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Established in 1974, we here at European Waterways will take you on a journey to discover the country in a new way. Book your stay on a luxury barge hotel with our French river cruises.
French River Cruises in a Hotel Barge with European Waterways
River cruises in France offer you a unique experience, allowing you to explore the country on a luxury hotel barge along scenic waterways.
Looking for the best river cruises in France? At European Waterways, we offer an unparalleled experience to visit one of nine French locations, from the stunning and scenic Gascony region to the historic Loire Valley.
Why You Should Book A French River Cruise
River cruises are the ultimate luxurious escape, taking you through the heart of France and your favourite regions in style. As Europe’s biggest barging company, we use our unrivalled expertise to take you to the most popular destinations and undiscovered gems of the country. Go off the beaten track with a river cruise trip in France today.
With almost 3,000 miles of riverways and canals in France, you can see the country in a completely new way. Spend time on a premium hotel barge before exploring nearby villages and castles on a day excursion or enjoy a private tasting at a vineyard.
Benefit From 50 Years of Expertise
Established in 1974, European Waterways offers a superb French river cruise experience, supported by 50 years of expertise. We understand the best places to visit in the country on your trip so book your holiday now.
9 Locations in France to Choose From
No matter what type of holiday you are looking for, you’ll find a river cruise in France to suit your needs. From exploring the rich history of quaint villages to seeing the best markets in the country, you’ll discover new ways to explore.
Luxury River Barges To Choose From
Travel in complete luxury with our hotel barge fleet. The range of vessels gives you everything from cosy cabins to deluxe rooms. Capable of carrying up to 20 passengers, you can find the perfect home away from home.
Explore France And Beyond
Once you have enjoyed a river cruise in France, you’ll get a taste of exploration. Why not book a European river cruise? There are nine different locations to select so treat yourself to the ultimate escape.
Read What Our Clients Have Said In Our Guest Books
From new clients to returning guests, you’ll see glowing feedback in our guest books. We have a 5* rating of Feefo for our holidays, so check out the reviews now and see for yourself.
Friendly Staff & Experienced Crew
You’ll be welcomed onto your luxury barge hotel by our friendly crew, who will offer you the exceptional customer service you deserve. Have an unforgettable trip supported by the best team you could ask for.
The welcome we received and everything on board was perfect
Pauline Taplin, Hampshire, UK
This is a treasure that most people don’t know about
Denise Thorson , New Jersey, USA
Everbody should do this at least once in their life
Charles Baertl, Texas USA
For a very special occasion this is the place to be
John Thorson, New Jersey, USA
French River Cruise Experience
Our vessels gently introduce you to some of Europe’s finest scenery, fascinating history and local culture. Every European Waterways six-night French river cruise includes all gourmet meals, regional wines, an open bar, local transfers and the use of on board facilities such as bicycles to explore the towpaths, a sundeck to laze on, or a spa pool to relax in. We also offer daily escorted excursions “off the beaten track” to wineries, castles, markets or to see craftsmen at work.
Insider Experiences
These experiences form the heart of a European Waterways cruise; spontaneous, unique adventures that just couldn't be had anywhere else
Multi Generational Cruises
With capacity for between 6 and 20 passengers, a private hotel barge charter is perfect for a multi generational getaway
A Home Away from Home
All hotel barges in the fleet benefit from an annual refurbishment and this may vary from redecoration and refurnishing of the...
Enriching Excursions
Every hotel barge cruise includes daily excursions to some fascinating local places of interest - châteaux, Cathar hilltop...
Hotel Barging Experience
Far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life, hotel barge voyages allow you to travel in luxury without the strains of...
Outstanding Service
Crews are mainly British or French and they all speak English, so there is no need to worry about a language barrier when they are...
A Gastronomic Experience
The classic traditions of French and International cuisine are an unforgettable highlight of your cruise. The onboard chefs are...
Themed Charter Cruises
We can arrange a wide selection of themed charter cruises which will appeal to all types of interest groups, large or small...
