We will use our unique
in-depth experience
to find you your
perfect barge cruise
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Summary
An exceptionally smart and elegant barge offering the very best of luxury cruising for the discerning traveller. With gorgeous routes to offer in Alsace and Burgundy guests can be sure of experiencing everything that these fascinating regions have to offer.
Après Tout’s accommodation thrills guests with wonderfully light and spacious contemporary-styled interiors. Her three suites are of identical size and the large teak sun deck has 360º panoramic views, a covered dining area, sun loungers and a Jacuzzi. With bespoke itineraries and an attentive crew Apres Tout provides a a blissful vacation.
Après Tout is owner-operated by Rory and Caroline Macrae, former managers of the Orient-Express luxury barge fleet (now ‘Belmond’), who bring their inspiration and experience to bear in providing a selection of the very best hotel barge cruises in France.
Key Features
- Grand Luxe class (5*)
- Gorgeous cruising in the Alsace and Burgundy regions
- Charter and some cabin bookings, 6 nights, 7 days, April to October
- 6 guests / 3 cabins with en-suite bathrooms
- Individually controlled air conditioning and heating throughout
- Full board, on-board dining with Cordon Bleu chef
- Sun deck with spa tub
The Classic Cruise — Après Tout
Classic Cruise Itinerary
| Route | Classic Cruise in Alsace between Mittersheim and Hochfelden on the Canal des Houillères and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin |
| Pick-up | Frankfurt or Strasbourg |
| Dining | All inclusive | 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners on board. 1 dinner in local restaurant |
Alsace Cruise Highlights
- Excursion by steam train through the forests of the Mosel
- Experience the Arzviller boat lift, an engineering marvel
- Master glass-blower demonstration
- Wine-tasting in magical Obernai
- Dine out in a local restaurant for the authentic experience
- Tour Strasbourg and its marvels: Cathedral and its astronomical clock, petite France area and local brewery
Alternative cruising regions
Apres Tout may also cruise in Burgundy for part of the Season each year.
Please enquire.
Day 1 — Sunday
Arrival in Mittersheim and evening cruise
Join your private transfer to barge Après Tout for a delightful champagne reception on arrival. Settle into your cabin and then we’ll cast off for your first cruise on this beautiful canal. Later, delicious four-course dinner is served with wines to match, while you relax beneath the starry sky.
Day 2 — Monday
Cruise to Xouaxange | Enchanting forest train ride
After breakfast, continue along the beautiful canal bordered with leafy forests to the countryside mooring at Xouaxange. There’s time to enjoy a walk or a cycle ride alongside the canal and, after lunch, board a small steam train at the village of Abreschvillier. Your private ‘Orient Express’ type carriage will transport you on a truly delightful 9 mile sojourn through the forests of the Mosel.
Day 3 — Tuesday
Cruise to Arzviller | Experience the Arzviller boat lift
Continue through two tunnels this morning towards the most spectacular boat lift in France. The span is over 44 metres and is a marvel of engineering – a true highlight of this cruise.
Later, visit a master glass blower, Bruno. This area is famous for glass and his showroom and demonstrations are remarkable. Next, we visit the sandstone hilltop chapel at Dabo, giving breathtaking 360° panoramic views over the Vosges Mountains.
Day 4 — Wednesday
Cruise to Lutzelbourg | Wine-tasting in Barr | Lunch at a local restaurant
After breakfast, we’ll head off to explore the small, scenic village of Obernai, which is set in the heart of the Alsace vineyards. A delightful drive through tiny villages brings us to Barr, a famous hilltop town withing this wine region, for a private wine tasting with a local producer who has a collection of bottles dating back to 1921.
Lunch is taken at a local restaurant: enjoy a delicious 3 course meal in the village of Barr.
Day 5 — Thursday
Cruise to Saverne | Enjoy market day
This charming town of Saverne has an interesting history and we’ll explore the remarkable ‘Grand Rue’ with its many half-timbered buildings, as well as the Château du Rohan and its cloisters. Within walking distance there is a Roseraie showing 550 varieties of roses, some of which are antique and smell divine. One of the specialities of this area is the Tarte Flambée – a flat pizza bread with cream, bacon and onions – and we will serve some on board with pre-dinner drinks tonight.
Day 6 — Friday
Cruise to Hochfelden | Explore Strasbourg
After our final cruise today we’ll visit the must-see city of Strasbourg. Marvel at the pink Gothic Cathedral, once the tallest building in Europe, and its astronomical clock; the Place Gutenberg and the delightful Petite France area with its web of smaller canals. Your final evening dinner finished the day, with a selection of superb wines to toast the success of your week with on board Apres Tout in the Alsace.
