"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

Charente

Charente

France

Camargue

Camargue

France

Saône Valley

Saône Valley

France

Shannon

Shannon

Ireland

Loire Valley

Loire Valley

France

Selected of hotel barge trips

Check out the best hotel barges

Last-minute
Magna Carta barge cruise

Magna Carta

Tested by Jane McDonald
8 guests
★★★★★
England
River Thames
Rendez-Vous barge cruise

Rendez-Vous

Burgundy Canal
4 guests
★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
La Nouvelle Etoile barge cruise

La Nouvelle Etoile

Holland and France
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Holland
Alsace
Dutch Waterways
Saraphina barge cruise

Saraphina

Midi Canal
4 guests
★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Last-minute
2027 offer!
Enchanté barge cruise

Enchanté

Midi Canal
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Saroche barge cruise

Saroche

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

Scottish Highlander

Scotland
8 guests
★★★★
Scotland
Caledonian Canal
Last-minute
2027 offers!
L'Art de Vivre barge cruise

L'Art de Vivre

Nivernais Canal & Yonne
8 guests
★★★★
France
Nivernais & River Yonne

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 50%
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
Save up to 50%
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
Save up to 50%
N PRIMO Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Comfort 2 to 4 people

N PRIMO

4 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
1 bathroom
★★★
From 998€/7 nights
Next year!
Horizon 4 Self-drive rental boat

Horizon 4

9 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
4 bathrooms
Premier
From 2179€/7 nights
Save up to 50%
N800 Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Classic 2 to 3 people

N800

3 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
1 bathroom
★★
From 712€/7 nights
Next year!
Horizon 5 Self-drive rental boat

Horizon 5

12 guests maximum
5 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
and 2 children
5 bathrooms
Premier
From 2639€/7 nights
Save up to 50%
N SIXTO PRESTIGE C Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium+ 4 to 6 people

N SIXTO PRESTIGE C

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2843€/7 nights
Next year!
Cirrus B Self-drive rental boat

Cirrus B

4 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
1 bathroom
Value
From 659€/7 nights

Testimonials

Guests have said...

We appreciated the barge's level of comfort, the bikes and peace
Enjoyed cycling into nearby villages, Châteauneuf and the locks!
Max and Bea were...

After dealing with Emma pre and post Covid, I felt as though we had become good friends! Emma helped us plan a family barge experience to...

For our trip on the Canal du Centre in July of 2013 we used a Quattro Prestige 49. We liked how spacious the boat was and the kitchen so we could...

The boat was as expected but a bit old
Appreciated the size & sliding roof windows
Boat rate 7/10
Our cruise from Joigny was as we expected.

Before...

In all of my travels, Hotels Afloat is the best organisation that I have used.  They provided me with all of the information that I needed but...

"We all had such a lovely time on La Belle Epoque that we are now thinking of booking a cruise for next year. The Dolce Vita looks lovely: Which...

“We thank you for your kindness and warmth. You made us feel like family from the first day. Lots of laughter all the week long. France will now...

We had a super time. All 3 weeks in France were terrific. Noel's America boat was first class, and the food was first rate wherever we dined

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