Greetings! Thanks for checking us out . . .
It's good to know who you are working with to select and book a vacation as big and exciting as a canal or river barge cruise. You're putting your trust into your booking agent and the barge to provide a memorable and unique vacation. This is a big deal!
Beth Hanson, on the deck of our barge, Quest, 1991-1995.
Once chef, hostess and deckhand on our own charter barges, who knew I would one day be organizing barge trips for others who love new travel adventures. It is truly my pleasure to answer your phone calls and emails helping with information, recommendations and bookings. Travel has long been my passion for the fun and adventure of learning about other cultures and countries, and France is my favorite for its beauty and gentle way of life. I love going to France regularly to experience barging firsthand and to stay up-to-date with the barge owners. Specializing in barge cruises and France is my dream career. Merci beaucoup to our clients for working with us and making this lifestyle possible.
Jack Hanson, fooling around in Avalon, France.
Once captain, tour guide, sommelier and chief napkin folder on our former barges, La Reine and Quest, Jack is the man behind the scenes here in our Central Oregon office. He helps with the website, solves all my tech problems, creates the videos on our YouTube channel and cheerfully does the bookkeeping. Throw in his love of golf and hiking, plus his part time work as the neighborhood "go to" guy for home repairs, he's one busy and happy fellow. It was Jack who inspired us to move to France in 1988 to live on a barge, for which I am forever grateful.
You're at the right place . . .
We love France and we love to barge. We want to help you love it too! We are celebrating 23 years of helping people go on barge cruises and vacations in France. We previously owned two charter barges and spent 8 glorious years cruising the canals and rivers of France. We love sharing our knowledge and experience to help you select the right barge cruise for your interests and budget. Our mission is to inspire you to go barging. It's worth it!
You're in good hands . . .
We have quite a history of taking care of people in the travel and hospitality business:
- Specialists in France and barge cruises since 1988
- 8 years of owning and operating two charter barges on the canals and rivers of France, Holland, and Belgium
- 7 years of organizing and leading tours in France, Spain and Italy - walking, food and wine, art and history, ladies shopping tours
- An excellent reputation for good service and caring attention to detail
- We know the canals, barges and sights
- We know France and are happy to help with your pre- and post-cruise planning
- We are an independent U.S. Booking Agent for over 40 barges. The cost to you is the same whether you book directly with the barge or through us. And we'll give you our unbiased recommendations based on your interests and budget
- Member of OSSN - Outside Sales Service Network, a travel association dedicated to professionalism and integrity
- Owners of CanalBargeCruises.com LLC
We look forward to hearing from you and helping any way we can,
Beth and Jack Hanson
Let's Go Barging!
___________________________________________________________________
What We Care About
We are happy to donate a portion of each booking to a well respected international humanitarian organization, Doctors Without Borders.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971.
Today, MSF provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. MSF reserves the right to speak out to bring attention to neglected crises, to challenge inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and to advocate for improved medical treatments and protocols.
In 1999, MSF received the Nobel Peace Prize.