Hello, Am seeking info on barge or river cruises in France or UK. Trying not to spend a fortune for 1 couple ha ha. Besides big companies like Viking, who might be good?? Anyone do the rent a boat & pilot yourself option??? or small 8 people canal boats??? How claustrophobic are the cabins??? Are there any that do long weekend cruises?? Thanks in advance for responses. Is there a better time of year to go???

Do you want to rent a self drive barge/narrowboat? Would you be happy with a smaller more modern boat? or do you want a hotel boat type of trip?

A do it yourself trip can be very hard work, certainly on UK waterways with their many hand operated locks, but good fun too.
There are lots of companies which offer self drive boats/barges/narrowboats for various lengths of time.

Have a look at http://www.leboat.com/,
http://www.canalboatholidays.com/
http://www.canaljunction.com/narrowboat/ offers a massive list of companies offering narrowboats for hire.

how cold and wet do you want to be? If going to france for 2 people you need at least 4 berths to avoid getting on top of each other

We took a self-drive boat up the Burgundy Canal from St. Florentin to Monbard. Yes, it was crowded, and I suspect that the double bed in the cabin was less than standard width. We were twelve, six per boat. For a sense of size and what to see, here are the pictures of that trip:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4083891938/

I meant: for a sense of <b>boat</b> size

I have never tried but was in touch with this woman at one point when my parents-in-law were looking into navigating the Canal du Midi: http://www.naviratous2.com/eng_naviratous.htm

Her name is Dominique and she built the first solar-powered boat in the world so her cruises are non-polluting. Also, I don't know if that is still the case but the food she served is mainly organic, so she's environmentally-friendly all the way

letting someone else do the piloting would be more vacation style. anyone go on the eco-solar boat mentioned in other posts??? Website looks cool.

Firstly, there is an enormous cost difference between taking an all inclusive barge trip vs. renting a boat and driving (sailing) yourself. Barge hotels can cost thousands of euros per couple per week. The Barge Lady has good information on her site:

http://www.bargeladycruises.com/

I have made about 10 or 11 self driven boat cruises all over France. As much as I enjoy this type of vacation, many compare it to camping on water and I think that is a fair observation. Rental boats are not overly luxurious, berths typically have beds and room for little else, showers are basic, galleys small, and common areas can be tight. Many 3 bedroom boats do not exceed 10 meters in length. The object of this type of vacation is not pampering; rather to enjoy to company of those with whom you are travelling and to explore new regions at a pace that allows close inspection. On the inland waterways, worries are few, the fast pace of the city non existent, and one can completely relax.

The Canal du Midi, a popular first time voyage for many, offers varied topography, the chance to visit numerous small towns, a good choice of restaurants along the way should you decide not to cook, and many open markets selling provision of all kinds should you decide to dine on board and make use of the ship´s galley. Burgundy is another great location with rolling green hills and wonderful produce which inspires the home cook.

No matter where you might choose to explore, there are a good number of rental companies with boats to fit any need. Costs vary but as a rule of thumb, plan very roughly on 90€ to 100€ per night per cabin. Finding a boat with additional space or cabins beyond your basic needs is always possible but prices escalate accordingly. Here is a list of the largest, most well known companies offering rentals along French waterways:

http://www.leboat.com/

http://www.locaboat.com/

http://www.bourgogne-fluviale.com/

http://www.nicols.com/

http://www.rive-de-france.com/

These websites offer a wealth of information about boat type, routes, and costs. Some offer routes in the UK as well.

i've used rive de france on the Canal du Midi who were excellent

I think that Sarastro makes a point that should be emphasized: driving your own boat is like taking a floating camping trip; it's not for those who seek luxury in a vacation.