What is a barge-hotel? A barge is a kind of boat designed to navigate shallow and narrow waterways. Most barges were built to carry goods into hard-to-reach areas of the country. Today's barge-hotels are redesigned cargo boats that have been entirely remodeled for their new life as passenger vessels. "Luxury" barges are small and usually accommodate no more than a dozen passengers in elegant staterooms with private bathrooms. These vessels generally cruise on smaller rivers and canals.

How is river and canal cruising different from an ocean cruise?

There are several significant differences between inland cruises and ocean cruises:

• Size of the boat: On most ocean cruises, you are on a large ship with hundreds or even thousands of other people. Riverboats generally hold 50 to 200 passengers, and barge-hotels usually take 4 to 50 people. That means you can get to know your fellow travelers, and you never have to stand in long lines.
• Distance covered: Riverboats cover at most 200 or 300 miles in a week, while small barge-hotels may cover less than 50 miles. The purpose of a barge cruise is not to rush from point A to point B. Quite the opposite. The goal is to relax in a stress-free environment with fine food and wine, enjoy the delights of the countryside you are passing through, and get to know the "soul of the country."
• Ports: Depending on the size of the boat, you may dock in the downtown area of a provincial capital or in a small village, where you can get off the boat and experience the local culture to the fullest.
• Activities: River and canal cruises include private sightseeing tours every day, along with the possibility of just relaxing on the sun deck or in the lounge area with a game of bridge or perhaps a good book. Larger boats have exercise rooms and swimming pools or spas. Because barges travel so slowly, you can sometimes even walk beside the boat on the towpath.
• Meals: Most cruises include all gourmet meals with wine. On some barges, drinks from the bar are also included. A single open seating is typical. Meals are never formal, although you may want to dress up a little for the captain's dinner the last night on board.

Like an ocean cruise, you have the convenience of spending your nights on board, without having to pack up in the morning. You also have the peace of mind knowing that meals and tours are included.

Are barges only available for groups to charter or can I book just one or two cabins? You may choose to charter the entire vessel or reserve one or more cabins. When you charter the boat, your party will have full use of it, and you may request certain deviations from the regular schedule and service. Whenever possible, the crew will make every effort to accommodate special needs, as long as you specify what you want at the time of the first deposit. On larger riverboats not available for charter, groups of 10 or more can often get special pricing

What is the minimum and maximum number of people a barge can accommodate? The smaller barges normally carry from 4 to 12 passengers, although a few are larger. It is also possible to tandem a set of two smaller barges in order to take groups of up to 20 people.

What amenities can I expect on board? All cabins have private, nicely appointed bathrooms with showers. Some suites include bathtubs. You will have meals (prepared by your onboard chef) in the dining room, and there is a lounge area for reading or playing games. Some barges have saunas and hot tubs or Jacuzzis, and the larger riverboats have swimming pools. Riverboats and some barges have telephones, TVs and computers on board. On the other barges, the barge manager will have a cell phone for emergency communications. For anyone who chooses to break the tranquility of the voyage for urgent business such as baseball scores, elections or market closings, public phones are handily spaced along the canals (or you can take your own cell phone, of course).

Are river and canal cruises expensive? Riverboats and barges come in many styles and levels of luxury from plain and comfortable to elegant and upscale, like a fashionable country house. But the essence of barging is not just in the decor. It is mostly in acquiring the taste and feel of the region revealed by the welcome greetings of the villagers, the smiles and hearty charm of the lock-keepers, and the personal and friendly attention of local artisans and guides. Barge rates reflect the level of luxury and vary depending on the time of year, but because the prices are all-inclusive, they represent excellent value. Meals, wines, guided excursions and admissions are generally all included. The smaller the vessel, the more personal the service and the richer the experience. This is, of course, reflected in the price. Small boats are ideal for families, groups of friends, or individuals who are attracted by the luxury of a barge cruise.

Will I have a language problem? No. All crew members speak English, and it is the main language used on board. All sightseeing tours will be conducted in English. Unless you choose to take off on your own while the boat is docked, you will always be accompanied by someone who speaks your language.

Will I be able to make special requests? Special dietary requests can be made to the chef or barge captain prior to your cruise. Please advise our reservations department at least 4 weeks prior to your cruise. If there is a birthday or any other special event to celebrate during your cruise, just let us know. We will try our best to accommodate those requests. Please make sure that you advise us of any food allergies or medical conditions that require special attention ahead of time.

What sort of activities will I find during my cruise? Lots! Daily guided tours to historic and cultural sites of the region provide many interesting choices - from touring chateaus, famous vineyards, country market towns and private gardens to visiting museums celebrating art, weapons, textiles or even bread! On some cruises, other interests can also be accommodated. All excursions are in air-conditioned vehicles.

Is barging only for the sedentary, older traveler? Not at all! Canal cruising is for those who want an "up-close-and-personal" experience in the countryside. Both mature and younger travelers find the pace and comfort of a barge the ideal way to explore the real heart and soul of a region. More active types like to take off on village walks or climb the nearby hills. The unique advantage of a chartered barge cruise is that we can tailor an itinerary and celebrate a special event to suit you and your group.

What do the prices include? All meals prepared by the onboard master chef, chauffeured and guided sightseeing and use of the onboard facilities as available (Jacuzzi, sauna, and media room with TV/DVD, etc.) The prices of most cruises include wine with lunch and dinner, and some include bar drinks as well.

What is not included? You should plan to buy optional but highly recommended trip cancellation insurance. You will need some cash to cover snacks not eaten on board and gratuities at your discretion. We are often asked to be more specific on this, so we recommend about 5% of the cost of your cruise (minimum 100 euros per person). Local transfers to and from the boat are not always included. Check the description of each package for details.

How long are the cruises? Most river and canal cruises are six nights/seven days - from Saturday afternoon to Friday morning or Sunday afternoon to Saturday morning. (Some cruises in Portugal start and end on Fridays.)

Will I feel confined? Not if you enjoy meeting the locals, viewing passing vineyards and chateaus from a hot tub on deck, or sharing experiences with a congenial group of travelers on journeys that seem more like "moving house parties." On the canals, you will be able to get on and off your barge practically at will - to take a walk along the towpath; meet and talk to the locals; view the vineyards, or accompany the crew as they shop in the early morning for delicious, freshly baked bread and croissants; learn the secrets of fine cuisine from your gourmet chef; savor an amazing variety of local cheeses and other delicacies - all of this in addition to the included sightseeing tours en route. The gentle movement of the barge, anchored at night, has caused dedicated insomniacs to report wonderful, restful sleep. It is the relaxed atmosphere aboard, the friendly and helpful crew, the peace and tranquility of the countryside, together with the wonderful cuisine, lively conversation and interesting sightseeing that make it magical.