The 12-passenger Napoléon, part of the Orient-Express collection, is one of Europe 's finest small river cruisers, combining all the amenities of a luxury hotel with the friendly ambiance of a country inn.
She is beautifully appointed with large picture windows that provide unsurpassed views of the countryside. There are six luxurious staterooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom, double basins, shower and heated towel rail. The main deck features a large, elegant salon and separate dining room.
The upper deck has an exterior, canopied dining area, spacious sun deck with loungers, jacuzzi and exercise equipment.
An air-conditioned bus is available for excursions and touring bicycles are carried on board should you wish to bike into the countryside.
Constructed in 1963 from the hull of a commercial freight-carrying barge Measures 129 ft. long by 17.5 ft. wide on three (3) decks Six (6) onboard cabin accommodations Twelve (12) passenger capacity Onboard climate control
PERSONNEL:
Six (6) crew members consisting of Guide, Chef, Matelot (Sailor), two (2) Hostesses, and Captain. This crew speaks both English and French (some may speak other languages, as well).
PUBLIC ROOMS:
Salon
Dining Room
Sun Deck
ONBOARD LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT:
Jacuzzi HI FI system with CD player TV with DVD player Touring bikes Exercise equipment Board games Small library of books Writing desk Guest computer with internet access
MOBILITY RESTRICTIONS:
Napoleon has no wheelchair access. There are stairs connecting the three (3) levels on board Napoleon which may be difficult for those with extremely limited mobility to navigate.
DECK PLAN:
A cruise aboard the Napoleon is a memorable experience, combining the sophisticated amenities of this unique river cruiser with the gourmet cuisine prepared by your personal chef and the discovery of sun-drenched landscapes that inspired the great canvases of Cézanne and Van Gogh.
Napoleon is offers her guests six (6) luxurious, elegantly appointed suites averaging 150 sq ft of space each: One (1) upper deck cabin with large windows and five (5) lower deck cabins.
CABIN SIZE:
All cabins are very similar in size and are equally comfortable. The size listed below for each cabin includes bathroom area.
Cabin 1 - Approx. 130 sq. ft.
Cabin 2 - Approx. 140 sq. ft.
Cabin 3 - Approx. 149 sq. ft.
Cabin 4 - Approx. 140 sq. ft.
Cabin 5 - Approx. 140 sq. ft.
Cabin 6 - Approx. 140 sq. ft.
BEDDING CONFIGURATION & SIZE:
Each cabin comes with the choice of two (2) single beds, or one (1) double bed. When cabins are in twin configuration, beds will be parallel to each other with a gap in between.
BATHROOMS:
All cabins have private bath facilities, complete with large pedestal basins, toilet, and showers. As an extra touch of comfort, the bathrooms feature heated towel rack for the colder season. Each bathroom come well-stocked with towels and body products.
Napoleon's elegant salon is the perfect place to sit back and relax. The salon is stocked with comfortable sofas, a lavish dining room, and a BOSE Ipod docking station. There's also a digital piano for guest entertainment. The salon also features:
Sofas
Coffee table
Armchairs
Lobby with well-stocked bar
Writing desk
Guest computer with internet access
Library of books, games, and videos
Dressed in varnished hardwood and light pastels, the Salon is additionally open and light due to its abundance of picture windows; a perfect place to relax indoors.
DINING ROOM:
Napoleon's Main Deck is large enough to offer a separate dining area with a beautifully set table that seats twelve (12) comfortably.
ON DECK:
The Sun Deck is a spacious open-air gathering area that occupies the entire length of the Upper Deck. Complete with Jacuzzi, tables, and exercise equipment, it has an assortment of options sure to satisfy the entertainment needs of all passengers. The beautiful deck furniture consists of:
Reclining chairs
Table with chairs
Canopy
The Sun Deck is perfect for sun bathing and enjoying the beautiful scenery as you slowly wind through the canals of France.
