Once we know your requirements, we’re expertly placed to secure the right barge for you. Does anyone have any suggestions of rental companies, picturesque regions etc. This collection of week-long barge cruises in France combine the charm of leisurely day cruising along the sleepy French waterways, with a relaxing stay in a carefully-selected hotel. France is the world’s most beloved home of fine wine, exceptional cuisine and perfect locally grown ingredients. Based on our extensive experience and inside knowledge, we select only the best and we will help you find the one that’s a perfect match, for singles, couples, families and friendship groups. That’s what holidays are for! Burgundy, immersed in history and culture, is considered to be the wine and gastronomy centre of France. France canal holidays are the perfect way to discover the hidden treasures of the waterways. Combine the exclusive comforts of a boutique hotel with a tranquil inland cruise past lush vineyards and historic towns and villages and you’ll have one of the world’s most privileged and memorable pleasures – a luxury barge vacation in France. Boats in this category tend to be less-recent models, offering a good standard of interior décor and equipment but without the bells and whistles of newer models. Tailor-make your own cheap holidays to Barge for 2021/2022 with Travel Republic. Most include at least one excursion per stop with optional experiences and gourmet tours or tastings available at an additional charge. The famous Canal du Midi winds past Carcassonne’s ancient citadel on its historic journey to the Mediterranean. 4 Star ‘Excellence’ barges are a very high standard. 1 luxury Le Boat houseboat. It is not connected with VNF Voies Navigables de France, the national waterways management authority. The slow pace means that strolling or cycling alongside, on the canal tow-path, is a popular, gentle activity. This places the country third in Europe behind France (8500km) and Germany (7300km), however when you compare the sizes of the three countries Holland’s network is huge in proportion and explains why it’s nickname is ‘the country of canals’! Personal interests like wine appreciation or WW2 history can be incorporated into bespoke itineraries. Pour une présentation en francais, cliquez ici. Checking our deals and last-minute discounts on our narrowboat holidays is easy via our website holiday search option. Premier and Smart class hotel barges offer excellent levels of service and comfort, the difference with their more expensive counterparts usually being cabin size and the number of cabins and passengers. The 8-guests Savoir Vivre (above) uniquely offers luxury cruising along the pretty Ouche Valley in Burgundy, with delicious off-board local restaurant dining every evening. On board you’ll find smart and comfortable interior decoration, including lounge and bar seating areas, with an integral or separate dining room. (PS: you may unsubscribe at any time), To discover hidden France, take a look at our comprehensive ‘, Discover more about our inspiring hotel barge options, Discover your perfect barge from our portfolio of wonderful cruise options, Just call us to make your dream cruise come true. Our 15+ years of knowledge of barging and the waterways of France is unrivalled and widely recognised. Embark one of our 6 luxury barges for a cruise on France’s Canals in 2021. This being France, your dining experience on board will be one of the highlights of your trip. welcome aboard. All budget river cruises offer all-inclusive meals and for many it is the star of the show. The barges are elegant and supremely comfortable, large and stable so you’ll experience the smoothest of relaxing week-long vacations in high style. 27 hours of cruising. 1 week: Loosdrecht - Amsterdam - Uithoorn - Woerden - Gouda - Oudewater - UItrecht - Loosdrecht. Up to 20% discounts for private charter or book by cabin luxury cruises, Save 5% to 50% per week on boats and destinations throughout France, Up to 20% off high-quality fleet cruises on the major rivers of France. Barge holidays, France La Belle Époque, a state of the art luxury hotel barge, has accommodation for 12 passengers and cruises the idyllic waterways of the Burgundy Canal View Accommodation. There are opportunities for more active pursuits – kayaking, climbing or horse-riding for example. Canal cruising in France a division of france at your fingertips - paris provence Terms, Conditions, ©Copyrightand Privacy Statement, Contact Address french-waterways.com •  2 Michaels Court, Hanney Road, Southmoor, OX13 5HR, UK •  Port Lalande, 47260 Castelmoron-sur-Lot, France. The highly trained on board chefs create a delicious array of French regional and international dishes, made with superb local ingredients, from freshly baked bread and pastries for breakfast to multi-course lunches and dinners. Some are individually owned, some are part of a small fleet. France is also drenched in fascinating history, architectural heritage and civilisation. These are all regions and waterways that the French Waterways team know intimately, from first-hand experience. Canal Barge Cruises in France and on European waterways Listed by Price Per Person For Individual Cabin Bookings. More active pursuits, like horse-riding, kayaking and golfing are also possible