For clients interested in a different kind of cruise experience — one where they can be their own captain — Le Boat may offer the answer. Lisa Mclean, the brand’s long-haul marketing director, shares some insights on the company below.
For those not familiar with the brand, how would you introduce them to Le Boat?
Le Boat is the leader in boat rental vacations in Europe and Canada and has more than 50 years of experience offering boating vacations on the world’s most popular inland waterways, rivers and canals.
With no boat license or prior boating experience required, a private boating vacation is accessible to everyone. All our boats are easy to drive, and the Le Boat team teaches you everything you need to know so you can eat, sleep and live onboard for the duration of your trip.
[Clients can] choose a three- to six-night short break and add Le Boat onto an existing European trip, or choose a seven- to 10-plus-night vacation.
Which waterways does Le Boat sail?
We cruise on all of Europe’s most historical waterways, including in nine regions of France, the Thames in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Germany, Amsterdam and Belgium. In Canada, we sail the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway.
Our top sellers include Canal du Midi, the Burgundy region and Lot River in France; the Caledonian Canal in Scotland; Venice, Murano and Burano in Italy; the River Shannon in Ireland; and the Trent-Severn Waterway in Ontario, Canada (which is new for 2024).
Clients can discover a destination via its waterways on a Le Boat vacation.
Credit: 2023 Le BoatWhy should advisors who normally sell mainstream ocean, river and expedition cruising consider Le Boat, as well?
We offer a private boating experience to get away from the crowd and set your own itinerary and schedule. Le Boat provides a sample itinerary and a list of top sites and activities along the waterway, and you choose what you do and at what pace: visit a winery or medieval castle, eat at a Michelin-star restaurant or enjoy dinner on your top deck with local cuisine and wines you picked up at the farmers’ market that day.
People pay extra for waterfront views [or a] balcony cabin onboard a riverboat and ask to be seated on the patio with a view of the water when on vacation — with Le Boat, all the views are waterfront.
Le Boat is very affordable, and trips start at just $1,079 for a seven-night cruise on a boat that sleeps up to five people.
What makes the Le Boat experience particularly unique?
It’s very similar to a recreational vehicle rental except you experience the destination by the waterway versus the highway. [It’s a way to] see the world from a new perspective — eating, sleeping and living onboard.
All boats come with a fully equipped kitchen, all bedding and towels, a top-deck fun area, plenty of seating on the top deck with lounge areas, a top-deck barbecue and much more. Other features include full bathrooms with ensuite showers, and some boats have a bathroom and shower in every cabin. Boats are also protected with big bumpers, and some boats have bow and stern thrusters to make driving, mooring and turning the boats very easy.
You are the captain, and you bring your own crew. Le Boat teaches you everything you need to know to operate the boat and cruise yourself down historical inland waterways, rivers and canals.
It feels like a floating condo or cottage where you can unpack once and enjoy; every day is different, with stops in a different town or village every night. It’s similar to private riverboats and canal cruises you see along the waterways in Amsterdam or the Thames River.
Clients can choose from Budget, Comfort, Comfort Plus and Premier class boats. We have boats that range from two to five cabins.
How does Le Boat work with travel advisors?
We work with all travel agents, and commission starts at 10%.
Who are ideal clients to sell Le Boat products and services to?
[Our] average customer is 50 to 65, and [we have a lot of] multigenerational [groups]. More than 50% are first-time boaters and do not have previous boating experience or a license.
