Discover our to 6 to 8-day cruise on the Loire River

A new and innovative project
Labelled the “Green Ship”, the MS Loire Princesse was created with ecological designs having great respect for the environment.
CroisiEurope chose to build the craft with companies that are part of the Neopolia Marine group. The architect and design studio Stirling Design International is in charge
of the design development for this new kind of liner.
All the participants in the Pays de la Loire region who are part of this project, whether they are involved on an economic or tourist front, have welcomed the company
wholeheartedly and put all their resources at the company’s disposition to fine tune this original offer.
As ever with CroisiEurope, their trump card is undoubtedly their ability to put offers together at the fairest prices. They are able to meet this challenge as they have
complete control over every element of the entire fleet, from beginning to end. From the initial design to the production, including hotel and sales management, maintenance, purchasing and development, the company is fully responsible for all these services thanks to its 1200 permanent staff.
With its fine fleet cruising on the loveliest rivers in Europe, combined with this new and innovative ambitious project, the company is showing its creativity and dynamism
in river tourism after 38 years of professionalism in the business.
Cruise on
The Loire,
NEW for 2015
a Royal River
Project - MS LOIRE PRINCESSE - 3 DECKS
ON BOARD
MS LOIRE PRINCESSE
CroisiEurope innovates yet again as it unveils a new vessel concept for cruising the Loire, the longest river in France boasting an
abundance of UNESCO heritage sites, which is inspired by an ancient technique - the paddle wheel. It is worth noting that the debut of
the MS Loire Princesse will be the first time that a cruise vessel with cabins has ever cruised along the Loire.
The MS Loire Princesse will begin offering 6 to 8 day cruises in April 2015, visiting places in the Pays de la Loire region, with great potential as an area ideal to satisfy the demand of tourists in search of culture and originality.
CroisiEurope chose to build the craft with companies that are part of the Neopolia Marine group, in partnership with the Saint Nazaire
Shipyards (STX France), where the finest ocean liners in the world are built.
Technical details:
Length:
Width:
Cabins:
Passengers:
90 m (295 feet)
15 m (49 feet)
48
96
• Spacious outside cabins (49 ft²) with lovely balconies (10ft x 4ft) on the upper deck
• Rooms are equipped with the latest technology, including Wi-Fi on board, individually
controlled combined air-conditioning/heating, plasma screen TV, radio, hair dryer, safe,
mini bar and bathroom facilities
• A splendid restaurant can easily accommodate passengers for single-service dining
• A huge lounge bar with central dance floor is a pleasant area to mingle with other passengers
• Large sun deck
NANTES constitutes the first stage. The history of the town of 285,000 inhabitants can be read under an open sky during a visit of its medieval district,
Feydeau Island, an exceptional collection of buildings dating back to the 18th century, and the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany.
SAINT-NAZAIRE, the outer harbour of Nantes in the Loire estuary, is for those interested in life at sea and under the sea. Between the Escal’Atlantic, where
a journey inside the base under the sea gives visitors an insight into the history and legend of the two famous transatlantic liners, the “Normandie” and
the “France”, and a visit to the naval shipyard, the passengers get to know all about the fascinating world of the sea.
THE MUSCADET WINE ROUTE, travelling up the river, another surprise awaits: the splendour of the Nantais vineyards.
ANGERS, capital of the Anjou region, has many artistic and historic treasures and has become famous as much for its rich heritage as for its modernity
and excellent quality of life. This thriving Renaissance town, seat of the Plantagenet, invites us to visit King René’s fortress from the 13th century where
the Apocalypse tapestry is stored, in a museum dedicated to the king. This is the most important collection of existing medieval tapestries in the world.
SAUMUR is well-known for more than one reason. Here is where the famous Saumur Cadre Noir and the National School of Horsemanship have as their
goal the training of the horses and teaching competitive riding of the highest standards. The doors of this unique school open to our passengers so they
can learn about how it works and its history.
