Flexible Itinerary Options Offer Culinary Excursions, Boutique and Market Shopping, Art, and Well-being Themes
European Waterways is the largest luxury hotel barging company in Europe. For those of you not familiar with the term hotel barging, it is a boutique, unique experience, offering an immersive, all-inclusive “gentle voyage of discovery”, focusing on the culture, history, fine wine and gourmet cuisine of the region.
Travelling in groups is increasing in popularity and European Waterways has introduced 6 night “Ladies at Leisure” hotel barge charter options, offering a wide range of excursions, culinary experiences, shopping and health-conscious themes, such as yoga and walking.
They are a unique way for female travellers to indulge in their favourite activities, while on holiday with their relatives, friends, or social groups in some of the most attractive and exclusive regions of Europe.
Managing Director of European Waterways, Derek Banks, said “Today’s female travellers are more confident and independent. The social nature of hotel barging makes it an ideal way to take a break, or mark a celebration, with like-minded friends in a relaxing setting”.
European Waterways’ Ladies at Leisure cruises can be tailored to meet the special interests of each group. For example, a culinary themed cruise can include private cooking demonstrations, excursions may feature truffle hunting and visits to local attractions such as an artisan chocolatier, or a Mediterranean oyster farm.
Guests can take an educational tour of L’Oulibo, a factory that produces the purest extra virgin olive oil from the famous Lucques olive, one of the hardest from which to extract the oil. They can also enjoy gastronomic excursions to local food markets, accompanied by their on-board master chef, who can incorporate their culinary finds into the evening menu.
Culinary-Themed
L’Impressionniste
The deluxe 12-passenger barge which sails Southern Burgundy on the Canal de Bourgogne – the cruise offers free transfers in chauffeured minivans from Paris
Enchanté
For smaller groups, the ultra-deluxe 8-passenger barge cruises on the famed Canal du Midi, are ideal.
What’s Included
Charter pricing includes:
- an attentive, experienced crew;
- transfers from the pick up point to the barge mooring (and return on the day of departure);
- en-suite accommodation;
- all gourmet meals; all drinks/fine wines/open bar;
- all daily, escorted excursions/tours, which are pre-arranged and these are with transport provided;
- use of bicycles on board
- Some cruises also feature onboard entertainment by local performers, as well as demonstrations by local craftsmen.
With the charter offer applying, full barge prices for selected Spring 2019 cruise departures aboard Enchanté start from £29,080, based on 8 people, a saving of over £8,000.
Well Being Cruises
Health-themed holidays are also increasingly popular with female travellers, and European Waterways’ cruises offer plenty of opportunities to engage in “gentle exercise”, such as walking on the gentle towpaths that run parallel to the canal, or starting the day with a morning yoga class on deck.
L’Art de Vivre the 8-passenger hotel barge offers Walking Cruises in Burgundy between Auxerre and Chevroches, with the cruises providing countless opportunities to take in the historic Burgundian countryside and picturesque medieval villages along the way.
Wine Appreciation Cruises
The 8-passenger Rosa hotel barge sails through the sun soaked city of Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the most famous of the Bordeaux appellations.
The 20-passenger La Bella Vita provides a slice of the good life on her Wine Appreciation Cruise through the Veneto region of Italy. Guests can taste world-renowned vintages as they tour the sprawling Renaissance wine estates en route between Venice and Mantua.
Art Themed Cruises
For more creative groups, art-themed cruises come with an expert “art guide” who shows guests around craft workshops and boutiques and suggests the best painting spots. The hotel barge itself makes an ideal “spot,” and guests can paint on-board while enjoying a cocktail, or chilled glass of champagne.
Onboard Activities
“There is never a ‘what do we do today’ moment on a European Waterways’ cruise, because activities are carefully planned to fill the days,” said Banks. “We also ensure there is plenty of free time for our guests to do nothing at all but enjoy the beautiful countryside as they sit back and sip their favourite wine. For some, that’s ‘activity’ enough!”
European Waterways
With over 40 years’ experience and a fleet that spans nine countries, a 6 to 20-person capacity and 1:2 crew ratio, European Waterways is able to provide an impeccable level of on board service and can transport guests on the intimate inland waterways that are inaccessible to larger vessels.
This fascinating network of smaller canals allows for flexibility, spontaneity and ample opportunity to hop off and explore the beautiful surroundings via bicycle, or on foot.
In addition to this there are daily, chauffeured excursions “off the beaten track” to a wide variety of enthralling locations, from exquisite wine tastings to private tours of stately homes.
Please visit www.europeanwaterways.com for information
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