If your cruise program takes you through the tunnel then you'll enjoy this. The bigger your barge the longer it will take to pass the tunnel. On small hire boats the journey should last 40 minutes to an hour. For a barge 30 metres long count 2 hours, for a 38 metre barge 3 hours.The traffic is always in one direction.

Traffic is regulated by the lock keepers at each end of the tunnel; ecluse 1 Yonne and ecluse 1 Saône. You must have permission from one of the lock keepers to pass the tunnel & your boat must be equipped with lighting, and life jackets. Hence your are not allowed through on canoes, rafts etc.