You may have heard that a Luxury Hotel Barge holidays is all-inclusive. But what exactly does that mean? In this Blog we break down what is included and have a look at an ‘hidden’ extras.
Local Transfers
Transfers from a nearby town or city to your Luxury Hotel Barge is included. However, make sure you double check where the pick-up point will be. In many cases it will be from a central hotel in a major city like Paris or London. However sometimes the transfer will be from a smaller location like Narbonne (Southern France) or Inverness (Northern Scotland).
Champagne on arrival
What better way to start your fantastic week onboard a Luxury Hotel Barge than with a champagne welcome on arrival? Here you will meet your Captain and crew before being given your orientation around the ship.
Experienced Captain, Chef, Housekeeper(s), Deck Hand & Tour Guide
To make sure you actually enjoy a relaxing holiday all our Luxury Hotel Barges include the services of a qualified and experienced Captain. If you do want to know more about the technical aspects of your selected barge, your friendly Captain will be more than happy to answer your questions. And if you ask nicely, you may even have the opportunity to be skipper for a time.
In addition to your Captain, each Luxury Hotel Barge has a private Chef (more on this later), Housekeeper, Deck Hand and Tour Guide. All of this ensures that from the moment you step onboard you will be well looked after and all you need to do is unpack and relax.
All Meals – prepared by your private chef
All meals are included and you will be amazed at the quality of dishes created by your private Chef. If you have dietary requirements please let us know in advance so we can take care of this for you. Imagine not having to explain your dietary requirements at every meal, secure in the knowledge that whatever has been prepared for you onboard will be ‘safe’ for you to enjoy.
Open Bar, featuring local & international fine wines & spirits
All beverages are included on your Luxury Hotel Barge including tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer wine and spirits. The open bar provides quality wines and spirits which often reflect the region we are cruising through. We often visit wineries and / or distilleries during our cruise and, should they desire, guests are welcome to purchase their favourite beverage to bring back and consume onboard.
Free Wi-Fi
Some of the Luxury Hotel Barges may have been built almost 100 years ago but they have all be overhauled and refurbished with modern amenities which include free Wi-Fi so you can post those amazing photos on social media to make everyone at home jealous of your holiday.
Free use of Bicycles
In almost all regions, there is a fantastic tow path beside the canal which is perfect for cycling. Almost all Luxury Hotel Barge carry bicycle onboard which are free to use. E-bikes may also be available on certain itineraries. However, be aware that, as these are hired from a third-party company, an extra cost is usually involved.
On-deck Spa Pool
Is there a more perfect way to relax after a day of activities than relaxing in a hot tub with your favourite beverage in hand? The spa pool (available on most Luxury Hotel Barges) is free for use and because there will only be a few of you onboard, you can truly relax and soak up the scenery.
Daily excursions by chauffeured minibus
Every Luxury Hotel Barge had a dedicated chauffeured minibus included. This means that you are not boarding a coach with 50 other people which is fantastic. It also means that our daily excursions to castles, palaces, châteaux, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historic sites, quaint villages, vineyards, breweries and / or distilleries is a unique experience that few people get to experience.
Gratuities
Unfortunately, gratuities / tips are not currently included in the pricing and is entirely discretionary, but is greatly appreciated by the crew, if you are fully satisfied with the level of service on board. Any gratuities you would like to make can only be made on board by cash payment and should be given to the Captain who shares this between the whole crew.
Optional Activities
Occasionally, you may be offered an additional activity such as hot air ballooning that comes at an extra cost. These activities are entirely optional so you can decide if you wish to spend the money and time on the activity or not.
For more information on the Luxury Hotel Barge Experience please click here: The Luxury Hotel Barge Experience – Unique Cruises