on some cruises – contact us for details. At 4 miles per hour a canal narrow boat holiday is often described as 'the fastest way to slow down'. Lowest Prices Guarantee. On board you’ll find all the basics to ensure a great holiday, including a saloon with sofa (often making up a further bed) and dining area with panoramic views through large windows, as well as a galley equipped with a hob, oven and fridge. Some barges offer cruising during the day with a stay in a 3 star hotel for the night, rather than on board, which makes the cruise more economical. The 12-guests Luciole (above) offers superb, sociable cruising on the picturesque Nivernais canal and was the original barge in France to be converted into a luxury hotel barge. As you might expect, a luxury barge cruise is simply not the kind of vacation that is chosen just on price nor booked with a mouse-click. Each afternoon you’ll be escorted to local points of interest, such as private vineyard visits and wine tastings. We know every part of France, almost every river and canal, because we cruise them ourselves on our own boat. Essential navigation guides, maps and books from publishers Breil, Fluviacarte and Imray. Discover more about our inspiring hotel barge options What is it that brings you pleasure? 80+ waterways – Key facts, km by km details, maps, navigation guides and PDF downloads. You will also enjoy fabulous gourmet cuisine accompanied by grand cru wines. It’s an exclusive top-quality experience and many barges are booked months or years in advance. We negotiate rates up to … A canal holiday lets you experience the locks to go up or down hill and travel through exciting tunnels. To discover hidden France, take a look at our comprehensive ‘Where To‘ guide for inspiration, Your on board chef will use fresh, local ingredients to create delicious multi-course dinners and lunches, accompanied by selected wines. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Simply relax in total comfort on deck, in the sunshine, looked after by the hostess, as the French countryside glides quietly by, passing pretty villages and historic towns. Independent, impartial and enthusiastic, we have personally visited and know every hotel barge, every owner-operator and fleet, published here. Budget self-drive boats provide all the basics and you can have a highly enjoyable river cruise holiday in France, at rates that offer great value for money. 168 km, 14 locks, 48 Lifting Bridges, 5 h 30 / day. select a barge on board randle. A few barges can be booked by cabin, like a hotel, but all are available as a whole-boat private charter. For canal narrowboat barge holidays in the UK go to our Canal Holidays website. Many of the larger barges operating on a per cabin or charter basis enjoy economies of scale that are passed on to the customer. Although the more moderately priced ships focus on providing great value for money, their cruises do still offer great levels of comfort and service. Most especially, they are found in the famous wine regions of Burgundy, Loire, Alsace, Bordeaux - and Languedoc, where they cruise along the historic Canal du Midi. where to cruise Mirage on canal du midi. Comprehensive detailed navigational information, km by km, Sete west to Toulouse. perfect barge cruise. We have explored the rivers and canals of France on our own boat since 2003, logging up over 10,000km along most waterways, in most regions, at all times of year. And here’s why.... Cheap Canal Boat Hire are able to offer substantially better deals than you will be able to obtain direct from a narrowboat hire operator due to our high booking volumes. Hotel barging in France is a very special travel experience. The barges are elegant and supremely comfortable, large and stable so you’ll experience the smoothest of relaxing week-long vacations in high style. Old friends enjoying life together, wine-lovers, golfers, artists and girl-friends needing serious pampering! We’re English but since 2003 have spent most of our time living in France, returning to Oxford for the winter months. Cruise Rates - 2021. French Barge Cruises in France aboard the stunningly informal Hotel Barge Nilaya. Hotel barges vary uniquely in their style and character, each having their own personality. My Guide to A Self-Driving Barging Holiday in France on November 9, 2017 March 20, 2020 France 4 women. in-depth experience Hotel Barge Information hereis outline guidance only, based on details that hotel barges provide. And with a crew to passenger ratio of one to three or four, you’re sure to receive attentive service. For crewed luxury hotel barges in France, England, Ireland and Holland go to our Hotel Barges website . With only 6 to 12 passengers, the hotel barges offer full service and gourmet catering on a choice of cruises including Burgundy wine routes and the Midi. