Everything happened fairly much as planned. Geronimo was very helpful during check-in. He also provided us with a cart to bring back our groceries for the boat. The boat functioned properly except the... See more
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The towns along the Petite Baise were fabulous with power and water at most stops. It exceeded all expectations. The boat was old, beds uncomfortable with very thin mattress and pillows, and mould ar... See more
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An incredible experience on a large and beautiful E400 boat. We were greeted and instructed by very kind and helpful staff. We spent a wonderful weekend enjoying the landscapes along the river. My hus... See more
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The boats clean & tidty great kitchen for on board cooking, plenty of plates glasses etc & utensils.on our boat I was a little disappointed in the fridge,freezer worked well but fridge did not..Predep... See more
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Company details
About Riverly
Written by the company
About us: Riverly is the French No. 1 for licence-free boat rentals, offering getaways on the rivers and canals of France for stays of 2 nights or more (Canal du Midi, Burgundy, Camargue, Canal de Nantes à Brest, Alsace, Lot, Charente...).
Our boats can accommodate from 2 to 12 people and are fully equipped with all the comforts of home (kitchen, bathrooms, cabins...), making them perfect for disconnecting for a weekend or a week.
On the agenda: gliding along the water in the heart of nature, cycling along the towpath, visiting local wine cellars and buying regional produce at the market, exploring 15th-century villages, meeting passionate lock keepers, improvising a BBQ on the riverbank... so many special moments to share with friends, family, or as a couple.
Riverly was born from the merger of 2 leading French companies in the river tourism industry, combining over 50 years of expertise: Locaboat and Nicols.
As a result, our fleet features 2 distinct boat styles:
- The Pénichettes (like the Néo model), which evoke the authentic charm of traditional inland barges.
- The Cruisers, featuring the sleeker lines of classic yachts.
What our customers love: the new "riverlife"
- True disconnection: 99% of our customers say that river tourism offers a real sense of escape without having to travel far.
- Absolute freedom at your own pace: you have the wonderful luxury of following your own desires, with no schedules or set itineraries.
- Being surrounded by nature.
- Spending genuine, quality time together.
- It's very easy:
- No boating licence required.
- Accessible to everyone (including children and pets).
- It's great fun:
- A multitude of activities (boating, sightseeing, cycling, local tastings, golf, fishing, festivals...).
- A refreshing change and a whole new way to travel.
- It brings people together: everyone plays a role in the boat manoeuvres and participates in the adventure.
Contact info
France
- riverly.com/en
4.2
Great
963 reviews
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Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 month
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All was perfect and very well prepared.
All was perfect and very well prepared.
And the people of Saint Martin are beautiful people.
September 2, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted everything was perfectly prepared for your trip, and we truly appreciate your kind words about our team in Saint Martin. We hope to welcome you back on board soon !
Staff & boat great, excitement to disappointment due to conditions
The staff at St Leger were great and the boat comfortable & well equipped (1 week mid-July). There were two disappointments though:
1) The canal towards Chagny was closed due to flood damage cutting out the vineyards and most interesting areas (we were advised of the closure but had no idea of the implications)
2) We were advised by staff that swimming in the canal was prohibited. The water quality seemed poor. Nowhere were we advised of this in the information provided.
Had we been fully informed of these conditions, we would not have done this trip.
July 18, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for your feedback and for your kind words about our team in St Léger and the comfort of the boat.
We’re truly sorry that your trip was impacted by the canal closure and by the lack of clarity regarding swimming. While the flooding was unfortunately beyond our control, we understand how disappointing it must have been to miss out on certain areas of the route. Your comments on the information provided will help us improve the way we communicate these important details to our guests.
We appreciate your constructive feedback and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again under better conditions.
Spartani in Borgogna
It was a wonderfull experience, we enjoied our trip from Corbigny to Joigny with our Pennichette along Nivernais chanel.
4 stars in front of 5 because the price for transfer our cars from Corbigny to Joigny was more than double in front of competitor's price
August 15, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you very much for your kind feedback! We’re delighted that you enjoyed your cruise along the Nivernais Canal from Corbigny to Joigny with your Pénichette.
We understand your remark about the car transfer service. The cost reflects the logistics involved, but we do take note of your comment and will share it with our team to review how we can improve.
We’re happy that overall you had a wonderful experience, and we hope to welcome you back on board soon !
very helpful and responsive staff
very helpful and responsive staff. made everything very easy.
August 18, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Hello,
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted that our staff were helpful and responsive, and that they made everything easy for you.
We look forward to welcoming you again for another enjoyable boating experience!
Reply from Riverly
Hello,
Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted that you enjoyed your trip and our service, and that everything went smoothly.
We look forward to welcoming you again for another wonderful cruise!
Good staff.
Good instructions when we took the boat. Helpful staff. Secure parking. Nice sized boat for six people. Very quick to come to our rescue when the steering went.
