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Hotel Barge
Actief
Cruise the Royal River Thames
Seven Days / Six Nights
 The
11 passenger Actief is the largest, most
luxuriously appointed vessel cruise the
Upper Thames.
Her sun-deck, saloon and accommodation
comprises three suites (Astor, Wolsey and
Nelson), two twins and a single cabin. Her
crew of four includes an expert Chef and
Captain well versed in the area's history
and folklore.
The Royal River Thames winds sedately through
tranquil English countryside, past stately
mansions, Royal castles and picturesque
riverside pubs.
Woodlands make way for water meadows and
quiet villages with perfectly manicured
gardens. Cruising between Shillingford and
Windsor, you'll see the best of England's
heritage, from the dreaming spires of Oxford
to the round tower of Windsor Castle.
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Cruise Highlights |
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Eton college,
Britain's premier school and alma
mater to
Princes William and Henry |
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Waldorf and Nancy
Astor's former home of Cliveden,
stunning gardens and views |
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The enchanting medieval
riverside villages of Hurley and
Sonning |
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Henley's award winning
and interactive River and Rowing
museum |
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Beautiful Elizabethan
Mapledurham House and Water
mill |
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Christchurch College
Oxford founded by Henry VIII in
1525 |
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Optional hot-air
ballooning |
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Regional Specialities
Salami of Guinea fowl with
Wild Mushroom
Roast rack of Lamb with Aubergine
puree
Sweet potatoes and Spinach
Golden Jubilee Chicken (created
for the Buckingham palace
Jubilee)
Wine Cellar
Chateau Grandis 1996
Beaune 1998
Chateau Pavilon de la Brie
2001
Cheese Board
Cropwell Bishop Organic Stilton,
Dunsyre Blue, Bath Soft cheese
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Meeting
Point |
| 2.00pm Goring
Hotel, 15, Beeston Place
Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W
0JW |
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Click
Here for Actief 2008 Prices ($)
Alternative Itineraries |
We also offer other itineraries including an antiques cruise, family cruise, gardens cruises, golf cruises, Henley Festival cruise, and walking cruises.
Please contact us for further details. |
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Check
availability of this cruise
Back to England Barges
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DAY 1
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Sunday
LONDON TO SHILLINGFORD
Private transfer from the Goring Hotel
in London to our mooring at Shillingford
Bridge. After a traditional English
cream tea on arrival there is a late
afternoon cruise and a chance to settle
in to your comfortable and attractive
cabins. The evening commences with a
festive champagne reception followed
by dinner and your first night aboard.
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DAY 2
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Monday
SHILLINGFORD TO PANGBOURNE
This morning’s cruise is through
glacier formed hills to our mooring
alongside the 17th century Swan Inn
at Pangbourne. After lunch we visit
Oxford - ‘City of Dreaming Spires’.
View the grandest of all Oxford’s
Colleges, Christchurch, founded by Henry
VIII in 1525 and the setting for the
tale of Alice in Wonderland. This is
followed by time for shopping and afternoon
tea before returning to Actief. |
| DAY 3 |
Tuesday
PANGBOURNE TO HENLEY ON THAMES
This morning our cruise continues through
sylvan countryside (setting for Kenneth
Grahame’s ‘Wind In The Willows’)
to the picturesque Mapledurham Estate.
Here we privately visit Elizabethan
Mapledurham House, home to descendants
of the same family since 1490, and Mapledurham
Mill, a 500 year old still working water
mill (famously used during the filming
of ‘The Eagle Has Landed’).
Afterwards our cruise continues until
reaching our overnight stop at Henley-On-Thames.
Dinner aboard. |
| DAY 4 |
Wednesday
HENLEY ON THAMES TO HURLEY
This morning we visit the spectacular
new and interactive River and Rowing
Museum. No ordinary museum, this is
a wonderful chance to learn something
of the secrets, mythology,history and
traditions of the River Thames. After
lunch there is time to catch up on some
shopping in this fashionable town, home
to the world famous annual Henley Royal
Regatta. A late afternoon cruise takes
us to the picturesque medieval village
of Hurley.
Dinner aboard. |
| DAY 5 |
Thursday
HURLEY TO CLIVEDEN
A gentle walking tour around Hurley,
home of Ye Olde Bell, reputedly England’s
oldest Inn founded for visiting monks
in 1135, is followed by a visit to Peter
Freebody’s traditional boatyard.
Peter’s family has been involved
in the river for 8oo years! We then
cruise to one of the most stunning reaches
on the river at Cliveden and our private
mooring at this magnificent estate,
former home of the Astors. Our tour
of the fabulous gardens with breathtaking
views is most memorable.
Dinner aboard. |
| DAY 6 |
Friday
CLIVEDEN TO WINDSOR
A delightful morning cruise takes us
to our final mooring below magnificent
Windsor Castle. After lunch we visit
Eton College, founded in 1440 and school
to some 20 of Britain's Prime Ministers.
Following this there is time for you
to browse the many shops in Eton and
Windsor. Tonight the Captain hosts his
farewell dinner, based on a period banquet.
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| DAY 7 |
Saturday
WINDSOR TO LONDON
After breakfast, depart at 9.30 am and
return to Hotel or Heathrow Airport. |
| NOTE: |
This is a sample itinerary and
is subject to change. On alternate
weeks, cruise will be in alternate direction. |
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Boat Features |
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100 Feet Long |
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11 Passengers |
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4/5 Crew |
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3 Twin/Double
Suites |
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2 Twin Staterooms |
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1 Single Cabin |
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Centrally Heated |
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Air-conditioned |
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Sundeck |
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6/11 Touring Bikes |
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Jolly Boat - Tender |
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Newly refurbished |
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Air-conditioned
Minibus |
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