Luxury discount cruise

French Country Waterways is offering a special spring discount of $300 per person that, when added to the $400 "value-season" discount, provides a $700-per-person saving on April departures of luxury barge cruises in Burgundy, Champagne and the Upper Loire Valley.

The all-inclusive cruise rates of $2,695 to $3,895 per person in April include a gift tote of regional food specialties.

Five barges carry eight to 18 passengers on leisurely canal-and-river cruises through rolling countryside dotted with medieval villages, stately chateaux, vineyards and pastures. The 6-night cruises combine French cuisine and wines, a dinner ashore at a 2- or 3-star Michelin restaurant, private wine tastings, daily sight-seeing excursions and personal service by an English-speaking crew.

Rates cover stateroom or suite accommodations, all meals, one dinner ashore, estate-bottled wines at lunch and dinner, open bar, tours/excursions, bicycles and transfers between Paris and the barges. The April savings apply only to individual bookings and not to charters. Space on the Esprit, Horizon II, Liberte, Nenuphar and Princess is limited.