Another Kind of River Cruising: Barge Cruises are Something Different
by Judy Jacobs /River cruising continues to draw ever-increasing attention but there’s another type of vacation, travel agents may want to check out—barge cruises may appeal to clients looking for a different experience on the river.
Barges—small upscale vessels that cruise the canals of rural Europe—have been around for decades, but many travel agents are unaware of their existence.
“Barge cruising speaks to something that’s disappearing in this world, where people are constantly on their cell phones and absorbed in tweeting,” said John Burgess, manager of the leisure division of Preferred Travel of Naples (Fla.), Inc., a Signature agency.
“It’s a step back in time to a kinder, gentler era.”
France and Europe
About 90% of barges operate in France, which has an extensive canal system. Trips are offered through Champagne, Burgundy, the Upper Loire, Alsace, Canal de Midi, Provence, and Aquitaine.
Barges also cruise the canals and some rivers in Holland, England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and Italy.
They carry four to 22 passengers and are mainly family-owned and operated, with a crew that includes a gourmet chef.
Floating hotels
Although barges may be small, they offer a range of facilities.
“It’s like hotels,” said Crystal Groome,” owner of The Barge Connection in Grass Valley, Calif. “We have barges with jacuzzis on deck and some with heated pools. All have private baths and shower in each cabin. They’re also all all-inclusive.”
The ‘wow’ factor
Over the years, barge cruising has gained a devoted following, but it also offers something new for upscale clients looking for something different.
And, according to agents and brokers, it’s an incredible product.
“It’s probably the most consistently ‘wowed” travel product you could possibly sell,” said Don Dillin, owner of Special Places Travel, an Edgewater, Md. agency that specializes in barge travel. The agency also acts as a broker and pays commissions to other agents who sell its products.
“People come back and say it’s the best thing they’ve ever done.“
Repeat business
Barge cruising also tends to foster repeat business.
“I have a couple who has done 18 barge cruises. In addition to everything else they do, they keep going back,” said Burgess.
“There are only so many areas where you can do the barge cruises, but each year there’s a different barge or a new barge, and they’ve met all the captains and the crews.”
Slowing down
Barges travel at a very slow pace, covering about 50 to 60 miles total on their mostly weekly itineraries.
That provides people with an indepth experience of a small area. These cruises are for clients who want to soak in non-urban culture.
Typical clients tend to be well-traveled and in their mid-40s to 70s.
“They’re for very dedicated travelers who are interested in luxury and food and wine,” said Ellen Sacks, owner of Chicago-based The Barge Lady. Sacks is a barge broker, in business since 1985, who sells trips directly to consumers as well as through travel agents.
“Any of your clients who have taken a safari, rented a villa, cruised on a boutique ship, or chartered a yacht in the Caribbean [are likely candidates],” she said.
Family appeal
Although they mostly appeal to couples, barge cruises are an excellent choice for families as well, according to agents.
“It’s a great product for multigenerational groups,” said Robert Jones of Bainbridge Travel, a Virtuoso agency in Bainbridge Island, Wash.
“They’re used to being in tight quarters with each other, and the activities can be tailored to match the interests of the crowd on the boat, Jones said.
“The people [who operate the barges] tend to be authentically friendly and knowledgeable. Clients come back raving about the people who run the barges.”
Pricey
Barge cruising is not cheap.
“Barge cruise prices track with the size of guest cabins as well as the amenities on board, from $3,000 per person, up to $8,000 per person per cruise week, based on double occupancy,” said Dillin.
“The highest end barges have guest cabins at 200 square feet or more. Lowest cost barges typically have cabin sizes of about 100 square feet or a bit smaller, he said. Higher end barges also have more elegant furnishings and often a hot tub.”
Barge season lasts from mid-April to the end of October. “The most popular months are June and September, because the weather is good then. Sometimes the cruises in April and at the end of October are less expansive,” said Sacks.
Self-drive barges are a less expensive option, and The Barge Connection has them available to agents for clients who are adventurous but have a smaller budget.
Self drives are more like a houseboat. All the utensils and bedding are on board.
These boats are easy to navigate, and the only country that requires a captain’s license is Germany, according to Groome.
“We find a lot of families like to charter them,” he said. “They can rent bicycles to bike into the different villages to pick up croissants and other food and bring it back onboard.
“You get to be a part of the countryside and meet everybody.”