There's a particular kind of magic that happens when you abandon highways and hotel chains in favor of a slow float through wine country. Belmond, the luxury hospitality group behind some of the world's most coveted hideaways, is betting that travelers crave exactly this. Enter Marguerite, a fully renovated riverboat that's trading its former life as the Amaryllis for a summer debut on Burgundy's waterways. This is slow travel elevated to an art form.
The boat itself tells a story about its home region. The design draws inspiration from the daisy flower, which thrives across the Burgundy countryside (and happens to be called "marguerite" in French). Soft yellow interiors, floral patterns, and natural light flood through large windows, creating spaces that feel both modern and deeply rooted in local culture. French artisans handcrafted the furniture and stained glass details, ensuring that every cabin and communal area carries a sense of place. This isn't minimalist luxury trying to be nowhere in particular. This is luxury that knows exactly where it belongs.
Eight Guests, Four Cabins, Endless Views
Marguerite caps out at eight passengers, split across four private cabins. Each cabin has its own bathroom and oversized windows that frame the passing landscape by day and invite sleep by night. The shared spaces include an open salon where guests mingle, a dining area where menus take center stage, and a deck with a heated plunge pool. Imagine soaking in warm water while vineyards roll past. That's the level of thought that went into this.
The boat operates on private charter terms, which means you're booking the entire vessel for your group alone. Itineraries snake between places like Pontailler-sur-SaĂ´ne and St LĂ©ger, or Lyon and Auxonne, with flexible routing that bends to what guests actually want to explore. This approach mirrors the philosophy of the broader Four Seasons' New Yacht Is Redefining What Floating Luxury Actually Means, where smaller, more curated experiences trump sprawling mega-ships.
Michelin Stars Float Aboard
The culinary side might be the real draw. Dominique Crenn, who holds three Michelin stars, designed the menus. A private chef prepares meals on board using fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from Burgundy itself. Breakfast arrives with proper pastries and coffee. Lunches celebrate local traditions. Dinners become the kind of events you remember years later. You can eat inside the dining room or on deck, letting the weather and your mood dictate the setting.
This isn't a ship serving food. It's a food experience that happens to float.
Wine, Castles, Mustard, and Bikes
Each charter is customizable, but the menu of activities hints at what's possible. The Route des Grands Crus, Burgundy's most legendary wine route, opens up for tastings at prestigious estates as well as smaller family-run producers. Cycling routes weave through vineyards and villages. Dijon's famous mustard heritage comes alive in a hands-on workshop. Private lunches can be arranged at historic estates like those in Vougeot, turning lunch into a guided tour of regional history.
The itineraries are genuinely flexible, which matters. A group obsessed with wine stays wine-focused. Another might prioritize cycling, cultural visits, or just extended time on the water. Belmond builds each week around the people who've chartered the boat.
The Price and the Philosophy
Weekly charters start at around €85,100 depending on dates and activities selected. That price covers the boat, your cabins, meals, and a level of service most travelers never experience. For context, you're looking at roughly €10,600 per person for eight guests, all-inclusive, in one of France's most storied regions.
Marguerite is part of Belmond's broader riverboat fleet, which also operates in Bordeaux and Provence. Unlike the cruise industry's relentless push toward bigger ships and more passengers, these vessels embrace the opposite philosophy. Small groups. Personalized attention. Routes designed for discovery rather than efficiency. The entire concept pushes back against the modern travel assumption that more is better.
Summer is already here, and Marguerite is ready. If you've ever dreamed of floating through Burgundy with a glass of wine in one hand and genuine leisure in the other, this is exactly what that looks like.
