We expect our guests to treat Elisabeth as their own floating country house. There is no need to dress up unless you want to; wear what makes you comfortable.  Wear makeup/don’t wear makeup, wear the family jewels/don’t wear them, do your hair/don’t!  It’s your vacation and we want you to relax as much as possible during your time with us.

Guests should be physically able to board and move easily in case of emergency.  Elisabeth is not wheelchair accessible; entrance in to the cabin area is via steps. There may also be long steps on to and off of Elisabeth.  We often cruise well away from medical facilities and we cannot be responsible for the care or oversight of guests with physical or mental impairment. It is expected that you will have had all necessary vaccinations (including Covid) before joining us.  Should you have any questions, please let us know.

A deposit of 25% of the total cruise cost is payable at the time of booking. Your dates are not confirmed until the deposit is received. We will contact you with payment options.

Final payment (75% of the total cruise cost) is due 90 days before departure. We will contact you with payment options.

That's easy! Just email us at info@hotelbargeelisabeth.com or call +33 (0) 6 01 42 95 68 and ask for David or Matthew.

We strongly recommend the purchase of medical and cancelation travel insurance.  Your cruise can and SHOULD be insured.

• Travel to, or from, France.

• Medical cancellation/travel insurance (highly recommended).

• Airfares (if you are travelling from overseas).

• Optional crew gratuities – recommended 5 – 10% of the cruise price.

• Items of a personal nature such as stamps, postcards, etc.

• Drinks, meals or snacks taken ashore.

As a general guide, we suggest an amount of 5-10% of your cruise price for the entire tip amount.
For example, if Mr. and Mrs. Smith paid €10,000 for their cruise:
5% = €500 / 7% = €700 / 10% = €1,000

• Remember that tips must be earned, and this is a simply a guide.

• This is a personal decision based on the level of service that you received, the crew is always appreciative.

• On the last day of the cruise, you will give your tip amount in ONE LUMP SUM in USD or local currency to your Captain.

• He/she will distribute it accordingly among the rest of the crew.

• Rest assured it will be distributed; If it is not, there will not be a crew the next day!

• Tips cannot be accepted via credit card or personal cheques.

Most guests bring a few hundred Euro with them keep it in their safe in their cabin. If necessary, they also stop at an ATM a few times throughout the week during the daily excursion.ATMs are readily available in the larger towns that you visit. Be sure to know your ATM pin number and to phone the issuing bank before leaving home to advise them your travel dates and what countries you will be visiting. This is for your security.

Elisabeth is fully air-conditioned. She also has central heating throughout.

Yes. You do not have to bring a hairdryer. If you have other equipment, such as electric shaver, curling iron, etc., you may need to bring a converter if it does not normally operate with 220V.  

There are no laundry facilities available to passengers on board.

Smoking is not permitted on the barge. Smoking is only permitted on land and ashtrays must be used. Smoke alarms and are fitted throughout the barge.

The canals we navigate are flat-calm and we travel at less than 4 miles an hour, so you shouldn’t be seasick. We never cruise overnight.

Our guest suites have an en-suite bathroom containing a toilet, sink and shower. The shower is a rectangular shape access is 70cm  (28”).  We provide toiletries, consisting of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser and hand soap.

We have Bose bluetooth speakers and Amazon Echoes throughout the passenger areas. Feel free to bring your choice of music to connect. We also have a paperback library and carry many board games andplaying cards.

Yes, each stateroom is cleaned daily.  If you would rather your suite is not serviced, please let us know.

We have wireless internet throughout the boat.  This is dependent on the signal available at each location.

You will be welcomed by 4crew. Your crew are all fluent English speakers and some have several languages at their finger tips!  Their principal task whilst you are on board is your comfort and safety. Within the first 5minutes on board, they will know your name and will delight you with their hospitality throughout the cruise.

Yes! We carry bicycles for guests to use at their leisure. Tow paths run alongside the canal and you can use them to explore the canal and tiny villages along the way on bike or on foot. It is very easy to get on and off the barge at the various locks along the canal. The crew will help you and the bike on and off the barge.

Our food philosophy is to provide fresh, regional and seasonal food. We have been introduced to some incredible local producers in our search for the very best ingredients available in the region. 

Our experienced chef creates a bespoke menu based on the availability of the freshest produce and your dietary requirements. You will be served a two course lunch and five course dinner every day during your stay. 

If you have a meal on shore you will dine at a charming and casual bistro. We have selected a few venues to create an authentic dining experience. Dine with the locals like a local!

Yes! We can handle almost anything. Be sure to let us know well in advance of departure your dietary allergies or health-related dietary restrictions.