2021/22 River and Canal Cruises Welcome! Welcome to Backwaters’ 2021/22 brochure. After all the disruption stemming from the pandemic we know many of you are thirsting for some cruise adventures, and we believe Backwaters will appeal to those who love their cruising but prefer for now to stick closer to home and remain in fairly small groups. And of course we offer you the chance to cruise­electric as we all strive to respect the environment and reverse climate change. In this brochure we list all our 2021 departures scheduled from a late­August re­start, with our 2022 programme then following through to the Autumn of next year. The index lists all departures in date order, and each cruise is then introduced in the brochure regionally. If you have problems finding anything or need further information please call 01303 316116 or email us [email protected]

How are we different? Backwaters’ focus is on the thousands of miles of more intimate waterways across France and Belgium where vessel dimensions are governed by the “Freycinet” scale of lock sizes and bridge clearances. In effect, this gives us up to 38m of lengthways space to play with, 5m width and about 3m headroom, not enough for a hotel boat of any scale.

The Backwaters answer is to operate with cruisers that are configured to serve as a comfortable observation lounge, and at the end of each day’s cruising the coach drops you back to hotel. Crucially, there’s no hopping from one hotel to the next. The gentle pace of cruising, pauses for locks, waterway meanders, dog­legs and circular routes mean that we stay close to the same hotel throughout, and we plan our complementary coach excursions along the cruise corridor so that they fit conveniently into our short “commute” between hotel and boat. It works seamlessly!

Booking We are all conscious that Government policy on international travel and re­ For any bookings made during the rest of 2021, we are not asking you to pay entry conditions will develop over coming months, so we do not offer any a deposit. Instead, we invite you to reserve your place(s) on your chosen specific direction here. Any pre­departure or post­return covid­testing departure and we will only ask you to confirm and pay at around 6 weeks required by Government must be organised by guests themselves, but prior to departure. There is no commitment on your part until confirmation Backwaters will provide all reasonable advice and support to guests in is due, we ask only that if you have a change of mind after making a making such arrangements and in observing other reporting or health reservation you let us know so that the place(s) are available to others. protection measures required by Government both in the UK and in France.

We expect to revert to a more conventional deposit + balance payment All intending guests are respectfully requested to have been fully vaccinated arrangement during 2022, but the no­deposit arrangement will apply for the against Covid infection and willing to self­certify or produce official rest of 2021 irrespective of how far ahead you are choosing your cruise. certification to that effect.

Be assured also that your booking with us will always be ABTA­protected, Single Appeal! either because Backwaters itself is ABTA registered or because we deal with It has been noticeable over the last three years that more and more your booking through a partnering agency which is itself bonded. unaccompanied passengers have been cruising with us as they start to appreciate the very low rates of single supplement that attach to Health Protection Backwaters’ cruises. As we have no on­board cabins, such supplements as Guests are assured that our cruise boats and the hotels and restaurants we we charge arise only from the hotel where one person occupies a twin use will be compliant with all precautions in force when these tours/cruises room, and generally these extra costs are not so excessive. So if you’re a take place. single traveller read­on, you may be surprised at the relatively low cost of our way of cruising!

2 Transfers and Connections For departures where we are cruising in Northern France and Belgium, we usually transfer to destination by coach, with Eurotunnel crossings. Pick­up schedules normally start at North Greenwich Jubilee Line Station (the O2 arena) and then call at M2 Medway Services, M20 Maidstone Services, Ashford International Station and Stop24 Services just outside Folkestone. For some departures, after Medway Services we call instead in Faversham, Canterbury, Hawkinge and then Folkestone West Station before our crossing.

The O2 arena and railway station pick­ups are planned to meet guests who are able to travel from home on the day using local rail services or the high­ speed service from London St Pancras. Guests travelling from further afield are advised to book a stopover hotel close to one of our pick­up locations.

For departures where we are heading south of Paris we will normally transfer by Eurostar from London St­Pancras, in which case the journey is Supercraft Cruises escorted and the Eurostar ticket price is always included in your holiday Looking forward to 2022 departures, we are delighted to announce a price. collaboration with Julie Peasgood’s Supercraft Cruises to operate a series of

craft­themed cruises on the French and Belgian waterways. Suitable for all Going, Going, Green abilities from absolute beginners to the very experienced, Supercraft offers Guests who have travelled with us before will know our cruises are so an exciting, diverse and inspirational programme of arts and crafts activities compelling because of the remarkable tranquility which comes of cruising which we organise both on­board and back in the hotel. along these secluded waterways on our electric engines. Our boats have at least 12 hours cruise endurance on their batteries and in 2019 we cruised Julie hand picks her line up of gifted Supercrafters: many of the crafts, such electric for over 95% of the time, using our diesel engines only when we as stained glass decorating skills and bird sculpture have never been were in strong head­current. available on cruises before. The wide variety of workshops includes table

lanterns, hand bound notepads, beaded cruise card lariats, mosaic projects, Providing we have access to reliable overnight shore power connections (as shadow box frames, sock teddies, decoupage, Curious Kumihimo jewellery, has been provided for instance all along the River Somme) we expect to paper crafting, vintage china dioramas, glue gun art, block­printed tote bags, cruise electric all the time and to achieve a CO² saving of nearly 100%. ribbon wreaths, teacup pincushions, mixed media artwork…the list goes on!

And, we should stress, the workshops are included in your price and they’re Cruise Themes entirely optional. As you scan through the brochure you will find many of our cruises are themed, so you can for instance enjoy a cruise where the focus may be What's Included seasonal bird migration, one of the great regional flea markets, gardens, If you scan through our detailed itineraries, you will find we are thorough in iconic vineyards, craft breweries, regional history, wartime remembrance, summarising what’s included and what you need to budget for separately. Christmas Markets, integrated cruise and rail exploration and so much more. Transfers by Eurostar or executive coach are always included, as is your hotel The emphasis always is on an integrated cruise and tour experience which room with breakfast, cruising, lunch and complimentary bar whilst on board, blends relaxation, spectacle and discovery without ever needing to rush or and excursions in the coach. We never charge separately for excursions and do anything you don’t want to. there are only a few cruises where you can choose to buy­in to something

that’s optional, as for instance in Paris where you can pay separately for a Do watch out also for our entertainment cruises, where amongst others we gourmet exploration with our partners in Devour Tours. offer departures accompanied by John Beckingham and his JB’s Swing Band, the Spitfire Sisters singers, and violinist Floriane Peycelon and her Radnor With our cruise holidays, the main variable is the evening meal. Most days Ensemble. your dinner is included, either in hotel or at a local restaurant; but we

sometimes leave one or two evenings free so that guests can enjoy finding Alternate Day Cruising their own restaurants in cities such as Auxerre, Amiens and St­Quentin. This In working through our cruise catalogue you’ll notice occasional mention of is always made clear in the cruise detail, and we will always do our best to what we call alternate­day cruising. The idea here is that if we take a one­ provide for guests who have particular dietary preferences or needs. week departure we cruise on three days and then do our local exploration on the alternate days, so no great rush to squeeze in an excursion because Wheelchair Access we have all day to do it at leisure. This works well for us where we can take a In collaboration with our regular coach partners from Readybus, some of our full day to visit one of the great Châteaux of the Loire, or the gardens of departures are supported by a coach with a wheelchair lift. This will allow us Picardy, or the vineyards of Bourgogne. to accommodate up to two wheelchair­user guests on those trips. We signal

which are the wheelchair­accessible departures by showing Coach* in the It’s also the perfect model where we are developing cruise and rail index. If you are a disabled person and interested in any cruise where we are itineraries. There is for instance an alternate­day cruise of the Canals du not flagging the use of the right coach do let us know and we will see if Loing and de Briare where we use an intervening day to take the train south Readybus can help us by reappropriating one of their lift­equipped coaches. into the Auvergne to Clermont­Ferrand and then ride the summit train to the top of the Puy de Dôme volcano. Not an experience readily associated Our boats are single deck with no steps and there is a DDA­configured WC with a cruise! for wheelchair­bound guests, so we are always happy to welcome wheelchair users aboard and to assist as necessary with embarkation and disembarkation.

Consecutive Tour­Cruises Other cruise­tours will usually precede or follow a selected departure, and guests are welcome to book these additional cruises to make a longer holiday. Please check our schedules for detail and contact us about any possible aggregation of tours so that we can advise you on costs and transfer practicalities.

3 Bruges Nieuwpoort Towards Antwerp Gent FLANDERS Calais Roeselare Aalst

Ypres

Boulogne St-Omer Towards Brussels WALLONIA Lille Ronquières Tournai Le Touquet Lens Mons

Arras Douai

Le Crotoy PAS-DE-CALAIS NORD Maubeuge Towards Liège Cambrai St-Valery- sur-Somme Abbeville Ors Landrecies Callon- Péronne sur-Sambre Amiens St-Quenn SOMME Origny-Ste-Benôite

Tergnier

Pont L’Évêque/Noyon Laon Beauvais Towards Sedan Compiègne OISE Soissons

AISNE Reims AISNE

Château-Thierry Cergy-Pontoise Epernay

Meaux La-Ferté-sous-Jouarre MARNE Châlons-en- Champagne PARIS

e e ill V SEINE-ET-MARNE la de Rotonde arc AUBE Gare du Nord de la Villee P To

Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad ESSONNE Melun Parc des Bues Chaumont Nogent- Montereau- sur-Seine Gare de l’Est fault-Yonne Moret-sur-Loing

Nemours Sens YONNE

Villeneuve- Place de la Republique LOIRET sur-Yonne Montargis St-Florenn Tunnel Secon Joigny Picasso Museum Tonnerre Auxerre Chablis Rogny-les- Sept-Écluses Place de la Riv er S Baslle eine Port de Plaisance Vermenton de Paris-Arsenal Briare Montbard

Châtel-Censoir CHER Towards Dijon Vézelay CÔTE D’OR Sancerre NIÈVRE Beaune Towards Nevers Towards Decize

4 2021 ­ 22 Brochure Content ­ Index Supercraft Cruises Section A Christmas Market and Christmas/New Year Holiday Cruises Section B Birdwatch Cruises Sections C & D Rail & Cruise combinations Sections C, F & H Remembrance Cruises Sections C & H Beer Cruises Section C Gardens Cruises Section C Musical Cruises Section J Gourmet and Wine Tours Sections D, F & G Cruises in Hauts de France Sections C & J Cruises in Champagne Region Section D & J Cruises in Paris Section E Cruises in Loiret Section F Cruises in the Gateway to Burgundy Section G Cruises in Belgium Section H & J

Key to Coach Pick­up Code

A London O2 arena, Medway Services, Maidstone Services, Ashford International Station, Stop 24 Services, Folkestone

B London O2 arena, Medway Services, Faversham, Canterbury, Hawkinge, Folkestone West Station

C Strood, Rochester, Medway Services, Medway Services, Ashford International Station

D Medway Services, Maidstone Services, Ashford International Station, Stop 24 Services, Folkestone

E Cheltenham, Cirencester, Swindon, Chieveley Servs, Bracknell, Cobham Servs, Ashford International Station

F Canterbury Bus Station, Ashford International Station

5 Departure Outward Cruise Title Days Theme Transfer Cruise Range Hotel Location Per Solo Pick­up Code Date by Person Supp Code

C101 26/08/2021 Lifting the Curtain 6 Cruising Hauts de France Coach Arras­St Quentin Cambrai £895 £45 D C102 31/08/2021 Four Rivers – Somme­ Oise­ Aisne­Marne 6 Cruising Hauts de France Coach St Quentin­Reims Laon £995 £85 A D101 04/09/2021 Canals of Champagne 5 Cruising in Champagne Coach Reims­Epernay Reims £645 £75 B D102 07/09/2021 The Champagne Marne 6 Cruising the Marne Coach Epernay­Meaux Château­Thierry £995 £125 B 11/09/2021 Operated by Saga Holidays 7 Cruising in Champagne Coach Meaux­Epernay Please refer to Saga Holidays D103 16/09/2021 The Marne Lateral Canal 5 Champagne Capitals Coach* Epernay­Vitry Châlons­en­ Champagne £875 £145 B D104 17/09/2021 The Marne Lateral Canal 5 Champagne Capitals Coach Vitry­Epernay Châlons­en­ Champagne £875 £145 A D105 21/09/2021 The Champagne Marne 6 Cruising the Marne Coach Epernay­Meaux Château­Thierry £995 £125 A 25/09/2021 Operated by Saga Holidays 7 Cruising in Champagne Coach Meaux­Epernay Please refer to Saga Holidays J101 30/09/2021 Jazz on the Marne 6 Jazz in Champagne Coach* Epernay­Châlons­Reims Reims £1,095 £125 E 05/10/2021 Operated by Guy Cordery 5 Cruising in Champagne Coach Reims­Epernay Reims Coaches D107 06/10/2021 Canals of Champagne 5 Cruising in Champagne Coach Epernay­Reims Reims £645 £75 C 15/10/2021 Operated by Roadmark 4 Cruising in Champagne Coach Reims­Epernay Please refer to Pulborough Roadmark Pulborough D108 18/10/2021 Autumn Champagne 4 Champagne Short­Break Coach Epernay­Reims Reims £595 £60 D D109 20/10/2021 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lacdu Der Coach Reims­Châlons Reims £895 £75 A en Champagne D110 23/10/2021 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lac du Der Coach Châlons en Champagne Reims £895 £75 B ­Reims C103 26/10/2021 Cathedrals of the North 8 Gothic Cathedrals Coach Reims­Péronne Soissons (4) & Noyon (3) £1,495 £275 D J102 02/11/2021 Remembrance Waterways 5 Cruise with the Coach Péronne­Cambrai Arras £795 £125 B Spitfire Sisters C105 06/11/2021 Remembrance Waterways 4 Remembrance Season Coach Cambrai­Arras Arras £535 £95 B C106 09/11/2021 Remembrance Waterways 4 Remembrance Season Coach* Arras­Cambrai Arras £535 £95 A C107 13/11/2021 Remembrance Waterways 4 Remembrance Season Coach Cambrai­Arras Arras £535 £95 C A101 02/12/2021 Arras Christmas Market 5 Supercraft Cruise Coach Arras­Douai Arras £745 £125 A with Supercraft B101 06/12/2021 Arras Christmas Market 3 Christmas Market Cruise Coach Douai­Arras Arras £375 £60 C B102 08/12/2021 Arras Christmas Market 3 Christmas Market Cruise Coach* Arras­Douai Arras £375 £60 B B103 10/12/2021 Winter Waterways 6 Christmas Markets & Coach Douai­Mons Valenciennes (3) & £875 £175 A Arterial Waterways La Louvière (2) A102 15/12/2021 Mons Christmas Market 5 Supercraft cruise including Coach Mons­Ronquières La Louvière £795 £125 B with Supercraft the Great Boat Lifts B104 20/12/2021 Mons Christmas Market 3 Christmas Market Cruise Coach Mons­Ronquières La Louvière £475 £55 B B105 23/12/2021 Christmas Cruise 6 Christmas in Mons Coach Ronquières­Mons La Louvière £1,350 £145 A with the Spitfire Sisters B106 28/12/2021 Mons Christmas Market 3 Christmas Market Cruise Coach Mons­Ronquières La Louvière £475 £55 C B107 30/12/2021 New Year Beer Cruise 5 Beers of Mons Coach Ronquières­Mons La Louvière £1,065 £115 A with Cheryl Cade

