In celebration of 50 Years of SANTANA Tandem Bicycles, we are proud to announce a Tandems-Only Loire River Cycling Cruise.
Famous for easy cycling, the Loire’s softly-rolling landscape inspired the impassioned creation of 42 fanciful castles. Instead of repelling an enemy, the famous châteaux of the Loire were designed to capture a lover’s heart.
A patchwork of fields, vineyards, and forests — decorated with charming villages and legendary Châteaux. A cycling paradise sewn together by gentle paved lanes and meandering country roads.
Many will want to arrive via Paris, where our group hotel offers non-stop shuttles from Paris’ CDG airport that can accommodate all sizes of boxed bikes (even full-length tandems).
After one to four optional nights in Paris, our embark-morning transfer will reach the ship via tours of two of the most famous Châteaux of the upper Loire Valley. Full details of our pretour options will be provided a year prior to our departure.
Day 1 – Those who wish to skip the PreTour will want to fly into Nantes/NTE (3rd largest airport in western France) in time for our included afternoon shuttle to embark. Before dinner there will be ample time to freshen up, and to build and test your bikes (or accept a rental).
After we’re all seated in her Panoramic Dining Room the Loire Princess will circle Nantes’ Island and depart the city through a veritable canyon of flood-lit buildings and monuments.
Day 2 – Wake up in the village of Ancenis, where our ship docks at the base of a medieval castle. A choice of morning rides end at the village of Ingrandes, where we’ll reboard the ship for lunch. Those who skip the afternoon ride will enjoy a cruise to the overnight tie-up at the center of Chalonnes-sur-Loire, where you’ll have time to explore the village and ramparts before dinner.
On this and following days our shortest morning ride will average a bit less than 25 miles. Longer options and afternoon rides allow daily totals of 50 or more miles. Perfect for spring cycling, the Loire Valley doesn’t have any steep climbs or long ascents.
Day 3 – This morning, our choice of routes to a guided tour of Château Serrant will all pause for coffee at “Le Jardin Des Kangourous,” where over 300 friendly and cuddly wallabies roam freely, and will pose for shared selfies.
Following an onboard lunch at the edge of the historic small city of Angers, it’s a short afternoon ride to the top-rated Châteaux Angers.
On any morning or afternoon you don’t care to pedal, hop-aboard Sergio’s coach, a picture window touring bus that takes non-riders to the featured stops enjoyed by cyclists. No matter how you arrive, Angers is a great town to explore on foot.
Day 4 – Although the ship can’t climb through the rapids above Angers, our morning ride continues upriver to Brissac, and our third tour of a chateaux that earned Michelin’s top rating.
Instead of returning to the ship for lunch, afternoon riders will build their appetite with a loop through a dense forest and find a light snack at one of the charming villages before returning to the ship in Bouchemaine. Tonight’s option is dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant.
Day 5 – This morning we’ll ride the length of the Loire’s longest island before finding the ship downriver where it has stopped to serve us lunch.
Your after-lunch choice is either cycling the tranquil roadways of La Thau River Valley or remaining aboard for the cruise to Ancenis. Tonight’s panoramic dinner is served while the ship cruises the most picturesque portion of the Loire.
Day 6 – This morning we wake up in Nantes and exit town by cycling across a series of small islands. After a morning croissant stop in the riverside village of le Pellerin, we’ll cycle the paved lane tracing the Canal de la Martiniere.
In Paimboeuf the Loire Princess will be waiting to serve us lunch.
The afternoon ride (or cruise) ends at the Atlantic Ocean harbor of Saint Nazaire, the site of the largest British commando raid of WWII. This afternoon you’ll receive tickets to 3 entertaining museums—all are a short stroll from the Loire Princesse and two are housed in the harbor’s massive U-boat pen, a fascinating remnant of Germany’s WWII occupation. One of the fortified bunkers contains a preserved submarine to explore.
