Our Team
ELLEN SACK - THE BARGE LADY
Ellen Sack, the Barge Lady, has for almost thirty years been sending travelers to the continent she fell in love with at age nineteen: EUROPE. But then, European travel was always "in her blood!" Ellen's grandparents sailed many times to Europe on luxury trans-Atlantic liners, while her father planned elaborate driving trips, mostly to France, but also to other countries. Dinner table conversation revolved around where to go, where to stay and where to dine! Later, Ellen's sister became a travel agent which increased her interest in the business side of traveling.
In 1978, Ellen followed her sister's footsteps and became a travel agent. Professional and personal travels took her all over Europe and the Caribbean. As enjoyable as this life was, when an opportunity came in 1985 to specialize, Ellen was ready. She went to work for a company introducing a six-passenger barge in Burgundy. Although Ellen did not know it at the time, her life was to become increasingly intertwined with the fledgling European canal barge industry!
Since then, Ellen has sent thousands of travelers on the barge cruise of their dreams (still treating each customer as an individual); introduced many vessels into the worldwide market; created the Barge Rating System now in widespread use; and publicized barging in print media and over the internet. She has placed articles in American Way Magazine, Delta Sky Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel Holiday and the Wall Street Journal - to name but a few. She was featured twice in the bestselling book "1000 Places to See Before You Die," was called the "reigning expert on barge cruising" by Today Show travel editor Peter Greenberg, and is considered a top go-to source by reporters and editors.
Ellen believes that she is selling knowledge and opinions before anything else. To keep current, she has traveled to France over forty times to visit her many barges there - as well as taking regular inspection trips to England, Ireland, Scotland, Holland and Germany. She says; "It's a tough job - but SOMEONE has to taste that delicious food, sip the wines, experience the excursions and meet the crew!" Recent trips included a 2008 cruise on the NOUVELLE ETOILE through Champagne. (Please see The Barge Lady Blog for her day-to-day adventures); a 2009 trip to visit several barges in Burgundy, including several new vessels; and in 2010, with her daughter, visited ten vessels on the Canal du Midi, in Provence-Camargue and in Southern Burgundy. Ellen loves her new travelling companion!
Ellen has also travelled widely in Israel, the Caribbean, Alaska and Turkey. She has cruised in the Mediterranean and the Baltic and on the Rivers Rhine and Danube.
Ellen has been active in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for many years. She has chaired major fundraisers and also has raised thousands of dollars by selling at auction cruises donated by generous barge owners.
CAROLINE SACK KLEIN
Caroline Sack Klein is the Marketing Manager/Booking Manager, and joined The Barge Lady in 2010. As Ellen's daughter, Caroline has been exposed to the barge industry since she was a child, and dinner conversations revolved around barging and travel. After graduating college in 2002, Caroline has had a successful run at various sales and marketing positions working with Fortune 500 consumer packaged goods companies, and for Careerbuilder.com. Since Ellen has devoted her entire life to establishing and growing The Barge Lady, it was always a strong possibility that Caroline would one day enter the business.
As the Marketing Manager, Caroline wants to expose The Barge Lady to everyone who appreciates unique and private travel experiences, gourmet food, fine wine and charming European countrysides.
Naturally, the travel bug bit Caroline at a young age, and the passion rapidly developed. Ellen took Caroline to France at age 15, and she has been hooked ever since. In addition to France, Caroline has traveled extensively throughout Europe, has enjoyed resort life in Mexico and the Hawaiian Islands and adventures farther afield in China, Hong Kong, Bali, Indonesia, Malaysia Thailand, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Argentina. In 2010, Ellen and Caroline visited 10 barges in the Canal Du Midi and Southern
Bugundy.
An interesting fact about Caroline is that she only brings carry on wherever she travels. Whether she goes on a barge, on safari, or to exotic lands, Caroline packs light - and has taught Ellen to do so, too!
AMY ALDRICH
Amy
Aldrich has been the office manager at Barge Lady Cruises for the last 5
years. She ran a successful home business for a number of years, and is
very proud of being a stay-at-home-mom before joining The Barge Lady
team. Amy and her husband were introduced to barging in 2007, enjoying a
"Three Country" cruise on CHARLEMAGNE. As first-time travellers to
Europe, it was wonderful to experience Germany, Luxembourg and France -
in one week and without packing and unpacking! You can find a day by day
description of this intriguing cruise on The Barge Lady Blog. Amy has met a few barge owners and has discovered a
great newfound passion for European travel!
In April of
2008, Amy and Tom cruised on SHANNON PRINCESS in Ireland. As Amy is a
"St. Patrick's Day Baby" and she has Irish ancestry, this was a trip she
longed to make. Her day to day cruise blog from this trip can be found
at The
Barge Lady Blog as well.
KELLY WEISS
Kelly Weiss is the Creative Director for Barge Lady Cruises, for the last 5 years, handling graphic and website design as well as marketing. She received a BFA in design in 2004. In 2005, she jumped at the opportunity to combine her two passions - art and travel - and began working at Barge Lady Cruises. At Barge Lady, Kelly is in charge of many of the creative and marketing projects, including designing several barge brochures and the annual newsletter.
Kelly has always had a strong interest in travel. She has taken many trips throughout the US, Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. At age 22, she traveled to Germany, her first trip to Europe. She knew it would not be her last! Since then, Kelly and her husband have barged on SHANNON PRINCESS in Ireland, the ACTIEF in England, and the SAVOIR FAIRE in France. Kelly also spent several days on the Canal du Midi visiting and photographing vessels. She loves traveling to Europe, tasting top cuisine, exploring new destinations, meeting fellow guests and the barge owners - and of course taking many pictures for The Barge Lady website.
Kelly enjoyed an afternoon cruise aboard the beautiful EMMA on the Canal du Midi. A detailed description of her cruise including the lunch menu can be found at The Barge Lady Blog.