2022 Departure Outward Cruise Title Days Theme Transfer Cruise Range Hotel Location Per Solo Pick­up Code Date by Person Supp Code

H101 21/02/2022 Wonders of Canal 4 Great boat lifts of Hainaut Eurostar* Mons­Ronquières La Louvière £595 £75 E/STAR Engineering H102 23/02/2022 Beers of Hainaut & Nord 6 Boat Lifts and Beers Coach Ronquières­Cambrai La Louvière (3) £995 £95 A & Valenciennes (2) C108 28/02/2022 The Tunnels of St­Quentin 7 Canal Engineering Coach Cambrai­Pont L’Évêque St­Quentin £945 £95 A D111 08/03/2022 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lac du Der Coach Reims­Châlons­Reims Reims £895 £75 B D112 11/03/2022 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lac du Der Coach Reims­Châlons­Reims Reims £895 £75 A D113 14/03/2022 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lac du Der Coach* Reims­Châlons­Reims Reims £895 £75 B D114 17/03/2022 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lac du Der Coach Reims­Châlons­Reims Reims £895 £75 A 21/03/2022 Available for Charter 5 Champagne Waterways Reims­Epernay­Reims D115 22/03/2022 Canals of Champagne 5 Champagne Waterways Coach Reims­Epernay­Reims Reims £675 £85 B 27/03/2022 Available for Charter 5 Champagne Waterways Reims­Epernay­Reims D116 28/03/2022 Canals of Champagne 5 Champagne Waterways Coach Reims­Epernay­Reims Reims £675 £85 C J103 02/04/2022 Jazz on the Marne 7 Music on the Marne Coach Reims­Château Thierry Reims £1,345 £145 E C109 04/04/2022 Birds of the Bay 5 Bird Migration Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £845 £135 A C110 05/04/2022 Birds of the Bay 5 Bird Migration Coach* Abbeville­Amiens Amiens £845 £135 B D118 08/04/2022 Springtime on the Marne 7 Champagne in Springtime Coach Château Thierry­Reims Reims £1,125 £125 C 09/04/2022 Available for Charter 5 The Remembrance Somme Amiens­Péronne C111 11/04/2022 Remembrance 4 A Remembrance Cruise Coach Péronne­Amiens Amiens £525 £25 A on the Somme C104 14/04/2022 Cathedrals of the North 7 Gothic Cathedrals Coach Reims­Pont L’Évêque Laon £1,225 £95 D

6 Departure Outward Cruise Title Days Theme Transfer by Cruise Range Hotel Location Per Solo Pick­up Code Date Person Supp Code

A103 14/04/2022 A Cruise on the Somme 6 Supercraft cruise Coach Amiens­Péronne Amiens £1,325 £145 A & Amiens Réderie Market C113 20/04/2022 Remembrance 4 A Remembrance Cruise Coach Péronne­Amiens Amiens £525 £25 B on the Somme C114 20/04/2022 An Inland Voyage 7 The re­opened Coach Tergnier­Maubeuge St­Quentin £1,125 £95 B Sambre­Oise C115 24/04/2022 The Somme 6 Alternate Day Cruise Coach Amiens­Péronne Amiens £995 £45 F on ANZAC Day (Group 1) C116 24/04/2022 The Somme 6 Alternate Day Cruise Coach Péronne­Amiens Amiens £995 £45 A on ANZAC Day (Group 2) C117 25/04/2022 An Inland Voyage 7 The re­opened Coach Maubeuge­Tergnier St­Quentin £1,125 £95 A Sambre­Oise 01/05/2022 Available for Charter 3­5 The Western Somme Amiens­Abbeville 03/05/2022 Available for Charter 3­5 The Western Somme Abbeville­Amiens C112 03/05/2022 Cathedrals of the North 7 Gothic Cathedrals Coach Pont L’Évêque­Reims Laon £1,395 £95 B 08/05/2022 Gardens of Picardy 5 Private Charter Coach Amiens­Abbeville Chartered privately 08/05/2022 Gardens of Picardy 7 Operated by Brightwater Coach Amiens­Abbeville Please refer to Brightwater Holidays C118 14/05/2022 Gardens of Picardy 6 Alternate day cruising Coach* Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £975 £35 A A104 15/05/2022 Gardens of Picardy 7 Gardens & tapestry Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £1,575 £175 A with Supercraft Cruises 17/05/2022 Operated by Saga Holidays 9 Rivers of Wine Joigny­Châtel Censoir Please refer to Saga Holidays G102 18/05/2022 The Classic Nivernais 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Joigny­Châtel Censoir Vermenton £1,595 £125 E/STAR C119 21/05/2022 Gardens of Picardy 6 Alternate day cruising Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £975 £35 B C120 22/05/2022 River & rail on the Somme 7 Integrated rail & cruise Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £975 £55 A 26/05/2022 Operated by Saga Holidays 9 Rivers of Wine Joigny­Châtel Censoir Please refer to Saga Holidays G103 27/05/2022 Heritage of Burgundy 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Joigny­Châtel Censoir Auxerre £1,425 £295 E/STAR 28/05/2022 Available for charter 6­7 Gardens of Picardy Amiens­Abbeville C121 29/05/2022 River & rail on the Somme 7 Integrated rail & cruise Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £975 £55 B C122 04/06/2022 Gardens of Picardy 6 Alternate day cruising Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £975 £35 A 05/06/2022 Gardens of Picardy 7 Operated by Brightwater Coach Amiens­Abbeville Please refer to Brightwater Holidays A105 05/06/2022 Supercraft Cruises 7 Stained glass craft Eurostar Auxerre­Sens Auxerre £1,750 £145 E/STAR Rivers of Wine G104 06/06/2022 Fine Dining on the Yonne 7 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Sens­Auxerre Auxerre £1,475 £225 E/STAR C123 12/06/2022 Cruising in Artois 5 Just cruise Coach* Amiens­Arras Arras (2), Amiens (2) £835 £115 A and Somme G105 12/06/2022 The Gateway to Burgundy 7 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Auxerre­Sens Auxerre £1,395 £135 E/STAR G106 13/06/2022 Cruising the Yonne 7 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Sens­Auxerre Auxerre £1,475 £225 E/STAR with Fine Dining C124 15/06/2022 The Heartland of Artois 5 Art & History Coach Arras­St Omer St­Omer £875 £145 B via Béthune C125 19/06/2022 Cruising from Calais 3 A taster cruise Coach St Omer­Calais St­Omer £495 £75 A C126 21/06/2022 Cruising from Calais 3 A taster cruise Coach* Calais­St Omer St­Omer £495 £75 B G107 21/06/2022 Heritage of Burgundy 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Joigny­Châtel Censoir Auxerre £1,425 £295 E/STAR C127 24/06/2022 Irises of the Lys 4 Pas de Calais short break Coach St Omer­Lille St­Omer £745 £115 B via Armentières 28/06/2022 Available for charter 5 May suit craft beer theme Lille­Tournaix via Roubaix G108 29/06/2022 Icons of Burgundy 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar St Florentin­Montbard Auxerre £1,825 £275 E/STAR G109 30/06/2022 Burgundy for Gastronomes 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar St Florentin­Montbard Chablis £2,575 £395 E/STAR C129 02/07/2022 Waterways Cruise 5 Regional Beers Coach Tournai­Lille Lille £995 £95 A & UrbanBrews with Cheryl Cade via Roubaix H103 06/07/2022 Exploring Flanders 5 Cruising the Lys Coach* Lille­Gent via Kortrijk Roeselare £895 £135 B G110 08/07/2022 The Glorious Yonne 5 Just cruise Coach Moret sur Loing­Joigny Sens £875 £125 B H104 10/07/2022 West Flanders – 7 Great War History Coach Ypres­Bruges­Gent Ypres £1,435 £225 A A remembrance Cruise A106 11/07/2022 Supercrafts 7 Alternate day cruising Coach Ypres­Bruges­Gent Ypres £1,675 £235 B Exploring Flanders F105 14/07/2022 Loing Journey 6 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Moret sur Loing­ Montargis £1,125 £195 E/STAR Montargis F106 15/07/2022 Loing Journey 6 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Montargis­Moret Montargis £1,125 £195 E/STAR sur Loing H105 20/07/2022 Flanders Cruise & Rail 7 Integrated cruise & railtour Eurostar Gent­Lille Roeselare £1,375 £195 E/STAR A107 21/07/2022 Supercrafting on the Lys 7 Alternate day cruising Coach Lille­Gent Roeselare £1,495 £195 A F107 21/07/2022 Just Cruising a­Loing 5 Canal du Loing explorer Eurostar Moret sur Loing­ Montargis £925 £145 E/STAR Montargis 23/07/2022 Operated by Saga Holidays 7 Champagne Waterways Château Thierry­Reims Please refer to Saga Holidays

7 Departure Outward Cruise Title Days Theme Transfer by Cruise Range Hotel Location Per Solo Pick­up Code Date Person Supp Code

F108 25/07/2022 Châteaux and Vineyards 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Montargis­Léré Montargis £1,575 £295 E/STAR of Loiret F109 26/07/2022 Heart of France 9 Alternate day cruise Eurostar Léré­Montargis Montargis £1,625 £295 E/STAR Cruise & Rail & railtour H106 27/07/2022 Flanders Cruise & Rail 7 Alternate day cruise Eurostar Gent­Lille Roeselare £1,375 £195 E/STAR & railtour E113 28/07/2022 Meanders of the Marne 7 A capital cruise Eurostar Château Thierry­Paris Marne­la­Vallée £1,425 £295 E/STAR 28/07/2022 Available for charter 7 Alternate day cruising Lille­Gent J105 03/08/2022 The Lys in Flanders 5 Classical Music Coach* Gent­Lille Roeselare £945 £135 B & Radnor Ensemble E114 03/08/2022 Palaces of the Seine 6 Cruising the Seine Amont Eurostar La Villette­Moret £1,245 £175 E/STAR sur Loing Melun A108 04/08/2022 Creeks & Antiques – 6 Aillant Flea Market Eurostar Moret sur­Loing­ Montargis £1,225 £195 E/STAR a Supercraft Cruise Mon­ targis A109 05/08/2022 Creeks & Antiques – 6 Aillant Flea Market Eurostar Montargis­Moret Montargis £1,225 £195 E/STAR a Supercraft Cruise sur Loing J106 07/08/2022 Irises of the Lys 4 Classical Music Coach Lille­St Omer St­Omer £795 £115 B & Radnor Ensemble via Armentières E115 09/08/2022 Palaces of the Seine 6 Cruising the Seine Amont Eurostar Moret sur Loing­La Villette Melun £1,245 £175 E/STAR J107 10/08/2022 Jazz on the Aire 6 A musical cruise in Artois Coach* St Omer­Arras St­Omer £1,275 £185 A F110 11/08/2022 Heart of France 9 Alternate day cruise Eurostar Léré­Montargis Montargis £1,625 £295 E/STAR Cruise & Rail & railtour F111 12/08/2022 Châteaux and 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Montargis­Léré Montargis £1,575 £295 E/STAR Vineyards of Loiret E116 14/08/2022 Meanders of the Marne 7 The Marne into Paris Eurostar Paris­Château Thierry Marne­la­Vallée £1,425 £295 E/STAR C135 15/08/2022 Cruising in Artois 5 Just cruise Coach Arras­Amiens Arras (2), £835 £115 A and Somme Amiens (2) 19/08/2022 Operated by Saga Holidays 7 Champagne Waterways Château Thierry­Reims Please refer to Saga Holidays C136 19/08/2022 Short Break on the Somme 3 The Western Somme Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £495 £20 B F112 20/08/2022 Just Cruising a­Loing 5 Canal du Loing explorer Eurostar Montargis­Moret sur Loing Montargis £925 £145 E/STAR C137 21/08/2022 Short Break on the Somme 3 The Western Somme Coach Abbeville­Amiens Amiens £495 £20 C G111 24/08/2022 The Glorious Yonne 5 Just cruise Coach* Moret sur Loing­ Joigny Sens £875 £125 A 25/08/2022 Available for charter 5 Alternate day Champagne Reims­Epernay 25/08/2022 Available for charter 1 Day Trip Amiens­Corbie 26/08/2022 Available for charter 1 Day Trip Corbie­Amiens D125 26/08/2022 Canals of Champagne 5 Champagne Waterways Coach Reims­Epernay­Reims Reims £745 £85 C 27/08/2022 Available for charter 6­8 Alternate day ­ Somme Abbeville­Amiens 28/08/2022 Operated by Saga Holidays 9 Rivers of Wine Joigny­Châtel Censoir Please refer to Saga Holidays C138 28/08/2022 River & rail on the Somme 7 Integrated rail & cruise Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £975 £55 A G112 29/08/2022 The Classic Nivernais 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Joigny­Châtel Censoir Vermenton £1,595 £125 E/STAR 30/08/2022 Operated by Barnes A Champagne Cruise Coach Reims­Epernay Please refer to Coaches, Swindon Barnes Coaches of Swindon D126 31/08/2022 Canals of Champagne 5 Champagne Waterways Coach* Epernay­Reims Reims £745 £85 B C139 03/09/2022 Cruising in Artois 5 Just cruise Coach Amiens­Arras Arras (2), £835 £115 A and Somme Amiens (2) 04/09/2022 Operated by Saga Holidays 7 Champagne Waterways Château Thierry­Reims Please refer to Saga Holidays G113 07/09/2022 Icons of Burgundy 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar St Florentin­Montbard Auxerre £1,825 £275 E/STAR 07/09/2022 Available for charter 1 Day Trip Arras­Biache St Vaast C140 08/09/2022 The Heartland of Artois 5 Art & History Coach Arras­St Omer via Béthune St­Omer £875 £145 B G114 08/09/2022 Burgundy for Gastronomes 9 Alternate day cruising Eurostar St Florentin­Montbard Chablis £2,575 £395 E/STAR A110 09/09/2022 Meanders of the Marne 7 The Marne into Paris Eurostar Château Thierry­Paris Marne­la­Vallée £1,725 £295 E/STAR – Supercraft Cruise C141 12/09/2022 Irises of the Lys 4 Pas de Calais short break Coach St Omer­Lille St­Omer £745 £115 B via Armentières E117 14/09/2022 Paris in the Fall 4 Cruising in Paris Eurostar La Villette­Arsenal­ La Villette £695 £135 E/STAR Île Seguin A111 15/09/2022 Water­fleas in Paris – 5 Cruising & St­Ouen Eurostar La Villette­Arsenal­ La Villette £995 £175 E/STAR a Super­ craft Cruise Flea Market Île Seguin C142 16/09/2022 Waterways Cruise 5 Regional Beers Coach Lille­Tournai via Roubaix Lille £995 £95 A & Urban Brews with Cheryl Cade G115 17/09/2022 The Gateway to Burgundy 7 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Auxerre­Sens Auxerre £1,395 £135 E/STAR G116 18/09/2022 Cruising the Yonne 7 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Sens­Auxerre Auxerre £1,475 £225 E/STAR with Fine Dining E118 19/09/2022 Paris in the Fall 4 Cruising in Paris Eurostar La Villette­Arsenal­ La Villette £695 £135 E/STAR Île Seguin E119 20/09/2022 Paris in the Fall 4 Cruising in Paris Eurostar La Villette­Arsenal­ La Villette £695 £135 E/STAR Île Seguin

