Barge Cruise Tips

Barge cruises are often not well understood. Don’t barges carry cargo?

Well, originally the flat-bottomed boats were used for carrying freight, typically on canals and rivers, either under their own power or towed by another.

Then back in the 1960s, when the need for commercial freight-carrying barges on the canals of Europe declined, many of the barges were converted into “hotel barges” for luxury passenger cruising — some posher than others. The Rest is History.

Today, a network of hotel barges operate on the canals and rivers of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK, with the majority on French waterways.

VIDEO: Here’s Barge Luciole slowly meandering down France’s Nivernais Canal.

https://youtube.com/shorts/tE-pelx7-pA?feature=share

The re-purposed barges focus on high-end food and wine, and leisurely visits to ports along the way, passing by pastoral and rustic countryside, with occasional industrial areas part of the mix.

Barge cruises are an intimate and pampered holiday — promising the ultimate in slow travel.

Barge cruises are leisurely and convenient ways to travel. * Photo: Belmond

How to Book a Barge Cruise

Some barge owners sell direct from their own websites and sales channels, such as the 6-passenger Grand Victoria that travels the canals and waterways of Burgundy, France.

The luxury 6-pax Grand Victoria against a stunning sunset. * Photo: Edward Anderson

There are also barge cruise brokers who are experts and act as the middle man/woman between barge owners and you.

The main players are:

Barge Lady Cruises has been curating barge cruises since 1985 from a pool of about 50 luxury barges they represent (about half are individually-owned) that traverse 30 waterways across eight European countries.

European Waterways, a company in business since 1974, offers a fleet of 17 barges carrying from 6 to 20 passengers on canals and rivers in nine European countries.

Abercrombie & Kent was founded in 1962 as a safari tour operator in East Africa, and over the years expanded its scope greatly, including offering cruises on 25 canal barges in Europe, carrying from 4 to 20 passengers.

Belmond, a luxury travel brand in business for more than 40 years, owns 6 luxury canal barges based in France, carrying 4 to 12 passengers.

Barge Cruise Tips & Basics

How passengers do they carry?

➢Barges carry between 2 and 22 passengers, with the vast majority in the 6- to 12-passenger range.

➢The smallest carry 2 to 6 passengers and are often in the Canal du Midi; one of the oldest and smallest of the canal systems, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

➢Go with a small 4- or 6-passenger barge only if you’re traveling with friends or family, then the intimacy is ideal. (If you don’t know the other couples, the risk of friction with one possibly incompatible couple is real.)

➢If traveling as a couple only, it’s best to book a barge that carries at least 8-12 other passengers.

How long are barge cruises & when are they offered?

➢The vast majority of barge cruises are 6 nights long.

➢The barging season in Europe is April through October.

What are the amenities like?

➢Larger barges may have perks like hot tubs and small pools.

➢Barges have open top decks with seating to enjoy the scenery along the way.

Some barges have small pools. * Photo: Belmond

➢Barge cabins are cozy, compact and charming with en-suite bathrooms, plus toiletries, hair dryers and daily maid service.

➢Higher priced luxury barges will have larger, posher cabins than the more moderately-priced barges; though keep in mind, you’ll only be in your cabin to sleep, the point is to be up on deck watching the lovely scenery float by.

One of three lovely cabins on the 6-pax Grand Victoria. * Photo: Grand Victoria Cruises

A cabin on a Belmond canal barge in France. * Photo: Belmond

A cabin on the 3-star Anjodi. * Photo: Judi Cohen

A cabin on the 4-star Esperance. * Photo: Barge Lady Cruises

How many crew are there on a barge cruise?

➢An English-speaking crew includes a chef, hostess/host (manager), captain and tour guide.

➢On smaller boats, two crew will wear several hats and handle everything, with a guide meeting passengers each day for the excursions; on larger boats there may be four to six crew.

What is dining & wining like on a barge cruise?

➢Excellent food and wine — and presentation — at breakfast, lunch and dinner is a main focus on a barge cruise. The more crew members onboard, the more you can expect in terms of quality and variety.

