"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

Camargue

Camargue

France

Saône Valley

Saône Valley

France

Canal du Midi

Canal du Midi

France

A selection of hotel barge cruises

Check out the best deals

Rendez-Vous barge cruise

Rendez-Vous

Burgundy Canal
4 guests
★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Save 20%
Enchanté barge cruise

Enchanté

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

Panache

Holland & Alsace
12 guests
★★★★★
France
Holland
Alsace
Dutch Waterways
Magnolia barge cruise

Magnolia

Burgundy Canal
6 guests
★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Saône Valley
Last-minute
Save 20%
Renaissance barge cruise

Renaissance

Loire Valley
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Loire Valley
Prosperite barge cruise

Prosperite

Burgundy Canal
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Last-minute
Savoir Vivre barge cruise

Savoir Vivre

Burgundy Canal
8 guests
★★★★
France
Burgundy Canal
Best price!
Grand Victoria barge cruise

Grand Victoria

River Saône
6 guests
★★★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Central Canal
River Rhone

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%
Royal Mystique A Self-drive rental boat

Royal Mystique A

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
Comfort
Save up to 800€
Panoramic P.1500FB Self-drive rental boat

Pénichette Premium 8 to 12 people

Panoramic P.1500FB

12 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
and 2 children
4 bathrooms
★★★★
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
Tarpon 37 DP Self-drive rental boat

Tarpon 37 DP

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
From 1100€/7 nights
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
Royal Classique Self-drive rental boat

Royal Classique

6 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
Comfort
Last-minute
Save up to 30%
Vision 4 Self-drive rental boat

Vision 4

9 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
4 bathrooms
Comfort
Save up to 800€
N1350 Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Comfort XL 8 to 10 people

N1350

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
4 bathrooms
★★★★
Save up to 800€
N1170 Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Comfort 8 to 10 people

N1170

10 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 8 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★
Save up to 800€
Europa 400 Self-drive rental boat

Comfort Premium XL 4 people

Europa 400

4 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★

Testimonials

Guests have said...

Hi Emma,

We had a most fabulous trip down the canal and absolutely loved the boat.

I will get organised when we get back home and do some reviews...

Thank you! We have travelled often to many places - This week was the best vacation/adventure ever!  
You have a beautiful peniche, a great crew,...

How would you rate your boat?  5 stars
How would you rate your cruise destination?  5 stars
How would you rate the Customer Service from Hotels...

Emma made the whole process very easy, from payment schedules to helping us organize transportation to and from the staging area.. We asked many...

I was very pleased with the total experience. Well-organised program. Hotels Afloat provided all required information. Thanks for the experience.

I rate the Luciole 9/10: Liked the attention of the staff
The Nivernais is a small canal, lovely but weather not as good as hoped for and some of...

Hi there Emma ,

Just to let you know that we had a great time on our barge. We miss it and the life style. We are looking at other places such as...

We had a lovely time, Emma. Thanks for all your help with making it so.

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