8 Departure Outward Cruise Title Days Theme Transfer by Cruise Range Hotel Location Per Solo Pick­up Code Date Person Supp Code

20/09/2022 Available for charter 5 May suit craft beer theme Tournai­Lille via Roubaix H108 23/09/2022 Exploring Flanders 5 Cruising the Lys Coach* Lille­Gent via Kortrijk Roeselare £895 £135 A 24/09/2022 Operated by Barnes Waterways of Paris Coach La Villette­Arsenal­ Please refer to Coaches, Swindon Île Seguin Barnes Coaches of Swindon G117 25/09/2022 The Gateway to Burgundy 7 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Auxerre­Sens Auxerre £1,395 £135 E/STAR E120 25/09/2022 Paris in the Fall 4 Cruising in Paris Eurostar La Villette­Arsenal­ La Villette £695 £135 E/STAR Île Seguin G118 26/09/2022 Cruising the Yonne 7 Alternate day cruising Eurostar Sens­Auxerre Auxerre £1,475 £225 E/STAR with Fine Dining J108 27/09/2022 In Flanders Fields 7 With the Spitfire Sisters Coach Ypres­Bruges­Gent Ypres £1,495 £225 B J109 28/09/2022 In Flanders Fields 7 With the Spitfire Sisters Coach Gent­Bruges­Ypres Ypres £1,495 £225 A E121 29/09/2022 Meanders of the Marne 7 A capital cruise Euro­ star* Paris­Château Thierry Marne­la­Vallée £1,425 £295 E/STAR 02/10/2022 Available to charter 6 Autumn Colours Auxerre­Moret sur Loing on the Yonne 04/10/2022 Operated by Saga Holidays 7 Champagne Waterways Château Thierry­Reims Please refer to Saga Holidays 05/10/2022 Available for charter 1 Day Trip Gent­Deinze 06/10/2022 Available for charter 1 Day Trip Deinze­Gent H109 07/10/2022 Exploring Flanders 5 Cruising the Lys Coach Gent­Lille via Kortrijk Roeselare £895 £135 B F113 07/10/2022 Just Cruising a­Loing 5 Canal du Loing explorer Eurostar Moret sur Loing­Mon­ targis Montargis £795 £145 E/STAR D127 09/10/2022 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lac du Der Coach Reims­Châlons Reims £895 £75 B F114 11/10/2022 Just Cruising a­Loing 5 Canal du Loing explorer Eurostar Montargis­Moret sur Loing Montargis £795 £145 E/STAR

C143 11/10/2022 Irises of the Lys 4 Pas de Calais short break Coach* Lille­St Omer St­Omer £745 £115 A via Armentières D128 12/10/2022 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lac du Der Coach* Reims­Châlons­Reims Reims £895 £75 A C144 14/10/2022 The Heartland of Artois 5 Art & History Coach St Omer­Arras via Béthune St­Omer £875 £145 A E122 15/10/2022 Palaces of the Seine 6 Cruising the Seine Amont Eurostar Moret sur Loing­La Villette Melun £1,095 £175 E/STAR D129 15/10/2022 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lac du Der Coach Reims­Châlons­Reims Reims £895 £75 B D130 18/10/2022 Champagne for the Birds 5 Crane Migration Lac du Der Coach* Reims­Châlons­Reims Reims £895 £75 A C145 19/10/2022 Cruising in Artois 5 Just cruise Coach Arras­Amiens Arras (2), £835 £115 A and Somme Amiens (2) E123 20/10/2022 Paris in the Fall 4 Cruising in Paris Eurostar La Villette­Arsenal­ La Villette £695 £135 E/STAR Île Seguin E124 21/10/2022 Paris in the Fall 4 Cruising in Paris Eurostar La Villette­Arsenal­ La Villette £695 £135 E/STAR Île Seguin C146 23/10/2022 Birds of the Bay 5 Bird Migration Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £845 £135 C C147 24/10/2022 Birds of the Bay 5 Bird Migration Coach Abbeville­Amiens Amiens £845 £135 B E127 25/10/2022 An Autumn Odyssey – 8 Oise explorer Coach Paris­Compiègne Cergy (4), £1,250 £225 A Paris to Compiègne Compiègne (3) C148 25/10/2022 Cathedrals of the North 7 Gothic Cathedrals Coach Reims­Pont L’Évêque Laon £1,225 £95 A C149 28/10/2022 Birds of the Bay 5 Bird Migration Coach Amiens­Abbeville Amiens £845 £135 A C150 29/10/2022 Birds of the Bay 5 Bird Migration Coach Abbeville­Amiens Amiens £845 £135 B C151 30/10/2022 The Tunnels of St­Quentin 7 Canal Engineering Coach Pont L’Évêque­Cambrai St­Quentin £945 £95 B C152 03/11/2022 The Eastern Somme 3 Remembrance Coach Amiens­Cappy Amiens £395 nil C C153 06/11/2022 The Tunnels of St­Quentin 7 Canal Engineering Coach Pont L’Évêque­Cambrai St­Quentin £945 £95 A C154 07/11/2022 The Eastern Somme 3 Remembrance Coach Cappy­Amiens Amiens £395 nil F C155 07/11/2022 Waterways of Artois 3 Remembrance Coach* Cambrai­Arras Arras £435 £55 D C156 11/11/2022 Waterways of Artois 3 Remembrance Coach Arras­Cambrai Arras £435 £55 F C157 11/11/2022 Cruising in Artois 5 Just cruise Coach Amiens­Arras Arras (2), £735 £115 A and Somme Amiens (2) J110 14/11/2022 Remembrance Waterways 4 Cruise with the Coach* Cambrai­Arras Arras £545 £80 D Spitfire Sisters 17/11/2022 Available for charter 3­5 Transfer Cruise – would suit Arras­Lille regional beer theme H111 21/11/2022 Exploring Flanders 5 Cruising the Lys Coach Lille­Gent via Kortrijk Roeselare £795 £135 A

9 SECTION A | BACKWATERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SUPERCRAFT CRUISES

The cruise departures in this section of the brochure are operated by Backwaters in collaboration with Julie Peasgood’s Supercraft Cruises. Developed and managed by Julie, Supercraft Cruises employs a range of specialist craft tutors to deliver unique, high­end workshops on worldwide cruises. Offering an exciting, diverse and inspirational programme of arts and crafts activities, the classes appeal to both women and men and are suitable for all abilities ­ from absolute beginners to the very experienced. All workshops are integral to our cruise programme and available to guests at no extra cost. Julie hand picks her line up of gifted Supercrafters; many of the crafts, such as stained glass decorating skills and bird sculpture have never been available on cruises before. The wide variety of workshops includes table lanterns, beaded cruise card lariats, mosaic projects, shadow box frames, sock teddies, decoupage, Curious Kumihimo jewellery, paper crafting, vintage china dioramas, glue gun art, block­printed tote bags, ribbon wreaths, teacup pincushions and mixed media artwork. For most of our Supercraft cruises the tutors are booked specifically for that itinerary, which allows us to state the planned specialist crafts on offer. However, sometimes issues with tutors’ availability or other circumstances may necessitate changing craft workshop themes. If this should occur, we will ensure that there will always be alternative tutored workshops provided. All abilities are welcome and participation throughout is flexible, allowing guests to come and go freely as they wish.

Arras Christmas Market and River Scarpe Cruise Mons Christmas Market and the Great Boat Lifts Thursday 2nd December 2021 Wednesday 15th December 2021 (limited child places at £315) Guests can enjoy crafting with a seasonal A spectacular cruise with a flavour as we cruise the remembrance theme as we delightful River Scarpe follow the canals east of Mons and explore the fine city and pass through the great boat of Arras and its famous lift at Strépy­Thieu and the Christmas Market. In equally impressive inclined addition to our cruising, plane at Ronquières. There is we visit the celebrated free time to enjoy the Fine Arts Museum in 5 days spectacular Christmas Market in Arras and provide for £795 Mons, and to enjoy the help of more Christmas SRS £125 our crafting tutors in workshops 5 days shopping with a organised back in our hotel. £745 hypermarket stop on And if there’s more Christmas shopping to be done, there’s a stop at the SRS £125 travel­home day. Cité­ Europe complex on travel home day!

Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel Holiday Inn Express, Arras Hotel Hotel Orange, La Louvière Meals 4B 2L 2D Meals 4B 3L 2D Cruise Range & distance Arras­Douai 28km 11 locks Cruise Range & distance Mons­Ronquières 34km 4 locks Booking Code A101 Booking Code A102

10 SECTION A | BACKWATERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SUPERCRAFT CRUISES

A Cruise on the Somme Supercraft Cruises Rivers of Wine and Amiens Réderie Market Sunday 5th June 2022 Thursday 14th April 2022 A wonderful combination of scenic cruising along Julie and her Supercraft the River Yonne, with craft tutors join us for three workshops on a stained days of cruising the glass making theme as our Eastern Somme visits include the glorious between Amiens and cathedrals of Amiens and Péronne, with Easter Sens, and the largest of all Sunday free to enjoy the Cistercian churches, the great Spring flea market Abbaye de Pontigny. We – the Amiens Réderie. explore the great wine Complementary visits 7 days centre of Chablis and the include the Memorial to £1,750 SRS £145 caves of Crémant de the Missing of the Battle Bourgogne in Bailly, and of the Somme, and we dine­out in some of the finest of the region’s restaurants, in Nitry, Accolay, 6 days visit Le Touquet weekly Villeneuve­sur­Yonne and Joigny, where we also drop­in for the weekly £1,325 market on travel­ home SRS £145 market on travel­home day. There is also time for independent sightseeing in day. Auxerre and Sens.

Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Eurostar to Paris Hotel Holiday Inn Express, Amiens Hotel Mercure, Appoigny (Auxerre) Meals 5B 3L 4D Meals 6B 5L 6D Cruise Range & distance Amiens­Péronne 59km 10 locks Cruise Range & distance Auxerre­Sens 60km 17 locks Booking Code A103 Booking Code A105

Gardens of Picardy with Supercraft Cruises Exploring West Flanders Sunday 15th May 2022 Monday 11th July 2022 Children of school age at 50% of adult rate A fascinating cruise A memorable week of following a semi­circular cruising, crafting, and route from Ypres and wonderful gardens as through Nieuwpoort and we cruise the Western Bruges to Gent, where Somme downstream we have a free day to of Amiens. Our visits explore the weekly flea include the gardens of market. We will have a the painter André van military history guide Beek, the Floral aboard for our passage Gardens of Digeon, between Ypres and the mill garden in Nieuwpoort, which Paillart, and the plus­ follows the lines of the beaux village of Ypres salient. With 7 days Gerberoy with its yew remembrance in mind, £1,575 topiary gardens and guests will also be able SRS £175 the terraced gardens 7 days to attend the moving of the painter Henri le £1,675 ceremony of the Last Sidaner. We make a guided visit to the Château de Long, spend time in SRS £235 Post at Menen Gate. Beauvais with opportunity to visit the cathedral and National Tapestry Between craft workshops Gallery, and there is free time to explore the sights of Amiens. Even on back at the hotel, we also take a ride on the Belgian Coastal Tramway, visit travel­home day we visit the splendid gardens of the Abbaye de Valloires the seaside at Koksijde, and there is a free morning on travel­home day to before a hypermarket stop ahead of our return to Kent. see more of Ypres before our return journey.

Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach Hotel Holiday Inn Express, Amiens Hotel Novotel Ypres Meals 6B 3L 5D Meals 6B 3L 5D Cruise Range & distance Amiens­Abbeville 50km 7 locks Cruise Range & distance Ypres­Bruges­Gent 121km 6 locks Booking Code A104 Booking Code A106

11 SECTION A | BACKWATERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SUPERCRAFT CRUISES

Supercrafting on the Lys Meanders of the Marne Thursday 21st July 2022 Friday 9th September 2022 Another captivating A great chance to savour Paris and new cruise & crafting the Marne Valley from the itinerary, this time waterways perspective as we cruise following the River Lys between the champagne town of between the great 7 days Château­Thierry and the city centre, waterways city of fully 142km of serene cruising with £1,725 Gent and Deûlemont, SRS £295 19 locks. We also pass through three and then the Canal de canal tunnels, including the 2km la Deûle into the tunnel on the Canal St­Martin which takes the waterway underneath Place capital city of the de la Bastille. Thanks to all the river’s meanders, the beginning and end 7 days Hauts de France, Lille. points of our cruise are only 90km apart, and this allows us to stay £1,495 Our cruise takes us throughout at the excellent 4* Hotel L’Elysée in Chessy, Marne­la­Vallée. Our SRS £195 through Deinze, four full days of cruising take us from the champagne heartland of Château­ Kortrijk and Menen, Thierry through La­Ferté­sous­Jouarre, Meaux and Noisy­le­Grand to reach reminding us that we will make an evening visit to Ypres for guests to attend the Marne’s confluence with the Seine in Paris. We then cruise through the the Last Post ceremony at Menen Gate if they wish. To help inspire our craft heart of Paris as far as the Eiffel Tower before returning to Paris Arsenal workshops, we will visit the Texture Museum in Kortrijk, and the Lace where we turn on to the Canal de St­ Martin to conclude in La Villette Basin. Museum and Roose’s Chocolate World in Bruges; and on homebound day There will be a free day for private exploration locally (for Disneyland we travel via Nieuwpoort for guests to enjoy a trip on the coastal tramway perhaps!) or in the centre of Paris, and regular craft workshops both in the through to the terminus at De Panne. hotel and, for those interested in some lap­based work, whilst cruising.

