Péniche Champagne | France Canal Cruise & Tour

With a taste of Champagne every day of the tour, this joyous journey is an exclusive barge cruise, sailing along the majestic Marne Canal, visiting intriguing villages and exploring iconic towns, from the capital of the country to the ‘capital of Champagne’, Épernay

A relaxing float enhanced by a renowned fizz, your cruise is aboard the Péniche Déborah, each spacious vessel complete with stylish lounge bar and dining room, sun deck and jacuzzi terrace, and ten well-equipped cabins. The meandering Canal de la Marne teams the tranquillity of its rural journey with the taste of the best Champagnes, and tours of historic towns, on a route from proud landmarks in the heart of Paris to prestigious Champagne houses in Épernay. Constructed in the mid-19^th century, it is a delightful fusion of form and function, its first port the ancient city of Lagny-sur-Marne, focused on an abbey and a Jeanne d’Arc legend. Majestic façades meet the water’s edge at Meaux, famed for its episcopal status and for its Brie cheese; while grandeur gives way to a gentler tempo in the tiny rural town of Saint-Jean-les-Deux-Jumeaux and amid the charming streets of Chateau-Thierry, nestled beneath sun-soaked vineyard slopes. Monuments in Dormans mark its cultural heritage; Hautvillers, ‘the Pearl of Champagne’, feeds body and soul with the wines and abbey of Benedictine monk Dom Perignon; and regal Reims trumpets a thousand years of history in a feast of Gothic glory.

Overview

Day 1 - Paris
Day 2 - Paris/Lagny-sur-Marne
Day 3 - Lagny-sur-Marne/Isles-les-Meldeuses/Saint-Jean-Les-Deux-Jumeaux
Day 4 - Saint-Jean-Les-Deux-Jumeaux/Chateau Thierry
Day 5 - Chateau Thierry/Dormans
Day 6 - Reims/Epernay
Day 7 - Epernay/Paris

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Tour Highlights

Small vessel cruising
Drink Champagne every day
Wander through chic Paris
Brie de Meaux tasting
Follow the Champagne route
UNESCO Site: Reims Cathedral

With a taste of Champagne every day of the tour, this joyous journey is an exclusive barge cruise, sailing along the majestic Marne Canal, visiting intriguing villages and exploring iconic towns, from the capital of the country to the ‘capital of Champagne’, Épernay

Itinerary

Day 1

Travel from London to Paris on the Eurostar, and transfer to embark on the barge, moored close to the Eiffel Tower, for your six-night cruise, which begins with a welcome Champagne reception and an introduction to the crew.
(D)

Key: B - Breakfast L - Lunch D - Dinner

- Itinerary -

Key: B - Breakfast L - Lunch D - Dinner

Day 1

Travel from London to Paris on the Eurostar, and transfer to embark on the barge, moored close to the Eiffel Tower, for your six-night cruise, which begins with a welcome Champagne reception and an introduction to the crew.
(D)

Day 2

A morning tour of the capital shows you its elegant boulevards, the Place de la Republique’s convivial space and commanding statue, the lavishly ornate Paris Opera, grandiose façades of the Place Vendôme, and iconic glass pyramid of the Louvre; and takes you back in time on a walk along some of the city’s prettiest covered arcades. The afternoon cruise lets you see central Paris from the water as you sail toward historic Lagny-sur-Marne. Enjoy a pre-dinner glass of Champagne.
(B, L, D)

Day 3

This morning’s cruise takes us to Isles-les-Meldeuses. Afternoon tour of Meaux, passes its Gallo-Roman ramparts and views the flamboyant architecture of the Saint Étienne Cathedral, the medieval Palace of Bishops (now the Bossuet Museum), and its gorgeous 15th century Bossuet Gardens. Relish a tasting of ‘the king of cheeses’, Brie de Meaux, before re-joining the barge at its new mooring in Saint-Jean-les-Deux-Jumeaux, and a Champagne aperitif before dinner aboard.
(B, L, D)

Day 4

Cruise through the heart of the Seine-et-Marne countryside, cloaked in its patchwork of Champagne vines, enroute to our overnight mooring at the riverside town of Château-Thierry, its hilltop crowned by castle ruins and the 16th century Chateau Fontaine. We visit the town’s Hôtel-Dieu and enjoy a Champagne tasting.
(B, L, D)

Day 5

Sail to Dormans this morning, whose heritage is highlighted in its 14th century castle and church-like ‘Memorial to the Battle of the Marne’. An afternoon excursion follows the famous Champagne route from here to Hautvillers, in the Montagne de Reims Regional National Park. This picturesque village is the birthplace of the bubbly, where Dom Perignon perfected his method to produce ‘the best wine in the world’, which we will taste, in a local Champagne house, before returning to the barge.
(B, L, D)

Day 6

Relax aboard on the morning journey to Épernay, where the town’s most famous landmark is the Avenue de Champagne, lined with leading Champagne producers. An afternoon excursion takes us to Reims, the ‘City of Coronations’, with a guided visit of its historic centre and its UNESCO listed Notre Dame Cathedral, where, for more than a millennium, the kings of France were crowned. Return to the barge for a final Champagne toast to your cruise and a special farewell dinner.
(B, L, D)

Day 7

Disembark in Épernay and transfer to Paris for your return train journey to London.
(B)

Notes:

Cabins are available from 5pm on arrival and until 9am on departure (before/after this, luggage storage on board is possible).

The programme may be altered due to navigational factors with locks, water levels or congestion at certain sites.

Vessels

Peniche Deborah Barge Vessel, France, Exterior

Peniche Deborah Barge Vessel, France, Lounge

Peniche Deborah Barge Vessel, France, Bar

Peniche Deborah

Launched in 2016, Péniche Déborah is registered in France with a mainly European crew. For 20 years Jules Verne has been the main UK partner of the innovative French cruise company, CroisiEurope, established 40 years ago, now boasting the largest European river and barge fleet (over 40 ships), yet still operated by the same family. All drinks, except premium brands are included throughout the cruise. Enjoy International and French cuisine with a choice of French wines in an elegant one-sitting dining room. Breakfast is a buffet, lunch and dinner waiter service. Reception, lounge bar, sun terrace with Jacuzzi and sundeck, WiFi (free/limited). Bicycles are available for use when the vessel is moored. The vessel does not sail at night. 10 air-conditioned lower deck cabins (96 sq. ft.) with picture window, private facilities, hairdryer, safe and satellite TV. 1 air-conditioned double upper deck cabin (118 sq. ft.) with picture window, private facilities, hairdryer and safe.

View Deck Plan

Dates & Prices
Supplements, Extras & Upgrades

Dates & Prices

per person in a twin Lower Deck cabin

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Thu 29 May 2025

From London St Pancras Int

£ 2595

Thu 18 Sep 2025

From London St Pancras Int

£ 2675

Price Includes:

Rail travel, all port charges, transfers, 6-night cruise, breakfast daily, full board and drinks on cruise vessel, excursions, local expert guides and representatives. If our specially negotiated rail fares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.

Not Included:

Travel insurance, visa procurement, optional excursions, tipping, porterage, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.

Supplements per person

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Single Supplement

Single Supplement
£1375

Upgrades

Peniche Deborah - Upper Deck Double Cabin from £145

Peniche Deborah - Lower Deck Twin for sole use Cabin 106 from £1375

Rail Options

Eurostar Plus
£225

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