BY CLAY LARROY
We lead such busy lives working, going to school, taking children to
different activities that often we do not stop and talk to our children. We
usually do not have time to sit around the dinner table and ask our children
what they did today. Family vacations are so important, as it gives us a way to
connect with each other in a stress free relaxed environment. Families that
take vacations together build memories that will last a lifetime. Family
vacations and travel can be a most rewarding experience. When you are ready to
plan a vacation contact me!
Crewed
barges with meal service and more amenities are sometimes referred to as
"Hotel Barges": smaller vessels with a passenger capacity of as few
as six to as many as 50. Hotel barges tend to be much slower than river
cruisers, and due to their smaller size, can enter more narrow waterways like
canals, in addition to the larger rivers. Hotel barges range from Spartan
accommodations to luxurious rooms with gourmet meals, fine wines, and bicycles
for self-guided shore excursions. Cabins vary in size and most often have
private baths with showers. Many barges have saunas and hot tubs on deck. Most
are without telephones or Internet service, though, as such modernity is
typically absent in the barge market.
Travelers
can also book a "self-drive" barge and be their own crew. The
smallest of the vessels, the "narrow boats" are often seen on the
small canals of the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as Holland. These boats
are very easy to handle and seldom are capable of exceeding 5 miles per hour.
Without a crew, passengers are required to work with the canal lock systems on
their own, a simple but time consuming task that consists of turning a crank
manually or waiting while a lock attendant, if available, takes care of it. If
self-drive is your choice, it’s worthwhile to discuss the number of locks along
your itinerary with the boat owner/operator to ensure you are comfortable with
the physical labor and time required to negotiate the lock systems.
Passengers
on self-drive barges provision the galleys themselves and travel their own
itinerary. Bathroom facilities are similar to those found on bare boat charters
with chemical toilets and potable water. No special licensing is required to
pilot a barge, and while it is a very simple exercise, most wise self-drive
veterans purchase optional boat insurance to cover any accidental damage to the
vessel.
The
differences between a river cruise experience on the one hand and a self-drive
barge on the other are matters of personal taste and preference. The larger
river cruise vessels and the luxury barges are akin to the best cruising
experiences anywhere. Smaller crewed or self-drive barging is an outing,
something more like a bare boat charter or renting a recreational vehicle on
land - an adventurer’s way of crossing the terrain. In either instance,
however, it is the close connection of the traveler to the landscape that’s
key to the experience. The often ancient cities and villages that have grown up
on the banks of the old rivers are artifacts in their own right. River travel
affords the opportunity to savor history and culture as it was meant to be
experienced: not as an observer, but as a participant.
The
peak season for river cruising is much the same as European travel in general,
late spring through mid-fall and early November. The shoulder season, a real
value, ranges from early March through mid-May. The autumn months coincide with
grape season, and several cruise lines are fully booked during this time by
wine connoisseurs. Finally, April is tulip season and cruises in and around the
Netherlands are particularly popular then.
As
always, pack as lightly as possible, as space on the smaller barges can be at a
premium. Your cruise operator will no doubt provide you with a list of
recommended items to bring, but the usual recommendations of hats, sunscreen
and sunglasses are often overlooked but very important, because so much of your
time will be spent outdoors. The smaller barges and self-drive options require
good deck shoes and weather gear.
Regarding
travel budgets... amenities offered by the cruise and barge operators and the
travel season determine costs. For high-end river cruises and hotel barges,
$2,100 per person, double occupancy and cruise only, is a common brochure cost
for a seven day cruise. 12 day cruises often range from $2,800 upwards, but
discounts are usually available for most itineraries through your travel agent.
Other cruises may be had for as little as $800.00 for a seven day itinerary.
Costs typically include all meals, tour excursions, and accommodations. Tips
and gratuities are expected, ranging from $10 - $35 dollars per day. Self-drive
options cost approximately $700 - $1000 per week for the barge alone, with all
provisioning, fuel and other charges as additional costs. Your travel
consultant will have many resources on hand for finding the best possible
values.
Europe
and its waterways await you!
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