Day 7 – Leaving the ship behind in Saint Nazaire, we’ll cycle West through a 150 square mile wildlife park. Stronger riders will put in the extra miles to pass the stunningly picturesque Châteaux Bretesche.
Routes converge at the salt marshes of Guérande, where we’ll stop at the interpretive center to learn how today’s “paludiers” use thousand-year-old tools and methods to reap the annual salt harvest.
Our return route to the ship passes through the Atlantic resort villages of France’s Cote d’Amour. Back in Saint Nazaire you’ll be able to repack your bikes or visit a museum you may have missed yesterday. Sailing at sunset, the panoramic dining room will host a memorable farewell dinner.
Day 8 – On Disembark Day in Nantes, we’ll say farewell to the Elbe Princesse. Our earliest included shuttles to Nantes’ NTE airport will arrive in time for the earliest departure.
Santana Adventures will be hosting a Paris PostTour that includes an option to purchase VIP Tickets for the Tour de France Finale, followed by our Burgundy to Provence Cycling Cruise.
These two cruises can be easily combined by way of a Tour de France weekend in Paris, an exceptional choice if you’d like to enjoy multiple weeks of daily cycling all across France. If you opt to join us for the Tour de France Paris PostTour, our transportation to Paris will leave from disembark.
Loire River 2025
Châteaux Cycling Cruise
MS Loire Princesse
For the past ten years Santana has chartered various river and ocean ships from CroisiEurope, a family-owned company based in France. Since day one we’ve attempted to charter their most exclusive ship. Exclusive? Because of the Loire’s heritage, landscape and castles, the French prohibited industrialization, dams, locks and channelization. Long segments of this wide and untamed river are barely three feet deep — far too shallow for a classic river cruise ship.
A few years ago, CroisiEurope announced the construction of the Loire Princesse—the first-ever cruise ship for the Loire River. Designed with the secret help of a French University and avante-garde constructeur, the Loire Princesse is uniquely wide, and only two stories high. Instead of vulnerable props below a pointed keel, the Loire Princesse’s side wheel propulsion sits above and beside the ship’s flat bottom. Unlike other river cruisers, the roomier Loire Princesse draws less than 30 inches of water.
As on most modern cruise ships, two full-width twin beds convert to a king-width double. With most staterooms the beds face the window. If you choose one of the slightly smaller economy staterooms, however, the beds are turned 90-degrees and there’s not quite enough room to spread them apart.
All of the upper deck staterooms have a sit-down balcony with a small table and two chairs. Main deck staterooms have large windows.
All staterooms are soundproofed. Those who book earliest obtain the staterooms farthest away from the centrally located paddle wheels. On our scouting cruise Jan and I had a lower deck stateroom nearest the paddlewheel, and were not bothered by the slight vibration and sleep-inducing white noise. Because Jan likes to be able to open a window, for our charter she’s staked-out an upper-deck room closest to the ship’s paddlewheel.
With one less deck than most ships we’ve chartered, this very special charter will have a third fewer rooms (48 vs. ~72). The ship’s upper deck lounge and lower deck dining areas are wider and more spacious than on other river cruise ships, and will have ample seating for all of us. The sun-deck is huge, and our bike parking and service areas will take up less than half the area.
Here’s a fun video of the Loire Princesse –
Loire River 2025
Châteaux Cycling Cruise
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the exact dates?
A: Santana’s Loire River Cycling Cruise will take place July 18 to 25, 2026. 8-days/7-nights. Sunny summer days along France’s Loire River Valley provide exceptional short-sleeve cycling with daily highs in the upper 70s.
Unlike most French hotels, our ship is fully air conditioned. This peak week for a French River Cycling Cruise is custom-aligned to allow you to witness the Tour de France finale in Paris the weekend following our cruise. Details on this option will be provided a year in advance.
Q: What’s the cost?
A: Due to the current strength of the dollar our first-in per-person double-occupancy pricing for this 8-day cycling cruise starts at $4,199. Booking early is easy and RISK FREE. Our reservations page shows pricing of available staterooms.
Q: What about tipping?
