Floating hotel Caprice
About the barge
A small and cozy river boat that sails through the heart of Provence and Camargue. Caprice has it all: custom-designed furnishings, freshly varnished wood and bright colors, excellent on-board cuisine, and well-kept cabins and common areas make you feel at home.
- where: France
- barge size: 39 m long and 5.05 m wide
- cabins: 11
- capacity: 21 guests in low beds
- air conditioning in the whole barge
- WiFi available in common areas
- comfort Silver
About the navigation
The barge Caprice sails near the mouth of the Rhône River, where there are no water problems. Since the beginning of our operations, we have never had a day’s stop due to drought. Sometimes during winter time (when there are no scheduled trips), there could be some flooding issues.
Layout
Cozy and typical wooden furniture design.
11 cabins:
- 8 lower deck twin cabins 7-8 sq.m (B)
- 2 lower deck double cabins 7-8 sq.m (C)
- 1 lower deck single cabin 7-8 sq.m (A)
Features
- Comfortable low beds (single: 1.90 m x 0.80 m | double: 1.90 m x 1.40 m)
- En-suite facilities
- Fixed portholes (forced ventilation)
- Individually controlled air conditioning
- Safe deposit box
- Ample closet space in the cabin for storing luggage
- Sheets and towels
- Hair dryers (one in each cabin)
- Courtesy kit with eco solid soaps (hand + body + shampoo) and shower cap
- Mid-week cabin cleaning service and towel change
- Schuko bipolar sockets (220V – 50Hz, Europlug and other plugs compatible)
Restaurant and lounge
You can enjoy breakfasts and dinners in the cozy and bright restaurant hall with large panoramic windows.
A lounge area is available for relaxation with a wide selection of board games, books and travel guides, a 55” multimedia screen, and free WiFi.
Both restaurant and lounge are air-conditioned.
Sundeck
The sundeck with tables and chairs is the perfect spot to enjoy sailing and chatting with your new travel companions.
Bike storage
Bikes are stowed away on a compact, vertical rack with a secure locking mechanism and are available to passengers at all times. E-bikes can be recharged here.
Onboard kitchen
Fresh local ingredients and traditional recipes are prepared by the chefs with care and passion (very limited use of frozen and industrial food).
A selection of French wines accompanies the courses, and the wait staff will be able to advise you on the best pairing.
And as well as the wine, the coffee is also carefully selected: a professional machine, running h24, serves guests a blend of artisanal coffee (50% Robusta, 50% Arabica) sourced from Italian roasters. Produced according to the ancient Neapolitan tradition, the blend is packaged by Cooperativa Lazzarelle, a women-only cooperative established in 2010 inside the largest women’s prison in Pozzuoli (Naples).
Breakfast
rich buffet
sweet and salty
coffee and hot drinks
juices
fresh fruit
Lunch
packed lunch prepared by you
fresh ingredients
Afternoon snack
a yummy snack, like a slice of cake or fruit
coffee or tea
Dinner
3 course
typical dishes of the traditional French cuisine
fresh ingredients
selection of French wines
If you are vegetarian, gluten-intolerant or allergic to some specific ingredients/substances please indicate it at the moment of booking.
Non-contamination during the preparation of meals cannot be guaranteed.
Included in the price
WiFi in common areas (limited quality depending on the 4G/5G connection. We suggest buying one of these popular international weekly e-sim: Airalo, Holafly, Maya Mobile…)
Air conditioning in the whole barge
Welcome drink
Coffee and tea and other hot drinks on board
Water on board is drinkable and there is a still and sparkling water dispenser (room temperature or cold water)
Ice dispenser
Board games
Books and travel guides
A 55” multimedia screen
On request for groups or charters
Private transfers by bus
Cooking classes
Wine tastings
Open bar
Events on board
Not included in the price
Drinks, such as wine, beer and soft drinks are available for purchase on board (only cash payments are accepted)
There is no laundry service on board
Natural landscapes
Unspoiled nature and fairytale sceneries: Provence is one of the best-loved areas of France thanks to a fascinating landscape and numerous relics from Roman times, like the Pont du Gard. On top of that, the little towns give the region a unique touch.
The provençal landscape invites slow travel by boat, but also by bike, thanks to the many bike paths that flank rivers and canals.
Characteristic villages and art cities
Picturesque villages with typical French character are scattered throughout the region: Villeneuve Les Avignon, once known as the city of the cardinals; the pretty Vallabrègues on the banks of the Rhône where local women craft traditional wicker baskets, and Saint Rémy de Provence, birthplace of Nostradamus in 1503, and many more. Without forgetting the fascinating Avignon and the enchanting Aigues-Mortes and Arles.
