Want to learn more about barge cruises?  Wondering what the difference is between a “regular” river cruise and a barge cruise? Intrigued whether this is the right type of vacation for you? Want to find the perfect way to charter a river barge for a small friends and family group? Find out during our barge river cruise event!

Join the Q Team to learn more about barge cruises on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 during our Barge Cruise & Croissant event presentation in Chicago at the ĐÓ°É´«Ă˝ office at 980 N. Michigan Avenue, suite 1235 from 10:30-11:30am.  You’ll have the opportunity to find out how a river barge cruise is a great way to explore the French or Dutch country side, as well as some other locations in Europe. Ask our guest presenter as well as the cruise experts at ĐÓ°É´«Ă˝ all about barge cruises.

Simply call Ben at Q now to RSVP, then join us on April 18 to enjoy a coffee and croissant, learn more about this perfect way to explore off-the-beaten-path places in Europe and benefit from special barge cruise offers that are only available to attendees, and meet the cruise and travel experts of ĐÓ°É´«Ă˝.

What you should know:

• Barge Cruise Presentation
• Coffee and Croissant refreshments
• Wednesday, April 18, 2018 from 10:30-11:30am
• Location: ĐÓ°É´«Ă˝, 980 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1235, Chicago, IL (corner of Michigan Avenue and Oak Street, across from the Drake Hotel)
• Attendance is complimentary
• RSVP required by Friday, April 13, 2018.  Please call Ben Leuciuc at Q at (312) 266 7447, ext. 802 or via email to let us know you’d like to attend.  Space is limited.

We look forward to welcoming you!

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Interested in river cruises?  Intrigued whether this is the right type of vacation for you?   Now is your chance to find out!

Join the Q Team to learn more about river cruise travel on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 during our Avalon Waterways River Cruise presentation in Chicago at the ĐÓ°É´«Ă˝ office at 980 N. Michigan Avenue.  You’ll have the opportunity to find out why river cruising is a great way to explore the world, and to ask our guest presenter, Sharon Pendergast from Avalon Waterways, as well as the river cruise experts at ĐÓ°É´«Ă˝ all about river cruises.

During a casual evening presentation, experience what awaits you on Avalon Waterways. Whether you wish to sail through Europe down the legendary Danube or wind through Southeast Asia down the Irrawady River or the mighty Mekong, you’ll see that Avalon Waterways changes the way you see the world.

You’ll hear about the unique Active Discovery Cruises offered only by Avalon Waterways, why river cruising is wonderful for solo travelers, the “Avalon Fresh” healthy dining options developed together by Avalon with two of Europe’s rising culinary stars and much more.

Simply call Ben at Q now to RSVP, then join us on February 6 to enjoy some light refreshments, benefit from special river cruise offers that are only available to attendees and meet the cruise and travel experts of ĐÓ°É´«Ă˝.

What you should know:

• Avalon Waterways River Cruise Presentation
• Guest presentation by Sharon Pendergast from Avalon Waterways
• Tuesday, February 6, 2018 from 6:00 – 7:30pm
• Presentation starts at 6:30pm
• Location: ĐÓ°É´«Ă˝, 980 N. Michigan Avenue, 6h floor Conference Room, Chicago, IL (corner of Michigan Avenue and Oak Street, across from the Drake Hotel)
• Attendance is complimentary
• RSVP required by January 31, 2018.  Please call Ben Leuciuc at Q at (312) 266 7447, ext. 802 or via email to let us know you’d like to attend.  Space is limited.

We look forward to welcoming you!

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Some of our clients confuse a river cruise with a European barge cruise, so we’d like to take a moment to explain the difference:

European River Cruise

A river cruise is a very popular way to vacation on rivers around the world, with purpose-built ships that accommodate (in Europe) from 100 to 190 guests. They are a wonderful way to explore the heart of a country or even continent, including Europe, Asia, Africa and even the Amazon. Daily excursions, fresh, local food and more is included. Itineraries can take you through multiple countries and along reasonable distances: think Amsterdam to Basel, via Holland, Germany and Switzerland; or from Budapest to Nuremberg.  To learn more about river cruises, visit our river cruise page.

