No, the barge will be professionally cleaned after your departure but we ask that you dispose of any rubbish/recycling, wash up and load the dishwasher before you check out.

Bed linen, towels and tea-towels are provided.

Fuel, mooring fees, electricity and water are all included in your charter price.

Please consult the "Excursions" page.

The barge is equipped with four adult bikes that are suitable for passengers ranging from approximately 5' to 6'5". For hygiene reasons we do not supply cycle helmets but you are welcome to bring your own.

Yes, four adult life jackets are provided.

Yes, the barge has a 220 v system throughout. All sockets are for French two pin plugs so you may need a converter or transformer to convert the socket and/or power supply to suit your appliances.

The barge has central heating throughout. Both cabins and the salon are air-conditioned.

No, we regret we do not allow pets on board the barge.

Smoking is not permitted anywhere onboard the barge but there are plenty of opportunities to disembark whilst cruising and you can easily step off the barge to smoke once moored.

Approximately four hours per day.

As "C'est la vie" has open deck areas she is not really suitable for smaller children. We recommend that the barge is most suited for children aged 14 years upwards or babies who are not yet mobile.

The barge does NOT have wheelchair access but there are only four steps between levels on board. The walkway is generally not too steep and has a handrail along one side so provided guests can walk reasonably comfortably, there should be no problem.

A security deposit of EUROS €1000, GBP £1000 or US $1500 for the charter is required in case of damage to the vessel or it's contents, caused by guests and can be paid/will be refunded in the following ways:

Euro/Sterling/Dollar cash on arrival. Your deposit will be refunded less any charges arising from damage as necessary on the morning of your departure.

Credit card transaction (MasterCard or Visa, in Euros€ only) on arrival. The payment will be authorised but not debited from your card. The authorisation will be cancelled on the day of your departure unless charges have been incurred, in which case a payment will be processed to the value of those charges.

Golf, hot-air ballooning, swimming, tennis and kayaking can be arranged very near the cruise route at additional cost.

The barge can only be chartered on a whole boat basis.

Each cabin has plenty of wardrobe space and there is additional cupboard space elsewhere on the barge. However, you are advised to travel as lightly as possible - especially if transferring by train, since there are rarely porters available at French train stations and you will have to handle your luggage yourselves.

The barge can accommodate four adults. Children under the age of one year can come for free but over the age of one are considered to be full paying guests. Life jackets, cots and high chairs for babies can be hired at additional cost.