THE CASTLES OF THE LOIRE are the Renaissance jewels in France’s history. Our cruise programmes feature several visits. The castle at Ussé, built in the 15th
and 16th centuries and still occupied today, was said to have inspired Charles Perrault to write “Sleeping Beauty”. The castle at Azay-le-Rideau is
situated on an island in the middle of the Indre. A listed historic building, it was built by a wealthy financier of François I, Gilles de Berthelot, who wanted
to reconcile innovative ideas from Italy with the French style of construction. The castle at Villandry has gardens on three levels that are wonderful for
walking through. By taking the road along the Angevine Corniche, we arrive at the Renaissance-style castle at Serrant. Long ago it was a strong hold
surveying traffic along the River Loire.
STRASBOURG HEAD OFFICE (FRANCE)
12, rue de la Division Leclerc - 67000 Strasbourg
Phone: +33 388 76 44 44 - Fax +33 388 32 49 96
[email protected] - www.croisieurope.travel
Azay-le-Rideau Castle
6-DAY CRUISE
EXCURSIONS
REF. : NSN_PP
NANTES - SAINT-NAZAIRE - ANCENIS - ANGERS - Loire Castles - ANCENIS - NANTES
Angers
DAY 1: NANTES
Boarding between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. After settling into cabins, introduction of crew
and welcome cocktail. Dinner and an evening of activities on board or an optional
cruise on the river Erdre.
DAY 2: NANTES - SAINT-NAZAIRE
All meals will be served on board. Optional tour of Nantes (you must reserve this
excursion before your departure through your travel agent). Optional afternoon
excursion to Saint-Nazaire, visit to the Escal’Atlantic and shipyard (you must reserve this
excursion before your departure through your travel agent). A valid form of identification
(passport) will be needed to access the site.
DAY 3: SAINT-NAZAIRE - ANCENIS
All meals will be served on board. This morning, relaxing cruise to Ancenis, arriving in
the early afternoon. Optional excursion to the Muscadet region.
DAY 4: ANCENIS - ANGERS - ANCENIS
All meals will be served on board. Take in the morning scenery while we cruise to
Angers and an optional tour of the city. Tonight’s entertainment will be provided by
the crew.
DAY 5: ANGERS - The Châteaux of the Loire Valley - ANCENIS
Breakfast on board before a full day’s excursion to the Châteaux of the Loire Valley
(lunch included). Return on board in Ancenis. This evening, our gala dinner and a
night of dancing.
2015 DEPARTURES:
April 9th, 21st and 26th
May 2nd and 21st
June 2nd, 7th, 19th and 24th
July 6th, 18th and 23rd
August 5th, 17th and 29th
September 10th and 22nd
October 4th, 16th and 21st
Cruise rate
Upper Deck Supplement
Single Supplement
(1)
April & October
May to September
1178 €
1268 €
266 €
550 €
Optional excursion.
DAY 6: NANTES
One last breakfast on board before disembarking at 10:00 a.m.
8-DAY CRUISE
REF. : NHN_PP
REF. : NHN_PP
NANTES - ST-NAZAIRE - ANCENIS - ANGERS - Loire Castles
Saumur - BOUCHEMAINE - ANCENIS - NANTES
DAY 1: NANTES
Boarding between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. After settling into cabins, introduction of our
crew at a welcome cocktail. Dinner and an evening of activities on board or an optional
cruise on the River Erdre.
DAY 2: NANTES - SAINT-NAZAIRE
All meals will be served on board. An optional tour of Nantes in the morning (reserve
this excursion before departure through your travel agent) and the afternoon cruising
to Saint-Nazaire.
DAY 3: SAINT-NAZAIRE - ANCENIS
All meals will be served on board. This afternoon, join an optional excursion to
Saint-Nazaire and visit the Escal’Atlantic and shipyard (reserve this excursion before
departure through your travel agent). A valid form of identification (passport) will be
needed to access the site. Cruise to Ancenis in the afternoon.
DAY 4: ANCENIS - ANGERS
All meals will be served on board. Optional excursion in the morning to the Muscadet
region and afternoon cruise to Angers. Tonight’s entertainment will be provided by the
crew.
