RIVER BARGING IN EUROPE

• CAN your friendship with friends or family
survive 7 days on a small barge?
This is your next holiday FOR SURE!
• SELF-STEER RIVER CRUISING VACATIONS
• No License or Experience required
• VARIOUS OPTIONS to suit your budget
• Great variety of Destinations to choose from

Our comfortable and stylish fleet of self-drive cruisers is based across Europe’s most beautiful cruising destinations, giving you the biggest and best selection of boating vacation to choose from. In addition, our extensive network of bases means we can offer more one-way routes than any other operator too.

We know our boats! No other operator designs, builds, owns, operates and maintains as large a fleet. Being in control of our fleet means we can offer more flexibility and choice when it comes to planning your vacation dates too. Whether you’re looking for an affordable, traditional cruiser or the ultimate in boating luxury, we know we’ll have something to suit your cruising taste-buds - whatever your party size and whatever your budget.

We will be happy to arrange transfers from your arrival point to the base and can also do your food and drink shopping to stock up your boat before you arrive. Please complete our Taxi Transfer form and email, fax or post it back to the base at least 14 days prior to departure. The base receptionist will contact you directly to confirm details of your transfer.

RIVER BARGE DESTINATIONS

FRANCE

With the widest choice of boating holidays and boat charters across France, we've had to split the country into regions, each of which have their own unique style. Try the Canal du Midi in the South of France - Europe's oldest waterway stretching from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, or the impressive Lot River which winds through the South West of France.

ITALY

The enchanting city of Venice, its surrounding islands and classic Italian countryside and beaches are yours to discover and enjoy from the superb vantage position of your own sundeck. Head towards Trieste and discover the old traditions, quieter lifestyle and unspoiled landscape of the region Friuli. To the South of the Venetian lagoon, the protected nature reserve of the Po Delta and the nearby colourful villages will delight the nature lovers and bird watchers among you.

Cruising highlights include:

Watch glass blowing on the island of Murano
See lace-makers at work at Burano
Relax on the sandy beaches at Jesolo and other Adriatic seaside resorts
Admire world famous art and architecture of Venice
See spectacular wildlife on the Po Delta – an area of outstanding natural beauty
Fantastic food and wine wherever you travel

GERMANY

Book a boat charter in Germany or a Berlin boating break to experience the extraordinary German charms this wonderful destination has to offer: situated in the north east of Germany, the beautiful network of lakes, rivers and canals of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg form an idyllic cruising area. River cruises in Germany are noted for their clean air and crystal waters and this area is as popular with boating and water sports enthusiasts as it is with nature lovers.
Cruising highlights include:
The medieval town of Brandenburg
Amazing wildlife and birdlife in the Spreewald nature reserve
The fairy-tale castles at Rheinsberg and Fürstenburg
Sanssouci Castle at Potsdam
Berlin’s amazing architectural rejuvenation; its historical buildings and monuments and eclectic lifestyle
Lake Müritz – for fantastic sailing, swimming and water sports

ENGLAND

With a choice of two wonderful cruising locations, this is a chance to see the beauty of England from a different perspective.

The famous River Thames winds its way through the beautiful green countryside of England, past historic towns and cities and quintessential English villages with their riverside pubs and immaculate village greens. This is the home of cricket and afternoon tea, picnics on the riverbank and gentle strolls through Royal Parks, not to mention awe-inspiring towns and cities steeped in history.

The Norfolk Broads, an area of great natural beauty and a haven for wildlife, is one of England’s most popular cruising grounds. Renowned for its rural lifestyle and great boat-building traditions, and synonymous with images of families having fun on the water, this is a great place to simply relax and enjoy an altogether slower pace of life.

IRELAND

Boat charters in Ireland and Shannon River cruises are a stunning way to chill, have fun and experience Mother Nature at her very best. Take centuries-old monastic settlements, lush landscapes, dramatic scenery and delightful small villages with a big heart - and you have all the ingredients for a perfect boating holiday. No wonder cruising the River Shannon with an Emerald Star boat charter is such a popular holiday option in Ireland.

Cruising highlights include:

The rivers Shannon and Erne and surrounding lakes are an angler's paradise, stocked with salmon, pike and bream
Traditional Irish pubs and lively celtic music welcome you ashore
Majestic scenery around the Upper and Lower Lough Erne - where steep cliffs rise from the shimmering waters
Portumna's National Park and 17th Century castle for walking and sightseeing
Championship golf courses close to the waterways
Ancient religious sites - visit Clonmacnoise near Shannonbridge
Small towns, restaurants and bars at Lough Derg, the largest of the lakes to visit
From Carrick-on-Shannon, the hub of the waterways, explore the beautiful scenery around Lough Key

SCOTLAND

A Scottish canal break offers the perfect escape. Look what amazing highlights a boating holiday in Scotland can offer... Set against the magnificent hillsides and mountain ranges of the Highlands, and surrounded by beautiful scenery as far as the eye can see, the Caledonian Canal stretches between Inverness, the capital of the Highlands in the north, down to Fort William in the south.

Cruising highlights include:

Spectacular views and amazing scenery – the entire length of the Caledonian Canal
A ride on the West Highland Railway Line – a must for Harry Potter fans
Learn about Highland culture at the picturesque village of Fort Augustus
Championship mountain biking tracks
Salmon fishing, dolphin watching and monster spotting!
Shopping for a kilt in Inverness
A gondola ride to the top of Ben Nevis for breathtaking views

BELGIUM

Famous for its chocolates and lace, Belgium extends a warm and friendly welcome wherever you go. Peaceful countryside and ancient towns are connected by pretty Flemish waterways, which weave their way through this tiny country’s historic landscapes. From markets and museums to monuments, masterpieces and memorials ~ you’ll find there is always something to see and do, wherever you cruise.

Cruising highlights include:

Excellent sandy beaches at Nieuwpoort – perfect for family fun
War memorials and The Last Post at Ypres
Beautiful Bruges, the ‘Venice of the North’
Gothic Gent – Belgium’s ancient capital
More than 300 varieties of Belgian Beers!

HOLLAND

Boating is a way of life in Holland, so come on board and discover the best way to see this beautiful country! Make friends with the friendly Dutch nation on the waterways, admire the traditional windmills that border your cruising routes, head off on the waterside cycle routes or moor up in smart new marinas where modern facilities are plentiful and good.

Cruising highlights include:

Dutch masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Ruisdael at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum
The Dom Tower in Utrecht. Climb 465 steps to the top for superb views over the town’s beautiful canals and waterside restaurants
Sneek – the watersports centre of the Friesland region. Have fun on the water, visit its colourful shops and try a ‘Boterdrabbel’cake at a local café
Muiderslot – home to Holland’s most famous medieval castle and fabulous herb garden
The great lock at Muiden
Giethoorn – the ‘Little Venice’ of Holland

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