European Waterways will be offering four, all-inclusive ‘World War One Commemorative Cruises’ in April 2015 aboard its hotel barge La Belle Epoque, on a cruise route that passes right through the battlefields of Northern France.
These special cruises, departing April 5, 12, 19 and 26, will be along the Canal du Nord, between Lille and Compiègne and on the Canal de la Somme between Villers-Bretonneux and Compiègne. Both these waterways were at the centre of battles during the conflict and the cruises will feature excursions to some of the most significant sites and memorials in Flanders and the Somme, such as:
– The Menin Gate in Ypres for the very moving Last Post ceremony
– Vimy Ridge, site of the Canadian National Memorial, Canada’s largest overseas memorial
– The Thiepval memorial, a heart-rending monument to 75,000 missing soldiers who fell during the Battle of the Somme
– The forest clearing at Compiègne where the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918
– The Anzac Dawn Service at 5am on April 25 at the Australian National War Memorial
Each cruise has a carefully planned itinerary and is led by a knowledgeable tour guide. The excursion programmes will have some flexibility built in to allow, where possible, guests of different nationalities to visit sites of particular significance to their own countries.
In addition, there will be interesting cruising through the Picardy countryside, with highlights such as passing through the historic city of Lille and negotiating the 3-mile-long Ruyaulcourt Tunnel.
Each 6-night cruise includes all gourmet meals prepared by the onboard chef, fine wines, an open bar, daily escorted excursions, admissions and local transfers.
European Waterways are also currently offering 10% off the charter price for the April 12 departure and 10% off per cabin on the April 26 departure.
For more information on pricing, cruises and schedules on these barges and more, please visit www.gobarging.com, email sales@gobarging.com or call 1800 828 050.
SOURCE: European Waterways