DAY 5: ANGERS
All meals will be served on board. Optional tour of the city of Angers. Visit to the Cadre
Noir(2) and the city of Saumur this afternoon (you must reserve this excursion before your
departure through your travel agent).
DAY 6: ANGERS - THE CHATEAUX OF THE LOIRE VALLEY
Buffet breakfast on board before a full day’s excursion to the Castles of the Loire
Valley (lunch included). Return on board for dinner.
DAY 7: ANGERS - BOUCHEMAINE - ANCENIS - NANTES
All meals will be served on board. Optional excursion along the Corniche Angevine. The
ship cruises throughout the afternoon. Tonight, gala dinner and an evening of activities on
board.
DAY 8: NANTES
One last breakfast on board before disembarking at 10:00 a.m.
Villandry Castle
nANGERS
nCRUISE ON THE RIVER ERDRE
LENGTH: 4 hours.
Angers was the capital of the historical Anjou
province and is distinguished not only by its
legacy, but also by its modern nature. Angers,
particularly rich during the Renaissance, was
home to the House of Plantagenet. The
immense walls of the famous Angers castle
contain the extraordinary Apocalypse
Tapestry. We’ll visit the 13th century castle and
discover the Apocalypse Tapestry, part of one
of the most important collections of medieval
tapestries in the world. Lastly, we’ll visit La
Doutre, a villagelike neighborhood in the heart
of the city.
CRUISES REF. NSN/NHN
LENGTH: 2.75 hours.
Transfer by coach to the Bateaux Nantais dock.
At approximately 8:00 p.m., begin cruising on
what King Francis I called the “most beautiful
river in France”: The Erdre. As the scenery rolls
by, discover the history of the river and its
numerous castles.
CRUISES REF. NSN/NHN
nTHE CASTLES OF THE LOIRE VALLEY
LENGTH: 10.5 hours.
We’ll leave by coach for the castle of Azay-leRideau. Built on a small island in the middle of
the Indre River, the castle as it is seen today was
built under Francis I by Gilles Berthelot, a
wealthy financier who wanted to incorporate
its medieval past alongside the latest architectural styles of the Italian renaissance. The castle
is a French national monument and possesses
all the refinement found in the French Renaissance. We’ll continue to Villandry for lunch.
After lunch, enjoy a walk through the lovely
gardens surrounding the castle of Villandry.
Spread out over an impressive area, the
gardens bring together aestheticism, diversity
and harmony. Afterward, we’ll continue our
tour and visit the Usse castle. Rebuilt in the
15th and 16th centuries, this stronghold with
fortified towers, turrets and steeples looks like
something out of a fairytale. The castle is still
inhabited today and takes visitors back to a
time of legends and fairytales. It is thought to
have inspired Charles Perrault when writing
“Sleeping Beauty”.
CRUISES REF. NSN/NHN
nTHE CORNICHE ANGEVINE
2015 DEPARTURES:
©123RF.com
April 2 and 14
May 7th, 14th and 26th
June 12th and 29th
July 11th and 28th
August 10th and 22sd
September 3rd, 15th and 27th
October 9th and 26th
sd
th
Cruise rate
Upper Deck Supplement
Single Supplement
April & October
May to September
1 563 €
1683 €
Optional excursion.
Guided tours do not guarantee the presence of the ecuyers or the horses
in training, especially when the Cadre Noir riders are away or at
competitions.
(1)
(2)
LENGTH: 4 hours.
We’ll leave by coach to travel along the levees
of the Loire Angevine. This route touches
several of the overlooks on the great river in
the Loire Valley, itself listed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. We’ll stop at the “château des
Vaults” (or a similar site), an authentic site in the
middle of a beautiful park. We’ll enjoy a tasting
of the local wines and then continue along the
Corniche Angevine, admiring the picturesque
villages and several viewpoints along the Loire.
CRUISE REF. NHN
nGUIDED VISIT OF GUERANDE AND
ITS SALTED MARSHES
LENGTH: 4 hours.
