10 Of The Best French Barge Cruises You Should Know About

Best French Barge Cruises

By Heidi Sarna

I’ve enjoyed small-ship cruises of all kinds all over the world, but I’m particularly partial to barge cruises along the canals of France.

Everything I truly desire when traveling is offered on a barge cruise:

• Delicious healthy local food prepared by a talented chef
• Good regional wines served at lunch and dinner
• Intimate atmosphere with just 6 to 12 passengers
• Lovely open top deck
• Cozy ensuite cabins
• Close-up views of France’s pastoral landscape and canal lock system along the way
• Opportunities to cycle and walk along the canals’ tow path
• Daily excursions to historical French towns and villages
• Wine tasting at French vineyards
• Delicious French cheese served daily
• Great balance between relaxing and active
• Absolutely everything is included (except for crew gratuities at the end)

My first barge cruise was aboard the 12-passenger Luciole with a dozen friends, old and new, to celebrate a 50th birthday.

Two friends and Heidi on deck of Luciole in Auxxere, just after boarding. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

It was a perfect way to celebrate my dear friend’s milestone in an intimate setting where everything was taken care of for us. We were catered to in a casual, low-key way, as if visiting a distant relative’s beautiful rustic country home.

The birthday girl aboard the 12-pax Luciole. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

The vibe was easy-going, yet the standard of service, food and wine was top-of-the-line.

For me, it was the perfect combination.

Dinner on the Luciole. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

My Luciole barge cruise, just like most other barge cruises, was six nights long and one-way, cruising about 60 kilometers (about 35 miles) over the course of the week, including passing through numerous locks. Some canal barge cruises might cruise a bit further in a week, up to about 100 kilometers or 60 miles, it depends on the itinerary.

Thanks to the lovely leisurely pace, you’ll feel as if you’ve traveled much further than you have.

VIDEO: Below is what it’s like to pass through a fascinating 19th-century lock on a French canal cruise.

French barge cruise fares include pick-up from Paris (or another major French hub) to the barge, and at the end of the cruise, return transport as well.

The 12-pax Luciole. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

I love that barge cruises are all-inclusive and everything is covered in the fares. Not having to pay for drinks or choose between excursions or figure out how to get to the point of embarkation makes a barge cruise convenient and wonderfully carefree.

That said, keep in mind, barge cruise fares are pricey.

Expect to pay somewhere between $4,000 and $8,000 per person for a six-night all-inclusive canal barge cruise in France. If you’d like to charter a barge for a private cruise for your friend or family group (which is a great idea by the way!), there is usually some savings off the per-person rate.

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RELATED: Is a barge cruise right for you? You’ll know after reading our Barge Cruise Tips HERE.

Details About 10 Of Our Favorite French Barge Cruises

There are many French barge cruises to choose from; in fact so many, it’s a bit overwhelming to know which one may be right for you.

Well, we’re here to help. The QuirkyCruise team as sampled these 10 French canal barge cruises and we recommend them all. To help you decide if one of them may be in your travel future, we share our reviews with you.

Luciole

• 12 passengers
• Nivernais Canal, Burgundy

I fell in love with the 12-passenger Luciole. On my 6-night barge cruise last summer, I found the service and crew to be fantastic. I loved the old-world look of the Luciole, with wood everywhere for a cozy and welcoming country house feel.

I would definitely count it as one of the best French barge cruises available.

Of its many plusses, another one is that it carries 12 passengers, making it an ideal private charter to celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary, for just for a group of friends or relatives to get together.

Here’s an excerpt from my full review of Luciole:

“With six overnights on board, from Sunday to Friday, that left five full days to enjoy the cruise.

Each day, there was a three- to four-hour tour that our guide Vincent would take us on, either after breakfast or after lunch. The other half of each day was spent relaxing on deck. Two in our group enjoyed painting the passing scenery from a set of mini watercolors they brought along!

We also pursued walking, jogging or cycling (my passion!) along the towpath, hopping off the barge (and then on again) at the various lock points.

