We will use our unique
in-depth experience
to find you your
perfect barge cruise
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Summary
Pivoine cruises through the wonderfully scenic lands of Provence, the Camargue and Languedoc, enchanting guests with tours of ancient cities, tiny villages and the natural wonders of the Camargue, together with the delicious cuisine and sunshine wines of the south.
From the trompe l’oeil wall mural, to the embroidered Parisian bed covers, to the marble bathrooms, Belmond Pivoine is a stylish haven.
Up to eight guests can be accommodated in the four contemporary en-suite cabins. Much like her sister barge, Belmond Lilas, the Belmond Pivoine also has a spacious deck with a heated swimming pool, inviting lounge, and sumptuous dining room.
Download our free Guide to the region.
Key Features
- Grand Luxe class (6*)
- Part of the Belmond luxury fleet
- Charter and cabin bookings, 6 nights, 7 days, March to October
- 8 guests / 4 king-size double or twin cabins with ensuite bathrooms
- Individually controlled air conditioning and heating throughout
- Full board, on-board dining with personal chef
- Upper deck with open dining area, loungers, canopy and heated pool
The Classic Cruise — Pivoine (Peony)
Classic Cruise Itinerary
| Route | Between Avignon on the Rhône river and Marseillan, Étang de Thau lagoon. |
| Pick-up | Pick up in Paris for First Class transfer to the barge |
| Dining | All inclusive | 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 6 dinners on board. 1 lunch at local restaurant |
Provence Cruise Highlights
- Tour Avignon, famed for its bridge and Palais de Papes
- Explore Arles, Van Gogh inspiration and its Roman heritage
- Experience the natural beauty of the UNESCO-rated Camargue
- Delight in the important sea-side town of Sète on the Mediterranean
- Superb cuisine and wines, with specialties from the region
Day 1 — Sunday
Depart from Paris, arrival in Avignon
Your cruise begins with a champagne reception to welcome you aboard in Avignon and give you a chance to meet your crew. After settling in you’ll enjoy a first taste of River Rhône life with an early evening cruise past the famous medieval bridge, Pont Saint-Bénézet, also known as the Pont d’Avignon, and we’ll soon arrive at our rural mooring of Aramon.
Later you’ll experience the superb skills of our chef – the cuisine on board is a real highlight of your trip, particularly when accompanied by wines from France’s finest vineyards.
Day 2 — Monday
Cruise to Gallician | Walking tour of Avignon
After enjoying a breakfast of local specialities, disembark for a short drive to Avignon. Embark on a walking tour of the stunning walled city, home of the Popes from 1309 – 1377. A guided tour of the majestic Palais des Papes is followed by free time to explore, shop or to simply order a drink in a pavement café and watch the world go by for a while.
Return to the barge for lunch and an afternoon cruise. Marvel as we glide past the 15th-century opposing castles of Tarascon and Beaucaire that descend right down to the water’s edge, before entering the Petit Rhône and continuing south to your mooring for the night.
Day 3 — Tuesday
Cruise to Aigues Mortes | Explore the famed city of Arles
This morning, alight and accompany your guide on a tour of Arles, famous for its Roman ruins and the Mediterranean light, inspiring Van Gogh to create many of his celebrated paintings.
Return to the barge for lunch and a leisurely cruise down the Canal du Rhône à Sète. Arrive at the fortified town of Aigues-Mortes, whose imposing medieval walls conceal a lively hub of shops, markets and cafes. Dinner is served back on board.
Day 4 — Wednesday
Cruise to Carnon | Wonderful wildlife and Camargue vistas
Rise relaxed to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a morning of scenic cruising. Today, you get a true feel for the Camargue, with its wetlands and sand dunes populated by rare and vibrant wildlife.
The spellbinding landscape provides stunning photo opportunities, while the Spanish influence on southern France is palpable. Dinner tonight is enjoyed once more on the barge.
Day 5 — Thursday
Cruise to Frontignan | Guided tour of Sète | Alfresco lunch
This morning, your guide will take you to the bustling market town of Sète, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Watch fishermen spread their nets out to dry on the quays and perhaps enjoy lunch at one of the many alfresco restaurants serving fresh seafood.
Return to the barge and journey onwards to Frontignan, known for producing the dessert wine, Muscat de Frontignan. Relax with an aperitif on deck before savouring a sumptuous dinner.
Day 6 — Friday
Cruise to Marseillan | Oysters and Vermouth tastings
Today, weather permitting, the barge glides through the Étang de Thau lagoon, a vast saltwater lake renowned for its oysters and mussels, delicacies that you will be able to sample this afternoon.