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What can I do on a hotel barge cruise? A luxury barge cruise is simply not the kind of vacation that is chosen just on price nor booked with a mouse-click. It’s exclusive and exceptional – and many elite barges are booked months or even years in advance. book a cabin or charter a boat. I, my wife and two friends enjoyed a wonderful weeks cruising aboard a barge called Nilaya this summer ( www.bargenilaya.com) We found it an enjoyable and inexpensive way to hit the canals of France, without having to actually rent and pilot our own hire boat. Up on deck, there’ll be room to relax and sunbathe while watching the world go by, plus a table and seating so you can enjoy leisurely lunches and dinners al fresco. Barge Cruises By Price USD$3,500 - $4,500 USD$4,500 - $6,000 USD$6,000 and Above. Watch it live! Penichette Barge Holiday Cruising Routes in Holland. The slow pace means that strolling or cycling alongside, on the canal tow-path, is a popular, gentle activity. Barge Holidays France France is a destination we have specialised in since 1974 and our luxury holidays visit some of the country’s most beautiful waterways. The Canal du Midi offers a wonderful journey through the sun-drenched vineyards and pretty villages of the Languedoc – France’s most prolific wine producing region. We will use our unique These canal cruisers are the most modern in Europe, and designed for intimate, relaxing cruising. Find your ideal Canal, Norfolk Broads or River Thames boating holiday from our boat availability search of over 1,800 narrowboats, cruisers & sailing yachts from 60 leading boat hire operators across the UK and a choice of over 80 boat hire start locations throughout the waterways of England, Scotland and Wales. Up to 20% discounts for private charter or book by cabin luxury cruises, Save 5% to 50% per week on boats and destinations throughout France, Up to 20% off high-quality fleet cruises on the major rivers of France. Before my family and I booked our barge adventure in France last summer, I had only heard about one kind of barge trip--expensive, luxurious, and not for kids. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where in France can I cruise on a hotel barge? hotel barge holidays in france. CIRCULAR. Hotel Barge Holidays We offer luxury 6-12 berth crewed hotel barges in the most scenic areas of France, England, Scotland and Ireland, plus narrowboat hotel cruises on the canals of England and Wales. Also included is a programme of excursions to keep you occupied, should you wish to be, and the use of bicycles to explore your surroundings. What is it that excites and satisfies? Discover your perfect barge from our portfolio of wonderful cruise options We talk to clients throughout the world daily, especially in America and Australia. Canal boats and barges for hire without a licence for crews between 2 and 12 people ️ Canal boat hire for river cruises in Europe : France, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Italy {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is luxury hotel barging? Barge cruising along the canals is quiet, slow and peaceful. Based on over fifteen years of unique experience, insider knowledge and acute sensitivity, we select only the best and we’ll help you find the one that’s just right for you – at no extra cost. See also: How to Pack for Boating Holidays and your Holiday Reading List. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need an expert advisor? With two barge cruises in France under our belt, we were keen to head a little further afield this time. Whatever that might be, France has it in abundance and hotel barge cruising provides privileged, private experiences and excursions to savour and appreciate. Great deals on canal boat holidays. There are river cruises to suit all budgets and, with a large choice of ships and routes, that is especially true of river cruises in France. We know how to help you realise your dreams and we also know to match the perfect barge, the perfect cruise, to your particular situation. french-waterways.com is the most comprehensive and authoritative online source of inspiration and information about enjoying the rivers and canals of France – on the water or by the water. Amongst the fifty hotel barges that we are proud to represent there is a rich variety of size, style, comfort and price point. If there is no bar of expense then you can book a luxury France river cruise for barge vacation in France. You will also enjoy fabulous gourmet cuisine accompanied by grand cru wines. hotel barge holidays in france. 6 Star ‘Supreme’ and 5 Star ‘Grande Luxe’ barges are the most prestigious with the highest luxury quality. "}}]}. Whether you’re a first-timer or a frequent visitor to France, our carefully curated selection of fifty barges covers the length and breadth of France. Discover the waterways, canals and rivers of rural France in style on board a luxury barge. The 8-guests Grand Cru (above) features the ‘best of Burgundy’s best’, with fine wines, gourmet cuisine and private châteaux visits. Please note that the canal from Gouda to Utrecht is open between 16 April and 15 October. Explore by boat, barge or ship – what are the differences? MENU. Canal Cruising in France offers you two options: Great value and fun cruise aboard your own self-drive canal boats or a selection of luxury crewed hotel barges. Between them they can take you to those most beautiful places not easily reached by other means – the hidden France. Up on deck you’ll find a sun deck and loungers for watching the picturesque French scenery sail by. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Hotel barging in France is a very special travel experience. Bicycle Tours 133km. 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