Absoluut2 - Classic Cruise in Burgundy

Welcome to our exclusive collection of luxury hotel barge cruises. For many years, we have specialised in creating slow paced cruise vacations on some of the most beautiful inland waterways in Europe, giving our guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the gastronomy, culture and history of the regions we pass through.

All our hotel barge cruises guarantee a fully-crewed luxury vessel that accommodates between just six and twenty passengers. These intimate, small groups allow us to create the atmosphere of a floating house party on board.

You may choose to charter a whole boat with family and friends, or join a small group of like-minded travellers on an individual cabin basis. We can also arrange a wide selection of themed barge cruises which will appeal to all types of interest groups, big or small, including golf, walking and wine appreciation themed cruises.

Every European Waterways six-night barge cruise includes all gourmet meals, regional wines, an open bar,  local transfers and the use of barge facilities such as bicycles to explore the towpaths, a sundeck to laze on, or a spa pool to relax in. We also offer daily escorted excursions “off the beaten track” to wineries, castles, markets or to see craftsmen at work.

All this, combined with a few hours’ sedate cruising each day through some of Europe’s finest scenery, makes a hotel barge cruise with us a truly unique experience.

We have been involved in all aspects of the hotel barge and travel industry for nearly 40 years including designing, building, owning and operating our fleet of luxury hotel barges. We have gradually refined our barge cruise holidays into unique travel experiences, which are just waiting to be discovered.

We begin by seeking out the finest classic working barges and then painstakingly transform them into luxury cruise barges, which we call floating country hotels, using the finest of hardwoods, solid brass fittings and over a quarter of a century of experience. Our team is experienced, multi-lingual and enthusiastic, and we are proud of the personal service we give to every client, from the time we are first contacted right through to the captain’s dinner and your farewell breakfast.

We listen to our passengers' comments first hand and by using these suggestions and our own expertise, we have painstakingly created our fleet of beautiful, comfortable luxury hotel barges, specifically designed to show you, our passengers, the heart of Europe from the inside. The feeling of 'gentle exploration' which characterises our barge cruises, the warm atmosphere evident on all our vessels and the excellent service provided by our loyal English speaking crew, combine to ensure a perfect inland cruise.

We appreciate that you have a vast choice of holiday destinations and we value your custom. If you decide you are looking for a relaxing European holiday with fine food, good wines, interesting excursions and a touch of pampering, then all that remains, is for you to choose which of our luxury barges appeals to you most