GoBarging with European Waterways
Luxury Barge cruises in Europe

Here's what some of our satisfied guests had to say about their luxury barge cruise vacations with GoBarging on the European Waterways:

If all barging was like this, I might give up my flat and do it all the
time! However, I doubt if I will ever find such a competent and capable
crew as Actief's. What a wonderful team you are! Your energy, joy, fun
loving, caring, thoughtful service was fantastic. The food was outstanding,
the service superb - all done with grace and charm.

George Langeler

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This is long overdue, but I have at last found a moment to write and compliment your organization, and most especially, our crew on the Anjodi during our cruise on the Canal du Midi last September. The organization was perfect, the accommodations just about perfect, the food fantastic and the scenery everything that your material promised and a good deal more. Our captain, deserves great praise for showing us a wonderful time.

Be assured, we have been telling all our friends in Idaho about our week in your care.

Mark S. Geston

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Honestly my vacation on the Anjodi far exceeded my expectations. From the moment the captain greeted us at the train station and the crew’s huge smiles that welcomed us aboard, we knew that we were going to have the best vacation ever. Effortlessly, the staff met every need, and then some. The carefully selected wine and cheese was only the introduction to fabulously prepared lunches and dinners each day. The enjoyable land excursions and knowledge of our tour guide far exceeded past experiences with other guides. The exchange of hugs and addresses between the crew and out group at the end of the trip reconfirmed how wonderful life can be. I will be talking about this experience for many years.

Craig Gould

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My husband and I just returned from our wonderful week aboard L'Art de Vivre. We were aboard with 3 other couples we had chartered the boat with. We wanted to let you know how fabulous the crew was. They were very professional yet like family to us. The rooms were cleaned daily and little details were noticed. (Like my fondness for snickers bars). The meals and wine were excellent and served with flair. We became so attached to our "kids" that we are all hoping that they will visit us in Seattle some time. All their efforts were appreciated and noticed. They were a part of a trip of a lifetime for us all.

Most Sincerely, Cappy Goodell

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Davide was an excellent chef. I learnt of the Veneto cuisine. Since I was new to the cuisine I felt like I was experimenting with the octopus, squid and crayfish. His lamb polenta, steak, pastas, carpaccio, etc were the best I had ever tasted. I could not imagine a more thrilling way to experience the Venetian lagoon. The joy of exploring Venice, Burano, Murano, Lido and the lagoon’s waters, followed by the River Brenta --- La Dolce Vita and its excellent staff will always hold a treasured spot in my memory.

Les Furnanz

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The cruise on La Dolce Vita was absolute perfection. Exactly what we wanted and we will recommend it enthusiastically. The barge overall was above and beyond our expectations. Regarding the itinerary we loved the "floating" from point to point, never needing a car to reach the destinations.
The quality of the pre-trip information provided was excellent, the accommodations and the service were very good, meals and wines outststanding, and excursions were superb.

Clinton & Elizabeth Elliot

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I just can’t get a grip on the correct words to thank you and your team for such a marvellous voyage and glorious experience we had aboard the MV L'Impressionniste.

Your staff were outstanding ambassadors for Go Barging and left no opportunity undone to satisfy the passengers aboard. It would not be fair to single out any one of them for special commendation, as they were all outstanding in their own divisions. More important was the exemplary manner in which they handled the demands of passengers aboard—it left me gasping sometimes—Well done crew, you are a credit to your company.

When we left on the final day we were abnormally sad and felt towards the crew, as if we were leaving family behind. We want them to know how grateful we are for their efforts and also to thank you and your admin staff for making our trip marvelous, exciting and educational.

Thanks to all once again for an outstanding voyage. Please write to your crew and let them have our views on their extraordinary abilities.

Sincerely,

Bucky and Genie Maguire.

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We have just returned from our week aboard L'Impressionniste. I just
wanted to say thank you so much for the most wonderful time. The barge
was very comfortable, the crew most professional and the wine and food
outstanding.

It was very special to be able to celebrate my partner's 50th birthday
in such style.

My thanks to you and the whole team for allowing us this opportunity. It
will be remembered by us both as one of the most unique holidays ever
taken!

Anne Abernethy

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We just got back from a week on the La Belle Epoque and we had to tell you that it was the most perfect holiday experience we have ever had--it was beyond all expectations. The service, the ambience, the quiet yet exciting environment, the side trips and the marvellous elegant yet healthful meals all blended into the finest totality of living indeed a modern Belle Epoque. Capt Nick, to say the least a character, ran a great ship and the crew worked like a happy, efficient team.

