Touring the Alsace Area Onboard La Nouvelle Etoile, My Most Luxurious Journey But
When you have solely been to Paris, then you haven’t actually skilled France. Positive, the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower might get you an Instagrameable second, however you gained’t really feel in your coronary heart what France is actually about.
The identical goes for cheese and wine. You haven’t actually tasted cheese and wine till you’ve got devoured it near its supply, alongside the canals of the Alsace area of France.
The proper approach to actually tour France (and actually get pleasure from French wine and cheese) is on an opulent canal barge cruise chosen only for you by Barge Girl Cruises. Step aboard my four-cabin, eight-passenger, six-star vessel and it feels such as you’re aboard a floating membership ground, the place the surroundings modifications by the second. Right here, you’ll expertise the most effective of France, topped off by service far above and past every other hospitality on this planet.
No matter you think about this may be like, dream greater.
Once I arrived at La Nouvelle Etoile, I wasn’t certain what to anticipate. I stepped onto the barge and was greeted by the employees. Not simply any employees; my private employees for the week. I used to be certain I have to be dreaming. Little did I do know, this was the primary expertise of numerous that will make me cease and say, “Pinch me” time and again, even out loud.
Now, I’ve been a luxurious journey professional for years, so I do know what to anticipate for top-level service. I’ve seen all of it.
Not this. The service on the La Nouvelle Etoile was past what I ever thought I’d expertise in my lifetime. I discovered that true luxurious is just not a few grandiose marble foyer, however slightly small, personalized, six-star (sure, six-star) moments all through an expertise.
Any followers right here of “Under Deck,” the Bravo TV present? Properly, there’s no “June, June, Hannah” on this journey. Your employees (saying that simply doesn’t get previous) will be certain your wants aren’t solely met, however anticipated. My chief stew, Gabi, knew earlier than we did that one hour earlier than lunch was the best Bloody Mary hour. I’ve now introduced this ritual residence with me and follow it on the weekends as a “memento” of my journey. (I toast to Gabi each Sunday, and typically weekdays with out the vodka!) Spot-on, anticipatory service is the very best mark of hospitality.
It’s no surprise celebrities and journey execs (even past me) select to journey this magical French barge. Previously, it has welcomed the film stars, the Rockefellers, TV stars comparable to Doris Roberts and likewise well-known authors like Ken Follett. The crew made certain I felt like a star myself.
What to Count on
This approach to journey modified my life, my views and the way I perceive luxurious; it was price a lot greater than phrases can outline. Everybody’s itinerary is designed round their very own desires and needs, so there is no such thing as a one approach to do a French canal cruise.
Historical past and Wine
On my journey, the wine was a excessive precedence, since we have been floating by means of the wine route of Alsace, France. Tasting the wine at its supply was a deal with, however assembly the precise winemaker was a spotlight of our journey.
We stopped to take part in a tasting held inside a construction that has been used for winemaking for the reason that 1400s, on the multi-generational Albert Seltz vineyard. In truth, our winemaker is the 14th-generation proprietor, who took over the enterprise from his father in 1980 at solely 19 years previous. He’s now prepping his son to sometime run the well-known vineyard. Now, that’s the actual deal, ripe with historical past and tradition that you just simply can’t get in an everyday wine tour.
The Albert Seltz vineyard takes severely the creation of every bottle of wine, each prior to now and sooner or later. Winemakers right here take nice care to protect the earth that offers them their beautiful Grand Cru and different varieties. My favourite was the Sylvner Vieilles Vignes. In fact, I introduced some residence.
I additionally took residence some new data about wine. The winemaker taught me how one can focus on wine in a well mannered manner, referring to wine notes as in the event that they have been personalities. I additionally discovered how one can correctly flip down a wine that doesn’t agree with me. By no means say you don’t get pleasure from wine, particularly to the winemaker. Simply reply that you just don’t “perceive it.”
Superb Eating
Meals was additionally an necessary part of my expertise on the cruise. The meals on La Nouvelle Etoile was as magnificent as a Michelin-star restaurant in Paris. Chef Louis is enthusiastic about what he serves his friends, and he gathers recent herbs from the on-board backyard. Whereas touring, he continues to seek for particular components (and cheese) to include sooner or later.
