Gold Trusted Service Award
Gold Trusted Service Award
Awarded by Feefo, which independently collects reviews from our customers, the award recognizes businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Rosette
Boating expertise since 1969
With over 50 years of experience and expertise, we're passionate about providing unbeatable vacations on the water.
Compass
18 amazing destinations
Our extensive network of bases across 9 countries means you can enjoy a return-trip or choose from a wide selection of one-way routes.
Boat
World’s largest fleet
We have more river and canal boats available than any other operator, available to hire between April and October. Our wide range of boats sleeps between 2-12 people.
Buoy
No boat license required
That's right! You can rent and captain your own boat for a short break (3 nights minimum), a week or longer. We'll show you everything you need to know before you set off.
  • Gold Trusted Service Award
    Gold Trusted Service Award
    Awarded by Feefo, which independently collects reviews from our customers, the award recognizes businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
  • Rosette
    Boating expertise since 1969
    With over 50 years of experience and expertise, we're passionate about providing unbeatable vacations on the water.
  • Compass
    18 amazing destinations
    Our extensive network of bases across 9 countries means you can enjoy a return-trip or choose from a wide selection of one-way routes.
  • Boat
    World’s largest fleet
    We have more river and canal boats available than any other operator, available to hire between April and October. Our wide range of boats sleeps between 2-12 people.
  • Buoy
    No boat license required
    That's right! You can rent and captain your own boat for a short break (3 nights minimum), a week or longer. We'll show you everything you need to know before you set off.
  • Gold Trusted Service Award
    Gold Trusted Service Award
    Awarded by Feefo, which independently collects reviews from our customers, the award recognizes businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
  • Rosette
    Boating expertise since 1969
    With over 50 years of experience and expertise, we're passionate about providing unbeatable vacations on the water.
  • Compass
    18 amazing destinations
    Our extensive network of bases across 9 countries means you can enjoy a return-trip or choose from a wide selection of one-way routes.
  • Boat
    World’s largest fleet
    We have more river and canal boats available than any other operator, available to hire between April and October. Our wide range of boats sleeps between 2-12 people.
  • Buoy
    No boat license required
    That's right! You can rent and captain your own boat for a short break (3 nights minimum), a week or longer. We'll show you everything you need to know before you set off.

Waterways and lock closures

Check to see if your holiday will be affected

Boating holidays are very reliant on the conditions  of the waterway and, even during boating season, navigation may not always be possible in some areas. Disruption could be caused by a lock or bridge needing repair or maintenance, or there may not be the right level of water to safely navigate.

Please be aware that our base teams are expert in their cruising regions. They will be happy to provide up-to-date advice on the best cruising conditions and suggested itineraries on arrival and during your cruise. With the safety and enjoyment of our customers in mind, we may sometimes advise against navigation within a certain part of the cruising region where local conditions may be challenging at that specific point in time. Conditions continually evolve so it is not always possible to inform you of relevant conditions in advance, however please use the information below as a guide to the current navigation restrictions in place in our boating regions. 