Relax on deck of your private river barge

European Barge Cruise

A European barge cruise is very different: in Europe, historic waterways, canals and rivers meander through the European countryside. Many of these waterways and canals were used to transport cargo by small boats, also known as barges.  A number of these barges were extensively renovated and redesigned, and now serve as floating boutique hotels that welcome small groups of guests to some of the most scenic areas of France, the Netherlands during tulip time, and even England, Scotland, Ireland and Italy. During a European barge cruise, you would only sail about 50 miles a week, at a speed of only about 4 miles an hour or so. That allows you to really slow down and take it easy as you truly get to know the area you’re exploring.

While the word “barge” may not conjure up images of luxury, the barges we work with range from “3 to 6 stars”. Think of your (almost) private boat with a dedicated, English-speaking crew led by an expert Captain, comfortable cabins with private facilities, bikes to explore the countryside, a tour guide to coordinate visits to local sights, wineries, museums and more.  A private Chef creates fresh, local meals. A fully stocked bar is included. And yes, you will enjoy creature comforts like air-conditioning, heating, daily maid service, toiletries, hair dryers, Wi-Fi (that will be slower than you’re used to at home).

Since many luxury barges only accommodate as few as 6 or 8 guests (although some can host as many as 22), they are perfect for a getaway with friends or extended family. The team at Q can easily charter one for the exclusive use of your party, although on some you can also simply join other travelers.

Who will enjoy a European Barge Cruise?

Here are some key interests of many European barge cruise enthusiasts: regional, seasonal food; the opportunity to connect with your fellow travelers; relaxing, reading or chatting on deck as you take in the scenery while the barge slowly cruises to a new destination; learning more about the region you’re visiting with your own tour guide; enjoying a glass of wine or two with some regional cheeses; exploring local markets, chateaux, museums.

Once you’re on your barge, pretty much everything (other than gratuities) is included, so you don’t need to worry about being nickled and dimed. Since the service onboard is highly personalized, fares per person start at about $3,500 to $5,000 per person for a week-long European barge cruise.

Sound like you? Give us a call, and we’ll help you find out whether a European barge cruise is something for you.

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Without Emy and her four colleagues, the family owned farm in the Drome department of the Rhone-Alpes region of Southern France would likely perish.  Fortunately, the lovable Emy adores digging for the costly “diamond of the kitchen” as she happily showed us during our visit to Serge and Corrine’s farm.

Our foray into the world of truffles on this excursion (during our France river cruise on the S.S. Catherine, one of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise’s newest river cruise ships to ply the Rhone and Saone rivers through Burgundy and Provence) started with a warm welcome by Serge.  He gladly accepted translation help offered by our guide, Janet, and enthusiastically introduced us to the world of truffles. With generous arm gestures he explained the difference between the summer and winter truffle, both in sensory experience and cost, how his farm operates and how truffle thieves are a problem.  No surprise if you know that a kilo of summer truffles is valued at EUR 100 or more – and the more fragrant winter truffles many times that amount!

Contrary to popular belief, pigs and ducks are no longer the preferred “truffle finders”.  Have you ever tried to get a pig in a car to travel to a distant truffle field?  Instead, friendly and – mostly – obedient dogs like our friend Emy are now trained from birth to like and look for truffles.  I won’t tell you how they do it – that is better coming straight from Serge – but let’s just say it involves milk, cookies and truffles.  Emy is a Lagotta Romagnolo, a loving and loyal Italian dog breed with a highly developed nose – ideal for truffle searching.

Serge and Emy are happy to demonstrate: Serge walks us to a field covered with trees. Full disclosure: in preparation of our visit, he buried several truffles on that field.  It takes Emy about 10 seconds to find the first one. Enthusiastically she digs and digs.  Dust and sand fly everywhere – but in seconds she picks up the baseball sized truffle, brings it to Serge and, at his command, drops it on the floor in front of him.  But not after taking a tiny little bite of the truffle first! This process repeats itself a few times – resulting in a sigh from Serge that Emy may need some recurrent training, as each bite costs him about 10 Euros!

Of course, every culinary excursion includes a moment to sample the goods: Corinne has prepared brioche slices spread with truffle oil and olive tapenade.  And this wouldn’t be France if we wouldn’t be offered a glass of wine too!

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