One wow second was at breakfast …if eating on quiche lorraine whereas cruising close to Loraine is just not in your bucket checklist – put it there now. By some means every chew simply tasted higher. That is likely one of the luxurious wow moments you may expertise onboard a Barge Girl Cruise. Sure, it was one other “pinch me – I have to be dreaming moments”.
Each element mattered. Meals have been introduced on Wedgewood China with Christofle silver flatware and positive crystal. The day began with a made-to-order breakfast that featured a chef’s particular, comparable to French toast. Every lunch and dinner was paired with two wines (purple and white) and a cheese board representing Europe. The chef took the time to share the story and historical past behind every cheese.
Then, naturally, an hour earlier than lunch was time for the Bloody Mary hour (once more, cheers to Gabi!). Every day additionally featured hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail hour with our captain/ship proprietor, Jan, this was adopted by the positive, multi-course dinner. To finish every outstanding day, we retired to the salon for espressos and home-made candies.
Curated Tradition
Foods and drinks have been only the start of our style of France. On my tour, each afternoon we’ve whisked away on non-public excursions of chateau ruins, museums and extra alongside the route.
For instance, the top of the week concluded with an intensive tour of Strasbourg, the capital of the historic Alsace wine area, in addition to the seat of the European Parliament and residential to one of many world’s oldest Christmas markets. Strasbourg is one half French, one half German, and its metropolis middle is an interesting UNESCO as a World Heritage Website.
The pliability of the each day itinerary is likely one of the finest elements of a canal barge cruise, as it’s personalized to fulfill your personal pursuits. Bilingual guides transport you in a roomy, air-conditioned van, eradicating any typical inconveniences of visiting vacationer websites. Whether or not we visited an enthralling village off the crushed path or a well-known web site, our information made certain there have been no strains, no crowds, no worries.
Our information, Franck, spoke extra languages than I may sustain with, and he provided deep historic and cultural data. One night time, he even mesmerized us along with his piano-playing skills within the parlor. When a museum we wished to go to was closed, Franck in some way scored us a personal tour. After we craved that excellent panoramic picture of the town, Franck acquired us entry to a rooftop that was closed to most of the people.
Cruising the canals of France on a Barge Girl Cruise might be as energetic or as relaxed as you need it to be. In the event you’re not up for exploring a fortress, sit again and sip tea all afternoon, or take a jaunt on horseback by means of the Black Forest. Each morning after breakfast, I both took a leisurely stroll alongside the canal or a fast journey on the electrical bikes into the villages to see what I may uncover. In the future, I discovered the place an enormous flock of storks frolicked in a small village alongside the canal. (I’m wondering if that’s the place infants come from?)
Past the Barge
One other approach to make your French journey extra easy is to rearrange transportation with Blacklane upon your arrival.
After waking from an in a single day flight, the very last thing you wish to do is fear about customs and your baggage. Our Blacklane consultant met us on the airplane door and instantly led us by means of specific lanes with none ready. We have been guided by means of immigration and customs with none stops or hesitations. We by no means noticed a line or waited. I felt like a VIP (and I swear folks have been eyeing me making an attempt to determine if I used to be some well-known star).
Additionally, I used to be so chill complete journey for a lot of causes, but in addition since I knew if I wished to step again into my common world for only a second to share my wonderful experiences of the canal cruise, I had WiFi onboard and Tep Wi-fi WiFi with a scorching spot to take into the villages and cities. I had a number of social media-worthy moments, so it got here in useful for certain.
After my cruise, I returned residence, this time pinching myself about my fond reminiscences. I couldn’t think about a greater approach to uncover a vacation spot than aboard a Barge Girl Cruise — being pampered like by no means earlier than, ingesting the most effective French wine with my style buds delighted by a personal chef. I now wish to journey the world by canal. I want I may.
Sorry, I’ve acquired to run! It’s Bloody Mary time.
*** Thanks to Jan Meijer his employees and Barge Girl Cruises for all their hospitality. I miss you all!