Riverboats - Pénichettes® - Europe

Through the magic of water travel in Europe, NAVTOURS invites you on board your own motorized boat, recalling the marvellous river barges of yesteryear. You’ll discover unforgettable landscapes, picturesque cities and villages, and majestic castles and abbeys. Not to mention the river dwellers themselves who will charm you with their warm welcome and wonderful traditions.

Hundreds of European companies provide charter boats especially adapted for use on waterways, canals and rivers in different countries. NAVTOURS offers two of the fleets most appreciated by lovers of this type of craft because of their architecture, their furnishings, available itineraries and quality of service. 

Our representative will be pleased to help you choose the boat that best suits your budget and needs, from Pénichettes® models  featuring traditional architecture or comfortable river craft built by Nicols.

It can be a real headache trying to choose between the hundreds of boats on offer, a multitude of different models, available at some 50 departure points, allowing one-way, circle or return trips, lasting anywhere from a few days to three weeks.  Given that all things are not equal, NAVTOURS offers you nothing less than the optimum combinations for your vacation. 

Piloting at a speed between 6 and 12 km/h is simple and fun. After a short introduction, manoeuvres like docking, mooring and handling through locks become second-hand. No permit is required to pilot one of these boats, even if you have no experience whatsoever. With their comfortable furnishings and complete equipment, these vessels will delight couples, families and groups of friends. Ranging from 9 to 15 m (30-50 feet) in length, they can carry from 2 to 12 persons.

Rates

NAVTOURS will provide you with precise rates for the applicable charter, keeping in mind that:

Riverboat fees without permits vary according to the five rate periods: high season is July/August and low season is in April and October. Few services are available throughout the year. The fee is prorated according to the number of days in each period.

Chartering periods usually last from one to three weeks. You can choose the number of days you want. Price reductions available for charters lasting two weeks or longer. Boarding takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays only.

Rates include chartering the boat and its equipment, navigation tolls, insurance, a gas tank for cooking, instructional brochure, introduction to navigation, bedding and technical assistance.

Prices do not include fuel (15-35 euros/day), diesel fuel for heating, cruising guide and maps (15-45 euros), cancellation plan (4%), additional cost for one-way (80-130 euros), bicycle hiring (28-42 euros/week), car parking and ferrying, domestic animal fees, optional fees for clean up upon return, le security deposit insurance, marinas and lock fees, if any.

Information and reservations

Riverboats are in high demand and bookings are best made early, especially for the most popular models and itineraries. It’s up to you to choose the region, the type of cruise (out- and-back, circle or one-way), your point of departure, the length, the time of year and boat model. All these factors affect the charter rates, as well as the availability of boats.  So, don't delay -- make your reservation now.

Please note that with NAVTOURS, you pay the same price as you would if you were dealing directly with our European suppliers, Locaboat Holidays or Nicols.  But you will benefit from free advice from our representatives, who are well versed in European waterway navigation to help you with the choice of boat, the itinerary, the direction of the current, modes of transfers, supplies, visit to sites of interest, etc. And finally, it will be easier for you to plan your entire vacation with NAVTOURS, to make payments in your own currency, and most important, to benefit from the best legal protection for consumers in the world.

To make a reservation, we suggest following these four steps:

• Determine the important parameters of your stay in the countries and regions you wish to visit, then identify the nearest points of departure and return that fit best with the rest of your trip. According to the duration of your trip, we can offer you the itinerary that best suits your needs.

• Choose the model of boat that’s best for your group and your budget (we’ll explain the characteristics of each model we offer). We always seek to create unforgettable vacations and not merely rent the first boat available.

• Confirm the cost of your rental according to the type of cruise you’ve chosen.

• Finalize the contract taking into account the precise options you’ve chosen (cancellation insurance, river guide, bicycle reservations, one-way, etc.), modes of payment (40% upon booking and the balance 30 days prior to departure), necessary documentation (contract, instruction booklet…)

Variety of destinations and itineraries

The ideal cruise should allow you to travel from a departure point to an arrival point going one way or in a circle route (try to avoid out-and-back cruises) and, if possible, downstream.  You should select a region where scenery is attractive, excursion opportunities numerous and gastronomy at its best. Count on 5 hours of navigation daily, covering a weekly distance of around 150 km and crossing some 50 locks or drawbridges. Each base established along the waterways is accessible, with ground transportation available.

NAVTOURS invites you to discover some of the finest holiday areas in Europe:

• Southern France (Lot and Garonne, Gascony, Lauragais, the canal du Midi and the Camargue);
• South-Western (Charente and the Lot valley);
• Central (Île-de-France and Loiret, Nivernais, Burgundy, Franche-Comté, Saône and Loire);
• Western (Brittany and Anjou);
• Eastern (Ardennes and Alsace-Lorraine);
• Holland (North, South and Utrecht);
• Germany (Mecklenburg and Brandenburg-Berlin);
• Ireland (North or South, on the Shannon-Erne waterways and Lake Erne)
• Italy (cruising the Venice lagoon starting from Chioggia).

Each of these destinations provides a different experience with a mix of undeveloped, agricultural and urban settings.  Everywhere you will find the same comfort on board your boat for meals, sleeping and just lazing on the bridge.