We meander through Europe's green and history rich countryside each summer season, enjoying the tranquility and all that these lands have to offer. When we welcome you on board we want you to feel as comfortable as we do, so please do make yourself at home for your cruise with us.

A typical day can be as follows:

A traditional French style breakfast, for which we collect fresh croissants, pain au chocolat, & bread each morning, whilst moving the MPV to our destination.  I either put the 50cc scooter, or a bicycle in the boot/trunk, to wend my way back from our destination, via the bakers. If any guests want to join me to enjoy the early morning cycle back, they are most welcome.

After breakfast, mornings aboard can be spent seated forward, watching the waterways creeping toward us, reclining on the loungers, or viewing the passing countryside from the teak framed sun lounge. The relaxed informality of life on board includes time to enjoy a good book, plug into music, or walk along the bank and as we cruise at walking pace (6kph or 4mph), guests can walk or cycle between locks.

For those preferring a bit more activity, you can learn to help handle the barge, take a turn on the wheel, assist at locks, or even help the lock-keeper operate the gates, which is always appreciated.

We aim to moor up by noon, as the locks close for lunch hour, by which time we will have covered 10-15km and passed through a number of locks; by mooring at this time we're free for the afternoon.

After a light lunch, the afternoons can be spent exploring by foot, on bicycles or in our 7 seat MPV. Excursions are influenced by the interests of our guests and what is in the locality; which can be charming villages, country markets, serene vineyards, interesting museums, exciting châteaux/castles and other places of interest. 

When we return to the barge, we like to enjoy an early evening refreshment, perhaps a chilled local white wine, or a fruit juice. We can relax and discuss the day we've enjoyed, the evenings dinner and what is planned for the following day.

Dinner is not included in the cost of the charter, and can be taken ashore at one of the many fine bistros or restaurants, which we can select from our experience, or the guide books, whilst considering the Guest's budget.  Occasionally we can shop in the local markets, for fresh produce, then all help and cook or barbeque on board, after all, many hands make light work.

A few things to know:

Before you join us we will have communicated, details of the cruise, meeting points, special dietary requirements etc, but when on board if you have a request do ask.

The relaxed informality of life on board means that we dress casually; no need for black tie or cocktail dresses. The correct footwear is important, soft soled shoes (deck shoes are best) must be worn, no leather/hard soled shoes or high heels should be worn on board.

The adventure of travelling by boat includes some inherent hazards of boats, such as old uneven quays, unkempt grassy banks, sloping gang-planks for boarding, uneven decks, bollards that bite ankles, low doors and floor level changes. Please watch your step and your head, we want your time on board to be safe and comfortable.

Although Zwaan van Maaike has generous water and electrical capacity, please keep in mind that they are finite, so if we need to replace them it can be noisy and time consuming. Turning off lights and taps when they are not being used will minimise time with the generator on, or the need to find a water tap on shore.

Electrical appliances such as hair dryers, or curling tongs will severely drain the the barge's battery supplied electrical system; to reduce this we supply low wattage hair dryers and curling tongs, in each cabin. Please use them only when the main engine, or the generator is running, we're happy to turn on the generator whenever an electrical appliance is needed.

You are welcome to smoke on deck, but there is no smoking inside the barge, it is the law.