The canal du midi is tranquil, beautiful countrySide and very helpful lock keepers.
August 11, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Hello,
Thank you for your detailed feedback! We’re delighted that you appreciated the helpfulness of our staff, the instructions at embarkation, and the secure parking. We’re also glad the boat suited your group and that our team could quickly assist with the steering issue.
It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed the tranquility of the Canal du Midi, the beautiful countryside, and the support of the lock keepers. We hope to welcome you again for another relaxing cruise soon!
Great boat - Pénichette Evolution
Great boat (Pénichette Evolution 950E (35LP) !
in the past we also hired other boats ( Locaboat, Cannelous) but this one was the best by far.
We like to hire this one again.
August 18, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Hello,
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed the Pénichette Evolution 950E and that it stood out among your previous boating experiences.
We would be delighted to welcome you again for another cruise on this model!
Best regards,
Great customer service
Great customer service, very responsive to our calls and questions both before and during our trip
July 4, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for your kind words! We’re pleased to know that our team was responsive and helpful both before and during your trip.
We hope to welcome you again soon for another enjoyable cruise!
The experience is wonderful, but....
The experience is wonderful.
The canal is beautiful, rich in vegetation, and well-organized.
The boat worked well but was old, and I didn't like:
-no Wi-Fi included,
-no hairdryer and no body wash products,
- some mattresses on the loungers were larger than the container and tended to be slanted, causing back pain. Telephone assistance wasn't always available when needed.
July 14, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed the beautiful canal and that the boat operated well during your trip.
Regarding your comments: our technicians are available during office hours, and we encourage guests to leave a message outside these times so we can assist as soon as possible. We offer boats of various ages and recommend our newer Panoramic range or the brand-new Pénichette Neo models, which include added comforts such as built-in hairdryers.
While we do not provide personal hygiene products, we do supply a starter kit containing basic dishwashing and cleaning supplies. As for Wi-Fi, it is offered as an optional extra and can be reserved prior to your cruise.
We appreciate your remarks, which help us improve, and hope to welcome you again for an even better experience.
Great service, great trip
Great service, the boats were kept in really good condition and the staff were all exceptionnel, will definitely recommend.
July 14, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you appreciated the condition of our boats and the exceptional service from our staff. Your recommendation means a lot to us.
We look forward to welcoming you again for another fantastic experience on the water!
OZ SENIORS BUCKET LIST - DO IT BEFORE ITS TOO LATE
Booked from Australia and have always dreamed of doing a canal trip but never got around too it. Whilst I have always been around boats for recreational fishing have never done anything like this. We did a one way Locaboat trip from Argens-Minervois to Lattes over April 2025. Boat (Penichette 1022FB “Le Criminelle”) was fantastic as were the staff at both ends and the whole booking process- they couldn’t do enough to help us. We are both in our sixties but still relatively fit and had no problems with everything on the boat. Going through the locks was a breeze and fun and the lock keepers English was always better than our French. We had Bikes that came in handy, we weren’t sure whether to have them but they are excellent for getting around towns and sights that may be a few kilometres from where you moor. We had to contact the base once for an issue which was quickly resolved (operator error) however there was no hesitation from the engineer to offer to drive to us if the problem persisted. We met some other boaters on the trip including Aussies and got to step on some other boats from other well known companies. Generally it was obvious to us that Locaboat boats were a step up in design and upkeep. Staff at the Locaboat base also let me have a look through other model boats and I was impressed by the presentation and upkeep of them all. We will definitely go again (friends and family that thought ‘how nice’ are now lining up for an invitation on our next cruise). We are glad we went on shoulder season as we don’t like crowds, no waiting at locks and I imagine moorings in popular towns such as Ages may become problematic in peak season. Never any problems sourcing supplies in towns along route. If you’re like us and “adventure boating” and interacting with the locals VS 5 star Danube cruising is your thing do it before it’s too late. Again can’t recommend Locaboat highly enough. (I’m generally not a review writer but there are exceptions and this is one.
April 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Riverly
Thank you so much for your fantastic and detailed feedback! We’re delighted that your first canal cruising experience with Locaboat—from Argens-Minervois to Lattes—was everything you hoped for and more.
It’s great to hear that the Penichette 1022FB “Le Criminelle” met your expectations, that our teams at both bases were helpful throughout, and that the whole booking process was smooth. We’re glad the locks were fun and easy to navigate, and that having bikes on board added value to your trip by making local exploration easier.
We appreciate your kind words about our boats’ design and upkeep, as well as the professionalism of our engineers and staff. It’s wonderful that you connected with other boaters and enjoyed the adventure spirit of canal cruising.
Thank you for recommending shoulder season cruising to avoid crowds—this is indeed a great tip! Your enthusiasm is contagious, and we’re excited to welcome you, your friends, and family again soon for more memorable journeys.
