River barging operator European Waterways is increasing capacity to meet demand with the restart of its 2021 season as travel restrictions are relaxed.
France being removed from its amber-plus status on the UK’s traffic light system for overseas travel has enabled the company to bring back an additional four vessels into service.
They include the eight-passenger Renaissance in the upper Loire and western Burgundy; the eight-passenger Finesse in southern Burgundy; Dutch-styled eight-passenger Anjodi on the Canal du Midi; and 12-passenger Panache in Alsace and Lorraine.
The fleet deployment follows the launch of L’Art de Vivrein Burgundy several weeks ago.
The company will also be sailing in Italy with the relaunch of cruises by 20-passenger La Bella Vita between Venice and the Renaissance city of Mantua. European Waterways is offering 10% off per person on a new solo cruise departing from Venice on October 10.
Sailings in Ireland have also resumed with the ten-passenger Shannon Princess operating on the Rover Shannon.
Domestic sailings have included Magna Carta on the River Thames and Spirit of Scotland along the Caledonian Canal while waiting for UK borders to fully reopen to international travel.
The company pays travel agent commissions on all bookings.
Managing director Derek Banks said: “We’re excited to see a strong, upward trend in bookings.
“While some cruises reflect new bookings, others represent guests who have been patiently waiting over a year to go barging with us.
“In any language, the message is ‘welcome’. Hotel barge cruising is the ultimate slow travel experience, where good food, good wine and good company are the best parts of the journey.”