Cruise to the heart of

Cruise to the heart of Alsace-Lorraine MS Madeleine © Michael Yung, Cruise Director, CroisiEurope Janine Marsh took a cruise to the heart of Alsace and Lorraine, through the most picturesque countryside imaginable, pausing in fairy tale pretty villages and dining like a lord on board a hotel barge… My journey began and ended in historic Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, a buzzing city of culture and art, gastronomy and heritage. But aboard CroisiEurope’s MS Madeleine, life is rather more tranquil as you sail along the Marne-Rhine Canal. And if you want to get to know authentic Alsace-Lorraine in northeast France, its historic villages deep in the countryside, its ancient castles and rich culture – you’ll certainly find it on this cruise. After boarding the barge, which has 11 double bedrooms, a dining room, comfy salon, hot tub, and spacious sun decks, I met my fellow passengers, a mix of British, French – including 92-year-old Louise, a sprightly solo traveller – and Americans, joined by the 6 crew members for welcome aperitifs. The onboard chef served a superb meal, the first of many delicious dishes, paired with fabulous wines. You’re totally spoiled on the cruise, everything is inclusive, even drinks (except for a few, like Champagne) and over the next few days we indulged in salted caramel creme brulée, Alsatian salads, loads of different cheeses, roast beef, John Dory, fabulous wines from Alsace and from Bordeaux, strawberry soup and strawberry macarons, pain perdu and cinnamon ice cream and many other truly scrumptious dishes – all made by the chef and his team. You can eat yourself to a standstill on a CroisiEurope cruise. You can also hop on a bike for a gentle ride along the tow paths, take daily walks when the boat docks and enjoy the included excursions. 46 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 47