2006--Home Page For
With An "All Inclusive"
Continental Waterways Style Barge Cruise Vacation
Continental Waterways
Continental Waterways was a dream come true, for the owners as well as the clients. It was during the late 60's that two journalists, one French (Guy Bardet) and one British (Richard Parsons), got together to do what they enjoyed the most, travel the canals of France in a barge. It was not long until their enthusiasm spread through word from their friends and they found themselves taking strangers for mini vacations on their barge. Richard did most of the piloting and Guy found himself a surprisingly good chef. Continental Waterways was born.
In a short time, Continental Waterways became the first hotel barge company in France. By 2004 they had 15 barges, 10 owned and 5 leased.
Charters were popular, as major corporations do seminars and provide incentive rewards for their employees aboard Continental Waterways barges.
Sadly the effects of 9-11, the Iraq war etc had its affect on business in France. Continental Waterways was no exception. The 10 owned barges and the name was sold in 2004 to Grand Circle Tours.
In 2005 two tour operators, two barge owners and a former executive of Continental Waterways formed an new company, Canal & Company, that is carrying on in the tradition of the Original Continental Waterways. This group of investors took the 5 vessels that did not go along with the sale and created a new company, new cruises. See now Canal & Company as we begin our second season.
