Canal barge vacations in France

Some previous comments on this RS episode:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/episode-1306-burgundy-gourmet-barge-cruise

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/burgundy-canal-barge

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/burgundy-barge

It does sound lovely but also quite expensive for what RS did.

Are you looking for a luxury barge cruise with staff and chef, or are you interested in renting a small boat just for yourself and friends?

We are looking for a barge cruise that has a staff, with accommodations for 8-10
passengers.

Hello,
We have not used this company personally, but they were recommended by a friend that used them in 2024.
Enjoy!
https://www.fcwl.com/our-cruises/

Thank you for your referral.

Every barge company will be different. Some are full charters, some are by cabin. Some include all meals, some you are on your own for lunch or dinner.

Many years ago we booked 2 cabins on a larger barge in Burgundy. There were a total of 16 or 18 passengers on our trip. Every day a different excursion was offered in the morning- a winery tour, a castle, a walking tour of Beaune... Every afternoon there was an organized walk to a village, a church, through the vineyards... Participation was totally optional. We could also walk or bike along the canal paths and meet up with the barge along the way. Meals were wonderful and the chef didn't hesitate to prepare something different if the menu wasn't to your liking.

Here's a link to Barge Lady Cruises. Their blogs are a good starting point for researching barge travel.

Thank you Jean.