Someone mentioned recently they would like to do a European river cruise on a hotel boat. A romantic trip for sure.
I'd love to do it. But this is the boat I'd ideally do it on.
Built for the UK market in Gdansk, Poland as
Metrofloat comes two widebeams, the Richmond and the
Henley. With size and a high standard of fit out for liveaboard, they are known as apartment boats, which is a shame if all they ever do is sit tied to a wharf. It's a kind of style I consider worthy of getting about in.
With a widebeam, you are somewhat restricted within UK waterways.
Not so in Europe. I would gladly cover Holland, Poland, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxemburg, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Sweden, Russia to name a few. There are enough connected waterways to more than cover the time I could make available.
The Henley ... stepping in from the seating area in the bow, you step down into the bedroom, which even has a nice slide out draw for my CPAP.
You follow through to a well appointed bathroom.
This leads on into the galley which conceals a fridge, a freezer, a dishwasher, a clothes washer, cooktop and oven, microwave, plenty of benches and cupboards and a bar and stools for dining.
The salon is spacious, housing a large screen tv and media centre in the stairs leading in from the back deck. The office area resides beside this and some simple elegant furniture also transforms into additional bedding should one wish to share this comfy little nest.
The back deck is very suited to many hours of comfortable cruising and taking in the scenic wonders of europe's river valleys.
This is what these boats are built to do ... though I doubt many will.
