Self-drive boating company Le Boat has just launched its newest fleet design, Liberty, and has big expansion plans.
The company is keen to grow its business with travel agents and Travel Gossip Senior Reporter Kelly Ranson went to France to take a look at the new boats and got the lowdown on what a boating holiday involves.
Le Boat, which is part of the Travelopia group, recently announced it would be adding 400 new boats to its fleet over the next decade, at an investment of £100 million.
The two-cabin Liberty marks the beginning of Le Boat’s ‘luxe’ range, which Managing Director Cheryl Brown described as being ‘on a well-equipped apartment on the water’.
She added that as Le Boat has vessels on the Thames, which is the biggest seller for the UK market, agents are welcome to come and see them.
Cheryl said: “Because we’ve got boats in the UK, we’d love agents to come down and jump on board to take a look. They just need to get in touch with us.
“What we are trying to get across is that it’s a chance to try something different. It is fantastic for couples or families that want to head off and have a unique adventure on the water. You know, the cheese, the wine and the countryside, it’s a great experience.”
So what are the boats like?
During my two-day trip, I stayed on the ‘premium’ Horizon range, which launched in 2016. The Horizon 5 boat is the largest in the range, which can sleep up to 12 people. It has five cabins and a convertible bed in the living area.
I think 12 adults staying onboard would feel crammed, but two families of four would comfortably have space, given the outside sundeck area is particularly roomy.
There is one double bed cabin – each of the other beds are small singles that convert into doubles. All the cabins have ensuite toilets and showers. There’s no getting around the fact they are quite small, and while the storage space has been well designed (small cabinets in the bathroom and above the bed), passengers will need to keep their cabin tidy.
We had a spare cabin where we stored our suitcases, so it may be worth considering booking a slightly larger boat for the extra space.
The bathrooms are essentially wet rooms, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good the pressure of the shower was.
Light sleepers should bring earplugs as guests will hear noise from the water pumps and taps from the other cabins and kitchen area.
The living area features some great home comforts though, including a large flat screen TV, a full-size fridge/freezer, a hob and an oven.
The new Liberty model has some extra touches that Horizon does not, making it a jazzier-looking boat. Firstly, it has additions such as a dishwasher and a coffee machine in the kitchen. In the bedrooms there are memory foam mattresses and the interiors are more akin to a hotel room than a boat, with clever lighting and light wood furnishing. There is also wi-fi onboard the new vessels.
Price wise, there is, of course, a jump for the more luxurious offering. A seven-night Burgundy cruise on Horizon 5 is priced from £2,739 per boat and sleeps up to 12 people.
A week in Burgundy on a Liberty vessel – which sleeps up to five people – is £2,059 per boat.
Do guests need a boating licence?
No. The boats are easy to use with a steering wheel and a forward and reverse throttle.
While it may seem daunting at first, once you get going it’s pretty easy. When clients arrive at the base to set off, a member of the Le Boat team will be on hand to show them what they need to do and answer any questions.
Where can guests cruise?
Le Boat has vessels and bases across the UK, Europe and Canada. The most popular routes for UK travellers include the Thames, Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal, Ireland’s Shannon and Eire and the French waterways including the Burgundy region, the Camargue and the Canal du Midi.
What extras will guests need to bring?
A Le Boat holiday is essentially a self-catering holiday, so guests will need to bring all food and drinks for the trip. The kitchen is fully equipped and there’s a full size fridge and freezer.
Bed linen and towels are also provided.
Any other costs?
Depending on the route, there will be some costs for moorings (a few euros). On some rivers it’s possible to moor up in empty spaces along the bank for free.
For those looking for a little more comfort, guests can moor in marinas or at Le Boat bases. Berthing fees, which include services like electricity and water vary.
It is unlikely guests will have to refuel their boat as it will have a full fuel tank covering up to 10 days. The water tank covers up to three days of normal use, and guests will have to refill water by stopping at the marinas along the river at a cost of a few euros.
