Champagne Barge Cruise 2026

Welcome to C’est la Vie!

You will be met at 3:00 pm in Paris. For charter groups, pick-up will be 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, 143 Boulevard St Germain, 75006 Paris, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 51 60 00.

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

Chateau Thierry, nestled into the Champagne-producing slopes, is associated with the Frankish King Charles Martel, whose castle here was built in the 8th century, and Joan of Arc, who entered through the town gates in 1421.

Sightseeing: WW1 Battlefield and cemetery of Belleau Wood and the American Monument

Cruise to Dormans.

Begin the day with our breakfast buffet featuring freshly baked pastries! While cruising on the River Marne toward Dormans, take in the stunning scenery of the wooded countryside. Villages hug the shore, and fishermen wave as we pass.

After lunch (served alfresco, weather permitting), we will visit the French-American Friendship Monument, built in 1929, which overlooks Chateau Thierry and the Marne Valley. Next, we visit the WW1 Battlefield and cemetery of Belleau Wood, site of the Second Battle of the Marne in 1918. This battle ended the last German offensive of WW1, with 8,000 American casualties. Finally, we pay our respects at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery.

Return to the C’est la Vie for dinner aboard.

Sightseeing: Epernay, Boizel, Haultevilliers

Cruise to Damery.

After breakfast, cruise to Damery through a gorgeous landscape of villages, vineyards, and forests. After lunch, take a short drive to visit the Boizel Champagne House in Epernay, founded in 1834 by Auguste Boizel and Julie Martin, pastry chefs turned winemakers. Tour their cellars and enjoy a tasting.

Next, visit Haultevilliers, a charming village overlooking the vineyards. Tour the church of Dom Perignon, credited with inventing the champagne production process.

Back aboard, enjoy a gourmet dinner.

Sightseeing: Chocolaterie “Thibaut”

Cruise to Mareuil-sur-Ay.

Dinner at Les Crayeres in Reims (2 Michelin Stars).

After breakfast, we visit Pierry to learn the art of chocolate making at Chocolaterie Thibaut. Create your own chocolates to take home. After lunch on board, enjoy a relaxing cruise to Mareuil-sur-Ay through scenery reminiscent of Impressionist paintings.

There’s plenty of time to prepare for your elegant dinner ashore at the Michelin-starred Les Crayeres in Reims.

Sightseeing, Family champagne domaine. Ployez-Jacquemart

Cruise to Isse

Another opportunity before lunch to put on your walking shoes or ride a bicycle along the towpath 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, in the small town of Ludes at Ployez Jacquemart.

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

Sightseeing, Reims with the Cathedral

Cruise to Sillery (Reims)

Cruise this morning to Sillery (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 have a coffee in many of the sidewalk 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

After breakfast, you will be chauffeured back to Paris. We hope to see you again on the C’est La Vie!