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 every day. Dawn's attention to detail ensures that the barge runs as smooth as clockwork.
Barge Captain 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.
Together, Jason and Dawn are two halves of a professional, successful and highly regarded team. The perfect hosts or 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 means that you, our guests, have control of your vacation. For example, as a result of 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 able to do this due to her sleek shape and classic lines.
Dawn and Jason have worked extensively on the Who Knows since they bought her. She now has three comfortable en-suite cabins, each with a hand basin and vanity unit, toilet and large shower.
The tasteful furnishings and air conditioning in the cabins ensure that the Who Knows guest accommodation is truly luxurious for your week aboard. In addition, the living room has been renovated with comfortable seating, a library and music facilities. Outside, the biggest transformation has been the installation of a 30m2 stainless steel supported canopy providing a permanent sun shade over the wheel house sun terrace. Great care has been taken with all the modernisation work to ensure that none of the barge’s unique ‘old style yacht’ charm, typified by her teak and hardwood interior - has been lost. Add this to the well stocked bar, a second outside sun terrace for enjoying the summer sun and amazing scenery and the Who Knows really 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