VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO LUXURY HOTEL BARGING

  LUXURY HOTEL BARGE CRUISING...
...provides a slow pleasant way to deeply explore the many historical sites, culture, food, wines, villages, and towns found along the rivers and ancient canals of Europe, Scotland, Ireland, and the UK.

A word of caution... Luxury Hotel Barge Cruising is seriously addictive!  After one Luxury Hotel Barge Cruise, you will be working with CM TRAVEL 4FUN to plan your 2^nd, then 3^rd, 4^th, and eventually... your n^th Luxury Hotel Barge Cruise.  

In addition to exploring the many itineraries, repeat cruisers return to introduce new friends and family to these wonderous journeys, coordinate future cruises with new friends made on past cruises, and/or explore a variety of Luxury Hotel Barge Theme Cruises (with a focus on wine, golf, music, a special event or ?).

Repeat Luxury Hotel Barge Cruisers may choose a smaller more intimate vessel, charter a vessel for their entire family, or create the ultimate BFF girls holiday.  Astute business managers charter vessels to create the ultimate in business conference environments.  The possibilities seem, and perhaps are... endless.

Watch as this travel writer talks about his...

FIRST LUXURY HOTEL BARGE CRUISE: 

LUXURY HOTEL BARGE CRUISING lets passengers truly "take-in" the scenery and culture, offering hands-on detailed historical site interactions and enhanced cultural immersion experiences.  

Luxury Hotel Barges take travelers beyond the standard river cruise tourist towns and historical site stops... enabling passengers to interact with the residents, artisens, shopkeepers, chefs, and vintners found in/around small river and canal towns.  Luxury Hotel Barge "off-the-beaten-path" cruise itineraries enable guests to visit remote historical sites few tourists ever see.

Often people try to compare Luxury Hotel Barges with River Boat Cruises... but, as you will learn, there is no comparison.  The only similarity is the fares, with Luxury Hotel Barge cruises often costing no more than (and sometimes less than) better known "Luxury River Cruises".

Food:  This video provides only a visual taste of the:
 
  GASTRONOMIC DELIGHTS ON LUXURY BARGE CRUISES

Modern Hotel Barges are much more luxurious than any river boat... providing a list of luxury extras including:

• gourmet chefs providing meals that are as delightful to look at - as they are to eat
• meals prepared with fresh greens, meats, fish, breads, cheeses and fruits from local markets
• fine wines from the region as well as from local vintners along the way
• top flight alcohol from around the world
• inviting onboard accommodations and public areas
• very high crew to passenger ratios
• extended tours and other organized off-barge activities are 100% all-inclusive
• special requests and services not even imagined on river boats.
• audio-visual equipment for pre-arranged small group or business presentations
• special request shore-based events and experiences on charter cruises
• group charter options include a wide range of customizable itineraries
• transfers to/from the vessel from connecting rail, air, or pre/post hotel(s)
• all gratuities for the cruise, tours, and transfers... included in the fare

EXPLORATION OF A FRENCH MARKET, A SAMPLE TOUR   

All off-barge tours and activities are very personalized interactive small group affairs.  Barge shore trips take passengers to places and into social and cultural situations that standard river ship passengers never know exist.

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Most barge cruises are designed as strictly adult affairs creating environments where romance and close personal friendships begin... or come back into season.

With the exception of Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises specially designed to accommodate families and chartered barge cruises... children are normally not allowed on Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises.

VIDEO:  SPRING LUXURY BARGE CRUISE IN SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS  

The number of passengers on a Luxury Hotel Barge is very small (normally from 4 to 20 passengers max).  As few as 2 can charter an entire vessel for a private cruise (creating the ultimate private honeymoon escape!).

Passengers have an opportunity to form lasting friendships as they share the cruise, onboard public spaces, excursions, and meals with their fellow travelers.  Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises place everyone onboard on the same luxurous playing field... whether rich, famous, or anyone else... Luxury Hotel Barge experiences blend all together to share as one.

    THE ARZVILLER BARGE ELEVATOR, A BONDING EXPERIENCE 

In addition to each other, Hotel Barge Cruisers have the time and opportunity to to meet, interact, and even "friend" local people as they sail through the many small towns and villages on their cruise itinerary.  Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises create secure travel environments that encourage and support passenger interactions with local people... creating opportunities to develop a better understanding of local and regional cultures.

While Luxury Hotel Barges often cruise on parts of rivers and lakes (and sometimes in sheltered coastal waters), Luxury Hotel Barges are normally found on canals running alongside rivers... and/or on canals going away from rivers connecting small towns and villages to rivers.

The excursions provided on Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises are slow, unrushed, high-touch explorations.  Here is a wonderful example:

The Most Complete Medieval Fortified City in Existence... Carcassonne 

Hotel Barge cruises provide passengers the option of completely self-guided days and experiences, but also offer optional daily guided off-barge tours, activities, events, meals, or other unique experiences. 

Passengers may request access to a variety of customized on (or off) barge experiences and tours prior to travel (or in many cases even while on the cruise!).  If feasible, special requests will always be arranged (some added customized activities may create an added cost to the standard fare).

Guest speakers and lecturers may be also be offered on (or off) board.  On many cruises, there is an option to attend one or more local functions, events, or activities taking place in local communities (as the barge cruises by).

Special diets are accommodated with advance request.  However, unless passengers bring along personal assistant(s) to make it possible, people with significant mobility problems may find Luxury Hotel Barges inhospitable.  

Although some smaller barges are a little more spartan, in general, stateroom amenities are far better on Luxury Hotel Barges - than on any river boat (some barges are incredibly luxurious). 

On some very small Barges, passengers may spend some or all nights off the barge... staying in boutique (and sometimes unique) 4 and 5 star on-shore accommodations.  On smaller barges some special meals may be brought to passengers on-board from a local chef (as the barge cruises through a community).

There is no onboard glamerous entertainment... but there are guest lecturers, small bands or other musicians, story tellers, and other local entertainers who visit and perform on the barge - as it slowly cruises past their home villages.

On most barges, passengers can optionally watch or even help their chef prepare some meals, arrange onboard cooking classes with the vessel's chef, and/or learn about wine pairings from the chef and local vintners in the region. 

Local chefs and/or wine masters may come on board to share their knowledge, experience, and educate passengers about local history associated with the foods and wines they are consuming.

          WINE APPRECIATION AND EDUCATION ON & OFF BOARD

The barges move so slowly that passengers can walk or bike ride into local villages, parks, or forests and easily catch up with the barge later further down the canal.  Also, passengers can arrange to have crew members fetch them later in the day (or the crew may arrange for others to bring the passengers back to the barge).  Such experiences can usually be arranged "on the fly"... which creates a special sense of travel freedom for the passengers.

Here is an example of an off-vessel tour where a traveler may spend hours (or an entire day) exploring the local area:

 A TOUR OF NARBONNE 

There is another type of barging that CM TRAVEL 4FUN calls Adventure Barging.  Individuals, couples, or small groups can rent and navigate their own barge on some of the canals in Europe.  Generally someone on board has to have reasonable boating skills and/or some experience navigating canal locks in order to qualify for these types of experiences.

These self-operated boats may (or may not) have staff on board to prepare meals and maintain the staterooms. 

In some cases, prepared meals and/or wine food are brought to the boat for the passengers to consume.  

Alternately, locals may bring requested food stuffs, breads, and wines to the barge allowing the passengers to prepare their own onboard meals.

In still other cases, the passengers are completely on their own... and do all of their own shopping for meals as they pass through the many towns and villages on their itinerary.

OTHER THOUGHTS ABOUT LUXURY BARGE CRUISING:

CM TRAVEL 4FUN recommends Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises as the preferred way to see and experience the history and local culture of Europe. 

Even the most timid sea-sick prone sailor will enjoy these cruises, and many well-traveled ocean and river cruisers fall absolutely in love with Luxury Hotel Barge Cruising.

Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises offer the ultimate intimate honeymoon experience for couples of all ages.  Whether you charter an entire vessel just for the two of you, or you travel on a shared Luxury Hotel Barge cruise, the romance of the experience and the memories created... will bring you back again and again (just so you can reconnect with the romance of that "first time").

Family vacations on shared Luxury Hotel Barge "Family Cruises" are a great way to introduce children to history, culture, fine foods, and new friends... while creating cross-generational family bonds that last a lifetime!

Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises are an excellent platform for a family reunion... the rates are amazingly reasonable for a small family group... and a travel bargain for larger family groups.

Corporate managers use Luxury Hotel Barges as floating conference centers.  The onboard environment creates the ideal work space for a relaxed yet highly-focused small group business meeting or planning session... while creating the ultimate vacation escape and/or incentive award for employees.

Women only groups find Luxury Hotel Barges to be the ultimate BFF experience.  A "Women Only" Luxury Hotel Barge Cruise may easily become the standard against which all of your future "Women Only" travel experiences will be compared!

And yes... weddings can be arranged on Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises (as well as nearly any other personal special event)!

CONTACT CM TRAVEL 4FUN
to begin planning your magical Luxury Hotel Barge Cruise... today!

MORE!!!  CM TRAVEL 4FUN LUXURY HOTEL BARGE CRUISE VIDEOS

   LUXURY HOTEL BARGE CRUISES IN NORTHERN ITALY - FROM VENICE

   LUXURY HOTEL BARGE CRUISES IN THE FRENCH BORDEAUX REGION

   THE STAIRCASE LOCKS AT FONSERANNES IN OPERATON

   LUXURY HOTEL BARGE VISIT TO 12TH CENTURY MINERVE CATHEDRAL

DETAILED ITINERARY INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

CM TRAVEL 4FUN will share a list of all available standard Luxury Hotel Barge itineraries and related details to help plan your Luxury Hotel Barge Cruise experience.  All you have to do is... ask!   

If your group charters a vessel, you may customize any existing itinerary... or create a unique itinerary exploring one or more of the other canals and waterways in Europe (not included in the standard itinerary list)!

For professional assistance arranging your next Luxury Barge Cruise...
CONTACT CM TRAVEL 4FUN

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