Family & Friends Cruises
Families or groups of friends can charter any of the hotel barges. You will have the whole vessel to yourselves and she becomes a...
Barging & Biking
We know that many of our passengers enjoy taking some exercise during their hotel barge cruise, so each vessel carries...
Shopping & Markets
Even if you are not normally a lover of shopping, the vast array of fascinating shops and markets you can discover on one of our...
Wine & Whisky Tours
Many of our cruises are through some of the best wine- growing regions of France, such as Burgundy, Bordeaux...
Riverboat Cruises in France
Take a Classic Riverboat Cruise Through Burgundy
With rolling vineyards connected by stunning waterways, you will get the classic Burgundy river cruise experience. Some of the most renowned Burgundian vintners will host wine-tasting sessions for you, allowing you to make the best of your time in the region.
Enjoy a Culture Tour of the Loire Valley
A Loire Valley river cruise is ideal for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the rich culture of the area. You’ll find stunning views and historic castles to visit, with exclusive cruises along the River Cher.
Dine in Gascony
Gascony is known for its rich gastronomic traditions, making it perfect for food lovers. This wine-making paradise is also home to the oldest brandy in France and is considered to be a culinary heartland in the country.
Taste the Best Wine in France in Bordeaux
Bordeaux is the undisputed wine capital not only of France but the world. You can enjoy private wine tastings in the area, so take a Bordeaux river cruise to the best vineyards in the area and sample the most beautiful wines.
Book Your River Cruise in Saône
The Saône river cruise will take you along one of the most important water links in the country, which has proven throughout the years to be a popular boating experience. The river meets with many other rivers and canals, making it the ideal path to travel along if you want to explore France.
Sip in Champagne
When it comes to French river cruises, Champagne is the perfect destination. The region is truly one of the most beautiful and you’ll get the chance to visit some of the famous wineries in the area to sip champagne.
Relax on a Garonne River Cruise
Garonne is a truly stunning location to visit and is often bathed in sun, making a luxury barge the perfect way to soak up the rays. With Roman monuments to discover along the way, you can take a break from relaxing to explore the rich history of the area.
No matter what type of escape you are looking for, you’ll find the ideal river cruise in France with European Waterways. Contact our team today to discuss your needs and find your perfect holiday destination in France.
Choose Your French River Cruise Destination
Boasting almost 3,000 miles of canals and riverways to explore, you are sure to find the perfect destination for your holiday. Take in the history of the country, enjoy a wine tasting or two, or simply relax on a luxury river cruise. We have more destinations in France for you to choose from and other European destinations to explore, so book your trip today.
Book Your Hotel Barge
Here at European Waterways, we have 12 luxury barges to take you on a French river cruise. Capacities range from 6 to 12 people with cosy and comfortable cabins or premium suites to choose from. You’ll find that your hotel barge is a home away from home, allowing you to
La Belle Epoque
La Belle Epoque is a deluxe, 12 passenger hotel barge that cruises the picturesque Burgundy Canal in Northern Burgundy
Finesse
Finesse is an ultra deluxe, 8 passenger hotel barge that cruises the River Saône and Canal du Centre in Southern Burgundy
Kir Royale
Kir Royale is a ultra deluxe, 8 passenger hotel barge that cruises the renowned Champagne region of France
L’Art de Vivre
L’Art de Vivre is a first class, 8 passenger hotel barge that cruises the charming Canal du Nivernais and River Yonne in Burgundy
Choose Your Holiday Theme
Book the ultimate escape with themed river cruise holidays. Whatever it is that your group is interested in, from wine tasting and exploring to golfing and art, you’ll get the perfect river cruise in France for your dream escape.
Whisky Cruises
For lovers of whisky, join our Whisky Trail cruise that takes in distilleries close to the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness.
Wine Appreciation Cruises
Burgundy and the Languedoc region are perfect for our wine appreciation barge trips in France.
Family Cruises
Families can charter any of our vessels and enjoy a home from home experience while exploring the best of France’s waterways.
