Hospitality company Belmond has revealed plans to launch a new luxury barge in May 2023 for weeklong private charters across Champagne, France. Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne will be crafted by Monaco-based design duo Humbert & Poyet to opulently honor the legacy of Maison Ruinart, the world’s oldest champagne house and a partner on the project.
“The landscape of the Champagne region provided inspiration in the way that each space was created like an impressionist painting, embodying the changing light and views that take place throughout the journeys,” says Humbert & Poyet cofounder Emil Humbert. “We were inspired by journeys where time was not a constraint, such as on board the Orient Express or the Transatlantics, whereby the beauty of the experience lay in the journey itself.”
The ethos of Champagne will be channeled across the ship’s exteriors as well as interiors adorned with raw materials and locally sourced fabrics in earthy hues. Fluted walls and artwork will further echo the region’s architectural heritage, while Coquelicot’s namesake, the red poppy, will be subtly referenced through handcut red marble side tables and tone-on-tone handpainted petals lining the hallways. A skylight in the ship’s lounge will be animated to pay homage to Champagne’s water mapping legacy as well.
The top deck will round out Coquelicot’s social spaces and a trio of double cabins outfitted with marble ensuite bathrooms will serve as accommodations.
“We wanted to the guests to feel a suspended, timeless moment of reconnection with nature but also with the heritage, tradition, and savoir-faire that the region offers,” adds fellow Humbert & Poyet cofounder Christophe Poyet. “Coquelicot provides guests with a place discover and experience the Champagne region.”
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