ALEGRIA is a barge of the Freyssinet type, built in 1937 at a shipyard in Thuin, Belgium.

She was originally 38,5 meters long and 5,07 meters wide, designed for loads of 400 tons, but in 1999 the ship was converted to a houseboat and shortened to 29.37 meters (100 feet). Her present length now allows passage through the smaller locks of the famous Canal du Midi.

She is docked near Poilhes, a charming village on the Canal du Midi, 12 km from Beziers, 20 km from the Mediterranean Sea and close to Narbonne. You will either embark or disembark from this charming village that contains many remains from the Roman times.

Do not hesitate to enjoy the (heated!) pool after a warm afternoon … or just relax while enjoying some pre-dinner drinks …

Deck layout (click image to enlarge)

Interior layout (click image to enlarge)

The large lounge / dining room has two big portholes offering direct views of the Canal … and its inhabitants: our friends the ducks and geese.

A home theatre with a selection of CDs will give you some added pleasure, as well as a selection of books and parlour games. We offer you internet access through the connection of a 3G+ USB key to your laptop ...

The bar is well stocked with many of your favorite drinks, all of them offered to you. There is also a specific bar fridge and a coffee/tea making machine for your own use.

The kitchen is either open onto the lounge or closed, depending on whether our chef will allow you to watch him prepare his secret dishes … but, don't despair, he sometimes does share his secrets with you!!!

For your important documents or anything of value, we have a safe.

Two large guest rooms with en-suite bathrooms, totaling between 18 and 20 sq m ( 190 to 210 sq ft) each, are located on the sides of the boat. These cabins each have two entrances: one leading directly outside to the front of the barge near the pool and another one opening inside to the lounge. This allows both intimacy and independence.

The rooms have large portholes which offer panoramic views of the Canal du Midi.

The cabins are fitted with king size beds that can be separated into single beds upon request. You will be supplied with bath robes, bath amenities (from the famous product line "L’Occitane en Provence") and a hair drier.

In your room, you'll also find a mini-fridge full of cool drinks and a tea & coffee tray with biscuits.

Both cabins have air conditioning. In the event of a cool night at the end of the season, the cabins are equipped with central heating, as are the bathrooms which are also fitted with heated towel rails.

Daily housekeeping is provided and we can propose a laundry service upon request.

The Alegria has a crew of 5 including the Captain, Olivier Baudry. Half are French natives and half are British nationals: the perfect balance for your cruise!!

• Olivier Baudry, the owner of the barge, is a French native. He has been passionate about rivers, canals and river boats for thirty years. In the 1980’s he owned successively two house-boats moored in Paris and he had a great time cruising with friends across the French capital for several years.
  
  In 1989, with his passion in mind, Olivier left his secure job as a corporate banker and launched two luxurious river-boats in Paris. These were focused on the market of corporate and incentive events.
  
  Olivier then passed fifteen years in Cape Town, South Africa, managing his own tour-operating company. Late 2007 he came back to France to fulfill his passion and launch a cruising hotel-barge.
  
  Olivier has settled down along the Canal du Midi and he now runs Alegria for your pleasure ...
  
  Having a real French Native as your Captain is definitely a Huge Plus for your cruise!!!

• Peter Shaw is our Chef; he is well known on the Canal as he has been managing the hotel barge La Tortue for several years. His reputation as an excellent chef has quickly grown and extends well beyond the borders of the Canal.

• Gladys Say has been working for many years as a TV presenter and a journalist for a French television channel. Her passion for gastronomy becoming an important hobby over the years, she has been led to organize private up-market events in Paris between two successful TV shows. She is presently perfecting her techniques and knowledge in a catering school. After a training that she will make in a Michelin Star restaurant, she will join Alegria from June 2010 as the Gastronomist onboard. Gladys is Olivier’s Partner.

  
  
• Your hostess is English and French speaking. She is an important part of your daily life on board for serving the meals, preparing your rooms and being available to help you to find your way on the barge... and around the Canal.
  
• The Tour Guide is also French and English speaking; His/ her knowledge of the region and its history will ensure you some great visits around the region, and will allow you to deepen your knowledge of the French culture.

Is it too early to make your mouth water? ... surely not!

A unique experience for you onboard Alegria... The gastronomy will vary a lot … You will taste some typical French local dishes as well as the best French gastronomy. Every meal will be accompanied by different wines and we mainly serve the excellent local ones from Languedoc and Rousillon (the St-Chinian, Minerve, Corbières are becoming more and more renowned) straight from our Wine Fridge on board. You will never be offered the same wine twice during the week (unless you insist on drinking one that you particularly loved again!)

For your added pleasure, we set your table with different services for breakfast, lunch and dinner: from the festive one through the ethnic one to the classic one with its Silver cuttlery. When weather permits your meal is served outside on the deck.

