New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/19/2011 -- The Yuletide holiday season will soon be upon us, and European Waterways, Europe’s largest luxury hotel barge cruise company, offers the perfect way for families and friends to spend quality time together – a Christmas or New Year’s cruise on the River Thames aboard the Magna Carta luxury hotel barge. The 8-passenger Magna Carta is perfect for families or friends to charter at this special time of year and offers all the modern amenities and comforts, including gourmet meals prepared by a master chef onboard. It also comes with the old-world ambience of fine décor and personal service from an attentive crew – and the unbeatable scenic sites of England’s most historic river.

“Travel is the ultimate ‘feel good’ experience, and it is especially welcomed for the Christmas holidays, when people are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city to find the true meaning of the season,” said Derek Banks, Managing Director of European Waterways. “What better way to enjoy the holidays than by absorbing the rich cultural heritage and traditions of London and the picturesque towns along the Royal River Thames.”

Banishing the Humbug!
The Magna Carta is one of European Waterways’ most luxurious vessels. The 4-night Christmas cruise begins on Christmas Eve, December 24, with afternoon tea and mince pies at the 5-star Stafford Hotel. Boarding is at St. Katharine’s Dock, just east of the Tower of London and the unmistakable Tower Bridge, amid a setting of boutiques and colorful yachts.

Once settled, guests enjoy champagne onboard, along with a sumptuous dinner of regional specialties prepared by the barge’s private chef. Later, the “spirits” of the holidays come alive when actors drop by for select readings from “A Christmas Carol,” which can be followed by an optional Christmas Eve mass.

On Christmas Day, guests are welcome to attend the traditional service in England’s greatest church, the 1000 year-old Westminster Abbey. Then, after returning to their welcoming ‘floating hotel,’ guests can enjoy hot mulled wine while cruising from Chelsea to Chiswick, before being served a wonderful, traditional Christmas feast. On the following two days the cruise can also include a tour of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, a walk around historic Bushy Park with its population of wild deer, and a visit to magnificent Hampton Court Palace, once home to King Henry VIII.

A New Year to Remember
The 5-night New Year’s cruise aboard the Magna Carta, also available as a charter, begins December 28 with traditional afternoon tea at the Stafford Hotel in London. Then, an afternoon cruise on the River Thames to a mooring at scenic Runnymede, famous location of the sealing in 1215 of the Magna Carta, the hotel barge’s namesake. Highlights of the second day of cruising include a tour of Windsor Castle, one of the country’s top 20 tourist attractions and a Royal home for over 900 years.

On the following days, the cruise continues along some of the classic, most scenic stretches of the River Thames, such as beautiful Cliveden Reach. From the banks, one can see the former home of the Astor family – now one of the world’s finest hotels. The hotel is in the Guinness record book for offering the most expensive sandwich in the world at over $200!

New Year’s Eve celebrations include dinner and a party onboard the Magna Carta – or guests can elect to join in the festivities with local villagers at one of England’s oldest pubs in the 11th century village of Hurley. The cruise also features an optional visit to acclaimed English painter Sir Stanley Spencer’s art gallery, as well as a final stop in Henley on Thames, home of the world-famous Henley Royal Regatta.

Prices for either the Christmas or New Year full boat charter cruise are from $30,200. Complete information can be found on the European Waterways website at http://www.gobarging.com.

“Spring” Into 2012 with Great Deals
For those looking to get a jump on the 2012 Spring season, European Waterways offers special deals for early bookings on select cruises. All April 2012 departures are available at 10% off on whole-boat charters and cabin bookings for La Belle Epoque, Art de Vivre in Burgundy, France, and the Scottish Highlander in Scotland. European Waterways is also offering 10% off on all March and April 2012 cruises aboard the Anjodi in Southwest France. Space is limited and subject to availability. A 5% off for whole-boat charters is also available on selected May – October 2012 departures on L’Impressionniste, Anjodi, and the Scottish Highlander, but deposits must be made on these by October 31 to qualify. Other conditions may apply.

For more information on packages and pricing, visit European Waterways’ website http://www.gobarging.com.

“Regardless of the time of year you go, the canals and waterways of Europe are waiting to be explored, and European Waterways’ luxury hotel barges offer travelers the perfect environment to relax, spend quality time with those they love, and take in the wonderful sites and attractions,” said Derek Banks.

About European Waterways
European Waterways is Europe’s largest all-inclusive luxury hotel barging company, offering vacations in nine countries and carrying nearly 2,000 passengers a year. Founded nearly 40 years ago, the company designs, builds, owns and operates a private fleet of luxury barges with cruises in France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. Pioneers in hotel barging, they were the first company to operate a hotel barge on the Upper Nivernais in Burgundy, and the “real” Loire Valley. They are also the only cruise company offering barge cruises in Scotland and in the Venetian lagoon and River Po valley, as well as the first company to offer an Avignon-to-Amsterdam 6-week trans-Europe cruise, a 1,000 mile journey along Western Europe’s inland waterways.