On our canal barge cruise, we passed through four to eight locks a day — a total of 32 locks on the 35-mile stretch we covered on our six-night cruise. Locks control the flow of water, creating a series of steps to allow a canal, and the boats on it, to cross land that is not level…”

READ MORE: Here’s Heidi’s full review of her very special week aboard the Luciole on the Nivernais Canal.

The 12-pax Luciole was an ideal way to celebrate a friend’s milestone birthday. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Roi Soleil

• 6 passengers
• Canal du Midi, Southern France

Writer Karl Zimmermann shares his insights and impressions of his week aboard the 6-passenger Roi Soleil.

Karl tells us:

“‘Luxe, calme et volupté’ is the refrain in a work by nineteenth-century French poet Charles Baudelaire titled “L’Invitation aux Voyage.” Into English that translates as “luxury, peace and exquisite pleasure.” This phrase rang a bell for my wife Laurel and me.

We were among six passengers, three cabin’s-worth, a full house, aboard the Roi Soleil barge cruise, the Sun King, for six lovely nights in mid-April on the Canal du Midi in Southern France. The Roi Soleil is a “river barge” — what it’s actually called, though that does seem a misnomer for a vessel so elegant and luxurious — among a large handful that sail for Barge Ladies Cruises, mostly in France with a few itineraries in the U.K. and Ireland and Central Europe.

We dined like queens and kings, courtesy of chef Toby, a Brit now based in the French Alps. “That’s the best food I ever ate,” says Laurel, a dedicated foodie and quite a cook herself. We soaked up local history on daily outings led by our tour guide, the knowledgeable and irrepressible Becky, who was invariably attentive to the wishes and needs of all of us…”

The Best French barge cruises out there include the Roil Soleil. * Photo: Karl Zimmermann

READ THE REVIEW: Enjoy Karl’s full review of the Roi Soleil here. 

Adrienne

• 12 passengers
• Canal du Central, Burgundy

Writer Rick Sylvain shares his insights and impressions of his week aboard the 12-passenger Adrienne.

Rick writes:

“Maps say we are in the heart of France, the confluence where the winding Saone River meets the Canal du Centre. But to passengers aboard the luxury hotel barge Adrienne, we are at the intersection of blissful and soul-stirring.

If you seek an unforgettable week cruising the French countryside, getting immersed in medieval towns, chateaux and estates, wining and dining in ways you never dreamed possible, and tiptoeing through vineyards that produce some of the world’s most prized wines, your barge has come in.

Sailing between Chatillon-sur-Loire and Nemours in the Upper Loire, Adrienne offers France as it was meant to be seen: slow-going and intimate, not the lightning round of the tour buses…”

READ THE REVIEW: Here’s Rick’s review of his lovely week on the Adrienne. 

Aboard the lovely 12-pax Adrienne. * Photo: Rick Sylvain

Grand Victoria

• 6 passengers
• Canal du Central, Burgundy

Writer Christina Colon and her husband Peter have traveled extensively all over the world, including quite a bit in France. Both are fluent French, and greatly appreciate the food, wine and culture.

So when they had the opportunity to cruise aboard the elegant 6-passenger Grand Victoria, they took it. The stylish boutique hotel barge was just their speed.

Owner-operators Edward Anderson and Cindy Unvericht and their crew offer a beautiful experience.

Christina describes her first impressions:

“The Grand Victoria feels more like a river yacht than a barge, though it has the typical dimensions and interior of other 5-star canal barges. Built in the 1980s, to the specifications of the heiress to the DeKuyper liquor fortune, it was designed for her private travel around Europe. The current owners redecorated after a gut renovation in 2015.

With amenities in abundance, it boasts a well-stocked bar, deck furniture, chic lounge, and elegant dining area. The eight original staterooms situated near the front of the vessel down a short but narrow half staircase were reduced in number to three. All of them were enhanced in size, allowing for a king-size bed (or two XL twins), double sinks, a full shower and ample storage room. Voila! Three couples can definitely travel in style.

As our cruise began, we settled in and  lapped up our posh surroundings, reclining on the plush outdoor furniture while owner-operator Edward stood at the helm in the wheelhouse…”

READ THE REVIEW: Here’s Christina’s full review of the Grand Victoria.

