Hotel Barge Cruises in Europe

ABOVE: Go Barging's La Dolce Vita in Venice, Italy.

Barge Cruising Companies

European Waterways Ltd. (Go Barging)
This British company has eight- and twelve-passenger barges that cruise in England, France, Holland, Ireland, and Scotland. (We'll be reviewing a cruise aboard the line's new flagship, Renaissance, in late spring of 2008.)

Actief
Rachel Cockell and Joe Odgers own the Actief, a Dutch Klipper that was built in 1907, transformed into an English luxury barge 1976, and upgraded with new decor and equipment in the last several years. The vessel accommodates 11 guests in five cabins, is furnished in country-house style, and cruises the Thames from April to October.

Broedertrouw
The Broedertrouw has offered cruises in the Netherlands and Belgium since being converted into a hotel barge in early 2002. (The barge, built to haul military supplies across the English Channel in World War I, unloaded its final cargo on March 8, 2001.)

Afloat in France
This luxury barge-cruising company, which dates back to 1958, is now part of the Orient-Express Collection. It has five hotel barges in France, plus offices in the U.S., England, and Germany.

The Barge Connection
Choose from deluxe and first-class cruises in France, Holland, England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Berendina
Katherine Bartley and Neil Lewis have converted the 75-foot canal barge Berendina into a floating "country inn" that offers 7-day cruises of the Canal du Midi between the Rhône Valley and Bordeaux in southern France.

Europeanbarging.com
Choose from barge cruises in France, England, Scotland, and Ireland or river cruises in Western and Eastern Europe. The company also packages cruises for groups and business meetings.

French Country Waterways
Five luxury barges with English-speaking crews tour seven routes in France and the Moselle Valley of Germany. A hot-air balloon ride is optional.

HB Cruises of France
The Etoile "family barge" and the luxurious Etoile II offer cruises in three regions of France. This line lets you choose between half- or full board, which is handy if you'd like to sample local restaurants along the route.

Hotel Narrowboat Leonora
Roar down England's canals at 3 mph on a traditional steel-hulled narrowboat with spacious accommodations for two. The cruising schedule is from April through October.

Latelink Boating Holidays
This UK firm offers last-minute deals on English barge cruises and on self-drive boat rentals in Britain, Ireland, and France.

Le Boat  
Choose from nearly three dozen luxury barges that cruise in France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Copyright © 1996-2008 Durant and Cheryl Imboden and their licensors.
All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy