10 Best European Barge Cruises for 2022-2023

Board an exciting 7-day cultural cruise aboard La Nouvelle Etoile as it cruises from Holland crossing the border to Belgium to explore the world famous gardens, flower auction, pottery and some of the best-preserved works of art marked in history.

European Classic Cruise - Ireland

7 Days from $4,600

Discover the scenery and historic structures throughout Ireland on this 7-day cruise aboard Shannon Princess. Take a relaxing cruise along the beautiful waterways of the region to experience an excursion to Portumna and Galway, explore haunted Leap Castle, tour Birr Castle’s Gardens, and visit the oldest whiskey distillery plus so much more!

Adventures in Europe. Scottish marine band

European Classic Cruise - Scotland

7 Days from $4,890

Discover the beauty of Scotland on a 7-day getaway cruise aboard the cozy barge hotel Scottish Highlander. Explore the mystical waterways of Scotland and be amazed at its geographical beauty. See the beautiful stone castles of Scotland that the country is famous for.

European Canal Cruises

7 Days from $5,050

Embark the Nymphea on a 7-day cruise along Loire Valley in Central France. Explore the magnificent chateaus in the region and learn more about French history. Enjoy the scenery of the countryside's landscapes and have a taste of their locally produced wine.

Venice and Mantua Cruise

7 Days from $4,290

Departing from Venice aboard the intimate ship La Bella Vita, enjoy a 7-day cruise of Italy, stopping in Pellestrina, Chioggia, the Renaissance city of Ferrara, Adria, Governolo, and ending in Mantua. Along the way, savor the wine at Bagnoli Estate and Villa Widmann Borletti, visit famous monuments, and explore the Naval Museum.

Get Away From It All: Saone-et-Loire to the Cote d'Or

Dijon - Dijon
7 Days from $3,435

Join us for a unique 7-day journey along the Burgundy canal to discover cities with distinctive charm, roundtrip from Dijon aboard MS Danièle.

European Classic Cruise - Scotland

7 Days from $5,090

Discover the beauty of Scotland on a 7-day getaway cruise aboard the elegant barge hotel Spirit of Scotland. Explore the mysterious Lochs of Scotland and be amazed of its geographical beauty. See the beautiful castles of Scotland that are featured in different movies.

Meandering Along the Burgundy, Saone and Center Canal

Dijon to Saint-Léger-sur-Dheun
7 Days from $3,489

On board MS Danièle, embark on a seven-day cultural and gourmet cruise through the Burgundy canal. Discover cities with their own special charm, from Dijon to Saint-Léger-sur-Dheun.

Pristine towns line the canals of France

Charming Provence: a barge cruise in Southern France

Arles to Sète
7 Days from $3,582

Board the charming Anne-Marie for an unforgettable 7-day cruise experience along the Rhoner River and the Canal du Rhone à Sète. Start your cruise in Arles, and begin a discovery journey of the culture, cuisine and traditions of southeastern France.

Meandering Along the Burgundy, Saône and Centre Canal

7 Days from $3,435

Discover beautiful and famous destinations with each stop at unique and authentic French towns. Prepare to be captivated by France's many facets on this 7-day small ship cruise aboard the MS Déborah

Best European Luxury Barge Cruises for 2022-2023

Trip Name	From	Days	Next Departure	Summary
Classic Cruise - Holland to Belgium	$8846	7	May 14, 2023	Board an exciting 7-day cultural cruise aboard La Nouvelle Etoile as it cruises from Holland crossing the border to Belgium to explore the world … 0
Champagne Cruise	$8846	7	Jun 26, 2022	Spoil yourself on a 7-day cruise through the region of Champagne while aboard La Nouvelle Etoile. Visit Chateaux of Vaux-le-Vicomte, a large private … 0
Southern Burgundy Cruise	$5590	7	Jun 26, 2022	Board L’Impressionniste for this 7-day cruise which will take you on a tour that starts and ends in Paris. View the beautiful French countryside … 0
Private Charter - Southern Burgundy Cruise Aboard L'Impressionniste	$63300	7	Jun 26, 2022	L'Impressionniste embarks on a 7-day cruise through Southern Burgundy's Ouche Valley, renowned for its history and vineyards. Visit the Château de … 0

Barge Cruising

Top European Barge Cruising Destinations

Stop in Avignon on your cruise of the Rhône river.

French Barge Cruises

Canal du Midi

Explore Paris, the legendary city of light

Seine River Barge Cruises

The Palais des Papes dominates the Avignon skyline

Rhone River Barge Cruises

Moselle River Barge Cruises

Golden hour in Venice's famed Piazza San Marco

Italy Barge Cruises

Netherlands Barge Cruises

Scotland Barge Cruises

All Europe Articles

Europe Barge Cruising Travel Guide

When to take a Barge Cruise in Europe

The best time to take a barge cruise through Europe is probably the autumn season, between September and October. Summer can also be an enjoyable barge cruising season if you don’t mind hotter temperatures and bigger crowds, and the start of the river cruising season in late spring (April-May) can be a good time to see Europe coming back to life after winter.

All you need to know about Barge Cruising

Barge cruises are one of the most unique ways to explore France, Central Europe, and the United Kingdom. Intimate accommodations, great food, and focused experiences are part of the excitement of a barge cruise.

View from the harbour of Basel, Switzerland

Best Times to Cruise the Rhine

Late April to early June and September to early October are widely considered the best times to cruise the Rhine River due to ideal weather and crowds, while cruise prices are correspondingly higher during these periods. That said, the decision of when to take a Rhine River cruise is largely a personal preference of weather.

What to expect on a barge cruise

On your European barge cruise, you can expect a leisurely pace, an intimate atmosphere, and great, locally sourced food.

Barge cruise vs. River cruise

What is the difference is between a European barge cruise and a river cruise? The relaxed and intimate atmosphere onboard is similar, and destinations are often largely the same as well, visiting many of the same major ports. The main difference between a barge cruise and a river cruise in Europe is the size of the boat and hence the number of passengers onboard.

Experience Europe from a novel perspective aboard an inviting barge cruise!

What were once barges built for cargo transport have been transformed by their innovative captains hoping to share their love of Europe with travelers into luxury cruising barges.

Intimate quarters, with space for just 12-24 travelers in cozy accommodations, give you exclusive access to the rivers and canals that traditional riverboats can't enter.

The slower pace of barge cruises may mean that you visit fewer destinations on your cruise, but it also means you get to truly enjoy the rolling slopes, vineyards, and rich cultures of Europe along the way.

Check out all the best destinations for barge cruising in Europe:

France: Canal du Midi, Alsace-Lorraine, Burgundy, Champagne, Paris.
Scotland & Ireland
Germany: Moselle River
Netherlands & Belgium

When to Go on your European Barge Cruise

The best time to enjoy a barge cruise through Europe is in the autumn season, when the summer tourists have gone home and the heat is waning.

If you don't mind bigger crowds and hotter days, summer is a good time to plan your trip as well.

Late spring, in April and May, can be an ideal shoulder season as well if you don't mind a bit of spring showers and cooler temperatures.

What's included on your barge cruise?

One of the best parts about barge cruises is that they are all inclusive- meaning that everything (even the alcohol) is included in the price.

Daily excursions and tours and any activities are also included.

Plus, the food is often prepared by the captain and their crew and sourced from local ingredients using old family recipes.

Like all cruises, airfare, extra tours before or after the itinerary, and gratuities are not included.