These boats come with a crew that drives the boat and prepares some or all of your meals. There will be some small number of other passengers. Lounge and eating areas are shared. On the UK canals, hotel boats are often a pair of 70 foot long narrowboats, and passenger cabins are small. On European canals, hotel boats are often wider and carry more passengers.
For larger vessels, please visit the River Cruise Ships (on the Continent) page.
There is no implied recommendation for any of the firms listed, nor is any criticism implied for any firm not listed. No firm has paid for any listing.
Visit the firms' web sites and/or contact them directly for further information.
North American residents may find that some of the US-Based Agencies represent hotel boat firms.
De 4 Vaargetijden - Belgium (web pages available in English, Français, Deutsch, Nederlands)
Canal & Co - France
Go Barging - France, Germany
MS Aventura - Rhine and other rivers; 12 passengers. (Web site in English, Deutsch)
HAT Tours - Holland; "bike and barge tour"; (web pages available in English, Deutsch, Nederlands)
Golden Odyssey - Luxury Dutch Barge - Belgium, Netherlands, France
Merganser - France
Clair de Lune - France
Johanna - Dutch barge; 8 passengers; France (Alsace, Lorraine and the Ardennes)
Dutch Paradise Charters - river salon yacht; 10 passengers; Holland, Belgium, France (web pages in English, Deutsch, Français, Nederlands)
Barge Colibri - 4 passengers (Canal du Midi, France)
Barge Nilaya - 4 passenger Luxemotor barge; France
Barge and Breakfast - "charter" service: your party are the only guests; 2-4 passengers; France
Feniks - hotel boat, cycling holidays, charters; cruises the Netherlands, Belgium and France
River Yacht "Roi Soleil" - cruises Canal du Midi and in Provence
The Saint Louis - up to six passengers; France
Sonafho France - cruises on the Burgundy Canal, on La Reine Pedauque or MS Niagara
The Barge Company - France, Netherlands, Belgium, England, Scotland, Ireland
Luciole - Canal du Nivernais in France, from Auxerre to Clamecy; 14 passengers
Soleil d'Oc - website defunct - Canal du Midi, France (website in French, save for one page in English)
As these sometimes roam around much of the canal system during a season, no "location" has been specified.
See also Hotel Boat Firms and Agencies - UK - Wide-beam.
Canal Voyagers - hotel narrowboat pair Snipe & Taurus
Duke & Duchess Hotel Narrowboats
Reed Boats - ceasing operation after 2012 season
Charter Hotelboat Willow - "charter" service: your party are the only guests
African Queen - River Thames; also B&B in Reading Oct-Mar
Baglady luxury hotel boat - cruises R. Thames; your party of two are the only guests
English Holiday Cruises - River Severn; two boats
Fingal Cruises - Scotland (Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal)
Go Barging - River Thames; Scotland
Lady Teal Boutique Hotel Boat - broad-beam boat in narrowboat-style
Magna Carta - River Thames
Scottish Highlander - Scotland
Shannon Princess - R. Shannon, Ireland; 10 passengers
Spirit of Chartwell - restaurant cruises in London; optional one-night stay on board
Thames & Chilterns Holiday Cruises - narrowboat-style boat, but wider - River Thames; K&A Canal
Please email firm and agency suggestions to the address below.
Many thanks to Nigel Hamilton, Julie Shook, Robin Smithett, and Paul Higson for additions and corrections.