A&K Barging and Small Ship Cruising

What's Special About A&K

• A&K doesn't operate ships themselves - they pick the best of the best to sell
• They often add additional features to the basic cruise - special tours or pre and post packages
• Their offerings range from barging in France to expeditions to the Antarctic
• Expect excellent quality, exceptional service, unusual experiences, and high prices from A&K

A&K Barge Cruising

The barging holidays offered by Abercrombie & Kent travel Europe's country canals, her busy rivers or a combination of both. Canal trips differ from river itineraries - which is right for you?

For the most part, canal cruises emphasize relaxed, leisurely travel in country regions filled with often-overlooked sightseeing treasures. The actual miles covered on a canal trip are relatively few, with frequent opportunities for waterside activities such as towpath walking or cycling and village rambles.

River cruises cover more distance, more quickly. They too offer a relaxed on-board atmosphere, but here the emphasis shifts toward a more comprehensive itinerary in town and country, with more organized sightseeing tours away from the vessel.

All of the barges A&K features carry no more than 22 passengers per departure, and some as few as 6 or 8.

You will also be able to choose between a "hotel" or "charter" barge departure. "Hotel" cabins are booked separately by individual travellers, just like hotel rooms. If meeting new people and enjoying the camaraderie of travel is part of the fun for you, this may be your most attractive option.

On "charter" departures, all cabins on board are reserved for the exclusive use of the chartering party, which may be a family or a group of friends vacationing together. Barges dedicated to charter use generally have space for 6 or 8 passengers. If your group is larger, we'll find you a larger boat or two barges that can travel in tandem - by special arrangement, any barge A&K features can be chartered.

Specialty departures also cater to your unique interests. Whether you choose to savor the finest vintages in the regions where they are produced, play golf on Scotland's challenging courses, marvel at the springtime tulips of Holland, go antiquing in London or fish Europe's rivers and streams, A&K has a specialty departure for you. Cruises are available that feature walking, wine, theater, antiques, fishing, golf, cooking, shopping and a dozen other specialized activities.

Barging options are many - different barges, different areas, and a variety of focus activities. We will be happy to help you sort them out. You can get a better feel for barging by reviewing itineraries and boat details. The list of options is so long that we can't cover them all here. The links below will take you some examples. We will be glad to provide details for other options.

Small Ship Cruising

That's why A&K is committed to finding vessels that offer "simply the best" small-ship cruising in the world - ships that are uniquely right for the season, destination and style of the itinerary you choose.

That commitment translates, simply, to the finest small ships sailing today. These aren't the "pop stars" of the cruising community: no fifty-foot chandeliers, no floor shows, no rock walls here. Of course your cabin will be elegant and well-appointed, your meals delicious, and service impeccable.

But, on board these ships, style is always allied to substance. Each in its own original way, these beautiful vessels offer an on-board experience that's second to none - and in addition they'll take you to places few other cruise passengers ever see. It's possible because A&K's cruise groups are so small and personal, and our knowledge of these destinations so complete. We're welcome aboard the world's most intrepid, intimate, exciting ships, and we know where to send them to ensure that our guests sail beyond the big, brash, "must-see" sights into more rewarding, authentic harbors that can be enjoyed on a leisurely human scale.

The same is true of your experience on shore. We've selected hotels that will add something special to your trip. Sometimes these are well-known properties. Sometimes the names are less famous. But in every location, comfort, security and a genuine sense of place remain dependably assured.

Whether your holiday features a four-masted barque or an expeditionary cruiser, a boutique city hotel or a secluded resort, A&K accommodations are always the best possible match between your destination, your itinerary and your travel dreams.

Ships

Here are a few of the ships A&K uses.

Eclipse
Eclipse takes passengers to the Galapagos Islands in true comfort. She is 210 feet long - at this size, it would not be unusual to carry 100 or more passengers. Eclipse carries only 48 guests in 24 cabins.

Galapagos
Galapagos is a little bigger and maybe a little more luxurious than Eclipse. She is actually operated by the Ecuadorian government to take guests to the Glapagos Islands.

Itineraries