Relaxed Luxury Trending With European Waterways
It’s all about ‘relaxed luxury’ for today’s affluent travellers who are looking for first-class service and accommodations, but in a friendlier, more casual setting without “old-world” pretentions.
And this trend is helping fuel the increasing popularity of European Waterways’ hotel barge cruises. Available in Europe and the UK, the company’s vessels are often compared to floating boutique hotels. Guests enjoy luxury amenities that include ensuite accommodations, a spa pool, and stylish furnishing. An attentive crew is always ready to satisfy their every wish, and an onboard master chef prepares their gastronomic meals, which are paired with the finest local vintages. Yet, amid all the luxury and special treatment, the atmosphere is always relaxed. Guests don’t feel the need to follow a “black tie” or fancy dress code.
Meanwhile, European Waterways’ excursions feature private transportation and often exclusive guided tours where guests interact with local personalities. They might even share a private meal with them in their own château!
Derek Banks, European Waterways’ managing director, said that: “European Waterways’ guests want unique and memorable experiences that immerse them in the local culture – not as detached observers, but as active participants in ways that enrich their lives.”
Banks continued: “They return from their excursions to a table that is exquisitely set for dining and worthy of the finest restaurant. They might even be greeted with live jazz onboard. The meals are always lively, entertaining, and often memorable, with conversations that produce long-term friendships beyond the cruise.”
European Waterways’ 12-passenger La Belle Epoque deluxe hotel barge is a prime example of the luxury that awaits the company’s guests. It features wood-paneling, custom-made seating, a spacious sundeck, and spa pool, as well as marble ensuite junior cabins and staterooms. A six-person crew ensures that every guest receives personalized service throughout the journey.
Cruising the Burgundy Canal, La Belle Epoque takes guests on excursions that include a private champagne tasting at Maison Taisne Riocour Champagne House, as well as dinner with the Baroness Ségolène De Taisne at her Château de Ricey-Bas. Other excursions include a visit to the Abbaye de Fontenay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For more, sail on over to www.europeanwaterways.com.
