Barge Travel in Europe

Top European River Cruises Offer Tranquil Local Flavor and Beauty

By Alison Gardner
Senior Travel Editor

Towpaths along many routes entice guests to walk or cycle as the barge makes its relaxing transition from one moorage to another. Photo courtesy of the Saint Louis.

Canal and river barging as a vacation experience, not a transport business, is into its third decade in the world of European tourism. Expanding impressively during that time with many creative variations, barging has become uniquely popular as a way to sample Europe in small, savory morsels. How small? A navigation of 40 to 60 miles in an entire week may seem like an excruciating snail’s pace to travelers accustomed to planning country- and continent-wide holidays but — wait a minute! — let’s see what can happen on a weeklong barge vacation.

In July 2007, my husband and I boarded the Scottish Highlander, near Inverness on Scotland’s east North Sea coast, and settled into our tartan-decorated barge home for a waterway crossing west to the Atlantic coast. In seven days we passed through the Great Glen’s four finger-shaped lakes (lochs in Scottish) and 29 locks (in English and Scottish) as we made our way through the 200-year-old engineering marvel of its day called the Caledonian Canal. The famous Loch Ness was among the lakes traversed though we glimpsed no monsters.

During 62 miles of navigation, we enjoyed numerous morning or afternoon shore excursions to ruined or restored castles and battle sites with harrowing stories of clan battles and treacherous massacres. We explored historic shorefront towns and toured a whisky distillery to learn insider tasting secrets about the famous Scottish brew. And we occasionally jumped ship to walk or cycle along wooded towpaths through weather-worn Highland hillsides.

Back on board our cosy home with four ensuite staterooms for up to eight guests, we sampled the unlimited cellar of fine French wines, British ciders, and beers to complement every gourmet dish served by our chef at lunch and dinner, including local salmon, venison, and game as well as the surprisingly tasty haggis. In between, we visited the captain in his wheelhouse to hear colorful tales of navigating the lochs and locks, hummed along to familiar Scottish tunes when a bagpiper in full kit came aboard for a private concert, lent a hand with the ropes where we would not be a hazard, and waved from the topside sundeck to the locals on the towpaths and passing vessels with the same elegant grace of Queen Elizabeth herself.

In a leisurely morning’s drive, yes, we could have covered our 62 miles on a Highland highway in any rental car or bus, but think what we would have missed!

The Scottish Highlander is the only vacation barge to traverse Scotland, including passage through 29 locks of the Caledonian Canal. Photo by Alison Gardner.

Barging in Europe Has Many Variations

Of course, our Scottish waterways trip was the all-inclusive full meal deal, a European Waterways luxury cruise with four onboard staff including an expert historian and guide whose passion for Highland history enhanced each tale told. European Waterways, based in the UK, is a 40-year veteran with ownership of 17 “hotel barges” such as the Scottish Highlander or larger (some up to 20 passengers) in seven European countries. However, there are other barging styles and budgets with a variety of European barge owners and operators. There are also barge booking specialists in the U.S. like ROW Adventures, and Barge Lady Cruises, which have the current, hands-on knowledge to match prospective barge vacationers with tailored interests and budgets anywhere Europe’s prolific waterways may take them.

With a relaxed waterside perspective, you may barge through a large city like Paris and toast the landmark Eiffel Tower. Photo courtesy of ROW Adventures.

Hosting six clients at a time and well established in southwest France, Saint Louis barge owners Alasdair and Barbara Wyllie, welcome guests, usually couples or family groups, into their floating home for a week at a time. The historic Saint Louis, is a classic Dutch working vessel converted to a hotel barge in 1994. The program includes Barbara’s gourmet meals made with fresh local ingredients and owner-led excursions to medieval villages, ancient abbeys, vineyards, distillers of Armagnac, local markets, and country museums.

Kevin Hartwell, owner-operator of Barge Nilaya actually abandoned traveling around the world when he fell in love with his 87-year-old Luxemotor Dutch barge. He has created a signature barging style that he calls “an informal voyage of discovery” exploring several different French waterways throughout the season with rates depending on number of passengers, the month, and what clients wish to do. With one additional crew member, Kevin keeps services less expensive and flexible by offering a continental breakfast, a light lunch and one dinner only during the barging week (otherwise you eat ashore or self-cater in the barge’s kitchen). There are no shore excursions or included transfers to and from the boat.

Several patterns have emerged in 21st century European barging: undoubtedly, the Dutch have constructed the best working barges for conversion to a new tourism incarnation, most vacation barges are operated by British or American owners, most barge travelers are active older explorers, and they come from English-speaking countries. People choose a barging vacation to immerse themselves in a distinctive culture, cuisine, history and natural surroundings which in most areas of Europe doesn’t require covering great distances. There are even barging vacations now programmed around specific European special events such as European Waterways’ La Bella Vita. The cruise ensures exciting top row seats for Opera festival in Verona. Many other barges are offered by European Waterways, allowing you to enjoy cities like Paris from the comfort of your top row seat.

La Dolce Vita is the only hotel barge navigating the waters of Venice and the nearby Brenta River, including a stop at the elegant Villa Pisani. Photo courtesy of European Waterways.

Many European canals and locks still in use were constructed as early as the 16th century, long preceding highways as reliable transportation between villages and market towns. Revived and preserved in modern times, they are like time capsules, often with intricate lock systems and tunnels, representing astonishing feats of engineering for their time. Since the canals were the main streets of nations, impressive buildings were frequently designed to display their best face to the action, a feature which cruisers get to experience at very close quarters.

Shoulder or “value” seasons undoubtedly provide the best deals, with dates varying from country to country. It is also worth inquiring about discounts for second and subsequent weeks aboard the same vessel. Singles especially appreciate these vacations because there are often single cabins with little or no surcharge. Some barge operators welcome small children or extended families, often with designated “family weeks,” while others offer theme sailings for golfing, birding, or the ever popular wine and cuisine focus around which to build excursions and gastronomic tastings.

When you slow down to an average of four miles an hour, maybe ten miles of waterway covered in a day, you notice a lot more than you will from the window of a bus or car, never mind a plane. As a formula for a relaxed, yet engaging, holiday, barging is hard to beat.

Autumn is a colorful, tranquil season for canal cruising the French countryside. Photo courtesy of European Waterways.