Can someone explain to me the different kinds of barging trips available? For instance, can my husband and I book two spots on a boat driven by a captain or would we have to reserve an entire boat? Also, is it possible to sleep/eat dinner in local villages or do we sleep/eat on the boat? Are there cruises available for 3 or 4 days or are they all a week long? Are there any boats out there that are more economical? Is Burgundy the preferred route or are there other regions you'd suggest?

The idea sounds like a lot of fun, but given that I don't know anyone who has ever done it, any suggestions would be welcome!

I believe they are usually a minimum of 6 days but if you go to various websites you might find shorter ones. We went on a barge for 24 passengers and a crew of 6. It could not have been more enjoyable--service, food, sightseeing, wine tastings--all top notch. Absoultely anything you wanted just for the asking. A little bus went along the route with us and took us to the cities or chateaus. You sleep on the boat as it is moored in various small towns. There are barges for as few as 6 passengers--or even drive your own. There are also large river cruisers that look like floating hotels, and have about as much charm as that, in my opinion. ONe site to search is Abercrombie & Kent. Another is Continental Waterways and French waterways. Do a google search for barges France and you will find a lot.

We are doing a barge cruise on the Midi with 3 other couples the 4th of Oct. It is a self drive cruise. We each have our own bedroom and bath with the galley and sitting area in the middle. It has a flying bridge so we can sit outside also. Friends of ours did this trip and had a wonderful time which prompted us to do it We booked through Debbie at Locaboat in New Jersey. We are going from Argens to Negra for 7 days. If you need any other info let me know before we leave or when we get back.

http://www.frenchhotelbarge.com/
check out this website for some last minutes deals. I was on the Caprice in Burgundy last year and Princess Royale in the Hetherlands and Belgium 2 months ago with www.continentalwaterways.com and enjoyed myself. Doing it again in a different part of Burgundy with a different company in 2 weeks. I prefer smaller barges.

Barging is great if you go with a few couples....

If you get put on a barge( as a party of 2) and fill up the slack with 2 othr couples who came together, You will feel very left out and on your own...

These are super small vessles...

Also bring a book or a lot of wine for nite...there is no entertainment unless you make your own...

The barges liteally travel at a snail's pace- you can actually walk beside the barge- In fact, you will probably walk faster than the barge is moving....

Normally, most barge trips include meals and wines-- You can get off and probably have a lunch in a little village, but depending on the barge and the lock system will decide how long the barge actually stops...

We did a one day barge as part of a Chateau tour-- I am soooooooo glad we did as I would go nuts on a barge trip unless I was with 2 other couples to break up the monotony...Our one day barge was in Burgundy....

If you are looking for more of a get off the boat, lunch and tour, then you might want to look into a RIVER CRUISE instead of a barge...They also move slow, go thru locks,but the cabins are way way larger (similar to a cruise line's cabins) but without the large public areas..they normally have a parlor with a bar, a sun deck and a dining room...Normally river cruises include your excrusions on land during the day, and yes, you can also do the days by yourselves and hit some neat little villages and take in lunch...Dinner is normally on the river cruise as the boat is moving at nite...

For a river cruise, look at one going from Arles to Lyon-- in Provence..IT is AWESOME!! WE love RIVER CRUISING....

If you choose to bare-boat (you captain the boat after they give you lessons, and it didn't look too difficult), I can heartily recommend Crown Blue Lines...
4 bedrooms, baths, lovely "galley". It had all the amenities.
We left from St. Jean de Losne and travelled west thru the Cote d'or...
WONDERFUL trip.

Andy -- which company did you use for that River Cruise Arles to Lyon-- in Provence? Have read that a number of river cruises have had problems this year with water levels -- anyone know how that has or has not affected the Arles to Lyon route?
Thanks

As you might expect from my prior answer I disagree with Andy heartily. We were just a lone couple--there were 2-3 other "lone couples " and then there were 2 parties of 4. At night after our sumptuous 3 course meal with 2 wines, we sat in the parlor or on deck and enjoyed more wine or any liquers we wanted--NO need to bring your own. We chatted with others or read--discussed the next day's sightseeing or talked about the boat with the captain and crew members. We met some very interesting people. A couple at our club took a barge trip about 10 years ago and they have reunions with their mates!! Sorry Andy felt left out.
When on a canal (something the river cruisers don't do) we could walk up to the next lock or beyond (yes, they go about 3MPH) or we could take bikes.
About the water level. On the barges there will be a little caveat--the exact route taken may be different due to water levels. Our barge trip was altered--we spent more time than normal on the river but did canals too. Yes, you do need to be able to adjust to a slow life. Ours was right after 9/11--it was indeed a good time to adjust to a slower pace. In fact, one of the couples on the barge was in a hotel at the Trade Center.
And I will say a word about the locks--very interesting and "exciting" for a while but you can really get caught up on that rather quickly!!
Our barge was the Lafayette--you can see pictures and layouts of various barges and maps on the Abercrombie&Kent site. They charter their barges for the season from Continental Waterways so it is actually CW that runs the barge. They are really first class folks. And just to reiterate, EVERYthing was "free" on the barge--and if you wanted something--a different brand of gin, etc.--they would have it by the next day for you.

MHS- we went thru Elegant Cruises out of NY-- The boat was the MS Cezanne...
There is a NEWER boat that this company has which is the MS Cezanne II...In fact, hubs and I were talking last nite that we want to do another River Cruise...only this time on the PO RIVER thru Italy...

We did NOT do the cruise this summer- and YES, this summer the water levels were down all over Europe...

As far as lock, YES, on a river cruise you also have locks and bridges that you can literally touch with your hands as you go under them...WE loved this!!
And to sit in the dining room by a window , as the locks are filling with water, was acutally more fun for us than a Panama Canal cruise , as it was more up close and personal...

Gretchen- I was just trying to let MIC know that when you get a bunch of couples that know each other and travel together over the years on a small barge and toss in the 1 extra couple to make up the 4th cabin..that you DO feel awkward...And we have been cruising for over 28 years...on big and small ships.
But I know I am not alone in this instance , as I talked to some friends who had the same thing happen to them.

MY advice is IF you want to do a Barge cruise, get a small group of your friends together and take over the whole barge-they are quite small...

Also, When you book thru Abercrombie and Kent, the price is a lot higher than going thru Continental Waterways on your own...Just a heads up...

The smaller barges (6 to 14 passengers) are indeed a better choice than the larger ones.

They are individually owned and the hosts on board are usually the owners of the vessel, which creates a nice and friendly atmosphere, like being on a floating bed & breakfast.

The smaller barges also offer a much more personalized experience, from the cuisine served on board to the sightseeing and excursions, all based on your preferences and interests.

You do not have to reserve the entire boat.

Check with Jean-Francois at France Cruises (www.francecruises.com)...He is very familar with the product.

Not only does he match with the right boat, he also makes sure you will not be "left apart" during your cruise. He tells you if there are other individuals on board, or a group, where they are from and other details. If possible, he even puts you in contact with the other passengers before the trip...