Transfers by Coach Transfers by Eurostar Hotel Mercure Roeselare Hotel Hotel L’Élysée Chessy Meals 6B 3L 5D Meals 6B 4L 3D Cruise Range & distance Gent­Lille 99km 7 locks Cruise Range & distance Château Thierry­La Villette 142km 19 locks Booking Code A107 Booking Code A110

Creeks & Antiques Water­fleas in Paris! Thursday 4th and Friday 5th August 2022 Thursday 15th September 2022 A cruise & tour opportunity A compelling cruise not to be missed by flea programme following market followers as we the Upper Seine cruise the scenic Canal du through the centre of Loing around the edge of Paris and including a Fontainebleau Forest and fascinating trip along spend a clear day at the the Canal St­Martin in great annual flea market in the city centre, with a the Burgundy town of free day to explore the Aillant­sur­Tholon. Our two market of St­Ouen, full days of cruising which claims to be the between Moret­sur­Loing biggest flea market in and Montargis via Nemours the world! We stay in 6 days take us the length of the the heart of Paris £1,225 Canal du Loing, the 17th alongside La Villette SRS £195 century navigation which Park, offering plenty of enabled barges to cruise opportunity to explore between the Seine and the valley of the Loire. In addition to our day at the the city and with a flea market in Aillant, there is a guided introduction to Montargis – the choice of inspiring “Venice of the Gâtinais” and a range of workshops incorporating flea market 5 days craft workshops in the finds. On travel­home day we have some free time in Melun before we £995 hotel. continue into Paris for our Eurostar back to London. SRS £175

Date 04/08/2022 05/08/2022 Transfers by Eurostar Transfers by Eurostar Hotel Ibis Cité des Sciences La Villette Hotel Ibis Montargis Meals 4B 2L 2D Meals 5B 3L 4D Cruise Range & distance Moret sur Loing­Montargis 52km 22 locks Cruise Range & distance La Villette­Île­Seguin 27km 5 locks Booking Code A108 A109 Booking Code A111

12 SECTION B | CHRISTMAS MARKET AND CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR HOLIDAY CRUISES

Arras Christmas Market and River Scarpe Cruise Mons Christmas Market Monday 6th and Wednesday 8th December 2021 and Feats of Waterway Engineering A splendid mix of Monday 20th and Tuesday 28th December 2021 seasonal celebration Children of school age at 50% of adult rate and cruise exploration as we follow the Another of the great continental Christmas delightful River Markets beckons in historic Mons, with our Scarpe between Arras cruise route equally steeped in history as we and Douai and trace the front line close to Mons at the explore the fine city outbreak of the Great War and experience 3 days of Arras and its 3 days two of the modern marvels of canal £375 famous Christmas £475 engineering – the enormous boat lift at SRS £60 SRS £55 Market. Strépy­Thieu and the equally inspiring inclined plane of Ronquières. Date 06/12/2021 08/12/2021 Date 20/12/2021 28/12/2021 Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel Holiday Inn Express, Arras Hotel Orange Hotel, La Louvière Meals 2B 2L 0D Meals 2B 2L 0D Cruise Range & distance Arras­Douai 28km 11 locks Cruise Range & distance Mons­Ronquières 34km 4 locks/lifts Booking Code B101 B102 Booking Code B104 B106

A Transfer Cruise – Douai, Valenciennes and Mons A Gala Christmas Cruise with the Spitfire Sisters Friday 10th December 2021 Thursday 23rd December 2021 Children of school age at 50% of adult rate Children of school age at 50% of adult rate A fascinating cruise between A Christmas getaway with a real difference! Northern France and Wallonia as we The headlines might be our two half­day trace the commercial barge route cruises taking us through the 1km long 63m­ provided by the River Escaut (better fall inclined plane at Ronquières and known to us as the Scheldt) and the onwards to experience the great 73m boat­ Belgian canal artery which connects 6 days lift at Strépy­Thieu. But on Christmas Day we the river with Mons and onwards to £1,350 enjoy our own special lunch in­hotel with Brussels and the Meuse. Staying four SRS £145 gifts from Santa, followed by an afternoon 6 days nights in Valenciennes and two nights visit to the moving memorial and military £875 in La Louvière, we include a free cemetery of St­Symphorien. Then on Boxing Day we spend a wonderful day SRS £175 afternoon and evening at Mons out amongst the gardens and wildlife of the Pairi Daiza “Gardens of the Christmas Market, free time for World”, where we include a steam train ride through the park and lunch in sightseeing in Cambrai and Valenciennes, and visits to the great boat lift of the Oasis restaurant amongst the animals and birds. Then we spend some Strépy­Thieu and St­Symphorien military cemetery. time at the iconic Mons Christmas Market, and throughout our holiday we enjoy the wonderful harmonies of our vocal duo, the Spitfire Sisters. A truly Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel memorable way to enjoy the festive season! Mercure Valenciennes (3), Orange Hotel Hotel La Louvière (2) Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Meals 5B 4L 4D Hotel Hotel Orange, La Louvière Douai­Mons via Valenciennes 110km Meals 5B 5L 4D Cruise Range & distance 10 locks Cruise Range & distance Mons­Ronquières 34km 4 locks/lifts Booking Code B103 Booking Code B105

New Year in Mons – Beers and Boat Lifts exploration of some of the iconic regional beers, New Year celebrations in Mons, and a wonderful day out amongst the gardens and wildlife of the Pairi Thursday 30th December 2021 – 5 days Daiza “Gardens of the World”, where we include lunch in the Park’s very own micro­brewery. A truly original way to see­in the new Year, and all in the A New Year’s experience to truly lift the company of our beer Sommelier and cheese expert Cheryl Cade! spirits! Our cruising comprises two fascinating half­day cruises taking us Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel through the 1km long 63m­fall inclined Hotel Hotel Orange, La Louvière plane at Ronquières and onwards to Meals 4B 4L 3D 5 days experience the great 73m boat­lift at £1,065 Strépy­Thieu. Then there’s the Cruise Range & distance Mons­Ronquières 34km 4 locks/lifts SRS £115 spectacular Mons Christmas Market, an Booking Code B107

13 SECTION C | CRUISES IN HAUTS DE FRANCE

Lifting the Curtain! The Tunnels of St­Quentin Cathedrals of the North Thursday 26th August 2021 Tuesday 26th October 2021 After all the frustration A novel approach to visiting and disappointment of some of France’s great nearly two seasons lost – cathedrals as we journey at last a return between Reims and Péronne to action with this along the waterways of the fascinating cruise Marne, Aisne, Oise and following four of the Somme, with guided visits to great waterway the grand Cathedrals of navigations across the Amiens, Reims, Laon, north of France as we Soissons and Noyon, and the cruise fully 106km of remarkable Basilica in St­ river and canal 8 days Quentin. We follow an often connecting the historic £1,495 remote waterways corridor of 6 days cities of Arras, Cambrai SRS £275 fully 159km of intimate £895 and St­Quentin. To make cruising, and as the SRS £45 the most of the time waterways meander we are always close to our two hotels for the week in available we will cruise Soissons and Noyon. As well as all the Cathedrals, our visits include the P/O on our outward travel day afternoon and then spend four further full days Mackenzie Memorial in La Neuvillette, the hilltop fortress at Coucy­le­ cruising, with no less than 34 locks encountered over the five cruise days Château, and the village of St­Jean­au­Bois deep in Compiègne Forest. and passage through the world’s longest operational canal tunnel – the Souterrain de Riqueval. Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel 4* Best Western Soissons (4), Hotel Hotel 3* The Originals Tabl ‘hotel Cambrai 3* Le Cedre Noyon (3) Meals 5B 5L 5D Meals 7B 7L 5D Cruise Range & distance Arras­St Quentin via Cambrai 106km 34 locks Cruise Range & distance Reims­Péronne via Noyon 159km 30 locks Booking Code C101 Booking Code C103

Four Rivers – from St­Quentin to Reims Remembrance Waterways – Cambrai­Arras Tuesday 31st August 2021 Saturdays 6th and 13th and Tuesday 9th November 2021 A relaxing cruise exploration of the hidden waterways of the Hauts de France as we make our way between the catchments of four of France’s great rivers, the Somme, the Oise, the Aisne and the Marne. In our four full days of cruising these delightful waterways, we cover 119km with 31 locks and 4 days £535 the remarkable 2.3km SRS £95 tunnel of Braye­ en­ 6 days Laonnais. Although our £999 SRS £85 days are concentrated on A new angle on remembrance season as we cruise the secluded waterways our cruise itinerary, we between Cambrai and Arras, both vital strategic locations in the destructive find time to visit the and costly conflict of the Great War. Our cruising over three days covers spectacular hilltop fortress of Coucy­le­Château­Auffrique, there is time for 58km of now­peaceful waterway corridor, with visits to two of the new local sightseeing in Reims and Laon, and a visit to the shopping complex at visitor attractions reflecting on history of the Great War – the Tank Museum Cite­Europe in Calais on travel­home day. at Flesquières and the CWGC Visitor Centre in Arras.

Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Date 06/11/2021 09/11/2021 13/11/2021 Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel 3* Ibis, Laon Hotel 3* Holiday Inn Express Arras Meals 5B 4L 4D Meals 3B 3L 2D St Quentin­Reims via Bourg­et­Comin Cruise Range & distance 119km 31 locks Cruise Range & distance Arras­Cambrai 58km 14 locks Booking Code C102 Booking Code C105 C106 C107

14 SECTION C | CRUISES IN HAUTS DE FRANCE

The Tunnels of St­Quentin Birds of the Bay Monday 28th February, Sunday 30th October Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th April. Sunday 23rd, Monday 24th, and Sunday 6th November 2022 Friday 28th and Saturday 29th October 2022 An early and late season A really different perspective on one of the world’s cruise opportunity not to great birdwatch havens as we cruise the River be missed by waterways Somme downstream of Amiens and take the

history enthusiasts as we 5 days chance to spend a guided day at the Marquenterre witness the great reserve on the Bay of the Somme. We are £845 achievements of SRS £135 accompanied at Marquenterre by former RSPB 18th/19th century canal Warden and accomplished nature guide Jason engineers in cruising Mitchell, and his wife Emilie who was at one time a guide at the Reserve! between the fine cities Our cruise over two days covers a course of 51km between Amiens and 7 days of Cambrai and St­ Abbeville, a delight in itself for the wildlife glimpsed along the way and for £945 Quentin and onwards via the amazing stillness in cruising electric – you can just hear the gentle SRS £95 Tergnier to Pont rippling of the water and the birdsong! These wildlife corridors are a haven L’Évêque; with included for Kingfisher, Jay, Nightingale, Grey Heron, Buzzard and Cormorant, and of visits to the Museum of the Resistance in Tergnier, the Cistercian Abbaye de course the waterfowl are abundant. To complement our day at the Vaucelles and on travel­home day the Louvre­Lens Art Museum. Our Marquenterre we also visit the Maison de la Baie de Somme in Lanchères, passage between Cambrai and St­Quentin includes the remarkable and there is free time to explore in historic Amiens. Souterrain de Riqueval – all of 5.6km and the longest in­use canal tunnel in 04/04/2022 23/10/2022 28/10/2022 the world. Date 05/04/2022 24/10/2022 29/10/2022 Date 28/02/2022 30/10/2022 06/11/2022 Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel 2* Hotel Le Florence, St Quentin Hotel 3* Holiday Inn Express Amiens Hotel (Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Award) Meals 4B 3L 3D Meals 6B 5L 3D Cruise Range & distance Amiens­Abbeville 51km 7 locks Cruise Range & distance Cambrai­Pont L’Évêque 110km 36 locks C109 C146 C149 Booking Code Booking Code C108 C151 C153 C110 C147 C150

A Remembrance Cruise of the Somme Cathedrals of the North Monday 11th & Wednesday 20th April Thursday 14th April, Tuesday 3rd May, and Tuesday 25th October 2022 An opportunity to experience the peace A different approach to visiting and seclusion of the some of France’s great cathedrals River Somme as we as we journey between Pont cruise between Péronne L’Évêque and Reims along the and Amiens, taking us remote waterways of the Oise, across the Western Front Aisne and Marne, with guided of more than a century visits to the grand Gothic ago. We include visits to Cathedrals of Amiens, Noyon, the Sir John Monash May Apr& Oct Reims and Laon, and the Centre in Villers­ 7 days 7 days remarkable Basilica in St­ Bretonneux and the £1,395 £1,225 Quentin. Our visit programme SRS £95 SRS £95 great Memorial to the also includes the historic hilltop Missing at Thiepval, with fortress of Coucy­le­Château free time also to see Auffrique, and the Caverne du Dragon Museum of the Chemin des Dames some of the sights of battlefield at Oulches­la­Vallée­Foulon. From north to south our waterways Amiens, and we break at journey follows the lateral canals of the great Rivers Oise and Aisne, the 4 days the Cité­Europe complex summit canal which links these two rivers and finally on to another summit £525 in Calais on travel­ home canal which joins the Aisne and the Marne. It’s a fascinating and entirely SRS £25 day. rural waterways corridor of 108km of intimate cruising with the scenery always close­up, and as we follow a zig­zag route we are always close to our Date 11/04/2022 20/04/2022 hotel for the week in Laon. Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Date 14/04/2022 03/05/2022 25/10/2022 3* The Originals Tabl ‘hotel Amiens Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel (Longueau) Hotel 3* Ibis Laon Meals 3B 2L 3D Meals 6B 6L 5D Cruise Range & distance Péronne­Amiens 59km 10 locks Cruise Range & distance Pont L’Évêque­Reims 108km 23 locks Booking Code C111 C113 Booking Code C104 C112 C148

15 SECTION C | CRUISES IN HAUTS DE FRANCE

An Inland Voyage Gardens of Picardy Wednesday 20th and Monday 25th April Saturdays 14th and 21st May and 4th June 2022 A new cruise range to explore in 2022 as we A unique cruise­break for spend a fascinating week on the recently re­ garden­lovers as we head 7 days opened Canal Sambre­Oise. This scenic cross­channel to enjoy scenic £1,125 waterway connects two major rivers: the and secluded cruising SRS £95 Sambre, rising in L’Avesnois Regional Park between Amiens and and flowing northwards into Belgium; and Abbeville on the River the Oise, rising in the French Ardennes and eventually joining the Seine west of Somme, complemented by Paris. The canal was closed in 2006 for major repairs to two aqueducts, and visits to some of Picardy’s after a 15­ year gap it reopened in 2021, so we will be amongst the first to ex­ most celebrated gardens. Our plore it after the prolonged closure. There is much historic interest to add to visits include the gardens of the picturesque appeal of this relatively unknown part of Northern France. In the painter André van Beek, 1876, the young Robert Louis Stevenson and his friend Walter Simpson set out 6 days the Floral Gardens of Digeon, on a canoe expedition along the waterways of Belgium and northern France. in­ £975 the mill garden in Paillart, and cluding the full length of the Sambre/Oise Canal. Stevenson transcribed his SRS £35 the plus­beaux village of notes from the journey to create An Inland Voyage which, in 1878, became his Gerberoy with its yew topiary first commercially published book. Our visits along the cruise corridor include gardens and the terraced gardens of the painter Henri le Sidaner. We make a the Resistance Museum in Tergnier, the Henri Matisse Galleries in Cateau­Cam­ guided visit to the Château de Long, spend time in Beauvais with bresis, the zoological gardens in Maubeuge, and the final resting place of the opportunity to visit the cathedral and National Tapestry Gallery, and there is great wartime poet, Wilfred Owen in Ors. free time to explore the sights of historic Amiens. Date 20/04/2022 25/04/2022 Date 14/05/2022 21/05/2022 04/06/2022 Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel 2* Hotel Le Florence, St Quentin 3* The Originals Tabl’Hotel Amiens Hotel Hotel (Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Award) (Longueau) Meals 6B 6L 3D Meals 5B 4L 4D Cruise Range & distance Tergnier­Maubeuge 102km 42 locks Cruise Range & distance Amiens­Abbeville 51km 7 locks Booking Code C114 C117 Booking Code C118 C119 C122

