Discover the barge & crew
The
Who Knows'
name is a literal translation of the Dutch "Wie Zalt Weten". Built in 1930 in Holland, she was used for ferrying grain, stone, wood and other dry cargo all over Europe.
The barge was laid up in the centre of Paris for 17 years, where she was owned and lived on by the famous American actor/writer Sterling Hayden.
The Who Knows later returned to Holland where she was bought by Paul Taneyhill and then totally refitted in a reputable Dutch shipping town. Decorated in traditional dark wood paneling and brass finishings, she is one of the finest examples of classic yachts on the French waterways.
In August of 2004 the Who Knows was purchased by Jason Ashcroft and Dawn Coles. Dawn is a graduate of the prestigious Concord Hotel and Restaurant Management Scheme. Following in her mother's footsteps as a professional chef she applies her skills to delight customers everyday. Dawn's attention to detail ensures that the barge runs as smooth as clockwork. Jason graduated from the famous “Ecole du Hotelier” on the shores of Lac Leman, Switzerland. After running hotels, restaurants, night clubs and bars in Switzerland, England and East Africa, he finally settled down in France where his skills as a wine enthusiast, gourmand and professional bilingual tour guide have come into their own and as Barge Captain, Jason is one half of a highly successful and professional team. Jason and Dawn are perfect hosts for you to experience…..
France as it should be seen !
We invite you to come and experience the unique joy of cruising the historic canals of France. Being Owner operated ensures the client has full control of their vacation. For example due to customer feedback our cruise starts outside of Dijon. Doing this misses out on the industrial areas and gets you into the peace and quiet of the French countryside. It also means that we pass through the Pouilly tunnel, a truly memorable experience and one of the only hotel barges to do this due to her sleek shape and classic lines. Dawn and I have worked extensively on the Who Knows since we bought her. She now has three comfortable en-suite cabins. Each en-suite has a hand basin with vanity unit, toilet and large showers.
With the inclusion of air conditioning in the cabins they are the perfect accommodation for your week aboard. In addition to this we have also renovated the living room, putting in comfortable seating, library and music. Outside, we have transformed the barge with the inclusion of a 30m2 stainless steel canopy as a permanent sun shade over the wheel house sun terrace. We have done this without loosing the charm of the old yacht style teak and hardwood interior. Together with the well stocked bar and second outside sun terrace for enjoying the summer sun and amazing scenery, the Who Knows is the perfect way to see unspoilt France.
Layout of the barge
The cabins provide the comfort and charm for your cruise
The inside of the barge has a real nautical atmosphere with dark hardwoods and brass
The dinning room
A view of an en-suite bathroom