"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

Friesland

Friesland

Holland

Camargue

Camargue

France

Bodrag River

Bodrag River

Hungary

Loire Valley

Loire Valley

France

Charente

Charente

France

A selection of hotel barge cruises

Check out the best deals

Saroche barge cruise

Saroche

Champagne
6 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Saône Valley
Last-minute
Save up to 20%
Anjodi barge cruise

Anjodi

Midi Canal
8 guests
★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
La Vie en Rose barge cruise

La Vie en Rose

Burgundy
6 guests
★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Central Canal
Grand Cru barge cruise

Grand Cru

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

Esperance

Midi Canal
6 guests
★★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Last-minute
Save up to 20%
La Belle Epoque barge cruise

La Belle Epoque

12 guests
★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Last-minute
Scottish Highlander barge cruise

Scottish Highlander

Scotland
8 guests
★★★★
Scotland
Caledonian Canal
Last-minute
20% off
Aurora barge cruise

Aurora

8 guests
★★★★★★
Belgium
Belgium - France
France
Holland
Flanders
Bruges to Haarlem
Rotterdam to Paris
Dutch Waterways
Île-de-France
Champagne
Bruges to Paris

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
Save up to 30%
Tarpon 37 Self-drive rental boat

Tarpon 37

9 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 3 children
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1250€/7 nights
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
Horizon 2 Self-drive rental boat

Horizon 2

5 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
Premier
Save 25%!
N1160 Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Comfort 8 to 10 people

N1160

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 1 child
2 bathrooms
★★★
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
La Péniche P Self-drive rental boat

La Péniche P

7 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 2475€/7 nights
Save 25%!
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
★★★★★
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
Horizon 3 Self-drive rental boat

Horizon 3

7 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
Premier
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
Vision 3 Self-drive rental boat

Vision 3

10 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
Comfort
Save 25%!
N DUO Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Comfort XL 2 to 4 people

N DUO

4 guests maximum
1 cabin
Ideal for 2 adults
1 bathroom
★★★★

Testimonials

Guests have said...

To call the voyage perfect is not enough. Perfection has to include the crew and our Captain Chris. Thanks for all the kindness

We loved the whole cruise and thought it was too short!
Our boat was perfect for two couples. The quarters were quite spacious and the galley was...

Emma,

I just wanted to thank you, again, for saving our vacation!
The barge cruise on the Clare Du Lune was fantastic!  We loved the family!
Thanks...

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...

 We hired a Magnifique, and rate it 9/10-always room for improvement!
The boat was as expected : staff at Decize excellent
The Magnifique was very...

We had an outstanding trip on the beautiful Belle Époque . It is the best holiday we have ever had. The staff was fun, efficient, courteous ....

The facilities were exactly what we required for our trip. The top desks were a great focal point.
Please rate the boat: 9/10
The route was peaceful...

We had an amazing week with Linzi, Simon and Richard on the Savoir Vivre. Celebrated my 70th birthday on the barge cruise and want to thank all of...

The perfect present at any time of year
Gift Vouchers

v3.21