It’s all about the journey with European Waterways
For passengers on board European Waterways’ many luxury hotel barges, life is truly about the journey, not the destination.
They drift leisurely through some of Europe’s most picturesque countryside at a pace that is usually no faster than a brisk walk – and sometimes slower! They watch the landscape unfold before them – rolling hills covered by miles and miles of lush green vineyards, quaint villages full of history and culture – all while sipping fine wine and enjoying gourmet meals prepared by a master chef onboard their luxury “floating hotel.” They tour historic castles and architecture, visit food markets to pick up fresh ingredients for their meals, and stop in at a local vineyard to taste the vintage wines. With so much to see and do every day of the journey, the only time passengers feel disappointed is at the end of their vacation, when they arrive at their final destination!
Among the many unique European Waterways cruise experiences are views of the wild horses and pink flamingoes in the reed-covered marshes of the Camargue, in the South of France. The Camargue breed of horses is the traditional mount of the gardians – cowboys who herd the black Camargue bulls, also found in the marshes. It's just one of the many exciting things to see from the deck of European Waterways’ Enchanté.
Ireland's Shannon Princess II offers the unique “musical stylings” of its eccentric tour guide, who is known to break out with a few ditties as he leads passengers on a tour of the haunted Leap Castle, a building whose bloody history includes an infamous murder and torture. Passengers on the 12-passenger Napoleon, on its Classic Provence cruise, visit a truffle farm to taste the expensive and unusual “Black Diamond” mushroom.
As “Reel” as it Gets
For the movie buffs, a visit to Dorney Court in the U.K. is just the ticket. Part of the Magna Carta’s itinerary, this Tudor manor house, dating back to the 1440’s, is a perennial favorite of filmmakers. Popular “costume dramas” such as “Emma” and “The Other Boleyn Girl” are among the recent period pieces shot at this location. Meanwhile, excursions on La Belle Époque include a visit to the village of Flavigny sur Ozerain in Burgundy, the location for the widely acclaimed film “Chocolat,” which won five Academy Award nominations in 2000.
Monsters, Bridges and Chateaux
On the 8-passenger Scottish Highlander, guests have to look no further for entertainment than barge Captain Dan himself, who will break out his accordion at any given moment, while a story-teller also comes onboard to regale them with tales of yore. A search for Nessie, the famous “Loch Ness Monster,” is also on the agenda, using the barge’s sonic fish finder. Other activities include a visit to Cawdor Castle, immortalized in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Passengers may even enjoy a sheepdog trial demonstration as part of the cruise experience.
Everyone has ridden a boat under a bridge, but European Waterways’ passengers ride a boat on a bridge. The 8-passenger Renaissance crosses Gustav Eiffel’s’ amazing, 2,171-foot long Pont Canal de Briare, an elevated canal that spans the River Loire. It is one of the unique cruise experiences that includes a visit to the famous “staircase” of seven locks at Rogny Les Sept Ecluses. Classified as a French national monument, it was built at the order of Henry IV in 1597, who wanted to link the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel.
The 6-passengers Nymphea, a hotel barge of Dutch design with varnished hardwoods and stained glass, navigates the world famous Loire valley in France. It treats passengers to the unique experience of cruising under a real chateau, the historic Chateau de Chenonceau. The building gives new meaning to the term “waterfront property,” with a section of the Château spanning the river Cher. Its history of intrigue, scandals and adventures includes wild parties and Italian fireworks thrown by Catherine de Médicis, wife of Henri II. Excursions include a visit a Troglodyte cave and a silkworm nursery.
“‘Are we there yet?’ are words you’ll never hear on a European Waterways luxury barge cruise,” said Derek Banks, CEO of European Waterways. “There are a lot of things to see and do on our cruises – but watching the clock is not one of them!”
About European Waterways
European Waterways is Europe’s largest all-inclusive luxury hotel barging company, offering vacations in nine countries and carrying nearly 2,000 passengers a year. Founded nearly 40 years ago, the company designs, builds, owns and operates a private fleet of luxury barges with cruises in France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. Pioneers in hotel barging, they were the first company to operate a hotel barge on the Upper Nivernais in Burgundy, and the “real” Loire Valley. They are also the only cruise company offering barge cruises in Scotland and on the Venetian lagoon and River Po valley, as well as the first company to offer an Avignon-to-Amsterdam 6-week trans-Europe cruise, a 1,000 mile journey along Western Europe’s inland waterways. Prices start from $3,490 based on double occupancy.
For more information, pricing, cruise schedules, and a copy of their latest brochure, visit their website at: gobarging.com
