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We offer exclusive ‘slow travel’ and ‘relaxed luxury’ experiences, consistently among the most frequently cited industry trends.

“We had a record year in 2022, with bookings 16 percent higher than our previous record, because our cruises tick all the boxes,” said Derek Banks, European Waterways’ managing director.

European Waterways is reporting record sales of its luxury hotel barge cruises as post-pandemic concerns continue to drive many major travel trends that speak to the company’s canal barging experience.

With some travellers still preferring to create a “travel bubble” composed of families and small groups, the company says that its private charter bookings have increased more than 45 percent.

Travellers also seek experiences that take them “off the beaten path”; they want to be more than observers and become immersed in the region’s local culture, gastronomy, and history. These are all integral parts of the European Waterways experience.

Launching a New Niche Market

As a tribute to their focus on providing “the ultimate slow travel experience,” hotel barge Anjodi still sails the waters today, setting the standards for all-inclusive, luxury travel along the canals and waterways of the French countryside.

Their venture helped ignite a new niche travel industry that proved instrumental in the revitalization of Europe’s intricate network of scenic canals and inland waterways as tourism destinations.

Built in 1929 initially to transport grain, the barge was meticulously transformed into a “boutique hotel on the water,” according to Banks.

Derek Banks and John Wood-Dow, who co-founded the company, launched European Waterways more than forty years ago by purchasing their first barge, Anjodi. It was one of the first luxury hotel barges on the Canal du Midi.

Exclusive Experiences

Anjodi on the UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi includes a private wine tasting at the Château Pech-Celeyran and a unique truffle hunting “expedition” with trained “truffle hounds”.

Banks added: “More and more travelers are discovering the ‘joys of luxury hotel barge cruising,’ and we are thrilled and honored to be recognized as a pioneer and standard-bearer for the industry.”

Cruising the Champagne region on Panache, guests will enjoy a private tour, wine tasting and gastronomic meal at the boutique Grand Cru winery of Frerejean Frères. As part of cruising Rosa in Gascony, guests will find themselves at the 18th century Château de la Motte, where the resident Baroness will give them a private tour and then take tea with them in her apartment.

Onboard their hotel barge, they are rewarded with exceptional gastronomic meals every day, prepared by a master chef, that includes wine pairings from local vintages. It reflects another travel trend of people feeling more confident about the future and booking their dream, ‘bucket list’ vacations far in advance.

The company’s Scottish Highlander and Spirit of Scotland in Scotland include a private tour of the Dalwhinnie whisky distillery, followed by a tasting of several of its famous single malts. For example, guests aboard La Bella Vita on Italy’s River Po can enjoy a private lunch with a Countess at her legendary villa.

Throughout all this, guests enjoy private chauffeured transportation in air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz minibuses to and from their excursions.

“Our 2023 bookings are already on another record pace,” said Banks.

During the many years helping to grow the canal cruising market, European Waterways has developed close relationships with many local businesses, vineyards, personalities, and restaurants along their routes.

Barges also include onboard amenities such as spa pools and bicycles for guests’ use. These have proven essential in creating highly curated experiences for their guests that have become a hallmark of European Waterways cruises. We also see solid bookings for 2024 and even 2025.