The Somme for ANZAC Day River & Rail on the Somme Sunday 24th April 2022 Sundays 22nd and 29th May and 28th August 2022 An opportunity to join the A unique cruise­break for great annual commemoration railway enthusiasts as we of ANZAC Day as we cruise head cross­channel to enjoy between Amiens and Péronne scenic touring by both river over three days, always close and rail, and with our own to the 1916 front line, with dedicated coach for our daily the services of a qualified hotel, boat and station guide to visit some of the shuttles. For this one­week Battlefield Memorials still so getaway we are based in vividly in mind after the Amiens, only a couple of 6 days centenary commemorations hours from Calais, and £995 of recent times. And we are throughout our programme SRS £45 accompanied and entertained 7 days we interweave our cruise and throughout by the wonderful £975 rail programme to visit many harmonies of the Spitfire Sisters! For this programme we organise in two SRS £55 of the historical towns and groups of up to 40 which will cruise alternate days and experience a cities of Hauts­de­France comprehensive visit programme covering the Somme battlefield sites and Region. Our cruising takes us on three half­day explorations covering around memorials, including a visit to the new CWGC Centre in Arras and the 50km of secluded waterway between Amiens and Abbeville. Rail excursions Wellington Quarry. take us between Amiens and Calais, Arras, Lens, St­Quentin, Laon, Compiègne and Beauvais, with a steam train ride on the Bay of the Somme Date 24/04/2022 (early dep) 24/04/2022 (later dep) railway and a heritage railcar trip between St­Valery and Cayeux­sur­Mer. Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Date 22/05/2022 29/05/2022 28/08/2022 Hotel 3* The Originals Tabl ‘hotel Amiens (Longueau) Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Meals 3B 2L 3D 3* The Originals Tabl’Hotel Amiens Hotel Cruise Range & distance Péronne­Amiens 59km 10 locks (Longueau) Early departure cruises Later departure cruises Meals 6B 4L 4D Please note outward day homebound day Cruise Range & distance Amiens­Abbeville 51km 7 locks Booking Code C115 C116 Booking Code C120 C121 C138

16 SECTION C | CRUISES IN HAUTS DE FRANCE

Just Cruise – Amiens to Arras A Cruise out of Calais Sunday 12th June, Monday 15th August, Saturday 3rd September, Sunday 19th and Tuesday 21st June 2022 Wednesday 19th October, Friday 11th November 2022 To most of us, cruising out of A fascinating short­break cruise Calais will conjure up an following four of the great waterways of image of a breezy crossing on Hauts de France as we cruise the rivers a channel ferry – but here we and canals connecting the great cities of provide the chance to enjoy a Amiens and Arras. This cruise may be in different cruise experience as either direction as we explore the we follow the Canal de Calais Nov Other peaceful navigations of the Scarpe, 5 days 5 days inland and across the edge of Canal de la Sensée, Canal du Nord and £735 £835 the Flanders plain to join the SRS £115 SRS £115 the Somme. To make the most of the River Aa near the small town time available we will cruise on our of Holque; and from here we outward travel day afternoon and then spend three further full days cruising, turn southwards on to the with no less than 30 locks encountered over the 4 cruise days and a number of canalised River Aa to Arques, lift bridges too. This is very much a cruise­only itinerary without included 3 days just outside St­Omer. It is an excursions, but we will still proceed at a very gentle pace and there will be good £495 entirely rural cruise corridor SRS £75 opportunity for a towpath stroll along stretches where the locks are closely with fine views across mostly spaced. open farmland. This taster programme stays at the fine new­build Mercure hotel in St­Omer and also 12/06/2022 03/09/2022 Date 11/11/2022 includes a visit to the La Coupole V2 rocket installation and to Calais Town 15/08/2022 19/10/2022 Hall and Belfry. Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Date 19/06/2022 21/06/2022 3* Holiday Inn Express Amiens (2 nights) Hotel 3* Holiday Inn Express Arras (2 nights) Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Meals 4B 3L 3D Hotel 4* Mercure St­Omer Cruise Range & distance Amiens­Arras 130km 30 locks Meals 2B 2L 2D C123 C139 Cruise Range & distance St Omer­Calais 47km 2 locks Booking Code C157 C135 C145 Booking Code C125 C126

The Heartland of Artois Irises of the Lys Wednesday 15th June, Thursday 8th September, Friday 24th June, Monday 12th September, Friday 14th October 2022 Tuesday 11th October 2022 A cruise of great waterway A short break package within a contrasts as we follow the stone’s throw of Calais as we very secluded River Scarpe explore the delightful River Lys at the Arras end of our between the regional capital of range, and then the more Lille and the historic town of St­ arterial navigations of the Omer. The Lys was once a major Canal de la Sensée, the waterway route for commercial Canal de la Deûle, the barges but the shift of freight to 5 days Canal d’Aire and finally the road and rail led to its decline £875 Canal de Neufossé and by the end of the 20th SRS £145 through to the lovely old 4 days century the river was little­used, town of St­Omer. This is £745 polluted, and heavily silted. another cruise covering a lot of ground but with the start and finish points SRS £115 Thanks to a substantial only an hour apart via the A26 Autoroute, we can enjoy a comfortable stay environmental development and throughout at the new 4* Mercure in St­Omer. Our wider programme takes tourism promotion project the River has now been fully restored to an artistic theme as we visit the Fine Arts Museum in Arras and the Louvre­ navigation and it allows us to explore scenic West Flanders, taking in the Lens galleries, and with free time available in St­Omer guests should also be lovely small towns of Aire­sur­la­Lys, Saint­Venant, Merville and able to visit the sumptuous Museum Sandelin and the city library, which Armentières. As well as providing free time to explore Lille and St­Omer, our recently discovered a folio of all Shakespeare’s works which had languished programme includes a hop across the Belgian border from Armentières to undisturbed in the archives for over 200 years! visit the Great War memorials and the Plugstreet Visitor Centre.

Date 15/06/2022 08/09/2022 14/10/2022 Date 24/06/2022 12/09/2022 11/10/2022 Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel 4* Mercure St­Omer Hotel 4* Mercure St­Omer Meals 4B 3L 4D Meals 3B 3L 3D Cruise Range & distance Arras­St Omer 100km 10 locks Cruise Range & distance St Omer­Lille 76km 7 locks Booking Code C124 C140 C144 Booking Code C127 C141 C143

17 SECTION C | CRUISES IN HAUTS DE FRANCE

A Short Break Cruise – The Western Somme A Remembrance Cruise – The Eastern Somme Friday 19th and Sunday 21st August 2022 Thursday 3rd and Monday 7th November 2022 Opportunity to reflect on the history of the Great War as we travel close to the 1916 front line along the secluded River Somme and visit some of the Battlefield Memorials still so vividly in mind after the centenary commemorations of recent times. Our cruising will be complemented by guided 3 days visits to some of the £495 battlefield locations and SRS £20 Memorials which remain such a moving testimony to the A great midsummer short break opportunity as we spend two days cruising 3 days courage, sacrifice and over 50km of the peaceful River Somme downstream of Amiens, with some £395 appalling losses of the trench free time on arrival day afternoon to see some of the sights of Amiens. SRS £Nil warfare campaign of 1914­18.

Date 19/08/2022 21/08/2022 Date 03/11/2022 07/11/2022 Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel 3* Originals Tabl’Hotel Amiens 3* Originals Tabl’Hotel Amiens Hotel Hotel (Longueau) (Longueau) Meals 2B 3L 2D Meals 2B 2L 1D Cruise Range & distance Amiens­Abbeville 51km 7 locks Cruise Range & distance Amiens­Cappy 42km 7 locks Booking Code C136 C137 Booking Code C152 C154

Waterways Cruise and Urban Brews Remembrance Waterways – Cambrai ­ Arras Saturday 2nd July and Friday 16th September 2022 Monday 7th and Friday 11th November 2022 A great chance to enjoy a A new angle on closer­to­home getaway remembrance season as cruising the waterways we cruise the secluded around Lille in the waterways between company of our delightful Cambrai and Arras, both Beer Sommelier and vital strategic locations Cheese Guide Cheryl in the destructive and Cade. Over our three days costly conflict of the of cruising we travel Great War. We explore 5 days between Tournai and Lille the peaceful waterways £999 via the Canal de Roubaix, of the Scarpe, Canal de SRS £95 pausing along the way to la Sensée and the River visit ­ or be visited by ­ Escaut, perhaps better some of the micro­breweries close to the waterway and with time to see known to us as the something of the historic centres of Roubaix and Lille. This is a great story of Scheldt. To make the urban conservation as the Canal de Roubaix had fallen into disuse by 1985 3 days most of the time and it was scheduled to be used as the route of a new urban expressway for £435 available we will cruise road traffic. But there was a change of heart and following substantial SRS £55 on our outward travel restoration works the canal was reopened in 2011. For all that it passes day afternoon and our through the industrial hinterland of Northern Lille and past the old textile return travel day morning, with included visits to two of the new attractions factories of Roubaix and Tourcoing, this is a fascinating and scenic cruise. reflecting on history of the Great War – the Tank Museum at Flesquières and the CWGC Visitor Centre in Arras. Date 02/07/2022 16/09/2022 Date 07/11/2022 11/11/2022 Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel 4* Park Inn by Radisson Lille Hotel 3* Holiday Inn Express Arras Meals 4B 3L 3D Meals 2B 3L 1D Cruise Range & distance Lille­Tournai 49km 18 locks Cruise Range & distance Arras ­ Cambrai 58km 14 locks Booking Code C129 C142 Booking Code C155 C156

18 SECTION D | CRUISES IN CHAMPAGNE-MARNE

Canals of Champagne The Marne Lateral Canal Saturday 4th September & Wednesday 6th October 2021 Thursday and Friday 16th and 17th September 2021 A favourite short­break Another fascinating cruise option as we Champagne Region cruise follow the scenic option as we follow the waterways which link scenic Lateral Canal of the the great champagne River Marne between the capitals of Reims and great champagne centres of Epernay, staying in a 5 days Epernay and Châlons­en­ convenient hotel just £875 Champagne, and onwards to 5 days outside Reims and SRS £145 the important waterways £645 including a free day to junction at Vitry­le­François. SRS £75 explore this historic city. Our hotel location in the centre of Châlons­en­Champagne will allow us to On top of two full days explore this historic city in our own time, and our wider programme includes of cruising our programme includes a Champagne House tasting, some free free time in Epernay and Vitry­le­François and a clear afternoon to sightsee time in Epernay, and a completely free day to sightsee in Reims, where the in Reims, where the magnificent Cathedral Notre­Dame and the Basilica magnificent Cathedral Notre­Dame and the Basilica Saint­Remi are both Saint­Remi are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Then on travel­home day UNESCO World Heritage sites. Then on travel­home day we bid farewell to we pause in Reims again to ride the length of the city’s new tramway system Reims by riding the length of the city’s new tramway system before before returning to Calais for some shopping time in the Cité­Europe returning to Calais for some shopping time in the Cité­Europe complex. complex ahead of our return crossing.

Date 04/09/2021 06/10/2021 Date 16/09/2021 17/09/2021 Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel 3* Best Hotel Reims Croix Blandin 3* Hotel Spa Renard, Hotel Châlons­en­Champagne Meals 4B 2L 4D Meals 4B 2L 4D Reims­Epernay 51km 17 locks and Cruise Range & distance Mont­de­Billy Tunnel Cruise Range & distance Epernay­Vitry le François 68km 12 locks Booking Code D101 D107 Booking Code D103 D104

The Champagne Marne Autumn Champagne Tuesdays 7th and 21st September 2021 Monday 18th October 2021 A fascinating Champagne A short­break Autumn cruise cruise option as we follow along the waterways of the scenic River Marne Champagne region in the along its wandering course comfort of your Backwaters between the iconic hybrid­electric barge, champagne capital of passing beautiful scenery as Epernay and the fine city you cruise along the canals of Meaux in Seine­et­ which link the great Marne. In your four full champagne capitals of 6 days days of cruising you will be Epernay and Reims. In your £995 aboard your “floating two full days of cruising you SRS £125 observation lounge” for will be aboard your “floating fully 137km but it testifies observation lounge” for to the meandering character of the Marne that the beginning and end 51km with 17 locks and the points of our cruise are just 94km apart by road so we are never far from our 2.3km Mont de Billy tunnel hotel in Château­Thierry. Our programme includes: an on­board champagne along the way. Our tasting, visits to the Marne Memorials at Dormans and La­Ferté­sous­ programme includes a Jouarre, the Church of our Lady in Mézy­ Moulins, and the remarkable 4 days Champagne House visit and statue of Pope Urban II in Chatillon­sur­Marne. There is time to sightsee in £595 a free morning on travel­ Epernay and Château­Thierry, and on travel­home day more free time to SRS £60 home day to explore Reims. explore the sights of historic Reims.

Date 07/09/2021 21/09/2021 Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel 3* Best Hotel Reims Croix Blandin Hotel 3* Ibis Château­Thierry Meals 3B 2L 3D Meals 5B 4L 4D Reims­Epernay 51km 17 locks Cruise Range & distance Cruise Range & distance Epernay­Meaux 137km 14 locks and Mont­de­Billy Tunnel Booking Code D102 D105 Booking Code D108

19 SECTION D | CRUISES IN CHAMPAGNE-MARNE

Champagne for the Birds! Canals of Champagne Wednesday 20th & Saturday 23rd October 2021 Tuesday 22nd & Monday 28th March, Friday 26th, Tuesday 8th, Friday 11th, Monday 14th, Thursday 17th March 2022 Wednesday 31st August 2022 Sunday 9th, Wednesday 12th, Saturday 15th and Tuesday 18th October 2022 A wonderful migration season getaway for bird­ lovers as we spend two days cruising the remote canals between Reims and Châlons­en­ Champagne with a free day for a guided visit to the world­renowned stopover for migrating European Cranes at Lac du Der Chantecoq. Throughout our cruise and at Lac du Der we are 5 days supported by France­ £675­ based wildlife guide and £745 5 days former RSPB warden SRS £85 £895 SRS £75 Jason Mitchell. Our programme includes a A favourite short­break cruise option as we follow the scenic waterways Champagne House which link the great champagne capitals of Reims and Epernay, staying in a tasting, free time in historic Châlons­en­Champagne, and on our travel convenient hotel just outside Reims and including a free day to explore this home day a free morning in Reims, where the magnificent Cathedral Notre­ historic city. On top of two full days of cruising our programme includes a Dame and the Basilica Saint­Remi are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Champagne House tasting, some free time in Epernay, and a completely free day to sightsee in Reims, where the magnificent Cathedral Notre­Dame and the Basilica Saint­Remi are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Then on Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel travel­home day we bid farewell to Reims by riding the length of the city’s Hotel 3* Best Hotel Reims Croix Blandin new tramway system before returning to Calais for some shopping time in Meals 4B 3L 4D the Cité­Europe complex. Reims­Châlons­en­Champagne 51 km 16 Cruise Range & distance Date 14/05/2022 21/05/2022 04/06/2022 31/08/2022 locks and the Mont­de­Billy Tunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Date Booking Code Date Booking Code Hotel 3* Best Hotel Reims Croix Blandin 20/10/2021 D109 17/03/2022 D114 Meals 4B 3L 4D 23/10/2021 D110 09/10/2022 D127 Cruise Range Reims­Châlons­en­Champagne 51 km 16 locks 08/03/2022 D111 12/10/2022 D128 & distance and the Mont­de­Billy Tunnel 11/03/2022 D112 15/10/2022 D129 Booking Code D115 D116 D125 D126 14/03/2022 D113 18/10/2022 D130 Price £675 £675 £745 £745