Leave for Guerande, where we’ll begin with a
guided tour. A fortified medieval city
Guerande overlooks the salt marshes and is
entirely enclosed by ramparts. It is one of the
rare cities in France to have been able to
conserve the entirety of its ramparts (4,704 feet
around). Famous writers such as Flaubert,
Gracq and Balzac used Guerande as backdrops
to their novels, after falling in love when
visiting. The tour will continue to the salt
marshes, the undeniable symbol of the region.
With our guide, you’ll discover the process of
harvesting Guerande salt and how the marshes
work. Discovering the salt marshes is a great
way to develop a global vision of traditional
methods of work.
CRUISE REF. NHN
nTHE MUSCADET REGION
Château d’Ussé
LENGTH: 5 hours.
We’ll pass through several villages that are
testimony to the strong winegrowing identity
in the region. We’ll continue toward La
Chapelle Heulin and stop at the Cassemichere
castle (or similar site). This exceptional site
invites you to discover its history-filled
vineyards, visit its cellars and taste the dry,
light, fruity and aromatic wine. Then we’ll leave
for Clisson, a charming medieval city with 15th
century vestiges and a slight Italian feel.
CRUISES REF. NSN/NHN
Saumur Castle
©123RF.com
nNANTES
LENGTH: 4.5 hours.
Flamboyant-style Cathedral of St. Peter and St.
Paul. We’ll visit the Feydeau eiland and its
exceptional buildings dating back to the 18th
century, and then on to the quays. After, you’ll
discover the shopping districts created in the
18th century around the Graslin Theatre and the
Passage Pommeraye. We’ll continue our tour to
the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. The last
castle before the river reaches the ocean, this
Breton monument with its outstanding 15th to
17th century buildings will transport you back
in time.
CRUISES REF. NSN/NHN
nSAINT-NAZAIRE
LENGTH: 5 hours.
We’ll begin our visit with the Escal’Atlantic,
which ingeniously retraces the history of
Norman and French ocean liners through a
unique experience. Then we’ll continue on to
the Saint-Nazaire shipyard, one of the largest
and well-renowned in Europe. Once the
birthplace of the most outstanding French
transatlantic liners, today it is the construction
site for elegant cruise ships. While following a
tour designed especially for understanding the
complexity of constructing these veritable
modern floating palaces, you’ll discover the
immensity of this site (267 acres), the stunning
logistics, and the high technology put in place
to build the ships.
CRUISES REF. NSN/NHN
nSAUMUR AND THE CADRE NOIR
LENGTH: 5 hours.
In 2011, UNESCO added the Equitation in the
French tradition and the Cadre Noir to its
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural
Heritage of Humanity as a school of horseback
riding that emphasizes harmonious relations
between humans and horses, guided by
nonviolence and lack of constraint. We’ll
discover the history of this school, founded in
1825, by visiting the Grand Manege, the
stables and the tack room. Will continue our
visit with a walk through the fortified city of
Saumur, dominate by its castle.
CRUISE REF. NHN
357 €
618 €
This price includes: Your cruise with all meals included, from dinner the first evening to breakfast on the final day - drinks included in this price are water, wine, beer, fruit juices during the meal and tea/coffee after both lunch and dinner for meals eaten
on the boat - this includes drinks from the bar, except for champagne or wines from our special list - air-conditioned double-occupancy cabin with shower in bathroom - all entertainment - assistance from our onboard multi-lingual host/hostess - welcome
cocktail - gala dinner - travel assistance and repatriation insurance- and all port fees.
This price does not include: Drinks from our wine list, champagne from the onboard bar, or drinks ordered during excursions or transfers - cancellation and baggage insurance - optional excursions (must be reserved and paid for on board or at travel
agency) - transfers/travel to and from departure/arrival points - airport taxes - service fees – and personal expenses.
Requirements: Valid national identity card or passport required. Non-EU nationals are advised to consult their embassy or consulate.
NB: Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the last day of your travels. For navigational safety reasons, the company and the captain are the only authorized persons who can modify the cruise itinerary. The individual cabin supplemental fee is
waived for a paying adult; limited space available. Alcohol can be dangerous to your health. Please drink in moderation. Subject to CroisiEurope’s General and Specific Terms of Sale - License IM067100025.