Self-drive boat rentals, barge charter cruises on canals, rivers & waterways

Welcome to Hotels Afloat

Hi, I’m Emma James-Aldridge, and my company is dedicated to organising hotel barge and self-drive boat cruises in France, the rest of Europe and Canada, for clients from across the globe.
If you're a family, group of friends, couples or individuals, I have the perfect cruise for you.

We provide expert and detailed advice, we spare no effort in making and managing your booking to ensure the success of your boating holiday cruise.

With 97% of our clients saying they would book with us again, and many returning each year, you can be confident that you're in safe and expert hands.
Hotels Afloat looks forward to welcoming you aboard!

Our clients have awarded us (4.5) stars

Top cruise destinations

Discover the best cruise routes

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Bodrag River

Hungary

Canal du Midi

France

Friesland

Holland

Charente

France

River Saône

France

Check out the best deals

A selection of hotel barge cruises

View all the barge cruises

Magnolia

6 guests

France

Burgundy Canal

Grand Victoria

6 guests

France

River Saône

Low deposit!

La Vie en Rose

6 guests

France

Central Canal

Alegria

4 guests

France

Canal du Midi

Elisabeth

6 guests

France

Burgundy Canal

10% off 2021 ch

Saraphina

4 guests

France

Canal du Midi

Save 10%

Adagio

8 guests

France

Loire Valley

Luciole

12 guests

France

Nivernais & River Yonne

Check out the cruise deals

Self-drive boat rentals

View all the Self-drive boat choices

Locaboat

P1020 FB

5 guests

Locaboat

Nicols

N1350 B

10 guests

Nicols

Locaboat

Europa 600

6 guests

Locaboat

Nicols

N OCTO Fly C

10 guests

Nicols

Le Boat

Countess

6 guests

Le Boat

France Passion Plaisance

Tip Top

8 guests

France Passion Plaisance

Nicols

N1350VIP

6 guests

Nicols

Saone Bateaux

BWS Cruiser 1250

8 guests

Saone Bateaux

Testimonials

Guests have said...

Emma,
I just wanted to thank you, again, for saving our vacation!
The barge cruise on the Clare Du Lune was fantastic! We loved the family!
Thanks...

Shelly Ream, USA ; September 2018

The boat was quite spacious, nice Gin Deck
Rate it 9/10
The route from Tonnerre to Vermenton is beautiful...
The scenery, ease of finding supplies,...

Ray Carter, Burgundy. September 2016

Hi Emma,
We enjoyed the barge cruise very much.
The service on board was superb!
Sincere regards,
Donna and Barry Beach

Donna and Barry Beach, USA. September 2009

Dear Emma,

I am sending this email to share with you our experience with Locaboat and the penichette. All was perfect!! It was a very nice...

Silvia S; Aquitaine cruise, August 2018

"Thank you. Thank you again for your wonderful attention to our every need or whim - you made our return trip even more enjoyable than the first...

Michael Higgins, September 2018 (2nd cruise)

Hi Emma

Here we are back home after a terrific trip to Europe, the highlight of which was our Locaboat cruise from Briare to Dompierre.
We cannot...

John Wells. Canal Loire

These little Penichettes (P1107W) are a delightful and totally reliable. The ease of driving, a great kitchen at the same level as the table, lots...

Rachel and Garin Fenn. Loire Canal

We enjoyed it very much. Very likely to book with Hotels Afloat again, rated 5/5 *

Rated barge 4/5 *; rated region 4/5 *

Lorraine G, USA; Family charter, July 2018

Canal & river vacations

Luxury barge cruises

Halfboard cruises

Self-drive rentals

Hotel barges

Luxury style

Halfboard

Home & Away

Self-drive Rentals

Fleets

Destinations

Expert advice

Welcome to Hotels Afloat

Discover the best cruise routes

Bodrag River

Canal du Midi

Friesland

Charente

River Saône

A selection of hotel barge cruises

Magnolia

Grand Victoria

La Vie en Rose

Alegria

Elisabeth

Saraphina

Adagio

Luciole

Self-drive boat rentals

P1020 FB

N1350 B

Europa 600

N OCTO Fly C

Countess

Tip Top

N1350VIP

BWS Cruiser 1250

Ready for your next cruise?

Guests have said...