European Cruise - Not All Barges Are the Same!Written by Colin Hartness
What image comes to mind when you hear word barge? Most likely, an American will visualize a long low-slung cargo vessel situated on a river or Great Lakes, dirty and loaded with coal or iron ore. The idea of a barge cruise may be reminiscent of an old black and white movie where hero leaves home at a young age on a cheap tramp steamer to seek his fortune in great world beyond. Or a barge cruise might bring to mind long-haired hippies of 1960’s traveling through Europe on $3 a day. Nothing could be further from truth!The only resemblance between an American cargo barge and a European cruising barge is long low-slung shape and overall proportions. A European cruising barge is, in reality, an exclusive and elegant means of travel. These barges are also called floating hotels due to preponderance of amenities and staff. Forget thought of a tiny pigeon-hole stateroom just above waterline of a 2,000 passenger cruise ship. All staterooms in a floating hotel are spacious and well-appointed, more like suites that you find on a cruise ship. Staterooms typically feature twin beds and a private bath. On luxury barge cruises, you will find even larger cabins and modern conveniences such as TV, jacuzzi, and computer hook-up. You have all amenities of home, including air conditioning, carpeting, a commons area, a dining area and, of course, a bar. The European barge cruise is an intimate and personal experience as barges typically accommodate as few as 4 people up to as many as 24. Each barge is staffed with a personal chef who prepares gourmet meals from locally purchased ingredients to please guests as well as a captain who pilots vessel and stateroom staff. A cruise with 6 people can be served by as many as 4 staff members.
| | Boat Timeshares - A Unique Vacationing ExperienceWritten by Dana Sanders
If you’ve dreamed of sailing seven seas, but don’t necessarily have bank account to buy a luxury vessel, don’t despair. There are ways to make that dream happen without breaking your bank. Boat timeshares offer a unique vacationing experience for almost any budget. By getting involved in a timeshare, you have right to use that luxury vessel to make your dreams come true, but you alone are not solely responsible for all expenses. Timeshares provide an excellent way for someone not willing or able to take on expense of purchasing a great vacationing boat themselves to still experience adventure of life on water. A variety of companies offer would-be Captain Ahab’s ability to take to sea without shelling out a lot of cash. Boat timeshare companies and programs are readily available and accessible across Internet. Boating timeshare companies are active all over world with even some finding their homes on America’s Great Lakes. Basically, a boat timeshare offers a sailor a chance to buy into a piece of a boat for a season. Similar to a yacht club, but without all expenses of owning your own yacht, these programs lets sailors sail minus headaches. Some programs allow members to purchase blocks of time over course of a sailing season to use a boat. Many programs work by giving several “skippers” same boat during sailing season. These skippers book multiple sail times, show up, sail, have a blast and return boat for next skipper to take over. While boat timeshares provide everything needed to sail, members still are responsible for making sure boat is in good condition when it’s returned. Swabbing deck isn’t out of question. However, many timeshare programs will even go as far as to include maintenance, fuel and so on in initial price. This leaves member responsible for simply safely piloting vessel, keeping it clean and enjoying their high seas adventure with their family and friends for a fraction of price of owning a yacht themselves. The insurance, boat licensing and other worries are generally handled by timeshare company itself.
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