"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

Loire Valley

Loire Valley

France

Bodrag River

Bodrag River

Hungary

Canal du Midi

Canal du Midi

France

Charente

Charente

France

Selected of hotel barge trips

Check out the best hotel barges

Saroche barge cruise

Saroche

Champagne
6 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Saône Valley
2027 offers!
Scottish Highlander barge cruise

Scottish Highlander

Scotland
8 guests
★★★★
Scotland
Caledonian Canal
20% off
Savoir Vivre barge cruise

Savoir Vivre

Burgundy Canal
8 guests
★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
2027 offers!
Spirit of Scotland barge cruise

Spirit of Scotland

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

Grand Victoria

River Saône
6 guests
★★★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Central Canal
River Rhone
Enchanté barge cruise

Enchanté

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
2027 offers!
Renaissance barge cruise

Renaissance

Loire Valley
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Loire Valley

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.

La Peniche S Self-drive rental boat

La Peniche S

10 guests maximum
5 cabins
Ideal for 10 adults
4 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2691€/7 nights
2027
N1100 Self-drive rental boat

Cruise Comfort 6 to 9 people

N1100

9 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
★★★★
From 1470€/7 nights
2027
N QUATTRO FLY C GREEN Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium+ 4 to 6 people

N QUATTRO FLY C GREEN

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2929€/7 nights
2027
N QUATTRO S Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium 4 to 6 people

N QUATTRO S

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
1 bathroom
★★★★
From 2059€/7 nights
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
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
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
Horizon 3 Self-drive rental boat

Horizon 3

7 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
Premier
From 2139€/7 nights

Testimonials

Guests have said...

How would you rate your boat?    4 stars

How would you rate your cruise destination?    4 stars

How would you rate the Customer Service from...

The boat was pretty well as expected but there were some shortcomings
It was easy to steer, responsive.
Boat rating: 8/10
Will book with Hotels Afloat...

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...

"Hi Emma; Just to thank you again for yet another great cruise. EVERYTHING was fantastic as usual. " Italy: Anjodi, La Belle Epoque, Scottish...

The trip on the Elegance was fabulous.   The accommodations.were excellent and the  food outstanding both in the looks and the taste.  The crew...

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...

It was the best boat we have had, having done three of these canal cruises previously. The area was pretty . Plenty of room good outside steering.
Emm...

The perfect present at any time of year
Gift Vouchers

v3.21