European Waterways
|
220px The European Waterways office staff smiling in the snow | |
| Type | Private Limited Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Wraysbury, Middlesex, United Kingdom |
| Key people | Derek Banks, John Wood-Dow |
| Products | Boutique Hotel Barging |
| Employees | 35 |
| Website | http://www.gobarging.com |
European Waterways is an international company based in Middlesex, England that operates a fleet of 18 river cruising vessels along the rivers and canals of Europe.
Contents
Company history
European Waterways, a UK company based in England, was established in 1977 by owner Derek Banks with the purchase of an existing French inland waterways cruising company which had been created 3 years earlier in 1974. The first boutique hotel barge was Anjodi, which was originally renovated at a cost in excess of £100,000. In 1994 the company built the 12 passenger La Belle Epoque followed by its sister ship, 12 passenger L'Impressionniste, in 1995. After these acquisitions European Waterways expanded steadily and, as a result of cooperation with several companies in the travel industry and additional acquisitions, now operates a fleet of 18 boutique hotel barges along the inland waterways of 9 contries in Europe.
Derek Banks, the company founder, was brought up on the River Thames and has enjoyed all aspects of life afloat. It was as a result of this early exposure to the inland waterways that he was inspired to move to a lock house in the middle of France in the mid seventies and start the now thriving European Waterways.
The company originally focused on the extremly popular Canal du Nivernais in central Burgundy, France, but as the company grew, cruises were programmed all over Europe. With purchases such as the barges L'Art de Vivre and Scottish Highlander the company expanded to cover Scotland, France,[1] Italy, Holland, Belgium, England, Germany, Luxembourg and Ireland. Today, with an international clientele, European Waterways has clients from all over the world, primarily from the United Kingdom, USA, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, France, Canada and Hong Kong.
Cruising with European Waterways
European Waterways' barges carry between 4 to 13 passengers and also provide tandem cruises to accommodate up to 26 passengers. The cruises are marketed as being unique from other tours in that they provide the inland cruising vacationer, views and access to areas that, in a car or on a bus tour, are not ordinarily accessible. Suggested advantages of the canal tour is the chance to see the best Châteux, markets and villages, in a relaxing, affordable and scenic mode of travel. Travelers unpack just once and enjoy scenic cruising on smooth waterways.
The cruises are a minimum of 6 nights long and take place on the Nivernais Canal, the River Yonne, the Burgundy Canal, the River Rhone, the Rhone-Sete Canal, the Canal du Midi,[2][3] the River Cher the Venetian lagoon, the River Brenta, the River Amstel, the Caledonian Canal,[4] the River Thames and the River Shannon. All voyages include at least one guided shore excursion per day. European Waterways' vacation packages are typically all-inclusive, meaning that the cruise price includes accommodation, onboard meals, shore excursions and an open bar including alcoholic drinks of the region. All ships have non-smoking interiors. The cruising focus is on the waterway life and the ports of call.
Geared toward the North American and UK tourist market, European Waterways provides English-speaking staff on its barges and fully escorted tours. Many of the tours are guided walks that showcase history, culture, art and architecture of the visited towns and villages.[5]
Corporate profile
A vertically integrated travel and cruise company which sources existing old trading barges and converts them into boutique hotel barges.
Organises the shipyard work and transformation into boutique hotel barges. This process takes normally 1 year and includes; design and installation of all cabins, interior joinery, plumbing, electric, heating, air-conditioning and jacuzzi.
The marketing and sales are made by a staff of 6 who also handle reservations with an online reservations system, human resources and accounting.
Current fleet
| Ship name | Year built | Year Converted | Last Renovated | Length | Crew | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Belle Epoque | 1930 | 1995 | 2009 | 128 feet | 5 | 12 |
| L'Art de Vivre | 1917 | 1970 | 2009 | 100 feet | 4 | 8 |
| L'Impressionniste | 1960 | 1996 | 2009 | 128 feet | 5 | 12 |
| Rosa | 1907 | 1990 | 2010 | 98 feet | 4 | 8 |
| La Reine Pedauque | 1922 | 1985 | 2004 | 127 feet | 5 | 8 |
| Hirondelle | 1928 | 1992 | 2002 | 128 feet | 4 | 8 |
| Napoleon | 1963 | 1990 | 2004 | 128 feet | 6 | 12 |
| Enchanté | 1958 | 2008 | 2009 | 100 feet | 4 | 8 |
| Anjodi[6][7] | 1930 | 1977 | 2009 | 100 feet | 4 | 8 |
| Alouette | 1908 | 1986 | 2008 | 98 feet | 4 | 4 |
| Athos | 1964 | 1982 | 2006 | 103 feet | 4 | 10 |
| Nymphea | 1921 | 1985 | 2006 | 80 feet | 3 | 6 |
| La Renaissance | 1960 | 1997 | 2006 | 128 feet | 5 | 8 |
| La Dolce Vita | 1897 | 1990 | 2008 | 65 feet | 3 | 6 |
| Savoir Faire | 1932 | 1979 | 2005 | 132 feet | 6 | 12 |
| La Nouvelle Etoile | 1964 | 2002 | 2009 | 129 feet | 5 | 8 |
| Scottish Highlander[8][9] | 1931 | 1992 | 2009 | 117 feet | 4 | 8 |
| Magna Carta | 1931 | 2001 | 2009 | 117 feet | 8 | 4 |
| Shannon Princess II | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 107 feet | 5 | 10 |
References
- ↑ Hill, Richard (May 1997). "Lost in France". Canal & Riverboat.
- ↑ Fuller-Love, Heidi (February 2005). "French Waterways". Living France.
- ↑ Kay Kritzwiser. "Six slow days on the canal". Globe and Mail.
- ↑ "www.thetraveleditor.com/article/2358/Feature_Article_Cruise_Cruising_the_Caledonian_Canal.html". http://www.thetraveleditor.com/article/2358/Feature_Article_Cruise_Cruising_the_Caledonian_Canal.html.
- ↑ Stern, Steven (2009). Stern's Guide to the Cruise Vacation. Pelican Publishing Company. pp. 356. ISBN 9781589806146.
- ↑ Pritchard, David (2009). Shooting the cook. FSC AND Harper Colins. ISBN 978 0-00-727830-5.
- ↑ Bowler, Vivian (2005). Rick Stein's French Odyssey. BBC Books. ISBN 0 563 52213 5.
- ↑ Gardner, Alison (2009). "Barging Across Scotland, Clan History, Nature and Scottish Cuisine". Travel with a Challenge. http://www.travelwithachallenge.com/Scotland-Barging.htm. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
- ↑ "www.intltravelnews.com/2009/02/cruising-scotlands-caledonian-canal-thomas/". http://www.intltravelnews.com/2009/02/cruising-scotlands-caledonian-canal-thomas/.
