Welcome to our exclusive collection of hotel barge cruises. For over 40 years, we have specialised in creating luxury barge holidays on some of the most beautiful waterways in Europe.
The welcome we received and everything on board was perfect
Pauline Taplin, Hampshire, UK
This is a treasure that most people don’t know about
Denise Thorson , New Jersey, USA
Everbody should do this at least once in their life
Charles Baertl, Texas USA
For a very special occasion this is the place to be
John Thorson, New Jersey, USA
The Hotel Barging Experience
Whether your interests lie in gastronomy and wine, local history, and culture, or just relaxing on deck with a good book and a glass of Chablis, a “slow boat” voyage with us offers the ultimate in experiential travel. Each day as your ‘floating boutique hotel’ glides sedately along at walking pace, you can relax on deck and take in the passing countryside, then perhaps hop off at the next lock to stroll along the towpath or enjoy a little exercise on one of the barge’s bicycles.
With capacity for up to 20 passengers on board, a hotel barge cruise offers a more intimate, informal atmosphere than on larger river and ocean cruise vessels, so it is an excellent choice for couples, single travellers, families, or small groups.
Making New Friends as a Couple
Many of our guests choose a hotel barge cruise with us because they relish the chance to meet other like-minded travellers who enjoy the finer things in life, such as great service, fine dining, wine and good conversation. They are keen to find out more about local culture and history, but at the same time want an absorbing, slow-paced voyage of discovery.
Private Whole Barge Charters
When you charter one of our hotel barges – be it for a precious family gathering or friends’ reunion, a one-off celebration, or as a special interest group – we can arrange tailored itineraries to please everyone, whatever your ages or interests.
Travelling Solo
Our gentle voyages are also ideal for the single traveller who will be welcomed into the fold by the crew and their fellow ship-mates to join the ‘floating house party’, with everyone dining together around the same table and enjoying all the private escorted daily excursions as a group.
On board, there is a relaxed, intimate ‘house party’ atmosphere, whether you choose to cruise with other like-minded people, or charter the whole barge privately as a family or a group of friends.
Where We Cruise in Europe
Discover the fascinating world of barging, through the vineyards of Burgundy, on the shady Canal du Midi in Southern France, the historic Po Valley in Italy, or the River Shannon in rustic Ireland. Navigate the Royal River Thames, through the stunningly rugged landscapes of Scotland, picturesque Alsace & Lorraine, or the colourful tulip fields of Holland.

Popular Destinations
Our Exclusive Collection of Hotel Barges
The hotel barges in our 17-vessel fleet have a wealth of history behind them. Most of the vessels are owned by us, and others by experienced hands-on operators who work with us and meet our required high standards. You’ll find a wide variety of styles, sizes and pedigrees within the fleet, due to their specific purpose when originally built.
All our barges offer a similar cruising experience, with each having its own characteristics and personality. Styles will range from the feel of a traditional, classic cosy floating ‘country house’ with varnished wood and brass, rich textures and fabrics, and interiors to reflect the beauty of the region, to a more spacious contemporary appearance, designed with style and elegance in mind.
Each barge has been awarded a cruise rating, with each category primarily referring to cabin sizing. Our Ultra Deluxe cruises enjoy very spacious cabin suites, comparable to luxury hotels. Deluxe barges offer comfortable, slightly smaller cabins, whilst our lead-in First Class barges enjoy compact but cosy cabins.
Vessel sizes also vary, mainly to conform with the dimensions of the locks on the different waterways on which we cruise. Size also influences the number of passengers which are carried, from 6 on our smallest hotel barge, Nymphea, in the Loire Valley, up to 20 passengers on our largest vessel, La Bella Vita, cruising the Venetian Lagoon and River Po. Whatever the size or style, you can rest assured the level of service remains impeccable throughout your stay.
Themed Barge Holidays
We can arrange a wide selection of themed charter cruises which will appeal to all types of groups, large or small and centred around interests, from local culture and gastronomy, to more active pursuits such as golf and walking.
Verified Reviews
Video Feed
We uploaded our first video in 2010 and since then we have added over 100 hotel barging videos and received over 3,000,000 views on YouTube. We hope you enjoyed watching our videos…
Video of the Week
Travel Expert, Lindsay Myers recounts her cruise aboard La Belle Epoque for NBC Access Hollywood
Hotel Barge L'Impressionniste
Hotel Barge La Belle Epoque
The Lock-Keeper Blog
The Lock-Keeper has gone viral! Every few weeks we will be blogging about the Hotel barging experience; From the history of our hotel barges to some of the off the beaten track excursions we visit. Intrigued? Then read on…
Pop the Champagne with Kir Royale!
We are delighted to announce the latest addition to the European Waterways fleet: the 8-passenger Ultra Deluxe hotel barge, Kir Royale, debuting in Champagne from May 2024... Read More
24 Hours in Reims: The Unofficial Capital of the Champagne Region
Reims is famed for its cathedral, champagne, and stunning architecture – here’s the lowdown of what to see and do so you don’t miss out. Read More
Visiting Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
‘Le Plus Beaux Villages de France’ is a collection of stunning small French villages. Read on to find out which ones you can visit on our cruises. Read More
In the Press
There have been many interesting and entertaining articles written by journalists and travel writers from across the globe about their journeys on our luxury hotel barge cruises.
La Belle barge provides small-scale cruising with a very French flavour
Mike Grenby spent 6 days on the Burgundy canal, read about his Belle Epoque adventure here Read More
La Belle barge provides small-scale cruising with a very French flavour
Mike Grenby spent 6 days on the Burgundy canal, read about his Belle Epoque adventure here Read More
Slow Barge through the Loire Valley
Karen Pasquali Jones takes a tranquil cruise aboard Renaissance, through Burgundy and the Upper Loire Read More
6 Reasons You Should Go on a Canal Barge Cruise
Laura Lynch spent a week aboard the luxury hotel barge Finesse cruising the Canal du Midi. Read about her experience here Read More
Der gute Geist der Highlands
Auf einer 6-tägigen Kreuzfahrt an Bord der Luxus-Hotelbarge Spirit of Scotland besuchte O. Schmidt die schönsten Sehenswürdigkeiten Schottlands. Read More
Cruising in Burgundy
David Powell spent a week on the luxury hotel barge L’Impressionniste cruising through Burgundy. Read about his experience here Read More