"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

Canal du Midi

Canal du Midi

France

Shannon

Shannon

Ireland

Charente

Charente

France

Saône Valley

Saône Valley

France

Selected of hotel barge trips

Check out the best hotel barges

Esperance barge cruise

Esperance

Midi Canal
6 guests
★★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Shannon Princess barge cruise

Shannon Princess

Ireland
10 guests
★★★★★
Ireland
Shannon
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
Grand Cru barge cruise

Grand Cru

Near Dijon
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
2027 offers!
Renaissance barge cruise

Renaissance

Loire Valley
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Loire Valley
2027 offers!
La Bella Vita barge cruise

La Bella Vita

Venetian lagoon
20 guests
★★★★
Italy
Venice Lagoon
Grand Victoria barge cruise

Grand Victoria

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

Maïtena

4 guests
★★★★★
France
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.

Save up to 35%
Terrasse P.1500R Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Comfort 8 to 12 people

Terrasse P.1500R

12 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1925€/7 nights
With a Skipper
La Péniche eXP Self-drive rental boat

La Péniche eXP

NEW 2026
6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 4930€/7 nights
2027 Super savings
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
Crazy Days!
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
Save up to 35%
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
2027 Super savings
Vision 3 Self-drive rental boat

Vision 3

10 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
Comfort
From 1719€/7 nights
Triton 860 Fly Self-drive rental boat

Triton 860 Fly

3 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
and 1 child
1 bathroom
★★
From 879€/7 nights
Save up to 35%
Panoramic P.1180FB Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Premium 6 to 7 people

Panoramic P.1180FB

7 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 1 child
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 1988€/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...

Tournus to Lyon with a short trip up La Seille canal.
Though I have never piloted a boat before this was an experience not to miss. The time of year...

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

Your warmth and joie de vivre infused every moment of our journey with you. We can't thank you enough for your caring and attention to detail, your...

The Clipper was as we expected, I rate it an 8/10
It was easy to handle.
Cruising from Port Cassafieres on the Midi was a good beginner route
My...

We will not soon forget the week we spent on La Vie en Rose. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Merci encore!!!  Laurie and gang.

Cruising the Nivernais canal on the Luciole was absolute perfection. The barge is a cosy, welcoming home on the water and the crew is fabulous....

The boat was better than expected...
The drivability including the bow thruster, the kitchen, the central heating, taking the boat solo.

I rate the...

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