Christina & Peter aboard the 6-pax Grand Victoria enjoying the view. * Photo: Christina Colon

Savannah Barge

• 6 passengers
• Canal du Midi, Southern France

Cynthia Heininger and Jim Feeney write about the 6-passenger Savannah Barge, a luxurious hotel barge built in 1936 as a cargo barge specifically for the Canal du Midi to transport liquids (fuel, alcohol and wines, at different stages of its career).

They write:

“In the 1990s, the owner of L’Occitane en Provence renovated the vessel as a showroom for the company’s famed cosmetic line. It was converted to a hotel barge in the early 2000s.

The boat was in poor condition when today’s owner-captain, Adrien Bramoullé, purchased it, but he refurbished it completely in 2014, transforming it into a sophisticated floating hotel with a maximum capacity of seven passengers in three double cabins and one single.

Savannah normally cruises the Canal du Midi between Bram and La Redorte, or the reverse, on a six-night itinerary. We joined old friends, forming a roster of three couples.

On the first day of our Canal du Midi cruise, in June 2022, Captain Adrien picked us up at our hotel in Narbonne in a comfortable Mercedes SUV…”

READ THE REVIEW: Read all about Cynthia and Jim’s week aboard the elegant Savannah. 

The 6-pax Savannah Barge. * Photo: Cynthia Heininger

Anjodi

• 8 passengers
• Canal du Midi, Southern France

Judi Cohen’s first European canal barge cruise won’t be her last. She and her husband spent a week aboard the Anjodi, a canal barge in the European Waterways fleet.

She tell us in her review:

“Considered an off-the-beaten-path destination in the Languedoc region of southern France, the 240km-Canal du Midi was built in the 17th century to connect Toulouse with Sete on the Mediterranean Sea.

Although my husband and I have travelled on small ships around the world, we had never been to this region of France nor on any barges.

Nervous about sharing an 8-passenger barge with other guests we didn’t know (there were seven passengers in total on our cruise), plus a crew of four, we took a deep breath, packed our small suitcases, and set off to France.

This was our first international trip since the start of the pandemic, so it was a relief to find virtually all our travel stress evaporated throughout this slow and intimate 6-night small-ship barge journey.

It was exactly what we needed. We felt comfortable whether we were on the top deck of Anjodi gracefully moving along the Canal du Midi or on shore exploring the surrounding towns and villages.

Slow travel on a quirky barge is the perfect way to experience the lesser-travelled regions of France, far away from the crowds…”

READ MORE: Enjoy Judi’s full review of her Anjodi barge cruise here.

Judi aboard the lovely Anjodi. * Photo: Lawrence Cohen

Johanna

• 6 passengers
• Canal du Midi, Southern France

Johanna was writer and world traveler Ben Lyons’ first barge cruise. He sampled the slow and easy 6-night holiday with his mother Jane, and they both enjoyed it. Johanna is run by the husband-wife team of Kris and Patsie and crew.

Ben writes:

“Casting off from the quaint French town of Chateau Thierry, it was immediately apparent our barge trip 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…”

READ THE REVIEW: Here’s Ben’s full Johanna review.

READ THIS REVIEW TOO: Enjoy Ben’s mother Jane’s review here.

Ben & Jane aboard barge Johanna. * Photo: Ben Lyons

Esperance

• 6 passengers
• Canal du Midi, Southern France

Elysa and her college-age daughter Sam had a fabulous time on Esperance. Their first canal barge cruise suited them perfectly, and they especially appreciated the excellent cuisine, as Elysa’s daughter studied at the Culinary Institute of America and knows food.

Further, they just loved the landscape of southern France, the perfect setting for their foodie and wine barge cruise.

Elysa tell us :

“The Canal du Midi is set in the lovely region of Languedoc in southern France. It’s a step back in time to motor through this idyllic pastoral countryside. You quickly realize why artists are drawn to this area after seeing firsthand the inspiration surrounding you.

From small quaint villages with stone churches and narrow cobblestone streets to vineyards and small farms, this cruise was all about the journey. A slow-moving barge is a perfect vessel — and speed — to make sure you don’t miss a thing…”

READ THE REVIEW: Enjoy Elysa’s full review of her six days aboard Esperance.