Springtime on the Marne Friday 8th April 2022 A fascinating early­season Cathedral Notre­ Dame and the Basilica Saint­Remi are both UNESCO World Champagne cruise option Heritage sites. Then on travel­home day we bid farewell to Reims by riding as we follow the scenic the length of the city’s new tramway system before returning to Calais for waterways which link the some shopping time in the Cité­Europe complex ahead of our return great champagne centres crossing. of Château­Thierry, Epernay and Reims, staying in a welcoming Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel modern hotel just outside 7 days Reims and including a free Hotel 3* Best Hotel Reims Croix Blandin £1,125 SRS £125 day to explore this historic Meals 6B 4L 5D city. In addition to four full days of cruising through vineyard country, you will enjoy a Champagne Reims­Château Thierry 105km 24 locks and Cruise Range & distance House tasting, visits to the Marne Memorial at Dormans and the Church of Mont­ de­Billy Tunnel our Lady in Mézy­Moulins, some free time in Epernay and Château­Thierry, and a completely free day to sightsee in Reims, where the magnificent Booking Code D118

20 SECTION E | CRUISING IN PARIS

Meanders of the Marne Palaces of the Seine Thurs 28th July, Sun 14th August & Thurs 29th September 2022 Wednesday 3rd & Tuesday 9th August, Saturday 15th October 2022 (Child discount on school holiday departures) A compelling cruise and tour A great chance to savour Paris and the Marne programme following the Valley from the waterways perspective as we Upper Seine between the cruise between the champagne town of centre of Paris and the 7 days Château­Thierry and La Villette basin, in the confluence with the River £1,425 heart of the city, fully 142km of scenic cruising Loing at Moret­sur­Loing, and SRS £295 with 19 locks. We also pass through three including a fascinating trip canal tunnels, the 2km tunnel on the Canal St­ along the Canal St­Martin in 6 days Martin which takes the canal underneath Place de la Bastille; and two more £1,095­ the centre of Paris. To most tunnels at St­Maur and Chalifert as we make our way along the Marne regular river cruise customers £1,245 navigation. Although we might cruise all that distance on the waterways, SRS £175 this will be a new cruise such are the meanders of the Marne that as the crow flies the beginning experience as the big hotel and end points of our cruise are only 90km apart, and this allows us to stay boats are unable to cruise upstream of Paris, and we complement our throughout at the excellent 4* Hotel L’Elysée in Marne­la­Vallée, perfectly cruising with visits to two of the great palaces to be found south of the city, situated close to the midpoint of our cruise journey. In all we spend four full in Fontainebleau and Vaux­le­Vicomte. There is also some free time for days cruising with one clear day which we leave free for guests to choose sightseeing in Melun and Moret­ sur­Loing, and on travel­home day we their own visit destinations in and around Paris – including perhaps spend the morning at the National Botanical Gardens in Paris Austerlitz. Disneyland for families who join us for one of the school holiday departures. Date 03/08/2022 09/08/2022 15/10/2022 Date 28/07/2022 14/08/2022 29/09/2022 Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Hotel 3* Ibis Styles Melun Hotel 4* Hotel L’Elysée, Chessy (Marne­la­Vallée) Meals 5B 4L 4D Meals 6B 4L 3D Central Paris and the Canal de St­Martin, and Château­Thierry to Paris La Villette 142km Cruise Range & distance the Seine Amont between Corbeil­Essonnes Cruise Range & distance 19 locks and Moret­sur­Loing 70km 9 locks Booking Code E113 E116 E121 Booking Code E114 E115 E122 Children of School Age £975 £975 n/a Price £1,245 £1,245 £1,095

4 days Paris – a Waterways Exploration £695 An Autumn Odyssey – Paris to Compiègne SRS £135 Regular Departures in September and October 2022 Tuesday 25th October 2022 A compelling tour­and cruise programme following the Upper Seine through An opportunity to savour the the centre of Paris and including a fascinating trip along the Canal St­Martin Autumn colours as our cruise and its tunnel passing beneath Place de la Bastille. To most regular river flanks the northern edge of the cruise customers this will be a new cruise experience as low bridge great forests of the Oise­Pays de clearances mean the big hotel boats cannot reach Paris itself, and we make France Regional Park. Our cruise our cruising early in the day before the Seine gets busy with all the tourist begins in La Villette basin in the day traffic. Our 2­day cruise programme is separated by a clear day for the 8 days centre of Paris before following chance to explore central Paris independently from our hotel at La Villette. £1,025 the Canal de St Martin to its From here there is a wealth of visiting options across the city including the SRS £225 junction with the Seine, and we Sacre Cœur in Montmartre, a short distance away on the tram. La Villette then cruise through the city and itself is a major visitor attraction, in addition to its vibrant cultural setting along the Seine as far as Conflans­St­Honorine where we turn upstream on and splendid canal­side walks the park is home to the newly­commissioned to the River Oise. Three more full days of cruising take us onwards through Paris Conservatoire and the Cité des Sciences, the largest science museum in Cergy­Pontoise, Auvers­sur­Oise, Creil and Pont St­Maxence to our final Europe. There is a wealth of dining options close to our hotel so for these destination in Royal Compiègne. Along the way we visit the Bargees departures we do not include evening meals and guests can enjoy choosing Museum in Conflans and there is free time in St­ Leu d’Esserent and Auvers­ their own dining venues. Food experience walking tours of the Marais sur­Oise, home of Vincent Van Gogh for the last years of his life. There is also district with Devour Tours are available as optional extras or may be booked a completely free day in Compiègne with opportunity to visit the Royal direct via https://devourparisfoodtours.com/ tours/ Palace and to walk in Compiègne Forest; and on travel­home day we pause for a few hours sightseeing in Amiens. Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Hotel 3* Ibis Cité des Sciences, La Villette Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel 3* Aparthotel Olivarius, Cergy (4 nights), 4* Meals 3B 2L 0D Hotel Best Western T’aim Hotel Compiègne Cruise Range & distance La­Villette­Île Seguin­Bercy 27km 5 locks (3 nights) Meals 7B 5L 3D Date Booking Code Date Booking Code La Villette­Conflans­Compiègne 151km 14/09/2022 E117 25/09/2022 E120 Cruise Range & distance 13 locks 19/09/2022 E118 20/10/2022 E123 20/09/2022 E119 21/10/2022 E124 Booking Code E127

21 SECTION F | CRUISES IN LOIRET

Just Cruising à­Loing A Loing Journey – Cruising in Loiret Thursday 21st July, Saturday 20th August, Friday 7th Thursday & Friday 14th & 15th July 2022 and Tuesday 11th October 2022 A wonderful few days of Another new stretch of fascinating inland cruise & tour as we follow the waterway to explore as we cruise the Canal du Loing between its Canal du Loing between its junction with junction with the Seine at the Seine at Moret­sur­Loing and start of 6 days Moret­sur­Loing and start of the Canal de Briare connecting onwards £1,125 the Canal de Briare 5 days towards the Loire. Our cruise takes us SRS £195 connecting onwards towards £795­ through the southern limits of the great the Loire. The Loing £925 Forest of Fontainebleau and into the navigation holds an important place in waterways history. The river had SRS £145 Gâtinais Regional Park – scenic and close­ been utilised since medieval times to float wood towards the Paris basin, but up cruising at its very best. It is a gently in 1604 it was decided to construct the world’s first summit canal to link the winding course throughout, passing through countless villages and with catchments of the Seine and the Loire, and it was in 1642 that the Canal du long stretches through woodland and countryside and fascinating history Loing/Canal de Briare waterway was finally opened to barge traffic. As we always close­by. There will be plenty of free time to explore the lovely town cruise alternate days there will be plenty of free time to explore in of Montargis where our hotel is situated, and aside from all the scenic Montargis, where our hotel is situated, and aside from all the scenic cruising cruising we will also provide some free time for sightseeing in Moret­sur­ we will also provide some free time for sightseeing along the cruise route in Loing and Nemours. Moret­sur­Loing and Nemours. Then for our excursion days we will visit the Palace of Fontainebleau, the spectacular Château Vaux­le­Vicomte, and the Date 21/07/2022 20/08/2022 07/10/2022 11/10/2022 plus­beaux village of Barbizon, celebrated for its association with the 19th Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris century French landscape painters of the Barbizon School. Hotel 3* Ibis Montargis Date 14/07/2022 15/07/2022 Meals 4B 3L 3D Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Cruise Range Hotel 3* Ibis Montargis Moret sur Loing­Montargis 57km 23 locks & distance Meals 5B 4L 4D Booking Code F107 F112 F113 F114 Cruise Range & distance Moret sur Loing­Montargis 57km 23 locks Price £925 £925 £795 £795 Booking Code F105 F106

Cruising in Loiret – Châteaux and Vineyards Railcruising ­ Heart of France Explorer Monday 25th July, Friday 12th August 2022 Tuesday 26th July & Thursday 11th August 2022 A memorable blend of A railcruise programme to delight cruise & tour exploration the adventurous traveller as we in Loiret and Bourgogne, combine cruising staying in Montargis – the alternate days along the historic Venice of the Gâtinais! Canal de Briare with intervening Our cruise pathway days exploring on some of the follows the world’s first region’s local railways and summit canal ­ the Canal 9 days including a ride to the summit of de Briare ­ between £1,625 the Puy de Dôme! Our cruise SRS £295 Montargis and the great pathway follows the course of 9 days 700m aqueduct over the the historic Canal de Briare from £1,575 Loire at Briare, and Montargis southwards through to the great 700m aqueduct over the Loire at SRS £295 onwards along the Lateral Briare, and onwards along the Lateral Canal of the Loire as far as our turning Canal of the Loire as far as point at Léré. Our rail excursions take us first into the Massif Centrale to our turning point at Léré. It is delightfully scenic cruising throughout. This is Clermont Ferrand in Auvergne, where we ride the funicular to take in the alternate­day cruising and on our intervening days we take advantage of an amazing views from the summit of the dormant volcano the Puy de Dôme. unhurried schedule to visit the majestic Gothic Cathedral in Sens, the We then take the Loire Valley line to Nevers, then the route across rural historic gated town of Villeneuve­sur­Yonne, two of the great Châteaux of La Southern Burgundy and through the Côte d’Or vineyards to Dijon, and the Bussière and Sully­sur­ Loire, the Museum of Mosaics in Briare, and the North Burgundy line back to Sens. And there is another day left free for great wine centre of Sancerre with a tasting at the Château de Tracy in the guests to relax locally in Montargis or perhaps take the train into Paris. All Pouilly vineyards. rail trips are escorted and tickets are included in the tour price.

Date 25/07/2022 12/08/2022 Date 26/07/2022 11/08/2022 Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Hotel 3* Ibis Montargis Hotel 3* Ibis Montargis Meals 8B 6L 5D Meals 8B 5L 5D Cruise Range & distance Montargis­Léré 76km 33 locks Cruise Range & distance Montargis­Léré 76km 33 locks Booking Code F108 F111 Booking Code F109 F110

22 SECTION G | THE GATEWAY TO BURGUNDY

The Glorious Yonne The Heritage of Burgundy Friday 8th July, Wednesday 24th August 2022 Friday 27th May, Tuesday 21st June 2022 A just­cruise short break Based for the week in our riverside hotel as we travel to the in the centre of Auxerre, we spend four northern tip of Burgundy days cruising the delightful waters of the to spend 3 full days 9 days Yonne and the Canal du Nivernais, with cruising the scenic rivers £1,425 three intervening days entirely free to between Moret­Sur­Long SRS £295 explore this beautiful city and its and Joigny, staying at the surrounds. Guests should be sure to seek­ midpoint of our cruise in out the various markets and wander the pedestrianised centre, with its 5 days the fine city of Sens. magnificent Cathedral St­Etiénne, Abbey St­Germain with its art museum, £875 Over our three days of half­timbered houses, shopping centre and horological clock. Then the SRS £125 cruising we will follow waterway corridor offers some delightful walking, or guests can hire a cycle three different rivers, to venture south of the city along the well­surfaced canal towpath. Train starting in Moret­sur­Loing with a short journey along the River Loing to its services from Auxerre offer the chance to follow the branch line to visit confluence with the Seine at St­Mammès, then upstream on the Seine as far Clamecy or Avallon, with main line departures in the opposite direction as Montereau­fault­Yonne where we join the secluded River Yonne for the connecting with Sens, Dijon and Paris. To complement our cruise rest of our journey. Although this is a just­cruise itinerary, we will spend programme we visit the Cistercian Abbaye de Reigny, we sample the local some sightseeing time in Moret­ sur­Loing, Villeneuve­sur­Yonne, and Sens, Crémant de Bourgogne at the Caves de Bailly, and on travel­home day we and on travel­home day we make a lunch and shopping stop at the Cité­ are treated to lunch at the splendid Auberge La Lucarne aux Chouettes at Europe complex in Calais. Villeneuve­sur­Yonne. Date 08/07/2022 24/08/2022 Date 27/05/2022 21/06/2022 Transfers by Coach & Eurotunnel Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Hotel 3* Ibis Sens Hotel 3* Ibis Riverside Auxerre Meals 4B 3L 4D Meals 8B 5L 2D Moret sur Loing­Joigny via Sens 92km Joigny­Châtel­Censoir via Auxerre 83km Cruise Range & distance Cruise Range & distance 15 locks 39 locks Booking Code G110 G111 Booking Code G103 G107

The Classic Nivernais Wine­Dining on the Yonne Wednesday 18th May, Monday 29th August 2022 Mondays 6th and 13th June, Sunday 18th and Monday 26th September 2022 A week of spectacular waterway scenery and local exploration as we follow the scenic River A week of spectacular river 9 days Yonne and Canal du Nivernais between Joigny scenery and gastronomic £1,595 and Châtel­Censoir and visit some of the many delight as we follow the scenic SRS £125 attractions of the “Gateway to Burgundy”. River Yonne between the Although much of our cruise will be in a rural historic cities of Auxerre and setting, we will be able to enjoy the lovely views of mediaeval Joigny and Sens and sample some of the magnificent Auxerre, amongst the best riverside vistas in all of France. With many fine restaurants of the 39 locks to pass through and always cruising at barely more than walking “Gateway to Burgundy”. Our pace, this is a great opportunity to see the real Burgundy in intimate close­ three days of scenic cruising up; and there will be good opportunity for a towpath walk along some of the 7 days take us for some 65km as the canal sections on the Nivernais – a favourite cruise of Prunella Scales and £1,475 river winds its way north­ Timothy West on their Great Canal Journeys series. This is an alternate­day SRS £225 westwards towards its cruise programme giving us plenty of time on the intervening days for confluence with the Seine at visiting the great wine town of Chablis; the largest of all Cistercian churches, Montereau. There are then two intervening days where we explore the 12th the Abbaye de Pontigny; the wine caves of Bailly; the historic Basilica at Century Abbaye de Pontigny, have lunch in Chablis, visit the plus beaux Vézelay; and the nearby Vineyard La Croix Montjoie, the latest appellation to village of Noyers­sur­Serein, and taste the local Crémant de Bourgogne in be admitted to the Burgundy AOC. Our hotel operates on a groups­only basis the wine caves of Bailly. And our evening meals throughout the week take us so we have our own dedicated chef, and we include meals out at three of on a gastronomic tour of Auxerre’s hinterland as we experience some of the the great regional restaurants in Accolay, Nitry and Villeneuve­sur­Yonne. area’s finest restaurants. Date 18/05/2022 29/08/2022 Date 06/06/2022 13/06/2022 18/09/2022 26/09/2022 Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Logis Group Hotel St­François, Vermen­ Hotel Hotel 3* Ibis Riverside Auxerre ton (EU Ecolabel accredited) Meals 8B 7L 8D Meals 6B 4L 6D Joigny­Châtel­Censoir via Auxerre 83km Cruise Range Cruise Range & distance Auxerre­Sens 65km 21 locks 39 locks & distance Booking Code G102 G112 Booking Code G104 G106 G116 G118

