This Tranquil Alternative To A Normal Cruise Is A More Intimate, Laid-Back Experience On Calmer Waters

Some travelers swear by the idea that urban destinations are best discovered on water. According to them, only on the best city cruises in America can you really see what Washington D.C., Manhattan, and Austin are all about. While there are quite a few to choose from, not all of them are made equal.

Slow travelers may not like the idea of being crammed onto a boat with a crowd of tourists. Barge cruises offer just the right alternative; imagine an intimate, multi-day experience where taking your time is recommended. These cruises feature smaller boats that carry only a dozen or so passengers and crew members. A more modest vessel offers greater flexibility to the route — often, barge cruises will take passengers into smaller canals where larger riverboats generally cannot venture. This promises travelers a unique outlook on the city or region they're visiting. 

Expert travelers have shared their experiences with barge cruises online, and resoundingly, most recommend opting for a smaller option like a barge cruise if you want to make meaningful connections with other travelers, or if hitting the usual tourist spots gives you the ick. Some barge cruises also offer high-end meals and regional wine lists, which can be attractive to traveling foodies. It's not all sunshine and butterflies, though. One Reddit user mentions that a relative's experience was akin to being "on a floating retirement home," pointing out that barge cruises generally welcome passengers in their fifties and older. Price is another important factor; in general, barge cruises will be pricier, but most travelers will claim it's worth it.

A barge cruise will cost you around $2,500, depending on the boat and the length of the cruise. Whole barges can also be reserved if you're traveling in a bigger group. This is something European Waterways offers. According to their 2026 price list, travelers should be prepared to pay at least around $40,000 for a reservation and up to $117,000 depending on the route and number of passengers. There are also some historic canal cities you may want to wander.

Size and passenger count are the biggest differentiators of a barge cruise from other kinds of cruises, but even within this niche category, there is a variety of experiences available. Adventurers may enjoy trying to be the captain of their own cruise, which you can do on the Erie Canal in New York. This unique experience requires four hours of training, but the result is a cruise that you can truly make your own. On the other end of the spectrum, hotel barge cruises offer all the luxurious amenities of your traditional cruise at a smaller scale. Japan's "floating ryokan," Guntu, is one example of this kind of cruise.

So how do you go about choosing which cruise is best for you? If you're all about entertainment and grandeur, you might be happier sticking to the top cruise lines for travelers who want luxury and budget. These traditional options aren't all that bad — they're floating resorts, often sold in all-inclusive packages. For week-long trips, depending on your destination, a traditional cruise can even be cheaper than a barge cruise, making it more accessible to young adults and travelers on a budget.