"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

Shannon

Shannon

Ireland

Bodrag River

Bodrag River

Hungary

Canal du Midi

Canal du Midi

France

Loire Valley

Loire Valley

France

Selected of hotel barge trips

Check out the best hotel barges

Last-minute
2027 offers!
L'Art de Vivre barge cruise

L'Art de Vivre

Nivernais Canal & Yonne
8 guests
★★★★
France
Nivernais & River Yonne
Esperance barge cruise

Esperance

Midi Canal
6 guests
★★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Last-minute
Kir Royale barge cruise

Kir Royale

Exceptionally spacious
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Champagne
Last-minute
Spirit of Scotland barge cruise

Spirit of Scotland

Scotland
12 guests
★★★★★
Scotland
Caledonian Canal
Grand Cru barge cruise

Grand Cru

Near Dijon
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Last-minute
Finesse barge cruise

Finesse

Canal du Centre
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Central Canal
Savoir Vivre barge cruise

Savoir Vivre

Burgundy Canal
8 guests
★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
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
2027!
La Peniche F Self-drive rental boat

La Peniche F

12 guests maximum
6 cabins
Ideal for 12 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2465€/7 nights
Last-minute
2027
N SIXTO + Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium 6 to 8 people

N SIXTO +

8 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2795€/7 nights
Last-minute
Early booking
Tamaris Self-drive rental boat

Tamaris

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
Value
From 939€/7 nights
Last-minute
Early booking
Corvette B Self-drive rental boat

Corvette B

4 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
Value
From 959€/7 nights
Last minute
2027!
Evolution P.950E Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Premium 2 to 4 people

Evolution P.950E

4 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
1 bathroom
★★★★
From 1633€/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
Early booking
Classique Self-drive rental boat

Classique

8 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
Value
From 1259€/7 nights
Last-minute
Early booking
Horizon 4 Self-drive rental boat

Horizon 4

9 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
4 bathrooms
Premier
From 2179€/7 nights

Testimonials

Guests have said...

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

Hi Emma,

We've just returned from cruising on the hotel barge, Aurora. Words cannot express how wonderful the experience was. This had been our...

The Magnolia cruise, with accommodations for 6 people is the perfect formula to relax with friends and family . The Burgundy Canal route is lovely...

The chef was fantastic, and the food was great. Loved the intimacy of travelling with a smaller group which is invaluable for pax travelling...

It was all lovely, but the highlight was Auxerre. I knew it was a large town but we were in awe when we came round the bend in the river and saw...

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

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

We like the layout of the Penichette 1180FB, one toilet per cabin and no equipment failures.

Hotels Afloat is an excellent agent for Locaboat, and...

The space inside was great & the upper deck; we rate the Mystique boat a 10!
Having never cruised before we never really had any expectations. But...

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