Meet Rosie Mansfield

Rosie Mansfield is Chief Executive of French Waterways, an independent specialist in cruising France’s inland rivers and canals.

Rosie leads a team that helps travellers compare luxury hotel barges, river cruises and self-drive boating holidays across France. Her approach is built on first-hand knowledge. She travels extensively on the waterways, visits vessels, meets owners and crews, and uses those experiences to match each client with the right barge, itinerary and atmosphere.

Originally from Ireland, Rosie is an enthusiastic advocate for slow travel and the restorative pleasure of being properly looked after. She has cruised through Burgundy and along the Canal du Midi, among other regions, and has taken her own family aboard to understand how the experience can work across generations.

In Episode 37 of Destination Unlocked, Rosie joins Daniel Edward to explain what makes a hotel-barge cruise different from a conventional river cruise. She shares her first journey aboard Grand Victoria in Burgundy, including visits to Beaune, Clos de Vougeot and Romanée-Conti, and explains how a typical day balances gentle cruising with a carefully curated excursion.

French Waterways

French Waterways was founded in 2003 and provides independent information and booking support for inland cruising throughout France. Its hotel-barge portfolio includes more than 55 vessels, ranging from intimate two-person charters to larger barges carrying up to 22 guests.

The company does not own or operate the barges. Instead, its team recommends routes and vessels according to the traveller’s interests, group, preferred region and practical needs.

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Rosie Mansfield at French Waterways
French Waterways
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