Elysa and her daughter on Esperance. * Photo: Elysa Leonard

L’Impressionniste

• 12 passengers
• Burgundy Canal

Scotland-based writer Robin McKelvie spent six nights aboard the barge L’Impressionniste.

Robin describes his canal cruise for us, explaining:

“The lock eases open and we glide through the morning mists under an embrace of giant oak trees. A heron startles off ahead; above a red kite scans for prey. As the emerald forests and hills rise, we retreat inside to a breakfast of freshly baked croissants the cruise manager has just cycled off to a boulangerie for.

And proper coffee. It’s not wine time yet, of course, but that’s a delight to come.

Welcome to the 12-passenger L’Impressionniste, not just the finest way to discover the joyous Burgundy Canal, but a real alternative to cruising the more famous Canal du Midi.

The Burgundy Canal sweeps for 150 miles, connecting the River Yonne at Migennes with the River Saone at St-Jean-de-Losne, through a system of 189 locks.

Taxes to build it were first raised as far back as 1607, but construction didn’t begin until over a century later…”

READ THE REVIEW: Robin tells us all about L’Impressionniste.

Robin and his wife aboard the 12-pax L’Impressionniste. * Photo: Robin McKelvie

RELATED: Read more about the history and geography of the Burgundy Canal, in this overview from European Waterways.

Athos

• 10 passengers
• Canal du Midi, southern France

Writer, photographer and video-creator Peter Knego shares his review of another one of the best French barge cruises out there, the 10-pax Athos.

Here’s an excerpt.

“To many, the idea of transport on a barge might seem appropriate for iron ore, grain or some other form of cargo, and of course, that is most often the case.

That noted, savvy QuirkyCruisers also know that some barges have been modified to carry a human contingent on deluxe cruises through scenic and intimate settings.

One of these rarified entities is European Waterways hotel barge Athos, which operates on six-night transits of the eastern part of the Canal du Midi in the South of France.

The privately owned Athos was converted to carry ten guests in 1982 and is operated by European Waterways. * Photo: Peter Knego

Measuring 98.3 by 16.6 feet, the maximum dimensions to transit the locks of the 150-mile engineering marvel, Athos has five staterooms to accommodate ten guests who are tended to by a crew of five.

She was built in 1964 to transport sand, grain and wine but was transformed into her current configuration in 1982, although she still does convey a good selection of wine for the sole purpose of sating her guests.

Athos is actually owned by a private entity and chartered to European Waterways, who operate a fleet of passenger barges on various canals and waterways of Europe…”

READ THE REVIEW: Enjoy Peter’s entire review of his week aboard the Athos. 

Barge Meanderer — 3/26/24 UPDATE: Barge Meanderer tells me they’re operating in 2024, though the owners have also told me the barge is up for sale and they’re close to closing a deal. We’ll update further when we learn more details.

• 6 passengers
• Upper Loire Valley, Burgundy

For writer Dana Freeman’s second barge cruise (the first took her through Southern Burgundy on the Prosperite), she choose to cruise aboard Barge Meanderer in April, early in the season, which means fewer crowds than the summer months, plus cool pleasant weather and the awakening of spring flora.

Dana’s review for us begins:

“Owned by Susan and George Kovalik, the Barge Meanderer was built in 1948 as a commercial barge and later converted to a luxury hotel barge in 1992.

At 117 feet long and 17 feet wide, she is currently one of the larger vessels cruising on the French canals.

The Meanderer has room for just six guests. So, unless you charter the boat (which is a great idea for friend and family groups), you should be comfortable spending the weeklong voyage in the close company of a small group of strangers.

We quickly got to know our traveling companions — a group of four women friends in their early to mid-70s from Florida. For them, this barge cruise was part of a girls’ trip that included a few days in Paris.

One of the women was a repeat guest. She had sailed on the Meanderer previously with her husband several years ago…”

READ THE REVIEW: Here’s Dana’s entire review of her week aboard Barge Meanderer. 

Hope you enjoyed our round-up of 10 of the best French barge cruises out there!

Drop me a line if you have any questions — Heidi@QuirkyCruise.com.

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