Safe travels and happy cruising!
Locaboat is THE best
Locaboat is THE best. This was my 4th time to use them. Very reliable, honest people and well priced. Cruising is so fun and relaxing.
June 30, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you so much for your continued trust and kind words! We’re thrilled to have welcomed you four times and to hear that you find Locaboat reliable, honest, and well priced.
We couldn’t agree more—cruising really is fun and relaxing! We look forward to helping you create many more wonderful memories on the water.
Helpful reliable friendly staff
Helpful reliable friendly staff, good quality clean boat ( with some wear and tear but that’s fair enough) and overall excellent experience
June 30, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for your positive feedback! We’re glad to hear you found our staff helpful and friendly, and that you enjoyed the quality and cleanliness of the boat. We appreciate your understanding regarding the normal wear and tear.
It’s great to know you had an excellent experience overall, and we look forward to welcoming you again for another cruise!
Wonderful boat
Wonderful boat, delightful support, a great experience overall, a little too much waiting at a lock when we changed our itinerary.
June 30, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted you enjoyed the boat and our support team, and that overall your experience was great.
We understand that waiting times at locks can sometimes be longer than expected, especially when plans change, and we appreciate your patience.
We hope to welcome you again soon for another memorable cruise!
Good introduction to boat by Peter in…
Good introduction to boat by Peter in Bram, problem with bow thruster was quickly repaired at the base in Argens👍👍
June 30, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad Peter provided a good introduction to the boat in Bram and that the bow thruster issue was quickly resolved at the Argens base.
We appreciate your understanding and hope to welcome you again soon for another great boating experience.
Lied about fuel use FRAUD
Lied about fuel use. We ran 30 hours that make and model consumes 2 liter per hour. They will rob you charging 11 euros per hour rather than just filling the tank. BE AWARE OF THIS FRAUD
June 27, 2025
Reply from Riverly
We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we’d like to clarify a few important points regarding fuel consumption and pricing.
The average fuel consumption for our boats is 4.5 liters per hour, not 2 liters as mentioned. The €11 per hour charge covers not only fuel, but also engine wear—similar to a mileage charge in a car rental.
For the sake of full transparency, this information is clearly communicated in several pre-departure documents we provide (brochure, practical guide, terms and conditions), and fuel rates are also displayed at the departure base.
We understand your frustration and remain at your disposal should you wish to discuss this further.
Friendly and helpful
Friendly, helpful service from staff. Boat was well equipped and in good condition.
Check the real price - there were some charges not obvious from the headline price.
June 30, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for your feedback — we're glad you enjoyed the service and the boat.
Regarding the extra charges: all additional costs such as fuel, the navigation guide, or optional services are clearly listed in the documents sent before your trip, and also available on our website and at the base. We always aim to be as transparent as possible about the full cost of the cruise.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions.
The information provided prior to…
The information provided prior to starting the trip was excellent and the service provided when we had to change plans due to a lock not working was good and timely.
April 21, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re glad to hear that the pre-departure information was helpful and that our team was able to assist you efficiently when your plans had to change.
We hope to welcome you back on board for another adventure soon!
This is our 5th trip using Locaboat
This is our 5th trip using Locaboat - 3 in France, one in Netherlands and one in Ireland
We are a family of 3 - love everthing about the boat. The bicycles, the accommodation, touring and especially the ease of booking, collecting and dropping boat - makes for awesome holidays!
June 30, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you so much for your continued trust and loyalty.
We’re thrilled to hear that your family enjoys every aspect of the experience, from the bikes and the boat to the booking and handover process. Creating smooth and memorable holidays is exactly what we aim for.
We look forward to welcoming you on board again for your next adventure!
Well run company
The team at Locaboat St Leger Sur Dheune were very helpful. They spoke good English which was a relief. They were able to communicate with the Lock keepers for us until our French got better.
Unfortunately for us we were unable to take the route we wanted toward Chagny due to a leaking canal and that was disappointing. We would have changed our booking if we had taken out insurance. The route we had to take had so many Locks up to 5m.
The boat was comfortable and clean.
The bikes that you can hire are not easy to ride so do not expect to go far on them.
It isn't an easy place to get to without a car but the company helped us by organising a taxi pickup from the train station. (cash needed)
June 23, 2025
Reply from Riverly
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We're delighted to hear that our team in St-Léger-sur-Dheune was helpful and made communication easier at the start of your trip — especially while you were settling in with the language.
We’re sorry to hear that you couldn’t take your preferred route due to canal maintenance. Unfortunately, waterway conditions can sometimes change, but we understand how disappointing this must have been.
We're glad you found the boat clean and comfortable, and we appreciate your comments about the bikes and access logistics — this helps us improve the experience for future travellers.
We hope to have the chance to welcome you again under better cruising conditions!
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