By Anthony Diaz (Anthony@herman-almontepr.com)
Baby boomers, one of the first groups to be vaccinated against COVID-19, are
leading the resurgence in bookings in the travel industry, with companies like
luxury hotel barge specialist European Waterways among its beneficiaries.
With more free time and disposable income than younger travelers, baby boomers
“are some of our best customers,” says the company’s Managing Director, Derek
Banks.
“Baby boomers enjoy the more leisurely, culturally rich experiences to be found
cruising in the fresh air and the picturesque European countryside in
destinations like France, Italy and the U.K.,” says Banks. “Our hotel barges
offer luxury accommodations, gastronomic meals prepared every day by our
onboard master chefs, and experiential off-the-beaten-path excursions that
reveal the true ‘soul’ of the region.”
Banks adds: “Since our hotel barges hold just six to 20 passengers, our guests
can charter the entire vessel for their group or family, or share their
experiences with a small number of like-minded fellow travelers. Hotel barges
also create an ideal ‘travel bubble’ for families and friends, who travel
together the entire cruise.”
A ‘Special’ Time
An added incentive fueling advance bookings for European Waterways are their
latest special offers of up to 20% off on select departures. They are
available on cabins and charters for a range of cruises in Southern France and
Italy, valid when booked by April 5, 2021. Depending on the vessel and
departure, savings can be as high as $17,000 for whole-barge charters and
$2,860 per cabin, based on double occupancy.
European Waterways’ special offers are available on hotel barges that cruise
the heartland of destinations such as the French regions of Burgundy, Gascony
and Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, and the Canal du Midi. They are also available
on select departures of the company’s largest vessel, the 20-passenger La
Bella Vita, which cruises Italy’s Venetian Lagoon, River Po and Canal
Bianco.
Sites to Behold
European Waterways’ luxury hotel barge cruises offer travelers the opportunity
to visit some of Europe’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Among these are
the vineyards of Burgundy and Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, both a wine lover’s
idyll; the historic Loire Valley with its aristocratic estates, palaces,
vineyards, and orchards; and the Abbaye de Vézelay and its hilltop basilica in
Burgundy. The Canal du Midi, the route for several vessels, is itself a UNESCO
site. Guests can also tour the Italian Renaissance city of Ferrara, whose
design paved the way for modern town planning and development.
Food and wine are integral parts of luxury hotel barging. European
Waterways’ guests can enjoy private wine tastings and ‘vine dining’ at some of
France’s most prestigious vineyards, such as the Domaine Laroche in Chablis,
where guests will also tour its thousand-year-old cellars. Lucky guests
aboard their Northern Burgundy cruises can visit the Alexandre Bonnet Champagne
House for a sample of its renowned bubbly. Other gastronomic experiences
include visiting a goat farm for a comparative tasting of young and mature goat
cheeses, or an olive oil press that features the famous Lucques Picholine and
Ascolana varieties of green olives and tapenades (paste) along the Canal du
Midi. Guests can even visit an escargot or oyster farm, as well as go
truffle hunting, in season.
And back “home” on their “floating boutique hotel,” guests can stretch their
legs and take in the fresh air of the countryside by walking and biking along
the level towpaths. Depending on the cruise region, they can also rent
electric bikes to explore the local villages or just to take the edge off an
extended ride.
“Or guests can simply sit in the saloon or deck, sipping a glass of wine, and
watch the world slowly drift by!” says Banks.
Book With Confidence
European Waterways’ “Book with Confidence” policy provides flexibility in rescheduling
future cruises, should they be impacted by government restrictions. The health
and safety of guests are also top priorities, with strict protocols in place
that include crew and passenger temperature checks as well as deep cleaning and
disinfecting of all cabins and public surfaces on the boats. For more
information, visit www.europeanwaterways.com.
About European Waterways
Hotel Barging is a boutique, unique experience which offers an immersive,
all-inclusive “gentle voyage of discovery” that focuses upon the culture,
history, fine wine and gourmet cuisine of the region. With a 6-to-20-person
capacity and 1:2 crew ratio, European Waterways are able to provide an
impeccable level of on-board service and can transport their guests on the
intimate inland waterways that are inaccessible to larger vessels. This
fascinating network of smaller canals allows for flexibility, spontaneity and
ample opportunity to hop off and explore the beautiful surroundings via
bicycle, or on foot. In addition to this there are daily, chauffeured
excursions “off the beaten track” to a wide variety of enthralling locations,
from exquisite wine tastings to private tours of stately homes. With over 40
years’ experience and a fleet that spans nine countries it is the largest
luxury hotel barging company in Europe. For more information, call
1-877-879-8808 in the U.S. and 1-877-574-3404 in Canada, or visit
www.europeanwaterways.com.
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