OFF BOAT:
As a river yacht, opportunities to spend time off boat are fewer compared to a canal barge; however, river yachts cover more distance at greater speeds, allowing passengers to experience more of their surroundings in a shorter time (unlike canal barges, which cruise at a walking pace). Shore excursions are limited to the suggested itinerary, but the faster cruising speed of Napoleon makes for more opportunities to explore different locations.
An air-conditioned 13 seat Mercedes Sprinter mini-bus (with driver) will be your transportation during excursions.
The Napoléon cruises the Rhône in Provence between Arles and Tain l'Hermitage/Tournon, a region full of sophisticated architecture dating back to the Roman civilization and ruins of fortifications, arenas and aqueducts that continue to amaze modern engineers.
The endless vistas of tiled roofs, lavender fields and olive groves are synonymous with Provence .
Excursions are arranged to the wine region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the storybook towns of Orange , Avignon , Arles , St Rémy, birthplace of Nostradamus and the ancient Roman and Greek ruins of Pont-du-Gard and Glanum.
On selected dates, the Napoléon also cruises the river Saône from Lyon to St. Jean de Losne, visiting Lyon, France's second city, the Beaujolais region, Mâcon, the totally restored Abbey of St. Philibért in Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saône, the Côte Challonais and Beaune.
Napoleon is owned by Orient Express, providing an extremely high standard of service with a high crew-to-guest ratio: although domiciled in France the staff are mostly native English speakers.
The crew are dedicated to providing the highest levels of service to every guest and every member of staff plays their part in delivering the “ultimate barging experience”. The crew can be called upon at any time to assist you with any special requests you may have.
This specially trained crew pampers you from the time you arrive. Your personal guide introduces you to the district's most renowned vineyards, architectural landmarks, regional activities and local traditions.
Please note that cruise directions are subject to change and may depend upon bookings and local navigation conditions.
2010 PRICING
Individual Cabin Bookings
7 Days / 6 Nights Sunday - Saturday
Per Person (2 sharing)
$5,500
Full Boat Private Charter
7 Days / 6 Nights Sunday - Saturday
For 12 guests
$66,000
For 11 guests
$63,000
For 10 guests
$60,000
For 9 guests
$57,000
For 8 guests
$54,000
Price includes:
A 7-day/6-night cruise in a cabin on board Napoleon All meals All wines with meals Open bar All escorted side excursions Use of internet connection Use of onboard bicycles
Price does not include:
Roundtrip flight to Paris & return Transfers to the barge & return Transportation from Paris to Avignon or Valence & return Gratuities ________________________________________________________________________
JOINING AND LEAVING THE CRUISE
Rates for barges are on a shore-to-shore basis exclusive of transfers, which use local train stations as pick-up and drop-off locations. TGV transfers to and from Paris can be booked at an additional charge of $300 per person. Please use the schedule of pick-up and drop-off locations below as your guide
Schedule of Trains Departing Paris for:
AVIGNON or ARLES: Avignon Station TGV6113 departing at 1:16pm and arriving at 3:56pm
CHALON or ST. JEAN: Dijon Station TGV7661 departing at 2:10pm and arriving at 3:47pm
LYON: Lyon Perrache TGV6617 departing at 1:54pm and arriving at 4:09pm
MACON: Macon Station TGV6941 departing at 1:50pm and arriving at 3:25pm
TAIN: Valence Station TGV6211 departing at 1:20pm and arriving at 3:34pm
Schedule of Train Departing for Paris from:
AVIGNON or ARLES: Avignon Station TGV6172 departing at 9:31am and arriving at 12:11pm
CHALON or ST. JEAN: Dijon Station TGV6710 departing at 9:57am and arriving at 11:37am
LYON: Lyon Perrache TGV6612 departing at 9:46am and arriving at 12:03pm
MACON: Macon Station TGV6969 departing at 11:46am and arriving at 1:23pm
TAIN: Valence Station TGV6208 departing at 11:36am and arriving at 1:49pm
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