✮5✮ Self-Drive Boats

Self-Drive Boating ~ No comforts forgotten!

Wherever you choose to cruise, luxury boating through France is a pleasure to savour. Hire boats at the luxury end of the spectrum are typically the latest models and so you’ll be enjoying the very best in design, décor and equipment levels, navigation aids and technology. On board you’ll find all the mod cons, from extremely well-equipped galleys and air conditioning throughout, to music systems and sockets for your own gadgets. On deck you’ll find plenty of room to relax in style, with outside seating areas, a second helm position, BBQ facilities, ambient lighting, outside music speakers, a drinks fridge and more.

Meanwhile, you’ll quickly learn to love the bow thrusters that typically come as standard on luxury boats, making manoeuvring even easier. Large saloons are typically bright and airy with plenty of windows and lots seating, expansive galleys have plenty of room to whip up a masterpiece and spacious cabins all enjoy en-suite bathrooms, comfortable beds and lots of storage. And if space is your ultimate luxury, then you might consider hiring a boat that is larger than you need, so you can enjoy even more room inside and out.


✮Superlative✮ Hotel Barges

Hotel Barging ~ Reach for the stars!

Hotel barge cruising is always a memorable experience, but choose a six star ‘Supreme’ or five star ‘Grand Luxe’ barge, and you’ll discover another level of luxury and exclusivity. This handful of owner-operated boats represents the pinnacle of luxury afloat for discerning travellers from across the globe to immerse themselves in the very best that France has to offer.

Formerly commercial barges or newly built, the top luxury barges have been sensitively transformed into sensational boutique hotels, with smart exteriors and sumptuous interiors, attentive staff and world class cuisine. Each one has its own distinct style, but all offer large and spacious staterooms, combining bedroom, dressing area and en-suite bathroom, finished with the finest bed linens, a choice of mattress and pillow firmness and first class bathroom amenities. Saloons are also spacious and offer a truly elegant sitting area in which to relax and enjoy the well-stocked bar, although with a superb sun deck and spa pool within arm’s reach, you might expect to spend most of your time out on deck, watching the stunning scenery slip effortlessly by.

Dining can be either en plein air enjoying the warmth of the sun or the dazzling array of stars, or perhaps below deck around a splendidly laid dining table. The cuisine, meanwhile, is guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your trip. Highly experienced chefs, some to Michelin star level, source the best local ingredients daily to prepare a feast of local and national French dishes, all accompanied by fine wines, delicious local cheeses, fresh bread and pastries. With typically only three or four cabins, you and your guests will have the barge to yourselves, to relax in spacious comfort and style, enjoying the finer things in life, where everything is taken care of and no detail is left to chance.

Not just in France!

If you’re not sure where to take your next barge vacation, take a look at our barging in Europe page where we report on some of the best hotel barging locations throughout Europe.


✮Supreme✮ River Cruises

River Cruising ~ Live life at the top!

With an unbeatable choice of rivers, itineraries and luxury cruise lines, France is the perfect choice for a top luxury river cruise. Each 5 star ship offers something different, but each one will give you that boutique hotel feel and a luxurious, all-inclusive experience. Some will even start the luxury service before you board, with a private car service to pick you up at home.

On board you will find beautifully designed interiors, from sumptuous lounges, bars and dining rooms to elegant staterooms that offer fine bed linen, premium bathroom amenities and flawless levels of comfort. On deck you will be able to relax on the sun deck, take a dip in the pool or find a quiet spot to watch the beautiful French countryside float on by. And with a typical crew to passenger ratio of one to one and half or two, you will enjoy impeccable service wherever you find yourself.

One of the highlights of any river cruise is the cuisine and, as you’d expect, fine dining is de rigueur on a luxury river cruise. Expertly trained chefs are on board to help you enjoy the very best that France has to offer. Flashes of Gallic flair in the kitchen will transform fresh, locally sourced ingredients into a superb dining experience with an unlimited supply of fine wines and beers to boost your enjoyment.

Luxury river cruises are also distinguished by the programme of excursions on offer that enable to you to explore and discover the region around you. From expertly guided tours, tastings and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, to the latest technology for self-guided exploration and complimentary bicycles, your ship is the perfect base for doing as much or as little as you like.

See also: How to Pack for Boating Holidays and your Holiday Reading List