Brand Backstory
European Waterways has operated luxury barge cruises since the early 1980s, and with 18 vessels in its fleet cruising to nine countries – including France, Holland, Italy, Ireland, England, and Scotland – it’s the largest barging company in Europe. These former industrial barges, which once carried everything from grain to munitions, have been transformed into elegant floating boutique hotels carrying between eight and 20 passengers onboard. With top speeds of just 10 knots, barge cruising is the ultimate slow travel experience – we walked along the path beside the barge and beat it to our destination by 45 minutes! On a barge, you gently coast down Europe’s smaller historic canals and waterways that ocean and river cruise ships can’t navigate.
Ship Snapshot
While European Waterways’ barges offer similar cruising experiences, each flat-bottomed vessel’s size varies according to the dimensions of the locks on the various waterways it sails on. Each barge has its own eclectic personality. Enchanté, a 100-foot, ultra-deluxe, eight-passenger boat, was built in Belgium in 1958. Since being converted in 2008, it has cruised along the 17th-century Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern France. We cruised from Salleles-d'Aude to Trebes in late August, while other six-night sailings run between late April and October. The crew of five included a boat captain, tour director, chef, housekeeper, and hostess.
Onboard Amenities
I loved that Enchanté, like most European Waterways barges, has plenty of outdoor space on its shaded sun deck to relax with coffee, a book or a glass of wine. There’s also a six-person hot tub. Inside, the comfy, French-coastal inspired living room and dining area is fully air-conditioned or heated depending on the season, with large panoramic windows that drench the space with sunlight. There’s a small library with books, games, binoculars, and maps, along with umbrellas. Wifi is available, although depending on where the barge is sailing, I found that service can be spotty at times.
Passengers can walk or cycle through the villages while the barge is moored canal-side – there are eight bicycles and helmets aboard – or even while it’s sailing; just make sure you find out where the barge is headed!
Staterooms
Below the main deck, the four beautifully appointed, light-filled suites – configured as two single beds or one double – are about 200 square feet. They feature mahogany furnishings, plush carpeting, a desk area, porthole windows, and a stylish ensuite bathroom with a glass shower stall. I loved that the room came stocked with premium L’Occitane bath products, including handmade olive oil soap from the mother-and-daughter-operated Mas d’Antonin. Note: There are no TVs in the staterooms, and you’ll need European converters to charge your devices.
What's Included
Even with prices north of $8,000 per person, Enchanté passengers get lots of bang for their buck. This intimate, personalized voyage includes daily excursions to places most tourists never see: I enjoyed exploring fortified European villages, grand castles, and architectural marvels in out-of-the-way places without forking out extra cash. Some memorable experiences along the way: truffle hunting with adorable dogs, olive oil sampling, touring Medieval churches and towns, and wine tasting at a family-owned vineyard, with an exclusive lunch in a jaw-droppingly gorgeous château.
A well-stocked, self-serve bar, along with fresh fruit, soft drinks, coffee, and tea, is available all day and night. Meals, cocktails, and premium wines are also part of the package. Transportation between the Narbonne train station to the barge, and for all excursions, is also included in the company’s nine-seater Mercedes Sprinter van. The barge can also be chartered for groups of up to eight.
Enchanté sails out of Narbonne, France, and it’s super easy to get there. We flew into Barcelona, a 2.5-hour train ride away, and spent a few days pre- and post-cruise there. Toulouse is about the same distance, or you can get to Narbonne from Bordeaux, Marseille, or Paris. Gratuities for the crew are not included, so expect to pay five to 10 percent of the cruise fare in cash, which is divided among the team.
Food & Drink
Enchanté dishes up an elevated culinary journey each day, with meals prepared fresh by the barge’s chef using locally sourced ingredients and fine wine from regions toured during the day. One highlight for me was shopping with the chef at the farmer’s market, where we chose that day’s cheeses and produce. Several European Waterways’ vessels, including Enchanté, have open kitchens, so we often watched our chef cook.
For breakfast, we ate (too many!) fresh-baked pastries and breads, eggs on request, plus an assortment of fruit, yogurt, granola, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Lunch typically included soup or salad, a regional dish, and a dessert or cheese course – often served al fresco on the sun deck. Dinner is more formal, with local cuisine by candlelight. Fine regional wines accompany lunch and dinner.
Fast Facts
Location: Canal du Midi, France
Vibe: Relaxed, casual elegance
Rating: Five-star
Starting Rate: $8,250 per person (2026 prices)
Room Count: 4
Our Favorite Thing About the Ship: The sun deck
Dining: Onboard chef prepares market-fresh meals paired with local wines.
Amenities: Hot tub, bikes, 24-hour bar cart, small library
Closest Airports: Barcelona, Toulouse
