A Holiday for Everyone - Which cruise is right for you?

A Home Away from Home

With accommodation for between just 6 and 20 passengers a hotel barge offers a much more intimate, ‘house party’ atmosphere than on larger cruise river and ocean cruise vessels, which is perfect for birthdays, reunions, and other celebrations. With comfortable en-suite cabins, a spacious deck and interior and bicycles to explore on, there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy themselves. 

The doting crew is always on hand to look after you and the onboard chef is there to prepare delicious gourmet meals for the grown-ups, or something simpler for the children if onboard. 

All in all, a hotel barge cruise will be an unforgettable holiday for everyone, old and young alike. 

A Holiday for Everyone

Whether you book on an individual cabin basis or charter the entire vessel for a private gathering, hotel barge cruising is an excellent choice for everyone: couples, solo travellers, families and friends seeking personalised service and unforgettable experiences throughout. 

Forging Friendships

Many of our guests choose to book a hotel barge cruise on an individual cabin basis to connect with like-minded travellers who appreciate luxury service, fine dining, exquisite wines, and engaging conversation. They eagerly immerse themselves in local culture and history while enjoying a leisurely voyage of discovery. 

Spotlight Experiences

• Sample wines at Château de Paraza, dating back to the 1600s. 
• Wander Narbonne’s magnificent covered market with your onboard chef before enjoying a lunch of regional specialities back onboard Anjodi.
• Discover Strasbourg’s half-timbered Old Town, Gothic cathedral, and Astronomical Clock aboard Panache.
• Experience the thrill of being lifted 450 feet by the Arzviller boat elevator, followed by a candlelit cruise through its tunnels. 

Solo Travellers Welcome

Our voyages are ideal for solo travellers who are warmly welcomed by the crew and fellow shipmates. Join our ‘floating house party’, where dining is a communal affair around a shared table. Enjoy private escorted daily excursions as part of a cohesive like-minded group experience. 

Spotlight Experiences

• Meander along quiet waterways on the Nivernais Canal – by foot, by bike, or from the deck of L’Art de Vivre with a cocktail in hand. 
• Cruise across Eiffel’s aqueduct as the Loire River flows beneath you. 
• Admire the René Lalique collection in La Petite Pierre after a morning at the Saverne market. 
• Explore the medieval hilltop city of Carcassonne, climbing its towers for sweeping views, from your hotel barge Enchanté.

For Multi-Generational Families

Travel that brings generations together is rare and unforgettable. Barge cruising blends adventure, culture, and comfort: mythical castles, gentle hikes and wine or whisky tastings to delight from teens to grandparents. A very real holiday for everyone of every age.

When you charter one of our hotel barges – be it for a reunion, a special celebration, or just a precious family gathering – we can arrange tailored activities to please everyone, whatever their interests.  Chartering privately transforms your barge into a floating family villa.

Spotlight experiences

• Ride the Jacobite Steam Train – part of the iconic Hogwarts Express route – during your Scottish cruise onboard hotel barge Spirit of Scotland.
• Spend a day at LEGOLAND®, where imagination comes to life. 
• Join an Italian cookery class and make pasta from scratch together while travelling on La Bella Vita.
• Enjoy horse riding, paintballing, a scavenger hunt, or bond over bowling, ice skating, kayaking, or waterskiing – family fun for all generations.
  

For the More Active

While cruising can be known for slow travel, on an Active Experience Cruise guests can customise the trip to fit their interests. Every day offers the chance to choose your own pace and be as active as you want while enjoying the finest of leisurely travel, whether it’s yoga on deck at sunrise, kayaking along serene canals, trekking through vineyards, or participating in a hands-on culinary lesson with the private chef. There are plenty of activities for youngsters too, such as cycling the towpath, horseback riding, canoeing, or even helping the Captain steer the barge!  

Spotlight experiences

• Golf at renowned local courses
• Truffle hunting, wine tasting and cookery classes with your on-board chef
• Hot air ballooning, quad biking, hiking, falconry or archery
• Wellness sessions such as yoga on deck or in-room treatments

Cruise for Longer

Back-to-back cruises are a great way to extend your journey and explore multiple regions. Popular itineraries include a dual Burgundy and Champagne cruise, or an exploration through Bordeaux and Canal du Midi in the footsteps of renowned TV chef and restaurateur, Rick Stein. 

Spotlight Experiences

• Visit the immersive Pressoria museum with a Champagne tasting of the region’s signature styles on Épernay’s famous Avenue de Champagne, whilst aboard Kir Royale.

• A taste of Burgundy within the fortified tower of Domaine Chanson in Beaune, travelling on L’Impressionniste. 

• Marvel at the seven-rise lock staircase of Fonserannes – with a cocktail in hand as you glide 23.5 yards up or down on Athos.

• Cross the Plan Canal d’Agen, one of the longest aqueducts in France onboard the Rosa.
  

Explore our Themed Cruises

Discover a variety of themed charter cruises tailored to suit all types of groups, large and small, centred around diverse interests from local culture and gastronomy to active pursuits like golf and walking. 

Options include:

• Wine Appreciation – embark on a journey through the renowned wine regions of France or Italy. Our wine expert will lead tastings on board and accompany you to prestigious vineyards for private tours and tastings of premier and grand cru vintages. 

• Golf – Scotland, Ireland, England and France boast exceptional golf courses such as Royal Dornoch, Golf de Fontainebleu and Galway Bay. Tee times can be arranged for a memorable round of golf, followed by relaxing hours of cruising on your hotel barge. 

• Culinary – Perfect for food enthusiasts, our Culinary Cruises feature cooking demonstrations, visits to local markets for fresh seasonal produce, gourmet meals by top-class chefs, and exclusive experiences like private wine tours, truffle hunting, olive oil cooperative and goat cheese farms. 

• Whisky Trail – Indulge in our Whisky Trail Cruise in Scotland, featuring captivating tours and guided tastings at several Highland distilleries. Treat yourself to a wee dram of the finest single malts! 

• Christmas Markets – Experience the festive spirit on a Christmas Markets Cruise to the enchanting markets of Alsace. Explore mediavel towns adorned with festive decorations, towering Christmas trees, and traditional chalet-style stalls offering hand-blown baubles and seasonal delicacies. 

• Opera – Embark on an operatic adventre aboard the hotel barge La Bella Vita between Venice and Mantua. Enjoy al fresco opera performances at the magnificent Arena di Verona, a visit to the Arena Muse Opera and other Baroque theatres. 

• Additional Themes – Explore other specifically crafted itineraries during our season, including Europe’s finest landscape Garden Cruises, elegant Royal Cruises visiting England’s Royal Residences, and active Walking or Biking Cruises.

No matter the destination, European Waterways promises the same hallmarks: all-inclusive luxury, gourmet dining, hand-picked excursions, and the kind of personal service only possible with a handful of guests aboard. 

Looking for a Holiday for Everyone? Contact Us to learn more.