Le Boat Reviews 

1,798
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.7

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 330 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for their helpfulness and professional approach, often noting their willingness to assist and provide thorough training. Many describe their holidays as fantastic, enjoyable, and memorable experiences, frequently expressing satisfaction with the relaxing nature of these getaways. The beautiful scenery and diverse locations visited during the trips are also widely appreciated by consumers. However, some customers also noted experiencing maintenance issues with their boats, which occasionally led to disruptions or cut short their time on the water.

What people talk about most

Staff

Consumers find staff to be positive, consistently describing them as helpful, friendly, and professional.... See more

Holidays

Users describe positive interactions with holidays, often calling them amazing, memorable, and fantastic... See more

Service

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of service, with many praising the helpfulness and professionalism of... See more

Product

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about the product, with many praising the boats as reliable,... See more

Location

Customers had positive experiences with location, often describing destinations like the Rideau Canal and... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We sailed in a Vision 3, and the boat was reliable, and got us to where we wanted to be. Beware that it is a little tired round the edges though. It's an old boat and others seemed in better condit... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The staff went over and above our expectations. So very helpful and willing for us to get the best holiday adventure possible. Special thankyou to Toni and Jack for all the boating tips and instructi... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We regularly book with Le Boat, usually from Benson on the River Thames. The booking staff are brilliant and it is so easy to speak with someone. They understand our needs and are extremely helpful. T... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A fabulous week in the Aquitaine region of France. The Le Boat team Jamie, Veronique, Magda, Sebastian, Juan to name some in a great team at Le Mas D’Agenais were the best right from day one through... See more

Company replied



Company details

  1. Boat Rental Service
  2. Self-Catering Accommodation
  3. Vacation Rental

Written by the company

Le Boat are world leaders in river & canal boat hire in the UK, Ireland, Europe & Canada. Find out more about 'self-drive' boating vacations.


Contact info

  • Platinum House, St. Marks Hill, KT6 4BH, Surbiton, United Kingdom

  • www.leboat.com

4.7

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

2K reviews

5-star
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1-star

Asks customers to review

This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative

Replied to 92% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 24 hours

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4.7

All reviews

(1,798)

737 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Discover a little piece of heaven for yourself

The professional staff and operation of emerald star at their Portumna base is really second to none.
Nothing was too much trouble and every staff member went over and beyond in their duties to ensure that you were prepared and comfortable before setting out on a most enjoyable holiday.
Of all the various holidays we have taken, our week on the Shannon was certainly one for making life long memories.
I have never before finished a holiday feeling more relaxed and recharged.
Thank you Emerald Star and all the staff at Portumna Base.

May 29, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for such a beautiful and heartfelt review!

We’re absolutely delighted to hear that your time on the Shannon was so memorable and that your experience with the Emerald Star team at Portumna made such a strong impression. It’s wonderful to know the staff went above and beyond to ensure you felt prepared, comfortable, and well looked after before setting out.

We’re especially pleased that your week on the water left you feeling so relaxed and recharged—that’s exactly the kind of experience we hope every guest takes away from their holiday.

Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable journey in the future.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The river is the perfect place to spend quality time together

We recently enjoyed a brilliant family boating holiday with Le Boat Chertsey, spending three unforgettable nights cruising the River Thames aboard a Horizon 3. Travelling with our two daughters, aged 9 and 14, it was the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation and quality family time.

The pace of life on the river was wonderfully peaceful. Our girls loved sitting right at the bow watching the world drift by, and they were soon enthusiastically helping us through the locks too. The lock keepers were incredibly friendly and helpful, and after the first couple we felt surprisingly confident handling everything ourselves.

One of the highlights for us was starting the day with pancakes on the sundeck while listening to the ducks and watching early morning rowers glide past. In the evenings, we stopped at lovely riverside pubs for dinner and enjoyed exploring different spots along the Thames. We also spent time visiting Hampton Court Palace, exploring Kingston upon Thames and we took a day trip into the buzzing heart of London. It was the perfect contrast to our laid-back days on the river.

