European Waterways is offering special savings on barge cruises in the South of France. To qualify, cruises must be booked by February 25.

• The 8-passenger Anjodi cruises the 300-year-old Canal du Midi (canal of the two seas), a World Heritage site and the most popular barging route in Europe. Among the excursions offered on the Anjodi is a tour of Carcassone, the most complete medieval walled city in existence and a UNESCO World Heritage site; and a visit to Pezenas, a village associated with French playwright Moliere. During the cruise, European Waterways’ guests also visit the 12th century hill-top fort in the village of Minerve, considered “one of the most beautiful villages in France,” and enjoy private wine tastings of Corbières and Minervois wines at the distinguished Châteaux Guery and Perdiquier. The Anjodi currently has a special offer of $3000 off the whole charter price for six to eight passengers for cruises in March and April 2011. Vessel must be booked by February 25 to qualify.  Other conditions may apply.
• Enchanté follows a similar route as Anjodi, with excursions to Carcassone and Minerve, as well as to Lagrasse with its 8th  century abbey.  Passengers will also explore Narbonne’s colorful indoor market. Here, they will find fresh produce that includes vegetables, fruits, spices, as well as large barrels of olives, mounds of shellfish, oysters, and other seafood, plump figs, honey, and a wide variety of nuts.  Other highlights include a visit to a traditional ‘Oulibo’ or olive press to sample the famous Lucques olive oil and a private wine tasting in Saint Chinian, the first village in the region to receive the enviable French A.O.C. rating, one of the world’s oldest and strictest systems for designation of wines and quality control. Enchanté is offering $1,000 off per cabin, based on double occupancy for its April 10 and April 17 departures, as well as a substantial $5,000 off the whole boat charter price for six to eight passengers for its April 24 departure. Travelers must book by February 25 to take advantage of these special offers.  Other conditions may apply.
• Rosa cruises the Canal Lateral a la Garonne, the continuation of the Canal du Midi that  meanders through Gascony towards Bordeaux.  Highlights of the cruise include visits to the historic towns of Montauban & Auvillar.  Mountaban is the second oldest of the bastides – towns built during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries – in Southern France.  Auvillar is famous for its art galleries and wine.  During the cruise, passengers will also experience the crossing of a 1000 foot aqueduct and enjoy tastings at producers of two of the area’s best known products – Armagnac and foie gras. Rosa offers $3,000 off its whole boat charter price for six to eight passengers for all April and May 2011 departures, as well as $1,000 off per cabin, based on double occupancy, for its May 15 and June 12 departures.  Guests must book by February 25 to qualify.  Other conditions may apply.

Enjoy Christmas in Scotland on a family barge cruise.

European Waterways offers an escape from the “hustle and bustle” of the hectic shopping season with the gift of travel: A chartered cruise for the entire family aboard the company’s Scottish Highlander or Magna Carta luxury hotel barge. Families can enjoy the sites along England’s historic River Thames or cruise through the beautiful, scenic backdrop of Scotland while spending quality time enjoying each other’s company during Christmas week or over the New Year’s holiday.

Holidays in the Highlands
Enjoy a relaxing 4-night hotel barge cruise aboard the Scottish Highlander, exploring the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Families aboard this luxury hotel barge will dine on home-cooked holiday meals paired with seasonal wines – or hot cocoa for the young ones – prepared and served by the on-board master chef and crew.

Planned excursions such as exploring the breathtaking Falls of Foyers or a trip to the Loch Ness Visitor Center, where the myth of the infamous Loch Ness monster lives on – all are memories the entire family can enjoy together. Families will also have the option to attend a Christmas Eve service at a local church as well have a traditional Christmas Eve dinner and entertainment while presents are shared around the barge’s Christmas tree.

The 8-passenger Scottish Highlander makes you feel right at home, with décor that conveys the feel of a tradition Scottish Country House, and the addition of the natural and majestic scenery of the Highlands complete the scene. The knowledgeable, English speaking crew caters to everyone’s desire, making sure that the time on and off the ship is one of the most delightful holiday experiences the family will ever share.

A sample family itinerary is available at the European Waterways’ website.

New Year’s Eve cruises are also available on the Scottish Highlander. Cruise rates are all-inclusive, and include transportation to and from the cruising destination. The price is as low as $3,500 per person, based on a whole boat chartered for 8 passengers. There are four departure dates to choose from in December, including a Christmas and a New Year’s Eve cruise. Additional charter rates and discounts can be found on the European Waterways site.