23 SECTION G | THE GATEWAY TO BURGUNDY

The Gateway to Burgundy Icons of Burgundy Sunday 12th June, Saturday 17th and Sunday 25th September 2022 Wednesday 29th June, Wednesday 7th September 2022

7 days 9 days £1,395 £1,825 SRS £135 SRS £275

A blend of cruise and exploration taking us to some of the great heritage A history­themed cruise into the “Gateway to Burgundy” as we follow the attractions of the “Gateway to Burgundy” as we follow the scenic River remote and scenic Canal de Bourgogne between St­Florentin and Montbard, Yonne between the fine cities of Auxerre and Sens. Although much of our with visits along the way to some of the great regional attractions, including cruising will be in a rural setting, we pass the memorable backdrop of the renaissance châteaux of Tanlay and Ancy­le­Franc, and the great Auxerre with its skyline dominated by the great Cathedral St­Étienne and Cistercian Abbeys of Fontenay and Pontigny. In this 9­day package we cruise the Abbaye St­Germain; and there are more stunning riverside views in for 4 days, with our intervening time then spent in relaxed exploration by mediaeval Joigny, where we also schedule a pause for the weekly market. coach. Other highlights of our week include lunches alongside the River This is an alternate day cruise so we have two free days for relaxed visiting, Yonne in Villeneuve­sur­Yonne and in Époisses, famed for its soft cheese; a taking in the historic Abbaye de Pontigny, the iconic wine town of Chablis, visit to mediaeval Joigny for market day; a visit to the Fosse Dionne in the plus­ beaux village of Noyers­sur­Serein, and a tasting of Crémant de Tonnerre and the Forges de Buffon near Montbard; free time in the city of Bourgogne in the underground cellars of Bailly. There will also be good time Sens; and a guided tour of the Caves d’Arcy, where some of the world’s for private sightseeing in both Auxerre and Sens. oldest cave drawings are to be found.

Date 12/06/2022 17/09/2022 25/09/2022 Date 29/06/2022 07/09/2022 Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Transfers by Eurostar London­Paris Hotel 4* Mercure Appoigny Hotel 4* Mercure Appoigny Meals 6B 4L 6D Meals 8B 7L 8D Cruise Range & distance Auxerre­Sens 65km 21 locks Cruise Range & distance St Florentin­Montbard 85km 42 locks Booking Code G105 G115 G117 Booking Code G108 G113

Burgundy for Gastronomes Thursday 30th June, Thursday 8th September 2022 A cruise to delight every Chouettes alongside the River Yonne in Villeneuve­sur­Yonne. In keeping gourmet connoisseur and with our gastronomic theme we will dine in our hotel’s gourmet restaurant oenophiliac as we journey for six of our evenings. Then on two evenings we venture out of Chablis to the scenic waterways of dine first at the delightful Restaurant La Beursaudière in Nitry; then in the the Gateway to Burgundy vaulted cellar at the Hostellerie de la Fontaine in the village of Accolay. On and visit some of the great cruise days we will lunch on board the boat with samplings of the different vineyards and restaurants local wines; and when visiting Sancerre we will lunch as a group in the Hotel which earn the region its Panoramic which offers stunning views across the local vineyards. gastronomic plaudits! Our cruise follows the remote and scenic Canal de Date 30/06/2022 08/09/2022 9 days Bourgogne between St­ Eurostar London­Paris at Standard­ £2,575 Florentin and Montbard, Transfers by SRS £395 with visits along the way Premier class to four of the region’s Hotel 4* Hostellerie Le Clos, Chablis most celebrated attractions, the renaissance châteaux of Tanlay and Ancy­le­ Meals 8B 8L 9D Franc, the historic Forges de Buffon, and the Fosse Dionne in Tonnerre. Other highlights include day visits to Auxerre, Beaune and Sancerre, and on Cruise Range & distance St Florentin­Montbard 85km 42 locks departure day a stop for lunch at the splendid Auberge La Lucarne aux Booking Code G109 G114

24 SECTION H | CRUISES IN BELGIUM

5 days 4 days £795­ Winter Wonders of Canal Engineering £595 Exploring Flanders SRS £75 £895 SRS £135 Monday 21st February 2022 Wednesday 6th July, Friday 23rd September, Friday 7th October, Monday 21st November 2022 An early season short­break to savour as we combine time in historic Mons with two half­ day cruises taking us between Mons and Ronquières and Join Backwaters for a fascinating exploration of the River Lys along a 100km including passage through the 1km long 63m­fall inclined plane at cruise range between the Northern France capital city of Lille and the Ronquières and the great 73m boat­lift at Strépy­Thieu. These are some of historic city of Gent in Belgian Flanders. We stay throughout in the fine 4* the key waterways forming the European gauge canal network, with fine Mercure Hotel on the outskirts of Roeselare, handily situated close to the winter views of the countryside east of Mons, where the waterway is often midpoint of our cruise, and our cruising is complemented by some free time elevated. Our cruising takes us along 34km of the Belgian Canal du Centre to sightsee in Roeselare, Gent and Bruges, and by a free evening in Ypres and then the Canal Bruxelles­ Charleroi, with every chance of spotting where there is opportunity to attend the Last Post Ceremony at Menen freight barges on the move along these important strategic navigations. Gate. There is also a remembrance theme to our visit as it was along the line of the Canal du Centre north of Mons that the first and last hostilities of the Date 06/07/2022 23/09/2022 07/10/2022 21/11/2022 Great War took place, and a local military history guide will be aboard to Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel explain those events and the memorials that mark their passing. Hotel 4* Mercure Roeselare Transfers by Eurostar London­Brussels Meals 4B 3L 3D Hotel 3* Hotel Orange La Louvière Cruise Range Lille­Gent via Kortrijk 99km 7 locks Meals 3B 2L 3D & distance Cruise Range & distance Mons­Ronquières 34km 4 locks/lifts Booking Code H103 H108 H109 H111 Booking Code H101 Price £895 £895 £895 £795

6 days 7 days Beers of Hainaut and Nord £995 A Remembrance Cruise of West Flanders £1,435 SRS £155 SRS £225 Wednesday 23rd February 2022 Sunday 10th July 2022 A novel opportunity to experience the great heritage of local beers across Navigable waterways are an important part of the modern history of the Hainaut Province of Belgian Wallonia and into the Nord Department of Flanders, and here we offer the chance to follow a remembrance theme as France as we cruise the important strategic navigations between we cruise over 3 days between the iconic cities of Gent, Bruges and Ypres, Ronquières, south of Brussels, and Cambrai. We are delighted once again to with two intervening free days when we can visit some of the moving sites welcome our regular beer sommelier and cheeses expert Cheryl Cade. We and memorials which commemorate “Flanders Fields”. Our waterways will enjoy Cheryl’s sparkling company throughout our cruising and as we adventure covers fully 121km but as our pathway follows three sides of a sample many of the fine local artisan beers available along our cruise square we always stay within comfortable range of our hotel in Ypres, where corridor. Our cruising takes us over three full days between the spectacular there is opportunity to attend the Last Post ceremony. We include guided inclined plane at Ronquières, through the great boat lift at Strépy­Thieu, into visits to the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, the battlefield locations Mons and onwards through Valenciennes to conclude on the River Escaut around Langemark­Poelkapelle, the Dodengang trenches, and Talbot House, (the Scheldt) in Cambrai. These are some of the key waterways forming the the soldiers’ rest centre in Poperinge. Also included is a ride on the coastal European gauge canal network, with fine winter views of the countryside tramway, a free afternoon in Bruges, and on travel­home day a morning visit along the way. to the visitor centre at Passchendaele.

Transfers by Coach via Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach via Eurotunnel 3* Hotel Orange La Louvière (3) and Hotel Hotel 4* Hotel Ariane, Ypres 4* Mercure Valenciennes (2) Meals 5B 4L 3D Meals 6B 4L 5D 110km 13 locks plus Strepy lift Ypres­Gent via Nieuwpoort and Bruges Cruise Range & distance Cruise Range & distance & Ronquières inclined plane 121km 6 locks Booking Code H102 Booking Code H104

7 days and see at first hand the architectural wonder that is its new station roof. Flanders Cruise & Rail £1,375 SRS £195 We include a beer tasting as our cruise passes through Kortrijk, there is free Wednesdays 20th and 27th July 2022 time to explore in Gent and Lille, and we make an evening visit to Ypres where there is opportunity to attend the Last Post Ceremony at Menen Join Backwaters for a fascinating exploration of the River Lys along a 100km Gate. cruise range between the Northern France capital city of Lille and the historic city of Gent in Belgian Flanders, complemented by two full days travelling the region on the Belgian National Railways. Connecting between Date 20/07/2022 27/07/2022 London and Lille by Eurostar, we stay throughout in the fine 4* Mercure Transfers by Eurostar London­Lille Hotel on the outskirts of Roeselare, handily situated close to the midpoint of Hotel 4* Mercure Roeselare our cruise. Our cruising is complemented by escorted railway journeys Meals 6B 4L 5D taking us to Brussels, Antwerp, Liège and Namur; we include a visit to the Train World Museum and Exhibition Centre at Schaerbeek on the outskirts Cruise Range & distance Lille­Gent via Kortrijk 99km 7 locks of Brussels; and there is a riverbus cruise along the Meuse as we visit Liège Booking Code H105 H106

25 SECTION J | ENTERTAINMENT CRUISES

The Spitfire Sisters The Spitfire Sisters are Anna Harding, Louisa Revolta and Hannah Castleman. It was their joy of music that brought the Sisters together and they have been singing since 2011. They started by learning the harmonies of The Andrews Sisters and have since carried that style across other genres, evolving to write and perform their own songs. Highlights have included performing on board the Orient Express, at the British Embassy in Luxembourg, performing to Mary Berry and many wonderful audiences in arts venues across the country.

Remembrance Waterways – 5 days Remembrance Waterways 4 days £795 £545 with the Spitfire Sisters SRS £125 with the Spitfire Sisters SRS £80 Tuesday 2nd November 2021 Monday 14th November 2022 We cruise some of the key waterways forming the European gauge canal A fresh approach to remembrance visiting as we cruise the secluded network, with fine views of the Artois countryside and the towns and waterways between Cambrai and Arras, both vital strategic locations in the villages along the way. Our canal route also includes one of the longest canal destructive and costly conflict of the Great War, with our nostalgic theme tunnels in France, the 4.3km Souterrain de Ruyaulcourt. Throughout our enhanced by the wonderful harmonies of the Spitfire Sisters. Our cruising cruise we will be close to the line of the Western Front during the Great over three days covers 58km of now­peaceful water corridor, with visits to War, and we will take the opportunity to visit some of the memorials still so two of the new visitor attractions reflecting on history of the Great War – much in mind after the centenary commemorations. the Tank Museum at Flesquières and the CWGC Visitor Centre in Arras. To make the most of the time available we will cruise on our outward travel day afternoon, starting in Cambrai on the River Escaut, perhaps better known to us as the Scheldt, then on to the Canal de la Sensée and through into Arras on the secluded River Scarpe. Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel 3* Holiday Inn Express Arras Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Meals 4B 3L 3D Hotel 3* Holiday Inn Express Arras Péronne­Cambrai 74km 17 locks and Meals 3B 3L 2D Cruise Range & distance Ruyaulcourt Tunnel Cruise Range & distance Cambrai­Arras 58km 14 locks Booking Code J102 Booking Code J110

Christmas Cruise The Spitfire Sisters will also be with us for our 2021 Christmas cruise based in Mons, and for our ANZAC Day cruises on the Somme in April 2022 ‐ Please see Sections B and C of the brochure for full details of those departures.

7 days In Flanders Fields with the Spitfire Sisters £1,495 SRS £225 Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th September 2022 soldiers’ rest centre in Poperinge. Also included is a ride on the coastal tramway, a free afternoon in Bruges, and on travel­home day a Navigable waterways are an important part of the modern history of morning visit to the visitor centre at Passchendaele. Flanders, and here we offer the chance to follow a remembrance theme as we cruise over 3 days between the iconic cities of Gent, Bruges and Ypres, with two intervening free days when we can visit some of the moving sites Date 27th September 28th September and memorials which commemorate “Flanders Fields”. Throughout our stay Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel we are accompanied by the lovely harmonies of the Spitfire Sisters, so 4* Hotel Ariane, 3* Novotel, appropriate to a remembrance theme. Our waterways adventure covers Hotel fully 121km but as our pathway follows three sides of a square we always Ypres Ypres Centre stay within comfortable range of our hotels in Ypres, where there is Meals 6B 4L 5D opportunity to attend the Last Post ceremony. We include guided visits to the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, the battlefield locations around Cruise Range & distance Ypres­Bruges­Gent 121km 6 locks Langemark­ Poelkapelle, the Dodengang trenches, and Talbot House, the Booking Code J108 J109

26 SECTION J | ENTERTAINMENT CRUISES

JB's Jazz Experience JB’s Jazz Experience are a small unit swing band that play tunes and songs from the classic swing eras. The band features ‘JB’ himself, John Beckingham, on piano and vocals. John has worked extensively in the UK and Europe and has a number of TV and recording credits. John is ably supported by Gilly Leeper, vocalist who after a successful career as a singer and actress on the stage in London returned to Gloucestershire to seek a band that could backdrop her talents. Also with John and Gilly are Andy Loveridge (Sax, clarinet and flute), Paul Holder (drums & vocals), and Keith Tolley on upright bass. Together they are five fine musicians certain to give you a tasteful and enjoyable background to these wonderful trips.