Day 7 — Saturday
Departure from Hochfelden
After breakfast disembark at 9:00am for your transfer and onward journey
On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
Apres Tout may also cruise in Burgundy for part of the Season each year.
My wife and I spent a glorious week on the barge Apres Tout with some good friends. What a wonderful vacation!
From the ‘Cordon Bleu’ trained Caroline’s gourmet cooking, to Rory’s fine Captainship it was defiantly the trip of a lifetime.
JH, USA
Accommodations and Facilities
- Dimensions: 127ft (38.7m) x 16ft 5″ (4.88m)
Ceiling height: 6ft 7″ - All suites measure 158 sq ft (15.5m²) including the bathrooms
- Bathrooms have large walk in showers, L’Occitane toiletries, hairdryer, bathrobe for each guest, heated towel rack
- Emperor size beds – 2.2m or 7ft 3″ square – that can be configured as double or twin beds
- All cabins have individually controlled heating and air conditioning
- All windows open and have retractable fly screens.
Other items on board:
- Expert and professional English-speaking crew of 5: Rory (captain) and Caroline (Cordon Bleu chef), a matelot, a hostess and a tour guide
- 6 person Jacuzzi
- A small library of books, maps, board games & DVDs/CDs
- Mac computer with Wifi
- Bose sound system, TV, DVD and satellite connection
- 6 bicycles
- Wifi (limited in some places)
- Air-conditioned executive minibus for transfers and excursions
Facilities At A Glance
Fine Wines — Fine Dining
All meals on board are freshly prepared by Caroline Mcrae, a Cordon Bleu trained chef, with fresh ingredients sourced from trusted local suppliers. They are served either in the dining room or up on deck, accompanied by carefully matched wines from the region. Vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan and non-allergenic dishes can be arranged given at least 8 weeks notice prior to departure.
Caroline writes –
After passing my Certificate at the Corden Bleu school, I went to work for an extremely upmarket outside catering company in the Lake District in England – this was such a wonderful place to work and we found ourselves catering in all sorts of exciting places such as castles, an island in the middle of Lake Windermere and many Stately homes!
I love following the seasons in France. For example, in the Spring the markets are full of white and green asparagus in abundance, while in September it is all about wild mushrooms.
See Caroline in action!
Crème Brûlée the Après Tout Way
Catering to a small select group is such a great pleasure, providing meals of the highest quality to our passengers on board, discussing their requirements and ensuring they leave happy and fulfilled with the food is my goal. My kitchen on the Après Tout is a perfect ‘show kitchen’ and has plenty of room for any passenger who might be interested to sit, chat and watch or even to try their hand at a favourite dish prepared during the week which they would enjoy to learn!
Photo Gallery
Charter barge Apres Tout cruises in the Alsace region
Strasbourg Cathl. ©Jn Martz | Lalique ©Corning Mus. Glass | Arzviller ©J Marssy | Wine ©iStock | Barge ©Nilaya | Others wikimedia, n/a
Classic cruise rates and dates
All rates and prices will be confirmed at time of booking. Special Offers are available from time to time – contact us
What’s included:
6 nights / 7 days accommodation
Return transfers to the barge
All meals and wines on board
Daily excursions, tour guide and associated transport
What’s not included:
Travel to the meeting point
Travel, medical and cancellation insurances
Personal expenses
Crew gratuities (5 – 10% suggested)
2023
Charter and occasional cabin booking
Sunday to Saturday
Rates and dates
All weeks for 2022 and 2023 are fully booked. Please register your interest in case of cancellation – thee is a wait list.
4 guest charter: 34,000 USD
5 guest charter: 35,000 USD
6 guest charter: 40,000 USD
2024
Charter and occasional cabin booking
Sunday to Saturday
Rates and dates
Apres Tout will be cruising in Alsace for the first half of this year, moving through to Burgundy for the remainder of the year. Please enquire for details. Early booking is essential.
4 guest charter: 34,000 USD
5 guest charter: 35,000 USD
6 guest charter: 40,000 USD
Hotel Barge Enquiry
Booking a luxury barge vacation isn’t the kind of thing one does with just a mouse-click or two. It takes a little research, thought and understanding, and we hope that our pages have provided you with all the information and inspiration you need to take this next step.
Why should you book with us? Because…
We’ve explored the waterways of France on our own boat since 2003 and know each of the barges and their routes.
We’re independent, impartial and enthusiastic – and we are the only France cruising specialist that can offer you the benefits of our own in-depth cruising knowledge and experience.
We love France, we love the rivers and canals of France, we love hotel barging – and we love talking about all three!
There’s nothing like speaking to a friendly expert to help you see the wood for the trees and to make the best possible decision about the vacation cruise of a lifetime. Get in touch – we’re here to help.
We will use our unique
in-depth experience
to find you your
perfect barge cruise
