Multigen Cruising with European Waterways

If you love the idea of cruising but prefer not to share your at-sea experience with thousands of other passengers on a mainstream cruise line, this may be the year to try a European Waterways hotel barge experience. Perfect for multigenerational family groups, the company is plying the rivers of Europe with a variety of fun itineraries.

The appeal of hotel barging on European Waterways is that if offers an immersive, all-inclusive “gentle voyage of discovery” with only 6-20 passengers on board, according to Derek Banks, managing director, European Waterways.

In fact, the company has been proactively expanding its cruise options to appeal to travelers of all ages and with a range of interests, capitalizing on the flexibility a small-vessel experience can offer — so much so that they coined the term “Cruises for Everyone” to brand the new line of offerings, Banks said.

Instead of hordes of people disembarking a huge ship at once and boarding buses to touristy attractions, hotel barge cruises are gaining traction for their more private and authentic excursions.

“Whether it’s golf, wine appreciation or special occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays, we can modify our itineraries to include more of what they love,” Banks said. “With multi-generational groups, for example, adults can savor gourmet meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients by our on-board master chef, while children can enjoy an informal array of delicious BBQ food. Tailored family activities such as waterpark visits, zoo trips or minigolf are also available in abundance. We can even arrange tennis tournaments, bicycle rallies or golf competitions to accommodate the sports enthusiasts.”

The company can take guests to ports on smaller waterways typically inaccessible to larger vessels. The network of European canals also allows passengers a level flexibility in their outings — a boon for families who want to hop on and off and explore the surroundings on bicycle or on foot.

Or families can opt for daily, chauffeured “off the beaten track” excursions to a wide selection of locations, from wine tastings to private tours of stately homes.

Departures include Aug. 26 and Oct. 21 on the eight-passenger L’Art de Vivre in Burgundy; the July 15, Aug. 5 and Oct. 14 on the 12-passenger La Belle Epoque, also in Burgundy; and Aug. 26 and Oct. 21 on the 12-passenger Panache in Alsace and Lorraine.