It is the relaxed atmosphere aboard, the friendly and helpful crew, the peace and tranquillity of the countryside, together with the wonderful cuisine, lively conversation and interesting sightseeing that make it magical. Barges come in many styles and levels of luxury from rustic and comfortable like a good Country Inn to elegant, like a fashionable Hotel. Generally speaking, the smaller the vessel, the more personal the service, and the more exclusive the experience. This is reflected in the pricing. Small vessels are ideal for families, groups of friends, or individuals who who are attracted to the luxury of a barge cruise.
All cabins have private, nicely appointed bathrooms with showers.
Some suites include bathtubs. Several barges have saunas and on deck hot tubs or jacuzzis as well. Usually there are no telephones, TVs or computers. For emergency communications, barges do carry a cellular phone. The gentle movement of the barges anchored for the night have caused dedicated insomniacs to report wonderful, restful sleep.