GO BARGING WITH EUROPEAN WATERWAYS

Today we had a day out of the office as we were invited to view one of European Waterways hotel barges – the Magna Carta. Docked handily outside a pub on the Thames at Windsor, we boarded the boat for a tour and presentation.

This is no regular barge on a canal, this is a boutique hotel style barge, that sleeps 8 guests in 4 spacious cabins on the lower deck, all en-suite and reminiscent of a country house. On the top deck there is a comfortable lounge area with dining table, plenty of comfortable sofas and a bar. With a crew of 4 you are well looked after.

Their fleet of 20 hotel barges ply the canals of France, United Kingdom, Italy and Holland. This has to be the most relaxing style of cruising – you only ever travel at 3mph after all. Travelling during the day and tying up in the early evening, the itinerary gives you plenty of time to explore the villages and small towns you call at on your 6-night trip.

On our visit there were a number of past guests all of whom loved these glamorous barges and I think this form of travel is the best-kept secret in river cruising.

Author	Kimberley Brown
Date	09 October 2009
Comment	Is this the same barge that Rick Stein used for his TV series?
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Author	Scott Anderson (White Star Cruise Manager)
Date	09 October 2009
Comment	Thanks for your comment. Its the same company – Rick Stein travelled on the Anjodi – based in France on the Canal du Midi. Apparently he will be filming another series on a luxury hotel barge in the near future.
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Author	Mr Richard Reid
Date	02 March 2010
Comment	I had massives of fun when I took the trip in the South of France, if the weathers good its one of the best ways to relax, after all you cant get anywhere in a hurry
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