The service from Le Boat Chertsey was excellent throughout. The boat was spotless when we arrived, and the pre-departure briefing was thorough, professional and easy to follow, which made us feel at ease straight away.

This was such a special and different way to holiday as a family, and we came away with memories we’ll treasure for years. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

May 25, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for such a wonderful and detailed review!

We’re delighted to hear that your family enjoyed such a special three-night cruise on the Thames aboard the Horizon 3. It sounds like the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, and we’re especially pleased that your daughters embraced life on the water—from helping at the locks to enjoying those peaceful moments at the bow watching the river go by.

It’s great to know that the lock keepers and our Chertsey team helped you feel confident and well supported from the very start, and that the boat was spotless and well prepared for your arrival.

Your description of mornings on the sundeck, riverside pub stops, and days out at Hampton Court, Kingston, and London really captures the variety the Thames offers. We’re so glad it created lasting memories for your family.

Thank you again for your kind recommendation—we’d love to welcome you all back for another adventure in the future.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

One of my favourite holidays ever..

We booked a year ahead for a week cruise in Canada’s Rideau system. The staff was wonderful answering the phone and replying to questions along the way with courtesy and kindness, leading to confidence for we three women who were all new boaters. The overall experience was fantastic and the boat easy (ish) to handle. This was one of the best holidays I have ever taken. The area is gorgeous and the Le Boat, town, and lock people extremely friendly and helpful. We went in spring, and my only concern might be the boat getting very hot in height of summer when there is an air exchange on the boat but no real air conditioning. As well, the locks would be much busier in summer, so if you are a new boater, I would suggest the fringe seasons being a good choice.

May 22, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review!

We’re delighted to hear that your cruise on Canada’s Rideau system was one of your favourite holidays ever. It’s wonderful to know that our team was able to support you throughout the booking process and help build confidence ahead of your first boating experience—especially as new boaters.

We’re also pleased that you found the boat easy to handle and that you enjoyed the beauty of the region, along with the friendliness of both our team and the local lock communities. The Rideau is indeed a very special place to explore.

Thank you as well for your helpful and considered feedback regarding seasonal temperatures and busier lock periods. Insights like yours are incredibly valuable for future guests planning their first trip, particularly those considering timing and comfort onboard.

We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on the waterways for another unforgettable adventure.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very nice boat and service

Very nice boat and service. A perfect holiday!

May 29, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your kind review!

We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your boat and had a perfect holiday. It’s great to know everything met your expectations and contributed to a smooth and enjoyable experience on the water.

We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and hope to welcome you back again soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Canal du Midi and LeBoat review

We loved our 10 day, May journey on the Canal du Midi in Southern France. The canal, scenery and region are spectacular. The food, wine and history is amazing. I highly recommend this experience to others.

LeBoat has the potential to be a great company with proper investment. Their shortcomings center around maintenance of the boats. We, as well as other boaters, all reported maintenance issues which cut into our time on the water.

May 23, 2026
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience – it’s wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed your journey along the Canal du Midi. It really is a very special region, and we’re so pleased the scenery, food, wine and history made your trip such a memorable one.

We also appreciate your comments regarding boat maintenance. We know how important it is for everything to run smoothly while you're on the water, and we recognise how disruptions can impact your time.

If you would be open to it, we’d really value a little more detail on the issues you encountered, as this helps us better understand individual experiences and where we can focus our efforts. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Customer Service team.

It’s great to hear that you’d recommend the experience overall, and we hope we’ll have the opportunity to welcome you back again for an even smoother trip next time.

Kind regards,
The Le Boat team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent customer service from…

Excellent customer service from enquiry, to booking, to pre-departure to the experience of the trip itself. A great introduction to boating and to enjoy the scenery of The Great Glen from the Caledonian Canal was amazing. Staff were exceptionally helpful.

May 18, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your lovely review!

We’re delighted to hear that you experienced excellent customer service throughout your journey, from your initial enquiry right through to your time on the water. It’s wonderful to know your first boating experience was such a positive one and that you enjoyed exploring the stunning scenery of the Great Glen along the Caledonian Canal.

