In May of 2018, my then-boyfriend (promoted to husband in 2022) invited me to join him and his parents on a barge cruise in France. I’d always dreamed of going to Europe so it didn’t take long for me to accept this invitation. (This is about the time my boss at the jewelry store knew he needed to hire more help!) We were to stay on Serenity Barge (a hotel barge that offers 3 cabins for guests) and cruise the canals through the Champagne Region in northern France. In preparation for our stay, the couple that runs the entire operation (Claire and Graeme) gathered some information to tailor our experience so that it is nothing short of what we’d hoped to do on our visit. They put together a personalized excursion itinerary and had our meal and beverage requests ready for our arrival.

We boarded our first flight out of Norfolk, Virginia in the evening and arrived in Roissy-en-France the following afternoon (also 6 hours ahead of our time zone). I felt quite fancy as we walked toward the airport exit to find our driver holding up a sign with our names on it. I believe it took about 2 or so hours (I fell asleep in the car) from the airport before we arrived where Serenity was docked. After being greeted by our hosts, we got familiar with the saloon lounge in the lower deck before taking in the serene views on the guest terrace.

Taking a car from Serenity, our first excursion would be a walking tour around the city of Laon. We were all impressed with Claire’s knowledge of the architecture and historic events as she showed us to Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon and Abbey of Saint-Martin de Laon. We saw so much of the city throughout our tour and wrapped up the visit dining in an interesting restaurant (cannot think of the name) that had Barbie portraits on the walls. This is also where I’d like to note that andouille sausage in France is very different from the kind you have in the states. Three of us learned that the hard way.

The following day, still a bit jet lagged, we were able to enjoy cruising on the barge until late afternoon. This gave us the perfect opportunity to slow down, pop open a bottle of bubbly and spend time together while having lunch on the barge terrace. By about 3:30PM we were standing in front of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims for a short visit (we would take a full tour the next day). What an experience to have been able to walk around the property and see in person all of the intricate details that formed the historic church. We then set off to our underground cellar tour at Pommery Champagne House. This is a champagne tour, after all…

Now at Day 3, we had a full schedule ahead. Visit the Boulingrin Market in the morning (a beautifully sorted market of local traders) where we would select fresh groceries for our dinner, a full tour of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, head back to Serenity for dinner on the barge then ending our evening going on the Métamorph‘eau’ses boat trip. During this time, I had an iPhone6 and was just snapping pictures of absolutely everything because there wasn’t a detail I wanted to forget. I’ll divide Day 3 into sections so I can share more photos of each stop. (I apologize in advance to any skilled photographers I offend with these photos.)

We hopped on the public transit to Boulingrin Market and immediately followed our noses (stomach) to a pastry stand that had freshly baked bread with pork inside. We ate our breakfast as we walked around the bustling market. It was 8am at the time and everything was so neatly displayed while customers weave in out of the aisles. Every stand was clean, fresh and truly beautiful.

The tour we booked for Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims took about 2 hours (could have gone faster but we were in no rush as there was so much to see and learn). A guided tour really helped me appreciate the history, architecture and artistry that made up the construction of the Reims Cathedral. This was one of my favorite excursions.

Back on Serenity, we freshened up and got ready for our dinner on the barge terrace. All the fresh meat, fish and vegetables we selected at the market was now deliciously prepared and set on the table. We ate, drank and exchanged thoughts from our outing until a surprise dessert appeared (I felt like I’d just walked into my surprise birthday party.) I didn’t realize that anyone took notice when I would stare at the pastry shops with the different color macarons arranged on the store windows. Here they were, a whole tray of macarons with fresh strawberries sprinkled in. Major brownie points to Claire for that considerate surprise. After I was forced to share the delectable treats, we were off to our Métamorph‘eau’ses boat trip. It’s late in the evening as we climbed on board a small boat. A few minutes after we pull away, the light and music show begins as we float past bridges and monuments used as the canvas for the artistic take on the history of Châlons and its waterways.

Then comes our 4th and final day on Serenity. First on the itinerary was to visit Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park. It could not have been a more perfect day to take in the views of the villages and vineyards that cover the rolling hills. What better way to appreciate the history and cultivation of this region than to visit a local restaurant (Prise de Mousse) and enjoy an aperitif? This is a champagne tour, after all…

Our next excursion would be to the restored historic museum house, Villa Demoiselle in Reims. We went from room to room traveling back in time as we were surrounded with vintage furniture and decor. Down in the cellar, they showcased the history of the villa and collection of aged champagne. At the end of our tour, we enjoyed a refreshing glass of champagne as we sat out on the patio.

We made our way back to Serenity to get ready for dinner. As expected, I squeezed in a quick glass of bubbly before we headed back out. Our final dinner would be at an elegant restaurant called Excelsior (Brasserie Excelsior Reims). An absolute 10/10 when it comes to ambiance, service and quality. We toasted champagne glasses over our lovely dinner placed on white linen and expressed gratitude to our guides (and hosts) for a fun and enlightening tour of the Champagne Region.

There are plenty of stops and history of the region that I didn’t go over as this was just a quick glance of our trip. Perhaps this article will spark an interest for you to discover them on your own. I’m sure experiences vary depending on preferences, weather and season. While we did get some sprinkles here and there, our visit in late spring was ideal. Should you plan a stay on Serenity or any other all-inclusive establishment, I would recommend being prepared with other options should any plans fall through. I think it was a unique experience to tour the Champagne Region by barge and made everything for us so stress-free as our hosts were also the cooks, excursion organizers and tour guides. There’s so much to see and do that you’ll only wish you had more time to visit.