For anyone looking for a luxury all-inclusive hotel barge holiday cruising along the beautiful waterways of Europe, European Waterways, also known as Hotel Barging, is bound to have something to offer.
Take a look at the details below, and then call GoCruise with Ian on 01455821770 or 08002922850 for more information and to book your holiday on the canals and waterways of Europe.
While European Waterways own some of the vessels themselves, some are owned by other experienced operators but are vetted by them, to ensure that standards are similar. Listed below are the regions which the barges are operating in, giving you a great range of destinations to choose from: –
France
Burgundy – using La Belle Epoque, L’Art de Vivre, L’Impressionniste and Absoluut 2
Canal du Midi – using Anjodi, Enchante, Clair de Lune and Athos
Gascony & Bordeaux – using Rosa
Loire Valley, The Upper Loire & Western Burgundy – using Renaissance, Nymphea, plus Savoir Faire & La Nouvelle Etoile on selected departures
Alsace & Lorraine – using Panache
Champagne – using Panache, Savoir Faire & La Nouvelle Etoile, each on selected departures
Holland
Windmills & the Tulip Fields – using Panache, Savoir Faire & La Nouvelle Etoile, each on selected departures
Italy
Venice, the Venetian Lagoon & the Po Valley – using La Bella Vita
Scotland
The Caledonian Canal, Loch Ness & the Highlands – using Scottish Highlander
England
The Royal River Thames & Oxford – using Magna Carta
Ireland
The River Shannon & its Lakes – using Shannon Princess
Longer Waterway Journeys
Holland, Belgium, France, Germany & Luxembourg – using Panache, Savoir Faire & La Nouvelle Etoile, each on selected departures, and World War One Commemorative Cruises using La Belle Epoque
The Hotel Barging Experience
The majority of the cruises are for 6 nights, and include the following: –
- Comfortable air-conditioned accommodation with ensuite, or suites
- Gourmet meals, which are prepared by the onboard chef, fine wines and an all-day open bar, which included soft drinks and teas & coffee
- Daily escorted excursions in air-conditioned mini buses, which take you to places of interest and private wine tastings
- Local transfers, for example to and from the barge near Paris
- Bicycles on most hotel barges, and an on-deck spa pool
- Service from the experienced crew – Captain, chef, tour guide and hosts / hostesses
The vessels in the fleet carry between 6 and 20 people, and cabins can be booked individually or the whole vessel can be chartered for a family or group travelling together. There are a number of themed cruises available, which include golf, walking, cycling, wine appreciation etc.
Example itineraries include: –
- Magna Carta on the River Thames – Hampton Court Palace, Runnymede, Windsor, Cookham, Hurley and Henley on Thames
- Scottish Highlander cruising the heart of the Scottish Highlands – Muirtown, Dochgarroch, Fort Augustus, Laggan Locks and Banavie
- La Belle Epoque cruising the Upper Burgundy Canal – Venarey-les-Laumes, Montbard, Ravieres, Ancy-le-Franc, Lezinnes and Tanlay
- Anjodi on the Canal du Midi – Marseillan, Portiragnes, Beziers, Fonserannes, Capestang and Le Somail
- Panache on the Canal de la Marne au Rhin – Strasbourg, Walthenheim-sur-Zorn, Dettwiller, Saverne, Lutzelbourg and Niderviller
(page updated October 2014)