If you’re a big Harry Potter fan, then you’re not going to want to miss out on this amazing new cruise!
London, England, Platform 9 ¾ — Fans of the Harry Potter franchise are everywhere, spanning the confines of age, gender, and education. They are fascinated with the characters, their relationships, and, most especially, the extraordinary vision behind the props, sets, and costumes created to bring Hogwarts to life from the page to the screen. Ellen Sack, an American-based broker of over 50 European barge cruises, is thrilled to introduce the new “Harry Potter Magic” themed barge cruise on the crewed, eight passenger barge Magna Carta which serenely plies the Royal River Thames.
Debuting for the 2018 barging season, the Harry Potter Magic Cruise all-inclusive itinerary offers curated excursions allowing guests to explore an exciting range of Potter-inspired sites throughout the cruise region. Highlights include an outing to see the Warner Bros Harry Potter Tour in London; exploring filming locales such as Oxford’s Christ Church College, Virginia Water, and Picket Post Close further the Potter-riffic experience. Onboard, the Harry Potter experience continues with when the barge’s private gourmet chef prepares meals inspired by Hogwart’s menus. Augmenting the theme, Harry Potter screenings will be available, and for those especially intrigued by spell-casting, perhaps even some fascinating wandlore will ensue.
An eight passenger barge with a cruise route along England’s Royal River Thames, the Magna Carta is a longtime Barge Lady favorite for Anglophiles, European history buffs, and 2- or 3-gen family cruises. Available on a charter-only basis, guests on the Harry Potter Magic cruise are accommodated by a service-oriented crew of six who cater to every need: a gourmet Chef, Captain, a Tour Guide, two Hostesses, and a Deckhand. Cruising along the antique Royal River Thames is also part of the experience, as this world-famous waterway is akin to an ancient history book with pages still being written. The cruise itself presents England’s iconic institutions alongside small slices of life: gently gliding past mansions, boathouses, villages, and towns, the Magna Carta introduces passengers to the area’s lifestyles and livelihoods.
The barge features four double occupancy cabins at 200 square feet, a spacious salon perfect for catching up on the Harry Potter book series, and an outdoor deck with a hot tub. The services of the Magna Carta includes round trip chauffeured transfers to and from London, all meals and snacks, all wines and spirits, an open bar, daily excursions, daily maid service, and use of the barge’s facilities such as bicycles. The 6 night/7 day cruises with the Harry Potter theme are available August 5-11 and August 19 – 25, 2018, and are available for private parties of up to eight. The rates ranges from $35,900 – $39,800 USD.
Since 1985, Ellen Sack, The Barge Lady, herself, has been the world’s leading expert in selling European hotel barge vacations. These bespoke vessels carry between four and 20 guests, are fully crewed, and can be found on the French canals, as well as on the inland waterways of Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. Barging delivers cultural immersion, personalized service, gourmet cuisine, regionally-produced wine, private en-suite cabins, daily maid service, and ample time for leisure activities such as bicycle riding and hot tubbing. Sack, based in Chicago, is a pioneer and trailblazer in the barge industry, and has received many accolades. The greatest personal thrill was her selection from 2011 to 2017 as a Top Travel Specialist by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, joining an elite community of worldwide travel providers. In 2014, Sack was chosen for Wendy Perrin’s WOW list of Trusted Travel Experts, and has been recommended by the author of 1000 Places to See Before You Die, as well as by the travel editor of The Today Show. For more information, visit www.bargelady.com or 800-880-0071
Great post. Going to London in a week and glad I found this. I always make lots of plans and then end up not doing even half the things I planned but this has been on top of my list the last few years so definitely committing to do it this time.