A: Jan and I don’t accept tips. A comprehensive “cruise extras” fee of $470 per person includes port fees and a long list of off-ship activities, tours, admissions, interpretive guides, site fees, non-rider touring coach, and ride support (gps route files and a pair of SOS vans driven by pro mechanics). Note that this is less than the average cruise passenger pays for a week of “deluxe excursions.” Shipboard gratuities of $180 per person includes wash & fold laundry and valet bike handling.
Q: Are all staterooms the same?
A: No. Croisi Cruises designed the Loire Princesse to be the most luxurious ship that can navigate the shallow waters of the Loire River. Newer than most of Europe’s river ships, the Loire Princesse is a wonderful way to enjoy a week of cycling. This cruise ship is the perfect place to dine, sleep, and relax between rides. The Top-Deck and Main-Deck Staterooms are both 145 square feet, plenty of room for a king width bed. The Top-Deck Staterooms each feature a private sit-down balcony. Certain rooms have been marked as “Economy Staterooms,” these rooms have a slightly smaller footprint of 135 square feet and are priced accordingly.
Q: How are staterooms assigned?
A: In any sub-category all rooms are identical. Using the PayPal timestamp, those who reserve earliest get the conveniently located staterooms closest to the front of the ship. If friends desire a pair of adjacent staterooms the timestamp of the first reservation determines the location of both rooms. In short, out of fairness to all our guests, we will not take requests for specific room numbers. Those who book early obtain prime positioning.
Q: Are rental bikes available?
A: Yes. Rental tandems are available on a first-come first-reserved basis.
Q: How do we get to and from the tour?
A: Detailed info by August ’25. Those who arrive for the PreTour (or on embark day) and depart on the disembark day will receive airport transfers.
Q: How many miles each day?
A: In addition to our daily pair of zero-mile options (remaining on the ship or reaching prime attractions via Santana’s non-rider touring coach), every day has multiple cycling routes. Anyone who can ride 30 flat miles will be able to enjoy multiple days of easy cycling. Longer routes are available, and typically allow 60 or more miles. Our welcome aboard page has more info on mileage. At each morning’s breakfast you’ll get a map charting the day’s cycling routes and recommended stops. During a brief route talk you’ll hear about each route’s attractions. Santana’s vets have learned to love and rely on their handlebar-mounted GPS units. Available for less than $170, these touch-screen marvels prevent the age-old problem of getting lost or riding unplanned miles. Would you rather use your smartphone? Use the tips in our GPS Guide to make sure you’re ready to go. Santana supplies free electronic mapping and route files. Simply select the route and follow the highlighted map.
Q: What’s the next step?
A: A near-immediate sell-out of this event is anticipated. Early-in pricing is limited to the first few rooms in each category. Pricing listed on the Stateroom Reservations section is the current pricing. To lock-in availability and the lowest pricing on a RISK-FREE basis, reserve your space through our reservations portal. Our secure website is open 24 hours per day, accepts all major credit cards, and automatically adjusts for remaining stateroom availability. Reserving your spot is RISK-FREE. In each category the prime location staterooms will be assigned in the same order as the timestamp of your booking.
Q: What do you mean by RISK-FREE?
A: When you use your credit card and book through PayPal, we’ll give you 14 risk-free days to think it over and clear your schedule. If you change your mind, send an email to Cancellations@SantanaAdventures.com within 14-days to cancel the PayPal transaction and obtain a full refund. Please do not send your request to any other email addresses. Here is a full listing of Santana Adventures’ Terms & Conditions.
Q: What if we change our minds after 14 days?
