The Barge Lady, an American-based broker of French canal barge vacations, is promoting cruises on the eight-passenger Prosperite. The vacation offers cooking demonstrations, the chance to shop with the chef in food markets, and wine tasting in the nearby Cote d’Or wine region. “While the chance to wander into small villages and to explore the area’s cultural treasures remains strong, our guests want in-depth exposure to the cuisine, cheeses and wines of France,” said Ellen Sack, The Barge Lady.

Prosperite guests can gather around the open kitchen and watch the master chef demonstrate techniques for homemade pastas and desserts. The multi-course meals feature moderate portions of intensely flavored cuisine. Guests have compared the results to having a private Michelin-starred chef. Accompanying wines are local in origin and feature vintages that are not exported, thus exposing passengers to brand new tastings. Twenty-four wines and 36 cheeses are introduced and explained during the cruise.

The introduction to the Cote d’Or wine region includes a visit to Chateau de Clos de Vougeot, a 12th century winery built by Cistercian monks. Guests can explore the ancient wine presses and the chateau surrounded by vineyards. Other highlights include daily chauffeured excursions to historic churches, medieval towns and charming villages.

Prosperite boasts four 270-square-foot cabins with en-suite bathrooms. The salon is contemporary in style, while the sun deck features a hot tub. The 2011 season begins April 3 and ends Oct. 29, and guests depart from Paris every Sunday and are returned to Paris the following Saturday. The charter price for a six-night cruise ranges from $39,900 to $49,900 and includes transfers to and from Paris in a Mercedes Benz vehicle, gourmet cuisine onboard, one dinner on shore at a Michelin-starred restaurant, wine with meals, open bar, daily chauffeured and guided sightseeing, and use of onboard facilities on board such as bicycles.

Sack has been a broker of European canal barge vacations since 1985. She represents 43 vessels in France, England, Ireland, Holland, Germany and Scotland. Commission on the Prosperite is 12 percent, and the company says it sends the check with the boarding documents one month prior to departure. For more information, call 800-880-0071 or visit www.bargelady.com.