"Carefully created cruises, just for you"™

Cruise with Emma

Hi, I’m Emma James-Aldridge, and my company is dedicated to organising hotel barge and self-drive boat cruises on the inland waterways, canals and rivers of France, other European countries 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.

Why choose us
Self-drivesHotel barges

Our clients have awarded Hotels Afloat
★★★★★ (4.9) stars

Discover the best cruise routes

Top cruise destinations

Charente

Charente

France

Bodrag River

Bodrag River

Hungary

Shannon

Shannon

Ireland

Camargue

Camargue

France

A selection of hotel barge cruises

Check out the best deals

Grand Cru barge cruise

Grand Cru

Near Dijon
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Luciole barge cruise

Luciole

Nivernais Canal & Yonne
12 guests
★★★★
France
Nivernais & River Yonne
Last minute
Save up to 20%
Rosa barge cruise

Rosa

Aquitaine
8 guests
★★★★
France
Aquitaine & Bordeaux
Last-minute
Save 20%
Kir Royale barge cruise

Kir Royale

Exceptionally spacious
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Champagne
Last-minute
20% off
Aurora barge cruise

Aurora

8 guests
★★★★★★
Belgium
Belgium - France
France
Holland
Flanders
Bruges to Haarlem
Rotterdam to Paris
Dutch Waterways
Île-de-France
Champagne
Bruges to Paris
Last-minute
Save 10%
Scottish Highlander barge cruise

Scottish Highlander

Scotland
8 guests
★★★★
Scotland
Caledonian Canal
Last-minute
Maïtena barge cruise

Maïtena

4 guests
★★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Burgundy Canal
Last-minute
Save up to 20%
La Bella Vita barge cruise

La Bella Vita

Venetian lagoon
20 guests
★★★★
Italy
Venice Lagoon

A selection of self-drive boat rentals

Discover the offers and discounts

The price shown is based on a 7-day cruise and indicates the lowest starting price, and excluding any special offer or discount.

Save 25%!
Europa 300 Self-drive rental boat

Comfort Premium 4 to 6 people

Europa 300

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★
Save 25%!
N1160N Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Comfort 8 to 10 people

N1160N

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 1 child
2 bathrooms
★★★
Save 25%!
N QUATTRO FLY C GREEN Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium+ 4 to 6 people

N QUATTRO FLY C GREEN

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
Save 25%!
Europa 700 Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium 6 people

Europa 700

6 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 2 children
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
NEW 2025
Liberty Self-drive rental boat

Liberty

5 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
Premier
Save 25%!
N PRIMO Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Comfort 2 to 4 people

N PRIMO

4 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
1 bathroom
★★★
Save up to 29%
Elegance Self-drive rental boat

Elegance

6 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 2 children
3 bathrooms
Comfort
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
La Péniche FS Self-drive rental boat

La Péniche FS

12 guests maximum
6 cabins
Ideal for 12 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2711€/7 nights

Testimonials

Guests have said...

The boat was better than I expected.

...Being able to rest and not having to cook, drive or figure out touring plan for the day. Just relax. I...

The boat provided plenty of room for our group. I rate it 8/10.
We appreciated the quiet countrside cruising with interesting towns along the way.

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

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

The Magnolia went above and beyond our expectations!
The crew Magali & Nico (and beautiful little Mila) went out of their way to make sure we...

Emma, We arrived home a week ago from a most memorable vacation and cruise down the Yonne and the Nivernais. What a great time! Everything about...

Hi Emma

We had a great trip. The arrival, boat familiarisation and boat hand-back service at the yard were excellent. The boat was fine. We went...

Once again, you organized the perfect trip for us.
Not only did Peter and I love our barge trip but son Doug and his girlfriend did as well. We...

Hi Emma

It was fun, would do it again.

Boat and destination: 4*
Hotels Afloat Customer service 5*
Website: 4*
We are likely to cruise again, via...

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