(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - March 13th, 2013 - European Waterways, Europe's largest hotel barging cruise company, has launched its 2013 season following the completion of its annual renovations program. The company spent more than $400,000 throughout its fleet on extensive renovations that included the refurbishing of cabins and decks, equipment maintenance and repairs, new furniture, and expanded use of Wi-Fi to all its vessels.

 "We take a very 'hands-on' approach and are always inspecting our vessels to ensure they are in the best possible condition throughout the cruising season," said Derek Banks, managing director of European Waterways.  "We also take full advantage of the off-season to complete larger repairs and more extensive refurbishing, as well as to install new upgrades to provide the ultimate in luxury hotel barge cruising to all our customers.  This entails using a team of skilled craftsmen and engineers, overseen by management, to make all necessary enhancements to our fleet."

A "Special" New Season
Among the refurbished vessels is the popular eight-passenger L'Art de Vivre, which cruises the Lower Nivernais Canal & River Yonne in Burgundy, France. It features classic tennis, wine, and other types of themed cruises and treats guests to such scenic and historic sites as the medieval town of Auxerre and the spectacular hilltop village of Vezelay. L'Art de Vivre underwent numerous upgrades that included retiled bathrooms, a new galley, new carpeting, and the installation of a new engine and silent generator.  It is also one of the many vessels in the fleet that is celebrating the launch of the new season with a strong round of special offers of up to $2,000 per cabin and 20% off per whole boat charters on select cruises in April, May and June.

A "Fresh" Start
Interior "refreshing" of European Waterways' luxury hotel barges is an important aspect of the company's on-going improvement program.  Among the latest renovations:

L'Impressionniste, another Burgundy-region traveler, received a new air-conditioning system, new hardwood beds, and a new galley. The Anjodi, which cruises the Canal du Midi, also had a new galley built, and new hardwood furniture for its saloon and cabins. A new silent generator was installed in the Scottish Highlands hotel barge Scottish Highlander, along with a new hardwood floor and comfortable seating in the saloon, a new galley, and new carpets throughout. An excellent video of the interior can be found here. The Renaissance, which cruises through the Loire and Burgundy regions of France, also benefitted from a new galley. Both the Renaissance and the Canal du Midi-cruising Enchanté were fitted with new carpets throughout, and the Enchanté was decorated with charismatic new artwork. The Panache, a Holland, France, and Belgium-cruising vessel, was equipped with six new bathrooms, a new hardwood floor in the saloon and sundeck, and new carpets throughout.

"Our barges are the equivalent of boutique hotels on the water, and the quality of their cabins and facilities can make or break a person's entire vacation," noted Banks. "That is why we are constantly working on upgrades and improvements, as well as adding new features to our fleet, inside and out, to make every vessel as comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound as possible."

As well as upgrades to passenger accommodations, this last winter has seen extensive refurbishments to crew cabins and rest areas. "Keeping our crew happy and well rested helps ensure passengers enjoyment is not compromised" says Banks.

About European Waterways
The hotel barging experience is different from large vessel river cruising. It offers a slower paced, "gentle voyage of discovery" along the more intimate canals and waterways of Europe, allowing a small number of guests to become more fully immersed in the culture, history and gastronomy of the region. European Waterways is Europe's largest all-inclusive luxury hotel barging company, offering vacations in nine countries and carrying over 2,000 passengers a year. Founded nearly 40 years ago, they own, operate and market a private fleet of luxury hotel barges with cruises in France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.  Pioneers in hotel barging, they were the first company to operate a hotel barge on the Upper Nivernais in Burgundy, and the "real" Loire Valley. They are also the only cruise company offering barge cruises in Scotland and Ireland, and in the Venetian lagoon and River Po valley.

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