"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

Shannon

Shannon

Ireland

Loire Valley

Loire Valley

France

Saône Valley

Saône Valley

France

Bodrag River

Bodrag River

Hungary

Selected of hotel barge trips

Check out the best hotel barges

Nymphea barge cruise

Nymphea

Brittany
6 guests
★★★★
France
Brittany
Last-minute
L'Impressionniste barge cruise

L'Impressionniste

Burgundy Canal
12 guests
★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
New route for 2026
Elegance barge cruise

Elegance

6 guests
★★★★★
France
Aquitaine & Bordeaux
Last-minute
Finesse barge cruise

Finesse

Canal du Centre
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Central Canal
Last-minute
Magna Carta barge cruise

Magna Carta

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

Prosperite

Burgundy Canal
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Last-minute
Kir Royale barge cruise

Kir Royale

Exceptionally spacious
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Champagne
Last-minute
2027 offers!
Rosa barge cruise

Rosa

Aquitaine
8 guests
★★★★
France
Aquitaine & Bordeaux

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
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
Last-minute
Dancer 4 (Salsa A) Self-drive rental boat

Dancer 4 (Salsa A)

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
Comfort
From 2059€/7 nights
Last-minute
Horizon 1 Self-drive rental boat

Horizon 1

5 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
1 bathroom
Premier
From 1359€/7 nights
Save up to 50%
Classic P.1107W Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Classic 4 to 7 people

Classic P.1107W

7 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 1 child
1 bathroom
★★
From 1246€/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
Last-minute
Classique Star Self-drive rental boat

Classique Star

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 4 children
3 bathrooms
Value
From 1379€/7 nights
Last-minute
Horizon 2 Self-drive rental boat

Horizon 2

5 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
Premier
From 1479€/7 nights
Last-minute
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

Testimonials

Guests have said...

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

I’m speechless. This was absolutely the best trip ever. Barging is the perfect way to enjoy our vacation with so much to see and all done at a...

Compact and easy to handle, I rate this boat a 9/10. The base staff were very helpful.
Appreciated the wide route and automated locks.
Would book...

We had a very enjoyable time on the cruise. The boat was very comfortable. 

The boat was as expected and rates a 7/10:  Galley was well-equipped and the teak table on the bridge was large and easily accommodated 8-10...

We really appreciated the small intimate personal environment and the excellent service
Boat rate: 10/10
Burgundy canal: Appreciated the surrounding...

Dear Emma
We've just returned from Burgundy.
Many thanks for arranging the booking with Heidi & Stefan. Everything went very well indeed. The boat...

We have very much enjoyed our week of canal and river cruising on "La Vie en Rose". We had some fabulous food, cheese and wine and learnt a lot...

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