Regards, Gerry and Bill Goldberg

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First, I must thank and compliment Derek and his team of professionals on the barge experience and the organisation of the adventure. Superb is one word which encapsulates it quite neatly. Second, I have to say that the food and wine components more than met expectations.

The captain was the consummate host, never in your face, but always around where anything was needed... highly entertaining and a great skipper. Captain's table was a great success.
I am particularly grateful that at the end of the trip, we were all given print-outs of the meals served, along with the matching wines. A splendid idea. It certainly saved a lot of time for this lazy, sometime journo not to have to take notes of everything.

I thought that travelling in the direction from Clamecy to Auxerre was a terrific opportunity to make a bucolic start to the journey, finishing with the busier city of Auxerre. However, I've no doubt it would work equally well the other way.

Ian Parmenter

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All of us who were passengers on the Nymphea for this trip want you to know what a wonderful holiday we had. It was a very special and magical week.

The Nymphea is a charming barge and cruising with her was a fantastic way to see the beautiful Loire countryside.

Our crew was simply outstanding. Leigh, our captain, was skilled and knowledgeable. He managed the Nymphea like it was part of him. On top of that his tour guiding through the Chateaux hit the perfect blend of facts and story telling. We really enjoyed the time we spent with him seeing the sites, and experiencing the gardens and the Chateaux. We appreciated the pace he set as well - a perfect blend of seeing the highlights and moving along to enjoy the time on the barge.

Our chef, was a delight. Her meals were beautiful and exciting. She worked hard to use the wonderful cheeses, produce and other specialties of the region in our dishes and courses. There was never too long a space between treats - if it wasn't time for a meal, it was time for cocktails and a nibble. And we're not sure what we enjoyed more... the fabulous lunches of "salads" and more, or the incredible multi-course dinners, all of which were paired nicely with regional wines.

We couldn't say what we enjoyed more about the trip, the comfort of the Nymphea, the gorgeous countryside, the beautiful Chateaux and gardens with their history and splendor, or the fabulous food and drink.

Thank you for providing a wonderful holiday for us.

We hope to do another barge trip in a different region in the future!

Best regards,
Bonnie and Harry Goren
Julie Light and Gregg Vernon
Lynn and Karen Hoffman

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Thank you so much for making our vacation trip on your barge Scottish Highlander so enjoyable. We loved everything about it. Your stewardess was so sweet and so kind. The captain was great showing us all the great places along the way. You had a wonderful chef as you know we enjoyed all the wonderful food. We loved Scotland it is a beautiful country also we loved the people. The captain’s accordion playing was wonderful. You are all very young, talented hard working ambitious people. We admire you very much. We want to thank you and wish you well and wish you a happy life.

Fondly Vanita and Bill Phillips

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An excellent week with a decided and welcome slow pace, a casual and intimate experience with the virtue of extremely good cuisine and most enjoyable shipmates from the US. All of this without the nuisance of casinos, nightclubs and the ubiquitous midnight buffet.

Bottom line: Congratulations for a job very well done, Ralph Collier

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My husband and I, with four other friends, have just completed a trip on the Shannon Princess. We had a marvellous time, loved the boat; the crew was fantastic, the meals were delicious, and the service was outstanding. We were joined by 2 other congenial couples.

We especially liked the evening we spent in the pub "Colleen". We thoroughly enjoyed the monastery, the excellent docent there and the fact that the boat was able to dock right there. The musical group who came on board one evening and the lovely relaxed cruising days were marvellous. The visit to the Galway crystal factory was very interesting.

Despite the weather, we loved our trip and want you to know that the marvellous crew was a splendid addition to our enjoyment.

Sincerely, Patricia Waters

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Excellent – everything was planned well, tours were very interesting and the captain was knowledgeable and competent. This barge tour was incredible. Everything was first class – the food and service were beyond compare! The excellent food and service, friendliness of the crew all of whom went out of their way to make our trip memorable.

I highly recommend the barge for seeing Europe. We went to places that we would never have found on our own. Our days were full, there was so much to see and yet the cruise itself was leisurely and most relaxing. I have never experienced such incredible cuisine at every serving. Everyone on board was friendly and efficient. Our every need was met without being over solicitous. I will definitely do another cruise. I was absolutely delighted with every experience of my trip.

Kathryn Bregler