• Our Chef will cater specifically for you and might even share some of his cooking tips as he prepares a dish.
• And ... we will also offer you some meals off the barge in some excellent restaurants! During the week you can count on at least two meals on land … We will discuss all these possibilities while you are holding a glass of Champagne on board ...
• For Breakfast you will be served a selection of pastries and breads, cereals, yogurts, fruits, fresh fruit juice, cheeses, cold meats, smoked salmon, eggs cooked to order, a selection of teas, coffee, etc.
• The lunch is an ever changing buffet with a choice of salads and starters, a main course (quiches or local dishes), a selection of cheese and a desert.
• We show you below some examples of menus but please bear in mind that the dishes can vary according to the time of the year, the availabilities on the markets (and … the temper of the Chef!!!):

Mise en bouche
Salmon and Dall Fish Cake, with a Dill and Lemon Cream
Filet Mignon of milk fed veal Potatoes Anna;
Baby Carrots, Broccoli and Cauliflower
Kumquat and Veal Jus
The Cheese of the Day: Brie de Meaux
Feuilleté of Strawberries and Cream with Raspberry Sauce

Mise en bouche
Warm Salad of Goats Cheese in a Hazelnut Crust
with Rocket and Raspberry Vinaigrette
Risotto of Seared Scallops and Prawns
with Peas and a Seafood Nage
The Cheese of the Day: Morbier
Duette of Peaches Poached in Muscat with a Peach Ice Cream

Mise en bouche
Duck Foie Gras Mi-Cuit with Brioche Toast and Rhubarb Compote
Breast of Duck with Triple Cooked Chips,
crispy Greens and a Oriental Plum Sauce
The Cheese of the Day: Coulet Roquefort with Pear & Walnuts
Baileys Bitter Chocolate Mint Mousse

• “…The Alegria is truly a 5 star hotel afloat, from its glamorous & intimate salon, decks & boudoir…” Barry C, Wine Estate Owner in California, October 2009
• “There is no way we can really thank you for such a wonderful voyage and for making us feel so much at home in your beautiful barge. This was absolutely one of the most memorable trips we have ever taken. …” Lucy and Henry W, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, October 2009
• “… Merci; thank-you again, we love all of you!” Dave and Cookie M, Ohio, USA, September 2009
• “Too many highspots, too many unforgettable experiences and too few words to describe our feelings after such a fabulous week aboard the beautiful Alegria…” Richard & Angela A, Salisbury, England, August 2009
• "Doug and I had the most wonderful time aboard your beautiful Alegria.  We both agree it was the best holiday we have had and we have had many" Doug and Bev, Australia, August 2009
• "...I cannot begin to tell you how much my husband and I relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. He was ill recently, and you were the best thing that happened to him. Thank you" Susan and John, UK, Sept 08
• "We have traveled by barge before and our expectations were surpassed. Algeria gave us 5 star service the entire trip.
  The service was fabulous. Every day arrived with something which blew me away.
  I said it all except you have Alegria listed as deluxe and I think it was definitely ultra deluxe" Janet and David, USA, Sept 08"

Some useful and good links...

For discovering Burgundy onboard another type of barge:

www.charterbargefrance.com

For a great stay before or after the cruise:

www.jardins-des-thevenets.com

www.artphoto-provence.com

Booking Terms and Conditions

In these “Booking Terms and Conditions” the names of Patcarol SARL and Hotel Barge Alegria are equally used as the legal entity Patcarol SARL is the company that owns and operate the hotel barge Alegria.

Reservations, Deposits and Payments: a reservation will be confirmed once a deposit of 25% of the cost of the cruise has been received by Patcarol.  This deposit has to be paid within seven days after the client has received the details of the cruise (cost, date, availabilities)

The payment of the balance of 75% must be received by Alegria no later than 90 (ninety) days prior to departure. If final payment is not received by this date Patcarol SARL may, at its option, cancel the booking and keep the deposit as compensation, unless another agreement is made with the client.

The cruise cost includes:
-- 7 days and 6 nights onboard Alegria, in double cabins with private shower.
-- Transfers from/to the nearest town, Montpellier and Narbonne being the farest accepted destinations from, respectively, Poilhes and Trèbes.
-- All meals beginning with dinner on Saturday through breakfast on Friday, including meals in restaurants.
-- All drinks, with or without alcohol, served during the stay, as well as the drinks taken from the cabin fridges and the drinks served in restaurants.
-- All escorted side-excursions.
-- The use of the internet connection onboard Alegria
-- The use of bicycles.

The cruise cost does not include:
-- The cost of transportation to reach/ or to leave the meeting point as described above.
-- The insurances for trip cancellation/ trip interruption (highly recommended) or any other personal insurance.
-- Purchases and items of a personal nature.
-- Any possible gratuity shared by the crew. Recommended rate is 5% of the cost of the cruise.

Cancellation by Passengers: Cancellation by passengers must be made in writing. The following terms apply to passenger cancellations:
-- More than 90 days prior to departure, the deposit is not refundable
-- 0 to 90 days prior to departure, full payment is forfeited unless another agreement is made with the client.

Cancellation by Alegria: In the event of cancellation of the cruise by Patcarol an alternative date for the cruise will be proposed. Otherwise the company will refund the sums already paid.
In the case of force majeure Alegria reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the itinerary, cruise dates (see previous paragraph), pick up/drop off points. The barge will inform the clients as soon as is reasonably possible of any such changes. Such events would generally include: technical closing of navigation along the Canal du Midi, lock blockings, canal works, low water levels, flooding, mechanical or technical problems with the barge, industrial dispute, natural disasters etc.

Smoking policy: For the safety and comfort of all passengers, smoking is authorized only outside the barge and on the decks.

Responsibility: The passengers are responsible for any breakages or damage caused by themselves during the cruise (including the loss of a bicycle) and it is then the responsibility of the client to replace or reimburse the object lost or broken. Patcarol SARL shall not be liable for any injury, damage, inconvenience or expense due to the act of default, or action by any subcontractor associated with the cruise. By booking the cruise, the passenger represents that he/she is in good general health and can participate to the cruise.

Insurance: Patcarol SARL is insured for any category of prejudice that a passenger could suffer during the cruise.

Although this English translation is fair, only the French text will be accepted in case of dispute. Any dispute would be settled by Courts depending on the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Béziers.