Luxury barge cruises are a favorite mode of travel in Europe. On a continent where countries are as close in proximity as states are in America, it is not surprising that those on vacation will likely want to enjoy some time well spent on a France barge cruise and visit the upper Loire, Bordeaux, and Alsace-Lorraine. Barge cruises are also famous in other parts of Europe, such as the coronation barge cruises in and around Spain or the barge cruises around Scotland and the lochs. For the younger set there are the bicycle barge cruise vacations that permit these adventurous souls to bike their way through Europe and board a barge in select harbors to continue on their journey for a while on the rivers.

Nonetheless, it appears that river barge cruises are most often booked in sunny France. For such a barge cruise, visitors to France can book their trip ahead of time. Generally speaking, these barge cruises last for six nights and seven days and are billed as being all inclusive. There is no scrambling for accommodations, no worry about transportation, and no stressing over meals. Instead, these European barge cruises feature a shuttle service from an agreed upon meeting point where you and your luggage will be whisked away to the barge. Cruises are a mix of traveling on the rivers and half day trips to important locations along the river banks.

As a matte of fact, the fees associated with these barge cruises oftentimes include the fees charged for the museums and other attractions that you will be able to visit along the way, and the term “all inclusive” was never truer! Of course, while river barge cruises in Europe seem to concentrate on the country of France, in America there are the Mississippi river barge cruises that have all the charm. These barge cruises not only permit a lazy travel up and down this wondrous river, but the food is simply to die for and anyone who has ever taken an American barge cruise on this crown jewel of the American west will claim hands down that while a European barge and river cruise is nice, a Mississippi cruise is nothing short of phenomenal.