Leaving the lagoon, continue to the beautiful seaside port of Marseillan. Its maze of narrow streets and rustic two- and three-storey houses are typical of the local architecture.
Marseillan is principally known for its production of Noilly Prat; a visit to the museum may give you a taste for the fine Mediterranean vermouth. Back on board, your chef is busy preparing your farewell gala dinner.
Day 7 — Saturday
Departure from Marseillan
Please check out this morning by 9am. After breakfast, your crew bids you farewell as you disembark for your onward travel arrangements.
Please note: this is a sample itinerary which may be subject to change and in exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to alter the route without prior notice. The route will run in reverse on alternate weeks.
“We are now back home. Our trip on Pivoine was excellent and we really enjoyed celebrating our 40th Wedding Anniversary (and also my birthday) on board. We lucked out with perfect weather and could not have asked for a better trip.
The vessel was in great condition and the accommodations worked perfectly for us. The crew was excellent! Captain Joe even allowed our daughters (who are both U S Coast Guard licensed captains) to steer the vessel on the river. All crew members were very customer focused, well trained, friendly and warm. The chef, Greg, was exceptional with menu selections that were delicious, served timely with the correct temperature and the wine pairings were well planned with the assistance of Sarah who described the wine selections with delight. Stewards Gracie and David were there to meet our every need and our rooms were always clean with fresh towels and toiletries. We enjoyed the pool on board almost every evening after dinner.
The itinerary was very well planned with 3-4 hours of travel on the canals/river and then 3-4 hours of touring champagne wineries or historical sites mixed in with lunch and relaxation. Sarah was our “tour guide” and her selections of the 3 wineries we visited were fun and interesting — from Veurve Cliquot to a small family run winery to a “biodynamic” winery that follows the moon cycles. Three wineries were certainly adequate in the 6 days we were on board and the WWI tour at Chateau-Thierry was beautiful and moving.
We would highly recommend Pivoine and this crew to anyone seeking a wonderful river cruise through the champagne region of France.Thank you so much for your assistance in booking this wonderful holiday for us!”
CD, USA, August 2022
“Could not have been any better! We loved every minute and were so very sad to leave. I could not have asked for a better crew, more delicious food or a more beautiful boat. It was an absolute gem of a trip.”
USA, 2021
Accommodations and Facilities
- Dimensions: 128ft (39m) x 16.5ft (5m)
- 1 x cabin, 280 sq ft, with 6’9” ceiling height
3 x cabins, 260 sq ft, with 6’6” ceiling height - King size double or twin bed configurations
- Hairdryer and L’Occitane toiletries provided
- Windows are fixed shut but all cabins have individually operated air conditioning
Other items on board:
- English speaking crew of 6
- Selection of books and board games
- Computer for guest use and Wifi (may be limited in some areas)
- Music system and CDs, TV for playing DVDs in saloon
- Tennis racquets, balls, fishing equipment available if requested in advance
- 8 bicycles
- Air-conditioned executive minibus for transfers and excursions
Facilities At A Glance
Fine Wines — Fine Dining
Belmond provides six crew members to look after your every need, expertly trained in the art of professional, friendly service.
Great care and expertise is taken in planning the menus aboard Pivoine. All meals on board are freshly prepared by Cordon Bleu trained chef with fresh ingredients using 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.
Photo Gallery
Belmond Pivoine cruises in the Provence region
– [below] In the region: Sete, Mediterranean, Camargue, Van Gogh/Arles, Avignon, Pont du Gard, Aigues-Mortes –
Beach ©Les Jardins de Tivoli | Avignon ©Yann de Fareins | Aigues-Mortes ©Framepool AG | Others ©FW, 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 accommodation
Return transfers from Paris
All meals and drinks on board
All excursion fees and associated transport
What’s not included:
Air fares and travel to the pick-up
Travel, medical and cancellation insurance
Crew gratuities (5-10% suggested)
Personal expenses
2023
Charter bookings only
Sunday to Saturday
Rates and dates
All pricing is dynamic and based on demand.
Low season rate weeks:
8 guest full charter: 55,280 EUR
Value season rate weeks:
8 guest full charter: 61,425 EUR
High season rate weeks:
8 guest full charter: 75,072 EUR
Peak season rate weeks:
8 guest full charter: 82,578 EUR
2024
Charter bookings only
Sunday to Saturday
Rates and dates
All pricing is dynamic and based on demand.
Low season rate weeks:
8 guest full charter: 55,280 EUR
Value season rate weeks:
8 guest full charter: 61,425 EUR
High season rate weeks:
8 guest full charter: 75,072 EUR
Peak season rate weeks:
8 guest full charter: 82,578 EUR
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
