"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 rivers and canals

Top cruise destinations

Loire Valley

Loire Valley

France

Friesland

Friesland

Holland

Shannon

Shannon

Ireland

Saône Valley

Saône Valley

France

Selected of hotel barge trips

Check out the best hotel barges

Kir Royale barge cruise

Kir Royale

Exceptionally spacious
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Champagne
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
Nymphea barge cruise

Nymphea

Brittany
6 guests
★★★★
France
Brittany
C'est La Vie barge cruise

C'est La Vie

Champagne Loire
8 guests
★★★★★
France
Loire Valley
Champagne
Save 20%
Finesse barge cruise

Finesse

Canal du Centre
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Central Canal
Last-minute
Save 20%
La Bella Vita barge cruise

La Bella Vita

Venetian lagoon
20 guests
★★★★
Italy
Venice Lagoon
Last-minute
2027 offers!
Athos barge cruise

Athos

Midi Canal
10 guests
★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Camargue

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.

Last-minute
Vision 2 Self-drive rental boat

Vision 2

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
1 bathroom
Comfort
From 2399€/7 nights
Last minute
Save up to 50%
P.1022FB Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Premium 2 to 3 people

P.1022FB

3 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
and 1 child
1 bathroom
★★★★
From 2268€/7 nights
Last minute
Save up to 50%
Panoramic P.1165FB Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Comfort 6 to 7 people

Panoramic P.1165FB

7 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 3 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1778€/7 nights
Last-minute
Corvette A Self-drive rental boat

Corvette A

4 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
Value
From 959€/7 nights
Last-minute
Espade Concept Fly Self-drive rental boat

Espade Concept Fly

9 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 3 children
1 bathroom
★★★
From 1209€/7 nights
Last-minute
Save up to 50%
N QUATTRO B Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium 4 to 6 people

N QUATTRO B

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1866€/7 nights
Last-minute
Consul Self-drive rental boat

Consul

4 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
Value
From 859€/7 nights
NEW 2025
Liberty Self-drive rental boat

Liberty

5 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
Premier
From 2459€/7 nights

Testimonials

Guests have said...

Hotels Afloat's Emma Aldridge was extremely responsive and helpful during the planning and booking process and deserves our gratitude.

Deb************ Sar******, Canada 1/10/2019

5 stars for the Alegria barge, cruise destination and website.
We enjoyed our time immensely and would...

Tournus to Lyon with a short trip up La Seille canal.
Though I have never piloted a boat before this was an experience not to miss. The time of year...

Very satisfied. Everything was perfect!

We appreciated the barge's level of comfort, the bikes and peace
Enjoyed cycling into nearby villages, Châteauneuf and the locks!
Max and Bea were...

We had a lovely time, Emma. Thanks for all your help with making it so.

5* for the barge Magnolia, the Burgundy Canal, Hotels Afloat customer service and website.
We are very likely to book again and to recommend Hotels...

I was very pleased with the total experience. Well-organised program. Hotels Afloat provided all required information. Thanks for the experience.

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