"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

Saône Valley

Saône Valley

France

Bodrag River

Bodrag River

Hungary

Shannon

Shannon

Ireland

Selected of hotel barge trips

Check out the best hotel barges

2027 offers!
La Bella Vita barge cruise

La Bella Vita

Venetian lagoon
20 guests
★★★★
Italy
Venice Lagoon
Magna Carta barge cruise

Magna Carta

Tested by Jane McDonald
8 guests
★★★★★
England
River Thames
Johanna barge cruise

Johanna

Midi Canal
4 guests
★★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Aurora barge cruise

Aurora

River and Canal
8 guests
★★★★★★
Belgium
Belgium - France
France
Holland
Flanders
Bruges to Haarlem
Rotterdam to Paris
Dutch Waterways
Île-de-France
Champagne
Bruges to Paris
La Vie en Rose barge cruise

La Vie en Rose

Burgundy
6 guests
★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Central Canal
Last-minute
2027 offers!
Anjodi barge cruise

Anjodi

Midi Canal
8 guests
★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
2027 offers!
L'Art de Vivre barge cruise

L'Art de Vivre

Nivernais Canal & Yonne
8 guests
★★★★
France
Nivernais & River Yonne
Shannon Princess barge cruise

Shannon Princess

Ireland
10 guests
★★★★★
Ireland
Shannon

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.

2027!
Tarpon 49 QP Self-drive rental boat

Tarpon 49 QP

12 guests maximum
5 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
and 2 children
5 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 3229€/7 nights
2027!
Tarpon 37 Self-drive rental boat

Tarpon 37

9 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 3 children
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1250€/7 nights
Clipper Self-drive rental boat

Clipper

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
Comfort
From 1099€/7 nights
Dancer 3 (Calypso) Self-drive rental boat

Dancer 3 (Calypso)

8 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 4 children
2 bathrooms
Comfort
From 1659€/7 nights
Last minute
2027!
Panoramic P.1400FB Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Comfort 8 to 9 people

Panoramic P.1400FB

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 2 children
3 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2002€/7 nights
Last minute
2027!
Europa 600 Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium 6 people

Europa 600

6 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2058€/7 nights
Last minute
2027!
Europa 400 Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium XL 4 people

Europa 400

4 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1918€/7 nights
Last-minute
2027
N OCTO FLY Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium XL 8 to 10 people

N OCTO FLY

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 4 children
4 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 3332€/7 nights

Testimonials

Guests have said...

The boat was spacious; we rate it 9/10
Cruised from Migennes to Sens and back: Appreciated that there were
relatively few locks
We found you on line,...

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 &...

We had an outstanding trip on the beautiful Belle Époque . It is the best holiday we have ever had. The staff was fun, efficient, courteous ....

Good day Ms. Emma,
My friends and I just returned from our Hotels Afloat vacation. It met or exceeded every expectation.
Your guys on either end of...

Emma,
 
Our cruise in Savoir Faire was wonderful in all respects: the FOOD!, the service, the accommodations, the cities, the tours —...

Emma made the whole process very easy, from payment schedules to helping us organize transportation to and from the staging area.. We asked many...

We thank you for your kindness and warmth. You made us feel like family from the first day. Lots of laughter all week long. France will now hold a...

We had an amazing week with Linzi, Simon and Richard on the Savoir Vivre. Celebrated my 70th birthday on the barge cruise and want to thank all of...

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