"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 the best cruise routes

Top cruise destinations

Loire Valley

Loire Valley

France

Charente

Charente

France

Friesland

Friesland

Holland

Saône Valley

Saône Valley

France

Bodrag River

Bodrag River

Hungary

A selection of hotel barge cruises

Check out the best deals

Last-minute
Save 10%
Athos barge cruise

Athos

Midi Canal
10 guests
★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Camargue
Last-minute
Save 20%
Panache barge cruise

Panache

Holland & Alsace
12 guests
★★★★★
France
Holland
Alsace
Dutch Waterways
Last-minute
Save 20%
La Belle Epoque barge cruise

La Belle Epoque

12 guests
★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Last-minute
Save 20%
Kir Royale barge cruise

Kir Royale

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

Luciole

Nivernais Canal & Yonne
12 guests
★★★★
France
Nivernais & River Yonne
Prosperite barge cruise

Prosperite

Burgundy Canal
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Esperance barge cruise

Esperance

Midi Canal
6 guests
★★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Save 20%
Maïtena barge cruise

Maïtena

4 guests
★★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Burgundy Canal

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.

FLASH SALE! Save up to 30%
Mystique Self-drive rental boat

Mystique

8 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 2 children
3 bathrooms
Comfort
From 2159€/7 nights
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
Terrasse P.1260R Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Comfort 6 to 10 people

Terrasse P.1260R

10 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1526€/7 nights
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
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
Save up to 30%
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
Save up to 30%
P.1020FB Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Premium 4 to 5 people

P.1020FB

5 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 1 child
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1386€/7 nights
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
Europa 300 Self-drive rental boat

Comfort Premium 4 to 6 people

Europa 300

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2590€/7 nights
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
N1310 Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Comfort XL 10 to 12 people

N1310

12 guests maximum
5 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 4 children
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1995€/7 nights
Tarpon 32 Self-drive rental boat

Tarpon 32

8 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1457€/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 enjoyed it very much.  Very likely to book with Hotels Afloat again, rated 5/5 *

Rated barge 4/5 *; rated region 4/5 *

We really appreciated the bow thruster, and rate the boat 7/10.
Enjoyed a side trip to Dompierre sur Besbre... the route was good
A friend...

Meant to email sooner but got distracted— just wanted to say again that we had a wonderful time on the Aurora. Thank you so much for alerting us to...

Hotel afloat and Emma were fantastic. They gave great service with no hassle booking and very quick response to any queries. Highly recommend and...

The boat was better than expected, and rates 10/10. Appreciated the contrasting countryside and villages.
We would book with Hotels Afloat again...

Let me tell you again how much we enjoyed our trip with LeBoat.
The boat was exactly what we needed, in great shape, very spacious and operated...

Dear Emma,

     I am now back home; but, wishing I was still in France on "L'Art de Vivre".    The trip was fabulous, from start to finish.    The...

The perfect present at any time of year
Gift Vouchers

v3.21