Christmas and New Year’s
“Home for the Holidays” on a luxury hotel barge cruise with friends and family aboard one of the finest, most luxurious vessels navigating the British Isles, the Magna Carta.  The vessel offers two, all-inclusive cruises for Christmas and New Year’s.   The 4-night Christmas cruise features a festive champagne welcome and Christmas Eve dinner on-board, as well as readings from “A Christmas Carol” by a guest actor.

The 5-night New Year’s cruise is just as memorable, with the family watching dazzling fireworks over the English countryside. During the cruise, guests will enjoy modern amenities that include under-floor heating, color TVs and DVD players in each room.  They will also be treated to mouth-watering dishes prepared by the on-board master chef as they take in the sights of the River Thames from their floating “country inn.”

Along with traditional Christmas and New Year’s festivities, the Magna Carta cruise incorporates tours of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Hampton Court Palace and Runnymede, as well as the additional pleasure of the ever-changing scenery of the English countryside. Rates begin as low as $4,325 per person, based on a full-chartered cruise for 8 passengers, and includes transportation to and from port of departure. More information and dates for a Magna Carta cruise can be found on the European Waterways site.

About European Waterways
European Waterways is Europe’s largest all-inclusive luxury hotel barging company, offering vacations in nine countries and carrying thousands of passengers a year.  Founded nearly 40 years ago, the company designs, builds, owns and operates a private fleet of luxury barges with exclusive cruises in France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.  Pioneers in hotel barging, they were the first company to operate a hotel barge on the Upper Nivernais in Burgundy, and the “real” Loire Valley. They are also the only cruise company offering barge cruises in Scotland and in the Venetian lagoon and River Po valley, as well as the first company to offer an Avignon-to-Amsterdam 6-week trans-Europe cruise, a 1,000 mile journey along Western Europe’s inland waterways.

Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent is enhancing its European canal cruising program for 2010 with a new barge as well as several new food and wine-themed sailings.

Barging or canal cruising is the more intimate alternative to river cruising. Depending on the barge, they can accommodate anywhere between four and 18 passengers, and the number of crew vary according to the size of the barge. The barges, charming sailing vessels with cabins and cozy common spaces, are intended to travel along the calmer canals of Europe, namely in France, Belgium, Holland, Ireland and the U.K.

With a newly added eight-passenger barge, Enchanté, A&K has 23 barge ships on offer for 2010. The Enchante was refurbished in 2009 and will sail the Canal du Midi in the South of France next year. It has Internet connection and a guest computer on board, as well as air conditioning. An on-board chef will prepare gourmet meals in a demonstration kitchen, and meals can be served al fresco on the deck. For larger groups of up to 16, Enchanté can be chartered in tandem with the eight-passenger barge Anjodi. Six-night canal cruises start at $5,890, per person, cruise only. Private charters start at $45,000 for up to eight guests.

Additionally, A&K has introduced several new themed canal cruises for 2010.

A new culinary cruise is being introduced on the four-passenger Alouette (pictured below), which also sales on the Canal de Midi. The itinerary includes cooking lessons as well as accompanying the chef to local markets. Six-night charters start at $25,000.

A Wines of Burgundy (Grand Cru) cruise is being offered on the eight-passenger Amaryllis barge, part of the Orient-Express collection of cruises. The wine cruise includes tastings of 33 Grand Crus of Burgundy, including Bonne Mares, Montrachet and Romanée Conti during France’s “Semaine des Grands Crus.” The cruise takes place July 18 to 24, and starts at $9,800 per person.

Additionally, a chocolate and wine cruise is being offered on the six-passenger Elisabeth, which sails the Canal du Nivernais in Burgundy. Included in the cruise are wine tastings and dessert-making demonstrations. Six nights start at $4,300 per person.

Lastly, a bike and barge charter is being offered on the 18-passenger Le Phenicien. The summertime itinerary along the Canal du Nivernais includes a different bike ride each day, ranging from 19-mile to 32-mile rides, with the assistance of a cycling specialist. The Bike & Barge itinerary is only available by charter. Six-night charters start at $54,460.

For additional information visit Abercrombie & Kent.