6 days 7 days Jazz on the Marne £1,095 Jazz on the Marne £1,345 SRS £125 SRS £145 Thursday 30th September 2021 Saturday 2nd April 2022 An entertaining Champagne waterways cruise as we follow the scenic A fascinating early­season Champagne cruise option as we follow the scenic waterways which link the great regional centres of Epernay and Reims via waterways which link the great regional centres of Reims and Château­ Châlons­en­Champagne, staying in a convenient hotel just outside Reims Thierry via Epernay, staying in a welcoming modern hotel just outside Reims and accompanied by John Beckingham and his JB’s Jazz Experience. John and including a free day to explore this historic city. And throughout our and his colleagues will be with us throughout our cruising and sightseeing, week we enjoy the splendid entertainment of John Beckingham and his JB’s and in the evenings we will be able to enjoy their blend of traditional swing Jazz Experience! Our programme includes a Champagne House tasting, visits in the hotel either side of supper. Our programme includes a Champagne to the Marne Memorial at Dormans and the Church of our Lady in Mézy­ House tasting, some free time in both Epernay and Châlons, a completely Moulins, some free time in Epernay and Château­Thierry, and a completely clear day to sightsee in historic Reims, and on our travel home day a ride free day to sightsee in Reims, where the magnificent Cathedral Notre­Dame across the city on the new tram system. and the Basilica Saint­Remi are UNESCO World Heritage sites. And on homebound day we ride the length of the city’s new tramway system before continuing to Calais for some shopping time in the Cité­Europe complex.

Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel 3* Best Hotel Reims Croix Blandin Hotel 3* Best Hotel Reims Croix Blandin Meals 6B 4L 6D Meals 5B 3L 5D Epernay­Châlons en Champagne­Reims 82km Reims­Château­Thierry 105km 24 locks and Cruise Range & distance Cruise Range & distance 23 locks and Mont­de­Billy tunnel Mont de Billy Tunnel Booking Code J101 Booking Code J103

6 days Jazz on the Aire £1,275 SRS £185 Wednesday 10th August 2022 at La Coupole. And every evening dinner will be played­in by John and his A blend of great waterway contrasts and relaxing musical entertainment as ensemble! we follow the arterial navigations of the Canal d’Aire, the Canal de la Deûle and the Canal de la Sensée between St­Omer and Douai before the peaceful Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel River Scarpe brings us into Arras where we conclude. And throughout our Hotel 4* Mercure St­Omer week we enjoy the splendid entertainment of John Beckingham and his JB’s Jazz Experience! This is a waterway route of fascinating contrasts. There is Meals 5B 3L 5D local wartime and industrial history almost throughout, but also much St Omer­Béthune­Douai­Arras 100km peaceful and scenic rural cruising. In addition to our three days of cruising Cruise Range & distance we have a clear day for local excursions, where we visit the spectacular 10 Locks Nausicáa Sea Life Centre in Boulogne, and the German V2 rocket installation Booking Code J107

27 SECTION J | ENTERTAINMENT CRUISES

The Radnor Ensemble French­born Floriane Peycelon completed her violin studies in the Lyon National Conservatoire of Music and Drama. Flo is now enjoying a full­time career as a professional freelance violinist and violin teacher. She is the Violin Tutor at the University of Kent and the musical director of the University Sinfonia and runs string workshops for amateur players. She has been the leader of the Folkestone Symphony Orchestra since 2000.

As an orchestral and chamber player, Flo regularly performs around the UK and abroad. Her solo performances have included the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, the Beethoven Violin Concerto and Vaughan­Williams' Lark Ascending. She leads the Radnor Ensemble, co­founded with her cellist friend Sarah Boxall. Together they perform as the Radnor Ensemble, as a duo, trio or quartet.

A Classical Break in Flanders Irises of the Lys – a Classical Cruise Wednesday 3rd August 2022 Sunday 7th August 2022

5 days 4 days £945 £795 SRS £135 SRS £115

A music­themed exploration of the River Lys along a 100km cruise range A short break package within a stone’s throw of Calais as we explore the between the Northern France capital city of Lille and the historic city of Gent scenic River Lys between the regional capital of Lille and the historic town of in Belgian Flanders. This will be a very special getaway for classical music St­Omer. This will be another special getaway for classical music lovers as we lovers as we enjoy the delightful playing of Floriane Peycelon and her enjoy the delightful entertainment of Floriane Peycelon and her Radnor Radnor Ensemble who accompany us throughout our cruise, and we play Ensemble who accompany us throughout our cruise. As well as providing some of the great orchestral pieces on our state­of­the­art sound system free time to explore Lille and St­Omer, our programme includes whilst cruising a hop across the Belgian border from Armentières to visit the Plugstreet Experience and nearby memorials.

Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Transfers by Coach/Eurotunnel Hotel 4* Mercure Roeselare Hotel 4* Mercure St­Omer Meals 4B 3L 3D Meals 3B 3L 3D Cruise Range & distance Gent ­ Lille 100km 7 locks Cruise Range & distance Lille ­ St Omer 77km 7 locks Booking Code J105 Booking Code J106

If guests would like to book both these consecutive cruises for an 8‐day holiday, the combined price is discounted to £1,595 with a single room supplement of £250. The pick‐up and return routes for both cruises are the same. Backwaters will arrange to transfer guests between the respective hotels on changeover day.

28 Terms & Conditions – What you Really Need to Know

Our Standards substitute programme content to offer customers a tour or cruise Backwaters prides itself in committing to a high standard of customer experience of at least equivalent standard to that originally offered. If this service with complete ABTA protection. proves impossible and it is necessary to curtail a tour or cruise, the Company will liaise with customers to offer a pro rata refund or equivalent We will always strive to provide our customers with a fulfilling, enjoyable, compensation. and value­for­money travel and holiday experience. And we don’t believe in burying obscure terms and conditions in volumes of small­print, so here we Tour/Cruise Cancellation – Non­viability just concentrate on what we think you need to know. If the number of passengers booking a tour­cruise is deemed to be such that the tour­cruise is not economically viable, the Company reserves the right to Price Guarantee and Surcharges cancel it at reasonable notice. Such notice will normally be no later than the We guarantee that the price of your holiday will not be subject to any point at which payment balances would fall due. In such circumstances surcharges, regardless of what may happen to exchange rates. customers will at their choice be offered an alternative cruise or tour with compensatory discount, or provided with a full refund of deposit. Local Taxes It is our policy to absorb local visitor taxes into the tour price. Itineraries The Company has exercised best endeavours in its programming of tour and Single Supplements cruise itineraries. Customers are however asked to note that these Single supplements are the surcharges applied by hotels where solo itineraries are always subject to local adjustment due to traffic or waterways passengers occupy a twin or double room. No single supplement applies to conditions, local events, or changes in opening or facilities on the part of any other component of a holiday with us. visitor attractions. In such circumstances the Company will always endeavour to reschedule programme inclusions or organise alternative Currency Conversion content so that the customer experience remains the first consideration. Any customers from outside the UK who would like to book a holiday with us will be requested to settle in £stg by direct transfer such that you will be Crossings and Travel Times aware of the exchange rate applied before you approve the transaction. Where we are travelling by coach, our journey from Kent to destination will normally cross the channel by Eurotunnel, but sometimes we may travel by Contract ferry from Dover if tunnel services are fully booked. 14 days after committing your deposit, both of us are party to a contract under English Law. The 14 days is in effect a cooling­off period. If you decide Where cruise­tours are planned to connect to France by Eurostar, guests will to cancel after that date you may forfeit your deposit, and in the event of be asked to present to our escort at London St Pancras at the appointed cancellation after the tour or cruise has been fully paid for, you may forfeit time around two hours before the train departs. the full price of the tour. We recommend that you insure against this possibility. Coach Pick­ups Our locations and timings for coach pick­ups are defined specifically for each Passports and Visas departure and may vary according to the partnering coach operator. Guests For UK guests, you will need a valid passport for all the cruises that we will always receive clear pick­up instructions prior to travel, and will have an operate. We ask you to make sure in good time that you have a passport emergency number to contact in case needed. Most coach transfers call at that will have a minimum of 6 months “life” remaining as at the departure Ashford International Station or Folkestone West Station prior to final date. If you are a UK Citizen travelling from the UK you should not need a departure to meet any guests who have travelled to Ashford from across the visa, but if you are a UK national resident in the EU or you make regular South of England on the day. Guests travelling from further afield are also visits into the EU aggregating to more than 90 days in any 180­day period, welcome to meet the coach at Ashford (or sometimes Canterbury) having different rules may apply and you should please check your circumstances stayed overnight at a nearby hotel. In such circumstances we ask guests to before booking. book their own stopover hotels for both outward and (if necessary) return journeys. If you are not a UK or EU passport holder and you require a visa to pass through immigration checks in either direction, please alert us on booking so Seats on the Coach that we can help you make the appropriate declaration(s) and assist in As coaches differ in configuration we cannot guarantee that you will be avoiding delays at the Border crossing points. allocated particular seats, but couples booking together will be seated together. The first 8 guests to book will be offered seats in the front two Border Protocol rows on the coach, after that guests are asked to choose their own seats on Customers are reminded that they remain personally accountable for the boarding. As boat capacity for tour­cruises is 40 and executive coaches possessions and purchases that they convey across international normally seat more than 50 passengers, we expect coaches to have some boundaries. If a passenger is detained by Customs or Border Officials for an spare seats. apparent breach of regulations, the Company reserves the right to offload their luggage and leave them to make their own way to destination. On Board Safety Our boats are fully safety­certificated under applicable European Union Tour/Cruise Curtailment, Substitution or Cancellation Directives. On boarding passengers will be briefed on safety procedures Very occasionally, tours and cruises may be cancelled or curtailed due to relative to: first aid; avoidance of trip hazards on deck; safety in and around extreme weather conditions or other circumstances reasonably deemed to locks; access to lifejackets; care passing under low bridges; and control of be Force Majeure, which may induce restrictions on inland waterways embarkation and disembarkation. navigation. If a tour is cancelled in these circumstances pre­departure a full refund will be provided. If a tour already under way is cut short the Health, Hygiene and Diet Company will liaise with customers to provide a refund that is pro rata to the A comprehensive first­aid kit and defibrillator are carried on board. The number of nights actually spent in hotel relative to the number of nights crew, coach driver and local management team will assist in the event that booked. In the event of short­term waterways restrictions, breakdowns or any passenger requires conveyance to a medical practitioner or chemist. other unexpected events, the company will endeavour to reschedule or Passengers may wish to be assured that there is a strict cleansing protocol

29 applied to crew quarters, galley, WCs, and potable water supply. Passengers Booking with special dietary requirements are asked to notify them to a member of In view of the market uncertainty created by the pandemic situation, the sales team when booking. We will be pleased to help. Backwaters will accept provisional bookings for the rest of 2021 without payment of a deposit. This means that guests can book any of our Charging Facilities departures this year without obligation or risk. 2­3 months prior to travel, There is no open wi­fi service on board but our hotels invariably offer free guests will be invited to confirm their booking, at which point a deposit will wi­fi and customers should therefore be able to connect there. There is an be requested . Balancing payments will then be requested from guests a few abundance of mains sockets and USB ports on board the boat for anyone weeks prior to travel. needing to charge a phone or a camera. If you would like to make a provisional booking, please email us at Travelling Privately [email protected] or telephone (+44) (0)1303 316116. If you If you wish to travel privately to the tour destination you are welcome to do subsequently change your mind and want to alter or cancel your booking so but it becomes your responsibility to book your own travel tickets. Your just let us know. There are no supplementary fees or charges. We would holiday price will only be discounted in respect of any Eurostar journeys not greatly appreciate potential guests letting us know should they wish to required. You should ask if you need advice on train connections and/or taxi cancel or otherwise change any provisional booking they have made. bookings at destination. When you register your provisional booking, you will be asked to provide the Advance Baggage following information: We do have a partnering provider of luggage forwarding services. We not book these services for you but if you request it we will ask the provider to • Names of guests contact you. • Person booking contact detail including postal address, e­mail (if available) and home and mobile telephone Our Hotels • If a couple, preference between double and twin room Our partner hotels are mainly in the 3­4 star class and we work closely with • Preferred pick­up location (for departures by coach) them to attend to customer preferences, catering standards and special • Any mobility limitations that govern our arrangement of hotel requirements. Most of our programmes are in effect full­board as lunch on room for you the boat or on excursion are usually included, and evening meals are • Any mobility equipment carried with you on the journey specified to a high standard comprising at least 3­course, 2­choice, with • Any special dietary requirements wine. Sometimes we allow one or two free evenings so that guests can enjoy the freedom to find their own restaurants and where this is the case it is Booking through Agents clearly signalled in the itinerary detail. If you prefer to book through your own travel agent please ask them to contact Backwaters. Guest Mobility Our cruise boats have been designed to be suitable for passengers of limited Gratuities mobility. They are single­decked with a minimum of steps and we offer all On the last day of cruising a tips box is placed in the galley in which guests necessary assistance with embarkation and disembarkation. There are two can leave gratuities if they wish. There is absolutely no expectation of tips WCs on­board, one of which is DDA­specified. We are able to accept up to being offered – it is entirely for the guest to decide. Gratuities are shared two wheelchair­user guests on any cruise, but guests should please check equally between the 4 crew members. If you wish to tip the coach driver with us before booking as our supporting coach may not have a wheelchair and/or tour manager we ask you to kindly do that separately and again lift. entirely at your discretion.

For partially­mobile guests, mobility scooters can be also be taken on a Quality and Feedback Backwaters departure providing there is room for them in the hold of the To help us assess standards of customer satisfaction, all clients are asked to coach. Please declare on booking if you need to bring a wheelchair or complete a satisfaction questionnaire at the conclusion of their holiday. mobility scooter and we will check with the coach operator for you to These completed questionnaires are used to assess aspects of service where ensure that space is available. Users of mobility scooters are normally able improvement is required. You are not expected to complete a form if you do to bring them from hotel on the day so that they are available for any not wish to. programmed excursion, but in this case the scooter is normally stored in the hold of the coach during the cruise. Accuracy of Information The information published in our brochure and web pages is current at the We do not attempt to grade particular itineraries for degree of time of issue, but may be superseded if subsequent developments affect the strenuousness, but we do advise those with limited mobility to check our respective companies' programmes. Where there are changes to planned itineraries carefully before booking as some of our excursions programme as described herein it is our responsibility to inform you when (notably the châteaux tours and gardens visits) may require you to be quite you book, or immediately a change is made if you have already booked. mobile to make the most of your visit. In contrast, there are towpath Current detail of your holiday will always be available for reference on­line. walking opportunities along many of the canal stretches where guests can alight to stroll forward to the next lock. Data protection Any personal data you provide will be held securely and for the purpose you Groups have provided it, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. For group bookings we offer a 5% discount to the headline price if you are a group of 10 or more guests (the discount does not apply to single supplement). Considerably greater savings are available to groups which commission an entire cruise before it goes on open sale, and in that case Groups themselves can assume control of where they stay and what else to include in their programme. If you are a Group member and think your group would be interested in cruising with Backwaters do alert your organisers. We realise that not all clubs and societies will be able to muster enough people to charter a cruise outright, but we are always happy to work with you to liaise with other groups who might help you achieve critical mass. And if you are a GTO please get in touch with us to be added to our groups database.

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Contact us Contact information: Address: Telephone: +44 (0)1303 316 116 Karelia Cuckoo Lane E­mail: [email protected] Postling Linked­in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn­woods­15b9b6157/ Hythe Website: www.backwaters.tours Kent UK Business Hours: CT21 4ET Telephone: Mon­Fri 09:00­17:00 UK time E­mail: Daily 09:00­20:00 UK time In person: By appointment