Barge Cruises
on the Venetian Lagoon and Brenta Canal

ABOVE: Go Barging's La Dolce Vita cruises past St. Mark's Square.

Hotel barges are a popular way for upscale travelers to explore France, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe that have extensive canal networks. Thanks to Go Barging (more formally known as European Waterways Ltd.), it's now possible to explore the Venetian Lagoon, the Brenta Canal, and adjacent waters by luxury hotel barge.

Go Barging's La Dolce Vita began life as a Dutch commercial barge; it was later converted into a cruise vessel that accommodates six passengers in three cabins. Each stateroom has a private bathroom, with passengers sharing a lounge and a sundeck that can be used for outdoor dining in nice weather. The six passengers are served by a captain, a chef, and a housekeeper, along with local guides for shore excursions.

La Dolce Vita's 7-day, 6-night cruises depart from the Best Western Hotel Villa Mabapa on the Lido, which is easy to reach by vaporetto from Venice or on the Alilaguna airport boat from Venice's Marco Polo Airport. The "Standard" cruise includes visits to Burano, Torcello, Murano, Venice's historic center, and the Brenta Canal. (See my Venice Islands Tour and Murano, the Glass Island articles to get an idea of what you'll see.)

If you'd like something different, you can book one of the special itineraries, such as the "Vogolonga" cruise (with views of a fall rowing race) and the "Opera" cruise (which includes a tour and an evening performance at the Gran Teatro La Fenice, Venice's historic opera house).

La Dolce Vita is also available for charters--including "honeymoon charters," which may be of interest if you're planning a Venice Wedding and have plenty of money set aside for your wedding trip.

Cruise rates vary by season; in 2007, when this article was written, minimum rates ranged from US $2,550 or £1,400 per person in low season to US $3,100 or £1,700 in high season, with special rates for charters.

For more information, see the La Dolce Vita pages at GoBarging.com.

Note: I haven't cruised on La Dolce Vita, so I'd be interested in hearing from readers who have done so. Please send your comments via the link on our e-mail page.

Photos © European Waterways Ltd. Used by permission.

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