New to Canal Boats? No problem!

If you can drive a car, then you can drive a motorboat. 2 hours of training provided!

Useful links to other Canal Boat Charter pages

VIDEOS | PRE-DEPARTURE INFO | BOATING WITH CONFIDENCE | OPTIONAL EXTRAS | BOOKINGS
BASE ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES | DOWNLOAD DOCS | THE FLEET | MARINA BASES |
YOUR SAFETY ONBOARD | SHIP INVENTORY | REGION GUIDES | SPECIAL OFFERS |

New to Canal Boats Holidays?

No experience necessary, no skipper licence is required!

If you’ve never been on a boating holiday before, the concept is simple.
Le Boat provides you with a boat, which will be your home and transport for the duration of your holiday.
Pick it up from one of their many bases, situated along some of the most beautiful waterways in Europe and Canada, and the rest is entirely up to you.
Go where you want; do as you please. The only requirement is that you return it back to the base on time.

Can anyone do it?

Yes – it’s like driving a car. If you are new to canal boats do not be anxious, the boats have been designed to make them easy to use, with a steering wheel for left and right and a forward and reverse throttle!

No previous boating experience or a licence is required as you will receive training on all the basics before you leave the base.

Not many of our new customers have driven a boat before. However, they quickly realize how easy it is and soon become confident navigating the waterways. The Le Boat base teams will tell (and show) you everything you need to know and will accompany you for a short distance, to make sure you are completely happy with the controls.

Can I damage the boat? Am I insured?

The Le Boat vessels are strong and sturdy and are equipped with built-in or free-hanging fenders along the side. So they can withstand a few gentle knocks and bumps while you get used to the controls – especially when mooring up or entering a lock. If you are sensible, take it slowly, listen carefully at your pre-departure briefing and follow their advice, accidents are easily avoided.

Le Boat takes a refundable damage deposit from all customers prior to departure and your liability for any damage to the boat is limited to this amount. For peace of mind, the amount of deposit required, and thus your liability, may be significantly reduced by purchasing a non-refundable Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). You can purchase this when you book or at the base before you depart.

What do I do on a boating holiday?

A boating holiday is free from itineraries and schedules, so you can do whatever you want and stop when and wherever takes your fancy. Cook and dine onboard or eat at a nice waterside restaurant.

Boating is a lot of fun and the most relaxing way of getting about. It slows you down and allows you to appreciate the surroundings and drink in the scenery. It provides you with an ever-changing view, delivers nature and wildlife to your door, and entices you to visit amazing towns and villages.

More importantly though, it means you can create your own holiday – be that a restful break or an active adventure! Get inspired for your next boating adventure by visiting our inspiration page. Perfect for planning the dream holiday for all preferences and tastes.

How do I plan my boating adventure?

So you’ve decided a boating holiday is for you – fantastic! But how do you go about planning your boating escapade?
Well, don’t worry, planning a boating holiday is simple… Just follow these three simple steps and you’ll be on your way to an unforgettable boating adventure in no time!

Step 1: Choose your destination

Le Boat operate in 17 unique destinations across 9 countries, so they know that they have the perfect holiday for everyone!
See their destinations for a complete list of the cruising regions.

Step 2: Choose your boat

Whether you are a large group of friends or a single couple, their impeccably maintained fleet has a boat for every party-size and budget. View a full list of boats in the fleet.

Step 3: Choose your extras

From bike hire to grocery packs, our optional holiday extras are the perfect accompaniments to any cruise. View a complete list of holiday extras to make your cruise extra special!

What is it like to go through a lock?

Locks are easy and fun! Going through locks is an enjoyable part of your holiday. It gives everyone on board the chance to get involved, no matter their age or experience. You’ll quickly get the hang of them and enjoy the crew camaraderie and the opportunity to chat with fellow boaters. The types of lock vary by region, whether manually-operated or electric; automatic or manned by a lock keeper.

Do I need a detailed itinerary?

Some people like to plan their holiday itinerary in fine detail. Others enjoy waking up each morning and chatting about what to do that day, around the breakfast table. It’s up to you!

No matter what your style – we provide plenty of information to help you plan your adventure! There is a waterways map on board which makes it very clear where you can and can’t go. Other on-board information tells you approximately how long it will take you to travel from point to point, where you can moor and what you can expect to find in each waterside town or village. If you need further help planning your perfect holiday, you can also give one of our friendly Boating Experts a call.

What is on board the boat?

All the Le Boat vessels have comfortable cabins; hot water, showers and toilets; dining tables, and fully-equipped kitchens – everything you’ll need to be self-sufficient for the duration of your holiday. You can travel from place to place, without the need to keep unpacking and packing again! For more information about individual boats, visit our boat pages.

How far can I cruise?

You can cruise for as long and as far as you want. In many of our boating regions, we have more than one base, which means you can either return your boat to the same base you started from, or you can cruise one-way between two bases.

You can book any duration from a three-night short break to a two-week holiday, or even longer. We won’t allow you to book a duration that doesn’t allow enough time to get to your destination base. We’ve provided helpful cruising suggestions on our destination pages, to show you how long it will take to cruise between bases. An average of three to four hours cruising a day is quite a nice pace.

Cruising SA is a member of the above associations
and a registered Cruising Agent with the above Cruise Lines.

Cruising SA (Pty) Ltd, Dreamweaver Holidays (Pty) Ltd and Touring SA are divisions of Dreamweaver Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
Dreamweaver Holdings (Pty) Ltd is a registered company in the Republic of South Africa, United Kingdom and the Philippines.

Head Office: 33 The Crescent, Hillary, Durban 4094. The Republic of South Africa. Tel: +27 31 463 1681 Fax: +27 86 609 3778
Asian Office: Barangay Road, Upper Pasil, Santander, CEBU 6026. The Republic of the Philippine Islands. Tel & Fax: +63 32 480 9037
Our emergency Cell number for our vehicle controller: 072 874 0859

N.B. The views and content displayed on this site belong to the person/party who submitted them, and Dreamweaver Holdings (Pty) Ltd. holds itself blameless for any inappropriate content or copyright infringement made by a member. As the cruise industry is constantly changing, all cruising quotes and cruising information supplied by us are subject to the final confirmation, upon the client’s final payment to the cruise company concerned. We do not accept any responsibility for any incorrect information given. E &OE. We operate as agents for our own account and offer our own specials over and above those of the various cruise companies whose products we sell.

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