Wilderness around the corner
Just outside the inhabited places, the Camargue looks like an immense wild plain. It is dotted with ponds, where pink flamingos are busy foraging for shellfish. Here nature reigns supreme. The ponds are exploited by man only for salt harvesting, and the lands for grazing semi-sheep bulls and horses with their characteristic white coats. There are also flat lands, where rice fields and sandy-bottomed vineyards abound.
Bike and barge
From March through October you can hop aboard for weeks by Bike and Boat from Avignon to Aigues-Mortes (or vice versa). Departures every Saturday with a tour leader and international group or with the option to cycle independently following our App that contains maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks. The itinerary combines easy cycling with overnight stays on the barge.
Tailor-made programs
In fall and winter the barge is also available for weekends and holidays. Upon request the barge can sail, or even stay stationary as a floating-hotel. On board we have already organized corporate team-building, gala dinners, family gatherings and even weekend painting classes.
Assembled and serviced by our mechanics, Girolibero bikes are reliable and easy to ride. You can choose between touring bikes or e-bikes, just perfect if you don’t feel trained enough to spend multiple days on the saddle. Find out more about Girolibero bikes.
The renting of Girolibero bikes includes insurance against theft and irreparable damage.
Unisex touring bike
- 28″ wheel
- 27 speed
- anti-puncture tires
- comfort gel saddle
- speedlifter twist T10 to easily adjust the handlebar height
- the only one suitable with children’s accessories
Unisex touring bike
- 28″ wheel
- 27 speed
- anti-puncture tires
- comfort gel saddle
- speedlifter twist T10 to easily adjust the handlebar height
- the only one suitable with children’s accessories
Specifically assembled by our mechanics, our touring bikes feature components and accessories that make it reliable and easy to ride, a perfect companion for your bike tour. Furthermore, thanks to the step-through frame, getting on and off your bike is easier.
Standard components
- bike bell
- side kickstand
- cycle computer
- front/rear lights
- front/rear mudguards
- bottle holder
- rear rack
Accessories included
- Ortlieb rear side pannier (12,5 l)
- repair kit (1 per room)
- handlebar bag (1 per room)
- lock
On guided tours, the handlebar bag and repair kit are only provided to those who ride individually.
Bosch unisex e-bike
- 28” wheel
- 9 speed
- anti-puncture tires
- comfort gel saddle
- speedlifter twist T10 to easily adjust the handlebar height
Bosch unisex e-bike
- 28” wheel
- 9 speed
- anti-puncture tires
- comfort gel saddle
- speedlifter twist T10 to easily adjust the handlebar height
Our e-bike is the right choice if you do not feel trained enough to spend more days on a saddle. You can easily adjust the assistance of the electric motor: from a mild pedaling support, to a more intense boost, which is especially useful on starts and uphill climbs. The battery charge covers an entire cycling stage, or even more if you don’t use it at full power all the time, and you can recharge it at the end of the day at the hotel .
Standard components
- bike bell
- side kickstand
- cycle computer
- frame lock
- front/rear lights
- front/rear mudguards
- bottle holder
- rear rack
Accessories included
- Ortlieb rear side pannier (12,5 l)
- handlebar bag (1 per room)
- battery charger
- battery key
- repair kit
- lock
On guided tours, the handlebar bag and repair kit are only provided to those who ride individually.
Ortlieb bag
- material: PD620/PS490 waterproof
- dimensions: 30×25×14 cm. (HxWxD)
- weight: 1300 g
- capacity: 12,5 l
Ortlieb bag
- material: PD620/PS490 waterproof
- dimensions: 30×25×14 cm. (HxWxD)
- weight: 1300 g
- capacity: 12,5 l
Waterproof side bag whose compact size makes it the ideal partner for short trips or shopping. Through the QL1 mounting system, it can be quickly and easily attached to the bike.
Our tour leaders will guide you: curious travelers, reliable coordinators, helpful in case of mishaps, are the key ingredient of a group trip. They receive dedicated training and are in contact with those of us who designed the itinerary, from the pre-departure briefing to the return briefing.
Silvia Pezzetti
Daniela Zarpellon
Elena Zolin
Esther Fontanella
Giorgio Roggero
Hein Hoefnagels
Helmut Witt
Stefania Corà
Caterina Pilon
Recipes from aboard
Fresh ingredients and local recipes are carefully prepared on the boat with passion. Our international guests have loved them so much that they’re now featured in an English-language cookbook.
Browse the cookbookReceive our newsletter
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