"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

Canal du Midi

Canal du Midi

France

Charente

Charente

France

Friesland

Friesland

Holland

Camargue

Camargue

France

Saône Valley

Saône Valley

France

Selected of hotel barge trips

Check out the best hotel barges

Scottish Highlander barge cruise

Scottish Highlander

Scotland
8 guests
★★★★
Scotland
Caledonian Canal
Saroche barge cruise

Saroche

Champagne
6 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Saône Valley
Maïtena barge cruise

Maïtena

4 guests
★★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Burgundy Canal
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
2027 offers!
L'Art de Vivre barge cruise

L'Art de Vivre

Nivernais Canal & Yonne
8 guests
★★★★
France
Nivernais & River Yonne
Grand Cru barge cruise

Grand Cru

Near Dijon
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
La Nouvelle Etoile barge cruise

La Nouvelle Etoile

Holland and France
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Holland
Alsace
Dutch Waterways
Luciole barge cruise

Luciole

Nivernais Canal & Yonne
12 guests
★★★★
France
Nivernais & River Yonne

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
2027
N900 DP Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Comfort 4 to 7 people

N900 DP

7 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 1 child
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1420€/7 nights
Last minute
2027!
Europa 500 Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium 6 to 8 people

Europa 500

8 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2912€/7 nights
Last-minute
Early booking
Caprice Self-drive rental boat

Caprice

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
Comfort
From 1039€/7 nights
Last-minute
Early booking
Dancer 4 Plus (Salsa B) Self-drive rental boat

Dancer 4 Plus (Salsa B)

12 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
and 4 children
2 bathrooms
Comfort
From 2019€/7 nights
Last minute
2027!
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
Early booking
Vision 3 Self-drive rental boat

Vision 3

10 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
Comfort
From 1719€/7 nights
Last-minute
2027!
Tarpon 37 DP Self-drive rental boat

Tarpon 37 DP

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 1100€/7 nights
Last-minute
Early booking
Magnifique Self-drive rental boat

Magnifique

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 2 children
3 bathrooms
Comfort
From 1639€/7 nights

Testimonials

Guests have said...

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...

We appreciated the efficient and friendly crew, the cosy lounge and Boat rated: 9/10
Liked the combination of cruising on the canals and making bus...

We enjoyed Alex's captaining of the barge and the great vineyards, castles that he took us to. We appreciated Nicole's care, her cups of tea and...

test

Appreciated Everything!
Boat rated 10/10
What did you most appreciate about the route? One way toward the Mediterrean
How did you hear about...

5* for the barge, destination, service from Hotels Afloat and the website!

The on board service was personal, professional, super friendly and...

We liked the Sheba and rate it 8/10
Its Cleanliness was good.
We cruises from Branges on the Seille and the route was as expected ie  Not busy &...

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...

The perfect present at any time of year
Gift Vouchers

v3.21