Savoir Faire (barge)

Savoir Faire
History
France
Name: Savoir Faire
Operator: Christopher Bennett
Launched: 1932
Christened: unknown
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Commercial passenger vessel
Tonnage: 200
Length: 39.40 m (129.3 ft)
Beam: 5.07 m (16.6 ft)
Height: 3.85 m (12.6 ft)
Draught: 1.48 m (4.9 ft)
Decks: 3
Installed power: Two soundproofed water-cooled generators with a total output of 110 kw.
Propulsion: 175 HP DAF
Speed: 12-14 knots maximum
Capacity: 12 passengers
Crew: 6 crew
Notes: Holds 8000 liters fuel and 10,000 liters water.

The Savoir Faire is one of around 50 barges of different dimensions that operate as hotel barges on Europe's inland waterways. Some were purpose-built, but most, like Savoir Faire, were built to carry freight on the waterways of the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and converted for their new use.[1] The term hotel barge is used to describe this type of vessel, providing an often luxurious quality of comfort and personal service, in contrast with the much larger river cruise ships that operate on the main rivers of Europe (and on other continents).

History

Savoir Faire was built in Amsterdam in 1932. It originally carried cargo in the Netherlands and Belgium. During World War II, it served as a troop carrier. It was converted to a hotel barge in 1976 and now serves as a luxury hotel barge operated by Christopher Bennett, captain and owner of the ship. The barge cruises in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, at present most frequently on the Canal de Briare and the Canal latéral à la Loire.

Hotel barge

The Savoir Faire has six double cabins and carries up to 12 passengers. It also has separate crew quarters which house the crew of six. The crew consists of the captain, two hostesses, chef, deckhand, and tour guide.[2][3][4]

References

  1. ↑ Le Sueur, Bernard (2004). Mariniers: Tome 1, Histoire et mémoire de la batellerie artisanale. Douarnenez: Chasse-Marée Glénat. ISBN 2914208510.
  2. ↑ Steven B. Stern (2004). Stern's Guide to the Cruise Vacation 2005. Pelican Publishing Company. ISBN 978-1-58980-240-7.
  3. ↑ Kay Showker; Bob Sehlinger (2007). The Unofficial Guide to Cruises. Wiley. ISBN 978-0-470-08791-6.
  4. ↑ Shirley Slater; Harry Basch (1997). Fielding's Worldwide Cruises 1998. Fielding Worldwide. ISBN 978-1-56952-156-4.


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