We are considering a Globus river cruise on the Rhone for this September. This is all new to us because we've never been on a cruise of any kind. We would like any information from people who have done that tour or one like it. It seems to be an Avalon tour. Any advice on where in the boat we should be getting a cabin would also be appreciated. Our alternative is a Trafalgar bus tour of Provence.

Maybe there's another choice too. There are a lot of cruises on the canals of France. You can take canal boats from Bordeaux down to the Mediterranean.

For a smaller cruise, take the cruise from Toulouse to Sete, on the Med. This is along the Canal du Midi. Just google "Canal du Midi" and you'll find a lot of choices.

It's not like big cruisers but the view is beautiful. If you're really energy, you could follow the canal with a bike. I'm doing this in June.

Choices!

Blackduff

We have taken a barge trip in Burgundy and seen the big river cruisers. They were like floating hotels, and to me, looked very "sterile". The barge trip was a LOAD of fun, the food absolutely to die for, the on land tours beautifully arranged. Our barge had 20 people on it. EVERYTHING was included, and if we "lacked" something we wanted (gold label Johnny Walker, Bombay gin) it was acquired the next day.
A little bus went along with us to take us on day tours.

Gretchen -

Can you give us the name of your barge company? That sounds like the kind of river cruise I want to be on!!!

Sam

I saw some of the canals the barges went on and it looked like you are passing people's back yards with hanging laundry. Am I wrong?

We booked through Abercrombie and Kent but the actual barge was a French Country Waterways. I'd suggest you look there. It was truly a lovely easy vacation. They do barge trips on many waterways.

DH and I cruised on the Avalon Tranquility (owned by Globus) last summer traveling from Budapset to Amsterdam.This was the absolute best vacation we have ever had. It was just wonderful and I would travel with Avalon on a river cruise everywhere if only there was enough rivers!! It is very similar to a coach tour except you take your hotel with you and the food is all included and fantastic.It is very nice not to have those 6 AM wake up calls and to only unpack 1 time.I will never go back to bus tours after the luxury of traveling by rivercruise ship and I have been on 5 bus tours with Globus.Traveling on the river is so relaxing that you will never want to travel any other way.
DH and I are planning on taking the France cruise next year with Avalon that you are considering.The "Scenery" is being built just for that itinerary and it will be brand new this year.If you want more info on rivercruising go to the cruisecritic web site and than to the rivercruise section and you will see many reviews on rivercruising. We chose Avalon because they are owned by Globus and we have done many coach tours with Globus. It was a very wise decision as they really are very good at what they do.Do it,you won't be sorry.

This is not an advertisement, I swear. My husband and I took two barge trips with French Country Waterways, one in Burgundy and the other in Alsace-Lorraine. We absolutely loved both trips. And the canals are bee-yoo-tee-ful, no laundry that I could see. The barges are small, the crew is very attentive, the food is great ... The only possible downside is, on a small barge, you'd better like your traveling companions! Here's their website: http://www.fcwl.com/

ttt

We went on a river cruise in Holland and loved it. We went on Uniworld. It's so nice to not have to unpack and have your hotel, your transportation, and your food all under one roof. We're planning another riverboat cruise (this time with Viking) to France next year.

I, too, took a barge trip in Burgundy and thought it was fantastic! The company I went with was Continental Waterways which I believe no longer exists as it was purchased by another company.

Gretchen
if you are still reading this thread could you tell me whether you thought the barge trip was "worth" the large dollar amount. We were considering doing this barge trip but the prices we were quoted were A$60000 per person for the week. To be honest this does seem awfully expensive. My concerns also were that there would only be the two of us and yes, what happened if we didn't like the other travelling companions? Also if the weather wasn't the best, being stuck on board with folk who you wouldn't normally choose to be with could be a recipe for disaster. We keep swinging in and out of this idea. Can you offer any more suggestions or help on this topic please. Should the old adage If in doubt, then don't, apply?

thanks, Schnauzer

Schnauser,

I agree that a hotel barge costs the earth, even though all is provided. If you are even slightly in shape, and can drive a car, the economical option is to rent your own boat. That way you can get one small enough for the two or you, and find out if you really like each other.

You can go where you want to (with the limitation that you are on a canal or river), stop where you want, eat at a new restaurant each night, or shop the local markets and dine on board.

Save a LOT of money, too.

Look up a few hire firms such as:

http://www.leboat.co.uk/ or

http://www.locaboat.com/gb/index.php

Happy boating!

Are there any in-between options? Still in a group on a barge, but not necessarily "luxury", where everything is catered for.
I'm thinking a more backpacker/family budget option? I love the concept but the ones I've looked at are too expensive for us as a family.

Oh, heavens, you need to shop further!! That's 'way too much!! Ours was in the neighborhood of $2500 (in 2001--much better exchange!!) and I would think there are some for less than that, although maybe not a lot less. For a week, TGV tickets from Paris to Dijon, and full room and board, that isn't "too" bad. We had an interesting mix of people--two groups of 4 travelling together, and the rest couples. We found it very pleasant.

I went on a search and I think French Continental Waterways has become pretty high! We had booked through Abercrombie & Kent who I think chartered several barges for the season from FCW. In looking at other barge options (by google) I came across this one that offers all levels. Our barge held 22, the rooms were VERY compact, but still OK, the common rooms were lovely, and as I said before, the food and wines just superb.
http://www.europeanbarging.com/Barge...ses%202007.htm

For a family a self drive could be a fun vacation.