We’re especially pleased that our team were exceptionally helpful and helped make your introduction to boating smooth and enjoyable.

Thank you again for your kind feedback, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent service and a great…

Excellent service and a great experience.

May 2, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your kind review!

We’re delighted to hear you had an excellent experience with us and that our service met your expectations. It’s always great to know our guests enjoyed their time on the water.

We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and hope to welcome you back again soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Did a two night trip away on a boat…

Did a two night trip away on a boat with friends and had an amazing time, this was perfect for it! The boat and the facilities on it were high level and we had a very comfortable stay, warm showers, fully working kitchen, climate control and comfortable built in sitting areas inside and out. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone, especially with Le Boat as their service was perfect as well.

May 18, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your lovely review!

We’re delighted to hear you had such an amazing two-night trip with friends and that the boat and facilities exceeded your expectations. It’s great to know you found everything comfortable and well equipped, from the showers and kitchen to the climate control and onboard living spaces.

We’re also very pleased that our team provided perfect service and helped make your experience so enjoyable from start to finish.

Thank you for recommending Le Boat, and we hope to welcome you back on the water again soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A fantastic unique experience!

This is my 2nd time hiring a boat with Le Boat and again what an incredible, unique and unforgettable experience that I want to continue to do as much as possible with all my family.

From the very second you arrive you’re greeted with the friendliest and professional staff who can’t do enough. Any questions we had during our time on the boat the staff were just a phone call away and happy to help with any enquiry or questions that we had.

The boat was spotlessly clean, very stylish and modern and I still can’t believe you can do this without a license!

Thank you so much Le Boat, I plan to bring my entire family and make this a family tradition!

May 18, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for such a wonderful review!

We’re delighted to hear that your second experience with Le Boat was just as memorable and that it’s become something you want to continue sharing with your family. It’s fantastic to know you found the whole journey—from arrival to time on the water—so welcoming and well supported by our team.

We’re especially pleased that you felt confident knowing our staff were always on hand to help, and that the boat met your expectations in terms of cleanliness, style, and comfort. It’s always great to hear how surprising and enjoyable the experience is for first-time and returning guests alike.

Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you and your family back for many more adventures on the water.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great boat

Great boat, great scenery, well organised holiday. We are an older group but physically reasonably fit and found it all doable. The lockkeepers were all very helpful and the pre-trip briefing by le Boat was spot on.

April 29, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your lovely review!

We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your holiday, and that everything—from the boat and scenery to the organisation of your trip—met your expectations. It’s especially great to know you found the experience manageable and enjoyable, and that the lock keepers and our team’s pre-trip briefing were so helpful.

We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and hope to welcome you back on the water again soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful River Lot..

Beautiful River Lot... We loved Cahors.. The Boat was excellent... The Le Boat staff were helpful and friendly.

May 11, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your lovely review!

We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the beautiful River Lot and had such a great time exploring Cahors. It’s wonderful to know the boat met your expectations and that our team were helpful and friendly throughout your trip.

We really appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you back on the waterways again soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Fun on the Caledonian Canal

We enjoyed our holiday on the Caledonian Canal. The team at Laggan base are very good. They had provided extra blankets as the weather in May was unseasonably cold. However they had lost some WiFi equipment and we were unable to have a unit, in spite of preordering. We were refunded the cost and the staff were very apologetic, but it was annoying. The boat (Caprice) was showing its age a bit, but was well equipped and handled pretty well, given lack of bow thrusters! There were only 2 of us on board, so we had plenty of space. Don't forget to bring your own washing up liquid. The cruising guide was a little bit lacking in detail in places. It was quite difficult to find the entrance to the canal off Loch Ness going towards Inverness. We had OS maps with us that helped. The reciprocal arrangement with Caley Cruises enable us to spend 2 nights at their base in Inverness, but it's 1.5 miles into the centre of town. In planning your days, you have to remember that bridges and locks don't open till 9 and close at 5, and it really will take 1.5 hours to transit the 5 lock flight at Fort Augustus.

May 9, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review.