A: Because full-boat charters are binding, non-cancelable contracts, Jan and I will only enter into this charter based on your confirmed-through-PayPal commitment. In effect, we undertake a huge risk by guaranteeing full payment on your behalf. After entering into this obligation, we cannot afford for you to back out—for any reason. This is no different than the clear written policy that existed for all except one of Santana’s prior chartered-ship cruises. While preparing for our 2009 Danube event I neglected to include the following proviso. That’s the year a group of friends, after verbally agreeing to pay in full and then stringing Jan along for many months, decided to cancel their plans. Lesson learned! Here it is (again) in writing:
Santana’s acceptance of your registration and non-refundable deposit for this event is subsequent to your agreement to pay the remaining balance in full. While Santana allows limited refunds on rallies and tours, Santana’s cruises are non-cancelable and non-transferable. When the possibility of paying yet not attending is unacceptable, Jan and I recommend Travel Guard trip insurance. For the past 25 years hundreds of our clients have relied on Travel Guard coverage without complaint. An informative application will be mailed with your invoice; and further information is available online. Here is a full listing of Santana Adventures’ Terms & Conditions.
Q: Have you ever relaxed your refund policy?
A: Jan and I have willingly resold a number of fully prepaid staterooms for a fee of $1,000 per stateroom—which is waived when vacating participants find someone to take their place. When there has been more than one pending resell request, those who paid-in-full earliest had their space resold next. Using this non-guaranteed method (which is grossly inferior to trip insurance) Jan and I have cheerfully refunded over $700,000 in otherwise non-refundable and non-transferable cruise fares. Here is a full listing of Santana Adventures’ Terms & Conditions.
Q: What’s the difference between a SAG-wagon and Santana’s SOS/treasure vans?
A: Most tour companies use SAG-wagons that haul luggage and “sweep” the route between overnight stops. The drivers refill water-bottles, fix flat tires, and retrieve riders who can’t manage the easiest route between the widely spaced hotels. The problem, of course, is that the roving vans tend to be annoying until you actually need help. At that point it’s common to wait for two or more hours until one shows up. Although SAG drivers can fix a flat, they don’t have the tools or know-how to handle serious mechanical problems. Instead, they drive you to a bike shop (which explains why SAG-wagons disappear for hours at a time). This tour’s pair of SOS vans are driven by pro bike mechanics who bring tools and spares. When you phone one of our drivers with the coordinates from your GPS, they’ll arrive in a flash to get you back in the saddle. Because Santana expects participants to fill their own bottles, fix their own flats, and choose a ride they can finish, our SOS drivers are underworked, and have time to retrieve your shopping treasures.
Q: Are beverages included?
A: Beer & Wine are included at dinner. Other alcohol is not included but can be charged to your room. Soft Drinks, Coffee, Espresso Drinks, and Juice are all complimentary at meal times.
Q: Which meals are included?
A: During Santana’s earlier charters of Croisi Cruises the culinary staff appreciated our appetites as much as we appreciated their multi-course gourmet meals. A 5-star chef will curate a new menu for each meal, and will always include a surprising selection of local fruits and produce, regional specialties, the freshest-possible seafood, vegetarian options, and grilled-to-order meats. A changing assortment of desserts and pastries are produced aboard each day. Breakfast and Lunch are served from a viewing queue, perfect for active cyclists. Dinner is a plated multi-course menu with plenty of gourmet options for all of our participants.
Q: Does the Loire Princesse offer WiFi?
A: Yes.
Q: Does the ship have an elevator?
A: Yes.
Q: Will there be menu selections for vegetarians, vegans and picky eaters?
A: Yes to all of the above.
Q: What if we have more questions?
A: The quickest and easiest way to get help is to use Santana’s Contact Form. One of our team members will follow up with you as soon as possible.
Loire River 2025
Châteaux Cycling Cruise
Stateroom Reservations
July 18 to 25, 2026
Our new reservations system is set up so that you will now be able to see your total cruise price while placing your reservation (this includes the Off-Ship Cruise Extras Fees and Port Fees—all of which are now wrapped into the fares). While our new pricing system may make prices seem a bit higher, it’s actually the same total price—it’s simply a new way of displaying the total price for your convenience at the time of your reservation. We hope this new reservation method offers a greater transparency in pricing to our participants.
Deck Plan
— Click on the Deck Plan above to see a larger version —
Floor Plans
