On your European barge cruise, you can expect a leisurely pace, an intimate atmosphere, and great, locally sourced food.
Where barge cruising came from & what it is now
Originally, these vessels were designed to carry cargo throughout the canals, lakes, and rivers of Europe, but now they have been repurposed exclusively for luxury travel for discerning travelers hoping to experience the relaxing and scenic side of Europe.
Each barge is a small, flat-bottomed boat that is luxuriously outfitted with small dining areas, a plush lounge, panoramic sun decks, and other small social spaces. Cabins are pretty small, so if you like space to spread out, you can’t count on that in your suite. However, we are happy to help you find accommodations with twin or double beds and pair you with a room where you will be comfortable. Plus, it is relatively affordable for a family to rent a whole boat for their cruise, which makes the space seem much bigger since it is shared with loved ones - after all, most barges accommodate just 12-24 passengers, with some carrying less than a dozen guests.
Cuisine
Cuisine is a major part of the barge cruising experience - the captain will usually go ashore in the local towns very early in the morning so that by the time you’re ready for your breakfast, you can enjoy a spread of freshly prepared food that reflects the region where you are cruising and whatever they are famous for. Lunches and dinners are the same, with delicious wines and local gastronomy. Plus, on barge cruises (like all of our European river cruises), food is included in the price.
No Motion Sickness!
If you are a person who gets seasick easily but wants a European cruising experience, then barge cruises are perfect for you - the slow pace makes it seem more like a floating hotel than a cruise and motion sickness is virtually never a problem.
Exclusive Access to Locks & Canals
One unique experience you will enjoy on barge cruises is the chance to cruise the canals and locks of Europe - while riverboats will go through locks along the rivers, they are too big to cruise the canals. Barges, originally designed precisely for navigating canals, enjoy exclusive cruising rights to these centuries-old European canals.
An inviting experience
You can also count on a very friendly captain and crew to welcome you and lead you on your experience. Some barges may be owned by bigger companies, but many are privately owned and have been converted with care by captains who want to share their love of the area with guests.
A Truly Leisurely Pace
The pace of barge cruises is very slow - sometimes covering just 70 miles in a week, or less. You will not visit as many major destinations as a traditional river cruise would, but you will spend much more time getting to know the region where you are cruising.
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
2 days ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.