France Cruises is introducing the industry’s first hotel barge cruise during the winter season along the inland waterways of France and Belgium aboard the luxurious Esperance, and its newest ship, the 8-passenger MS Elisabeth. Sailing from December through March, the vessels will tour the renowned regions of Provence and Flanders, respectively.

The 6-passenger Esperance will journey through the south of France between Avignon and Montpellier. Travelers can look forward to passing colorful autumn landscapes and rich wildlife of horses and bulls aboard their all-inclusive floating hotel on the Rhone River. The cruise features enriching shore excursions to historical and cultural sites, such as the Pope’s Palace in Avignon, the largest gothic palace in Europe, and Roman city of Arles, home of legendary artist Vincent Van Gogh. Programs for four- and six-night cruises are available. Prices for this itinerary start at $4,335 per person, based on double occupancy.

Aboard the MS Elisabeth, guests will float past rolling hills and medieval towns on the canals of Belgium between Namur and Bruges. Highlights of the 6-night cruise include a guided tour of the impeccably-preserved, 13th-century town of Bruges, dubbed the “Venice of the North”; a visit to a local snail farm in Namur; and an exploration into Brussels’ popular attractions, including the city’s famous landmark, the Atomium. The vessel also offers a Christmas and New Year’s Eve cruise, which features exciting visits to local festivities spotlighting the holiday season. Rates for the cruise begin at $3,360 per person, double occupancy.

“We’re offering our clients a one-of-a-kind canal experience in the standard off-season not available anywhere else,” said Jean-Francois Dabrowski, president of France Cruises. “With fewer crowds, colorful scenery and pleasantly cool weather, there’s no better time than winter to visit Europe’s countryside.”