Set-Jetting on a Hotel Barge Cruise Holiday

For many, holiday destinations are inspired by popular film and TV series. This is affectionately known as ‘Set-Jetting’. Some will seek out the glamour of Paris, the ‘City of Love’, thanks to the popularity of TV shows like Emily in Paris; others are captivated by the sophistication and elegance of the British aristocrats on a visit to the real-life estate of the fictional Crawley family from Downton Abbey; and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry comes to life on a trip to Warner Bros. Studio Tour’s “The Making of Harry Potter”.

Go set-jetting with European Waterways! A number of our luxury hotel barge cruises include excursions to the real-life settings of beloved films and TV series. The Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe are favourites, of course. If you’re an Emily in Paris fan, you can also visit the Jardin du Palais Royal, the Pont Alexandre III bridge and the Café de Flore, among others. – Derek Banks, Managing Director

A Magical Theme on the Thames

Booking a private family charter on 8-passenger hotel barge, Magna Carta, muggles can be witches and wizards for a day on a visit to the “Harry Potter Studio Tour”. Cruising England’s historic River Thames, a Harry Potter-themed charter can include visits to numerous sites associated with the popular film on the vessel’s six-night, all-inclusive journey. A tour of the studio reveals original film sets that include Diagon Alley and The Great Hall. The attraction also includes costumes and props, as well as animatronic creatures and special effects.

In addition to seeing a recreation of the Great Hall during the studio tour, set-jetting to the real-life Great Hall and the iconic 16^th century stone staircase – found at Oxford’s Christ Church College – is experienced later on in the themed charter cruise.

Magna Carta barge also visits Downton Abbey on certain cruise departures – making a tour of the rooms, buildings, and grounds of Highclere Castle. The majestic, 1,000-acre estate in the English countryside is the real-life setting for the fictional Crawley family.

Set-Jet and Take the High(land) Road

The spectacular, sweeping ruggedness of the Scottish Highlands have been the inspiration for many popular films. They were the backdrop for James Bond’s Skyfall, with Bond driving the Glen Etive Road to Loch Etive – a lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The region’s castles have also enjoyed movie ‘stardom’. Eilean Donan, visited while cruising aboard 8-passenger hotel barge Scottish Highlander and 12-passenger Spirit of Scotland, is one of the Highlands’ most beautiful and famous. It makes a cameo in many feature films such as The World is Not Enough and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

The Highlands also offer a treat for Harry Potter fans, who will recognize the real-life route to Hogwarts – the Glenfinnan Viaduct – a railway structure spanning 1,000 feet and towering 100 feet above the ground. European Waterways can help guests arrange a ride on a “Hogwarts Express”-style steam locomotive that runs here from May – October.

From France to Italy

France has a wealth of history and culture, with many of its villages exquisitely preserved and serving as great film locations. You can experience set-jetting in some of the regions’ real-life movie settings on planned excursions, depending on the cruise region. Among the excursions offered by 8-passenger hotel barge Rosa in southwest France is a visit to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val. The town, surrounding a Benedictine monastery built in the 8th century, is the real-life setting for The Hundred-Foot Journey. Chocolat with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp used the real-life village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in Burgundy as the fictional Lansquenet, visited aboard the 12-passenger hotel barge, La Belle Epoque. Barges Rosa and 8-passenger Anjodi, the latter, which cruises the Canal du Midi, are TV stars in themselves, serving as “home” for Rick Stein’s French Odyssey, a highly successful television cooking series.

Venice’s Grand Canal and piazzas are also popular film locations. Among them is James Bond’s From Russia with Love and Casino Royale.  The Grand Canal is also the backdrop for Indiana Jones, the classic Don’t Look Now with Julie Christie, and The Tourist, with actors Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. A cruise itinerary aboard hotel barge 20-passenger La Bella Vita includes the Venetian Lagoon and Canal Bianco.

Inspired?

Love the idea of set-jetting through Europe? It’s always exciting to walk in the footsteps of your favourite characters by visiting the real-life settings of their films. However, even if you just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside, you’re always treated as a ‘star’ as a guest of European Waterways!

For more information on how to set-jet your way through Europe,  order a free copy of our brochure or speak to a member of our team via our handy Contact Form