  • On Sundays in April and October locks and bridges will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on these day.
  • Due to maintenance on the 2nd bridge from Nieuwpoort to Brugge (Slijpebrug), navigation is not possible towards Brugge and Gent up to April 5th.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • Due to a public holiday on May 1st and November 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • Please note that a cruising licence is required in order to cruise the Moselle River towards Toul, Metz and Luxembourg. This applies to all cruises going via the Sarre River, Sarrebrücken and Canal des Houillères.
  • Due to a public holiday on May 1st, locks will be closed (except on the Baïse river) which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • Due to maintenance work on Tersac Bridge located between Meilhan sur Garonne and Marmande, navigation is currently not possible past that point towards Castets en Dorthe. 
  • Due to maintenance work at dam Le Moulin de Boel, 25km north from our base in Messac, it is currently not possible to cruise towards Rennes / Dinan.
  • Due to a public holiday on May 1st and November 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • Due to Auxonne lock closure (15kms from Saint Jean de Losne), customers cannot cruise north of Saint Jean de Losne before March 30th. 
  • Due to maintenance work on Canal des Vosges until April 28th, you will not be able to reach Épinal. Navigation will only be possible up to Bains-les-Bains and Lock Harsault from Fontenoy le Chateau (approx 5 hour cruise).
  • Due to a public holiday on May 1st and November 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • Due to maintenance work on the dam at Cercy-la-Tour, navigation and one-ways between Decize and Tannay are not possible until June 15th.
  • Due to a public holiday on May 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • It is not currently possible to navigate The Canal de la Robine past South Narbonne to Port la Nouvelle.
  • The Nourriguier Lock is closed for maintenance works until further notice. It is not possible to reach Beaucaire from St Gilles by waterways.
  • Due to the Frontignan bridge being closed for maintenance until March 31st, one-ways between Port Cassafières and Saint Gilles are currently not possible.
  • Due to a public holiday on May 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • It is not currently possible to navigate The Canal de la Robine past South Narbonne to Port la Nouvelle.
  • The Nourriguier Lock is closed for maintenance works until further notice. It is not possible to reach Beaucaire from St Gilles by waterways.
  • Access to moorings in villages along the Charente will be limited in 2023 while the waterways authorities make repairs to quaysides in various locations along the river. This means that access to waterside services, such as electric hook-up and water will also be less frequently available. While mooring facilities will still be available in the larger towns of Cognac and Saintes, customers may find it necessary to moor and overnight along the river bank a little further outside of some other villages where quaysides may be closed. There will be no facilities available in these locations and a walk back into the village might be necessary to access restaurants and amenities.
  • These works are also affecting the Le Boat moorings in Jarnac, resulting in reduced capacity of boats that are allowed to be moored with passengers on board. As such, it will not be possible to moor overnight at our base in Jarnac at any stage during your cruise, unless otherwise agreed with the base team. On the last night, to ensure you are within easy reach of the base, customers should seek alternative moorings in either Bourg-Charente, which is approximately 45 minutes cruising to the east of Jarnac (including 1 lock to pass through) or along the river bank on the west side of Jarnac Lock - which is approximately 25 minutes cruising from our base (including time to pass through the lock). Customers looking for a wider choice of restaurants should choose the latter. There is a very nice Michelin-rated restaurant in Bourg-Charente, but it is quite expensive. Locks on the Charente are manual and passable from sunrise, so customers should still have ample time to return and disembark their boat by 9am.
  • Due to maintenance at St Cybard lock until April 12th, navigation is only possible to Trois Palis. You will be unable to navigate along the waterway to Angoulême and all departures will be from our base in Jarnac. 
  • Due to the closure of the lock of La Baine at Chaniers (located between Cognac and Saintes), it is currently not possible to cruise from Jarnac to Saintes.
  • Due to maintenance at St Géry lock, navigation is only possible to Vers until April 30th. You will be unable to navigate along the waterway to Saint-Cirq Lapopie.
  • Please note that a cruising licence is required in order to cruise the Moselle River towards Toul, Metz and Luxembourg. This applies to all cruises going via the Sarre River, Sarrebrücken and Canal des Houillères.
  • Due to maintenance work on Tarmonbarry’s bridge until April 5th, one-ways between Carrick-on-Shannon and Portumna are only possible via Camlin River. This alternative route will extend your cruise by approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
  • There are no current restrictions.
  • Due to maintenance on the lifting bridge in Ouderkerk, navigation will not be possible up the Amstel river to Amsterdam. Customers wishing to complete a circular route via Gouda and up to Amsterdam, would need to take a longer route via Leiden and Lisse or via Westeinderplassen. However, we would recommend taking our most popular route along the River Vecht, to avoid this closure altogether. The base team can give further details during your pre-departure call.
  • Due to maintenance work on Geinbrug bridge and Ophaalbrug Haastrecht Bridge it is not possible to navigate from Utrecht to Gouda between March 23rd and April 11th & June 3rd and July 3rd. 
  • Up to April 15th bridges and locks in Amsterdam and Vinkeveen will close on Sundays and Easter Monday meaning no Saturday starts from our base. Other bridges and locks will be open, upon request (24 hour notice).

Need help?

If any of the above information affects your vacation please do contact the team to discuss the options that are available to you 0800 333 302