"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

Charente

Charente

France

Camargue

Camargue

France

Loire Valley

Loire Valley

France

Friesland

Friesland

Holland

Saône Valley

Saône Valley

France

A selection of hotel barge cruises

Check out the best deals

La Vie en Rose barge cruise

La Vie en Rose

Burgundy
6 guests
★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Central Canal
La Nouvelle Etoile barge cruise

La Nouvelle Etoile

Holland and France
8 guests
★★★★★★
France
Holland
Alsace
Dutch Waterways
Last-minute
Save up to 20%
La Bella Vita barge cruise

La Bella Vita

Venetian lagoon
20 guests
★★★★
Italy
Venice Lagoon
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
Last-minute
Save 10%
Athos barge cruise

Athos

Midi Canal
10 guests
★★★★
France
Canal du Midi
Camargue
Save 20%
Maïtena barge cruise

Maïtena

4 guests
★★★★★
France
Saône Valley
Burgundy Canal
Nymphea barge cruise

Nymphea

Brittany
6 guests
★★★★
France
Brittany
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 25%
Royal Classique Self-drive rental boat

Royal Classique

6 guests maximum
3 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
3 bathrooms
Comfort
From 1319€/7 nights
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
Tarpon 42 Self-drive rental boat

Tarpon 42

12 guests maximum
4 cabins
Ideal for 6 adults
and 4 children
2 bathrooms
★★★
From 1780€/7 nights
Last-minute
Save up to 25%
Horizon 1 Self-drive rental boat

Horizon 1

5 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 2 adults
and 2 children
1 bathroom
Premier
From 1359€/7 nights
N QUATTRO B + Self-drive rental boat

Cruiser Premium 4 to 6 people

N QUATTRO B +

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
and 2 children
2 bathrooms
★★★★
From 2059€/7 nights
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
Last-minute
Save up to 25%
Royal Mystique A Self-drive rental boat

Royal Mystique A

6 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
Comfort
From 1179€/7 nights
NEW 2025
Liberty Self-drive rental boat

Liberty

5 guests maximum
2 cabins
Ideal for 4 adults
2 bathrooms
Premier
From 2459€/7 nights

Testimonials

Guests have said...

We have very much enjoyed our week of canal and river cruising on "La Vie en Rose". We had some fabulous food, cheese and wine and learnt a lot...

The cruise was so wonderful, despite a few glitches! Don't think we'll ever do a self-drive again, as we're getting up there in years, but would...

"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...

Aboard a Royal Mystique: Boat rating 9/10.
Beautiful scenery, quiet villages.. Branges and Santenday spurs off the river Saone
The staff at Le Boat...

The Linssen 32 was new and clean. I'd rate it 10/10
We preferred the southern half of the Midi cruise.
I heard about Hotels Afloat from a family...

You were right, we had a phenomenal week with Alex, Arnot and Audrée this week on La Vie en Rose! Attention to detail but not stuffy, just like...

There are memories through our lives that will remain forever, and we know this is one. It has been a dream of ours to come on a barge trip for...

We had a really first-class time

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