Joining the five existing barges that comprise Belmond Afloat in France, Belmond Lilas and Belmond Pivoine will sail the canals of Champagne and Alsace, carrying travelers to family-owned vineyards, the historic squares of Reims and the Alsatian town of Strasbourg.
Available exclusively for private hires, journeys on the eight-passenger barges are priced starting at $6,673 per person for a six-night cruise.
With names meaning ‘lilac’ and ‘peony,’ respectively, Belmond Lilas and Belmond Pivoine will have interiors inspired by the concept of biophilia, a design approach that brings the outside world inside. Lilas features the vibrant hues of its namesake flower, while the soft yellows and whites of Pivoine channel the hues of peonies and Champagne.
In other news, Belmond Road to Mandalay marks its 20th anniversary in Myanmar with a four-night journey sailing Oct. 1. The trip will follow the route of the vessel's inaugural sailing from Bagan to Mandalay.
Rates start at $2,829. Five percent of the ticket price will be donated to the Belmond Myanmar Foundation in support of opening a new hospital in Bagan.
Also on Belmond Road to Mandalay, wildlife photographer Sue Flood will be aboard two cruises in early October. Flood, with 11 years as a filmmaker with the BBC's natural history unit, will assist passengers of all levels of expertise, from those traveling with high-tech cameras to those with just an iPhone seeking the most enviable Instagram.
Flood will be aboard the Oct. 5 and 6 cruises.
And the 50-passenger Belmond Orcaella will host an 11-night journey along Myanmar's Ayeyarwady River from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2. This special cruise will include a festive Christmas Eve dinner and a New Year’s Eve celebration complete with live musical performances.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Cruise News to your Google News feed.