We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your holiday on the Caledonian Canal and that our Laggan team looked after you so well, especially by providing extra blankets during the unseasonably cold May weather. It’s also good to know they were able to resolve the WiFi equipment issue promptly with a refund and apologies, although we understand how frustrating that must have been at the time.

We appreciate your honest feedback regarding the boat condition, onboard equipment, and cruising guide. Insights like yours are very valuable and help us identify where improvements can be made for future guests. It’s also helpful to hear your practical observations about timings on the canal and navigation considerations, which will certainly benefit others planning their journey.

We’re glad you still had plenty of space on board and that you were able to enjoy the unique experience of cruising this beautiful waterway.

Thank you again for your recommendation and helpful feedback, and we hope to welcome you back on the water in the future.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent service from Berenice

Excellent service from Berenice. She answered our questions and concerns with reassurance for us to then proceed with our booking.
And also made us aware of offers we were entitled to as we are returning Le Boat customers.
Excellent service. Thank you

May 13, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your lovely review!

We’re delighted to hear that Berenice provided such excellent service and was able to answer your questions with reassurance, helping you feel confident in proceeding with your booking. It’s also great to know she made sure you were aware of the offers available to returning Le Boat customers—that’s exactly the level of care we aim to provide.

We really appreciate your kind feedback and look forward to welcoming you back on the water again soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Ease of booking

Ease of booking

May 6, 2026
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your feedback!

We’re delighted to hear you found the booking process easy—that’s exactly what we aim for from the very first step of your holiday planning.

We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you on board soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

3 nights on the The Thames from…

3 nights on the The Thames from Chertsey to Henley and back with extended family. What a fantastic way for the family to catch up. Cheaper than a hotel and plenty to see as we relaxed motoring on the river. Great service, great boat, great fun. Staff at Chertsey were super helpful. Will definitely book another trip. Rich Lloyd

May 6, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your wonderful review!

We’re delighted to hear you and your extended family had such a fantastic three-night cruise on the Thames from Chertsey to Henley and back. It’s great to know the trip gave you the perfect opportunity to relax, reconnect, and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the river.

We’re especially pleased that you found the experience good value, the boat comfortable, and our Chertsey team super helpful throughout your stay. We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to them.

Thank you again for your recommendation, and we look forward to welcoming you back on board for your next adventure.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent service by Carla

Excellent service by Carla, emails and telephone conversations to assist my booking.

May 8, 2026
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your kind feedback!

We’re delighted to hear that Carla provided you with excellent service and that her support over email and phone helped make your booking process smooth and easy. We’ll be sure to pass on your lovely comments to her.

We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and look forward to welcoming you on board soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Perfect holiday

Very friendly staff. From the booking process to our time on site, everyone was always very helpful.
We always felt extremely well taken care of and received excellent support throughout.
Thank you very much for everything!

May 2, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your lovely review!

We’re delighted to hear you had such a perfect holiday and that you felt well supported from your initial booking through to your time on the water. It’s wonderful to know our team were consistently friendly and helpful, helping you feel well taken care of throughout your experience.

We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and hope to welcome you back on board again soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great service from everyone along the…

Great service from everyone along the way, from booking to arriving and then again when we dropped the boat back. Lovey way to spend a bank holiday - highly recommended!

May 1, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you for your lovely review!

We’re delighted to hear you had such a great experience from start to finish, and that our team supported you so well throughout your journey—from booking through to arrival and your return of the boat. It’s wonderful to know your bank holiday getaway was such an enjoyable and memorable one.

We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on the water again soon.

Happy Boating,

Catherine from le boat

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Response to the quotation and trough to…

Response to the quotation and trough to booking have been prompt, full of information and educational. It has been a pleasure to deal with such a professional and sympathetic company. It has made us even more excited for the holiday. We'll done so far.

April 29, 2026
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Reply from Le Boat

Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re delighted to hear that your experience so far—from quotation through to booking—has been prompt, informative, and enjoyable. Our team works hard to ensure everything is clear and supportive from the very start, so it’s wonderful to know that’s come through.

We’re thrilled to be part of building your excitement for the trip, and we can’t wait for you to experience it on the water.

Kind regards,
Catherine from Le Boat

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