➢A dinner or two in a restaurant on shore is often part of the itinerary (and included in the fare) affording passengers some local flavors.

➢Because barge cruises are small and intimate, individual dining preferences can be easily accommodated.

Wining and dining are main focus of barge cruises. * Photo: Barge Lady Cruises

What’s included in a Barge Cruise?

➢On barges, everything is included, from meals and wine to shore excursions — except for the substantial crew tip. Most barges recommend a tip of 5-10% of the cruise price per person.

What do you do in port on a barge cruise?

➢Barges cover about 50 miles over the course of a week at the canal speed limit of 4 miles per hour, tying up in port at least once a day for excursions.

➢Most barges carry bicycles on board for use in port; you can pedal along the tow path or further afield, it’s up to you.

Cycling along canal tow paths is a joyful way to explore. * Photo: European Waterways

➢The barge will always tie up for the night.

➢Barges never sail during the evening hours.

➢Often, you will tie up in the center of a town and be able to walk directly into the town square. However, this isn’t always the case; due to logistics, sometimes barges tie up in industrial docks outside of town. This is a good question to ask before you settle on an itinerary.

➢Guided walks and tours to vineyards and historic sites are the typical excursions offered on barge canal cruises in Europe.

classic vineyard tour in Burgundy on a canal barge

A classic vineyard tour in Burgundy. * Photo: Grand Victoria Cruises

What are other benefits of a barge cruise?

➢The rivers and canals are smooth as mirrors.

➢Seasickness is simply not a concern on a barge.

How do you know which barge is best for you?

➢To help you decide which barge is best for you, European Waterways categories their barge cruises into three buckets — the top of the line is Ultra Deluxe, with the most spacious cabins; then Deluxe is in the middle; and First Class has the smallest cabins.

➢Barge Lady Cruises categorizes their offerings into four groupings based on level of luxury and price — from 3 Stars, starting at $4,000 per person to 6 Stars, starting at $7,500 per person.

➢All of Belmond’s and A&K’s barge cruises are considered fairly high-end.

Get a better feel for canal cruising in these Barge Cruise Reviews

REVIEW: A review of the 8-passenger Anjodi hotel barge by Judi Cohen.

“Slow travel on a quirky barge like Anjodi is the perfect way to experience the lesser-travelled regions of France, far away from the crowds. And if you can plan to travel like we did in October, considered the low season, you will find off-season travel has many advantages — lower rates, possibly fewer passengers and fewer tourists in the towns visited…”

REVIEW: Chrissy & Peter spend a week on the luxurious 6-passenger Grand Victoria.

“Once across the miniature gang plank of the Grand Victoria, we were introduced to the rest of the crew. Leticia, the French-speaking hostess who speaks impeccable English, greeted us with her signature broad smile, warm demeanor and glass of Moët & Chandon…”

REVIEW: QuirkyCruise Contributor Ben Lyons’ mother Jane reviews the 6-pax canal barge Johanna.

“As the doughty, trim little barge Johanna sauntered down the Marne River, I sat under its top deck awning and contemplated the gorgeous Champagne landscape surrounding us on both sides. Apart from the occasional sibilant swish of water against the hull, the lazy surfacing of a fish, or the singing of birds, peace and quiet reigned…”

REVIEW: Here’s Ben Lyons’ review of the canal barge Johanna.

“Casting off from the quaint French town of Chateau Thierry, it was immediately apparent our barge trip aboard Johanna would be at a different pace — literally and figuratively — from other cruises. Once up to ‘full speed,’ I scanned the shore to gauge our progress; we were matching the pace of brisk walkers. Onboard with me was only my mother, one other couple, and the Captain and chef. The hustle of New York City, where I live, had rarely seemed so far away…”

REVIEW: The 6-pax French canal barge Esperance is reviewed by first-timer Elysa Leonard in her story “My French Love Affair.”

“The kitchen was tiny and we were amazed by the dishes that Chef, Jean-Luc, prepared from such a small space. There was a lot to love about the Esperance. The rooms were big and it felt like a moving luxury hotel; we never felt cramped…”