Biking Cruises
Cycling the long towpaths running next to the canals in Scotland and France is a relaxing activity that complements any of our holidays.
Verified Reviews
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Video Feed
We uploaded our first video in 2010 and since then we have added over 100 hotel barging videos and received over 3,000,000 views on YouTube. We hope you enjoyed watching our videos…
River Cruises in Champagne
Few places on Earth can boast the name recognition of Champagne in France. This renowned region, famous for the sparkling white wine that bears its name, is also the birthplace of chivalric romance and has been at the crossroads of Europe since Roman times. You can taste the history, heritage and culture in every glass.
Despite the growing popularity of cruising, especially on large river vessels, hotel barging is still a little known niche concept.
Hotel Barge Enchante
Enchanté is a spacious, double-decker hotel barge that has been built to the highest standard to offer a stylish on board ambience that is perfect for enjoying a cruise through this sun-drenched region.
Hotel Barge Anjodi
Anjodi is very much a hotel barge of the classic Dutch design and also the founding member of our fleet, embarking on her first cruises along the historic Canal du Midi 35 years ago.
The Lock-Keeper Blog
The Lock-Keeper has gone viral! Every few weeks we will be blogging about the French river cruise experience; From the history of our hotel barges to some of the off the beaten track excursions we visit. Intrigued? Then read on…
Spotlight on Enchanté: Elegance and luxury in the foothills of the Pyrenees
Dreaming of pleasant days on the canals of the South of France filled with sunshine, incredible wines, and daily cultural immersions? A cruise aboard Enchanté may have everything you’re looking... Read More
7 Great Markets to Visit in France
There is so much to love about travelling to new places and experiencing local cultures, but nothing compares to the sights, sounds and scents that awaken the senses on a... Read More
Discover the Charm of Champagne on a Luxury Barge Cruise
Few places on Earth can boast the name recognition of Champagne in France. You can taste the history, heritage and culture in every glass. Read More
In the Press
There have been many interesting and entertaining articles written by journalists and travel writers from across the globe about their French river cruises.
La Belle barge provides small-scale cruising with a very French flavour
Mike Grenby spent 6 days on the Burgundy canal, read about his Belle Epoque adventure here Read More
La Belle barge provides small-scale cruising with a very French flavour
Mike Grenby spent 6 days on the Burgundy canal, read about his Belle Epoque adventure here Read More
Slow Barge through the Loire Valley
Karen Pasquali Jones takes a tranquil cruise aboard Renaissance, through Burgundy and the Upper Loire Read More
6 Reasons You Should Go on a Canal Barge Cruise
Laura Lynch spent a week aboard the luxury hotel barge Finesse cruising the Canal du Midi. Read about her experience here Read More
Der gute Geist der Highlands
Auf einer 6-tägigen Kreuzfahrt an Bord der Luxus-Hotelbarge Spirit of Scotland besuchte O. Schmidt die schönsten Sehenswürdigkeiten Schottlands. Read More
Cruising in Burgundy
David Powell spent a week on the luxury hotel barge L’Impressionniste cruising through Burgundy. Read about his experience here Read More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time of year for a river cruise in France?
French river cruises usually run from March onwards, depending on the destination. The best time for river cruises in France is between the spring and autumn months. For more information about the best time of year for a cruise in a specific area of France, we recommend you visit the desired region’s page by selecting it from the ‘destinations’ drop down menu at the top of this page.
How much does a French river cruise cost?
The price of a France river cruise with European Waterways starts at £4,050/$5,490/€4,750 based on two people sharing a cabin. The exact price will vary, depending on several factors such as which part of France you wish to cruise in and whether you book a cabin to join like-minded travellers, or charter the barge for the entire week for the ultimate in privacy. Contact us for more information about the price of river cruises in France.
What are the cruise ports in France?
There are several different cruise ports in France. Some of the most popular ports that ships often dock at during river cruises France include:
- Paris
- Burgundy
- Le Havre
- Canal du Midi
- Bordeaux