Mystery boat: allocation on arrival
Enjoy a boating holiday on a carefully selected range of boats in our most popular destinations. Choose your cabin group (2, 3 or 4 cabins), and we’ll confirm your exact boat model when you check in on the day of departure.
How does the Mystery boat offer work?
With this special offer, you don’t book a specific boat but you are guaranteed a great price and the standards of comfort of our Value boat range. Simply choose how many cabins you need (2, 3 or 4) and your destination and we’ll allocate the boat for your trip.
Why you’ll love it:
- Flexible cabin options: choose 2, 3 or 4 cabins to suit your group.
- Top destinations: available in our featured cruising regions.
- Easy round trips: start and finish in the same base, stress-free.
- Unbeatable price: your flexibility helps us manage availability, so you save more.
What boats are included in the offer, and where can I cruise?
Pick the cabin group that suits your crew, then select one of the available destinations. Your holiday will take place on one of the boats listed within that group or you may even be eligible for a complimentary upgrade, navigating a round-trip route from the same base.
Choose your cabin group
Mystery boats accommodate 2 guests per cabin and are all part of our Value fleet. On-board equipment may vary from one boat to another, but every model offers comfortable essentials, perfect for travellers seeking a budget-friendly option that still feels enjoyable and relaxed.
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Destinations available with this offer
Journey through some of Europe’s most iconic waterways with a specific choice of bases included in this offer. Each destination gives you access to scenic waterways, charming towns, and unforgettable round-trip routes.
- England: Thames (Benson and Chertsey)
- Ireland: Shannon and Erne (Carrick-on-Shannon and Portumna)
- France: Alsace (Hesse), Burgundy Franche-Comté (Saint-Jean-de-Losne), Burgundy Nivernais-Loire (Decize and Migennes), Canal du Midi (Castelnaudary and Port Cassafières) and Camargue (Port Cassafières)
- Germany: Mecklenburg, Brandenburg and Berlin (Marina Wolsbruch)
- Netherlands: Holland, Amsterdam and Friesland (Vinkeveen)
What to know before you book
- This offer applies only to selected boats, grouped by cabin count (2, 3 and 4 cabins).
- Only round-trip cruises are available (no one-way cruises).
- The exact boat model is confirmed at check-in, on the day of departure.
- The holiday is promoted using the combined lowest boat specification in the group.
- Boat upgrades may happen but are never guaranteed.
- Boat changes on request are not allowed – a different boat is only offered if there is a technical or safety issue.
- Fuel is charged based on the actual boat you cruise on, in line with our regular fuel policy.
Full booking conditions apply. Read our terms and conditions.
Take a look inside our Mystery boats
Want to choose your boat instead?
Looking for specific features, layouts or on-board comforts? Explore our full fleet and find the model that fits your holiday style:
- Liberty: our newest and most luxurious boat, blending stylish interiors with easy handling.
- Horizon fleet: spacious layouts and wide-open panoramic views that make every moment feel bigger.
- Vision fleet: contemporary design and smooth, responsive handling.
- Dancer fleet: generous comfort, clever use of space, and that classic canal-boating charm.
Frequently asked questions
Mystery boat (also known as allocation on arrival) is a booking option where guests receive a lower price in exchange for not selecting a specific boat model. Emerald Star assigns a boat from a group of eligible boats, for when the guest arrives at the departure base.
- You choose your travel dates and departure base.
- You do not choose the boat model.
- Emerald Star assigns a boat from a pool of available boats.
- The boat always meets the minimum specifications listed.
This option costs less because the guest accepts a flexible boat assignment instead of choosing a specific model. This allows more efficient fleet planning, and the savings are passed on to the customer.
No. The exact boat model is confirmed at check-in on the day of departure.
All boats allocated under this program meet defined minimum standards, including:
- Capacity suitable for your party size
- Sleeping cabins
- Bathroom facilities
- Kitchen facilities
- Indoor and outdoor living space
Specific layouts and extra features vary by boat.
No, boat changes based on preference are not permitted. A different boat may be offered only if there is a technical or safety issue.
A complimentary upgrade may be provided if a higher-category boat is available. Upgrades are not guaranteed and depend on fleet availability.
This option is available only in selected cruising regions and only for round-trip bookings where the boat is returned to the same base. Availability is shown during booking.
No. It applies to round-trip bookings only.
Yes. Optional extras can be added, and availability may vary depending on the assigned boat.
This option suits guests who:
- Want the lowest available price
- Are flexible about boat model and layout
- Prioritise value over selecting a specific boat
Guests with accessibility or specific layout requirements should select a boat model directly.
- You book a boat group (2, 3, or 4 cabins), not a specific model.
- The exact boat and model are allocated on the day of arrival at check-in.
- Requests for specific boat types, models cannot be considered.
- Engine hours and security deposits (payable at the base in local currency) are charged according to the boat allocated.
- The boat type is not guaranteed. Your boat is likely to be one of the following boats: 2-cabin: Corvette A & B, Consul, Countess and Lake Star; 3-cabin: Crusader, Continentale and Shannon Star; and 4-cabin: the Classique and Classique Star. You may also be on another boat type within our fleet.
- This offer applies to selected destinations and bases: England: Benson, Chertsey (Thames), Ireland: Carrick-on-Shannon, Portumna (Shannon & Erne); France: Hesse (Alsace), Saint-Jean-de-Losne (Burgundy Franche-Comté), Decize and Migennes (Burgundy Nivernais–Loire), Castelnaudary and Port Cassafières (Canal du Midi), Port Cassafières (Camargue); Germany: Marina Wolfsbruch (Mecklenburg, Brandenburg & Berlin); and Netherlands: Vinkeveen (Holland, Amsterdam & Friesland).
- All cruises in this offer are round-trip only (no one-way cruises).
- Holidays are promoted based on the lowest combined boat specification within each boat group.
- An alternative boat of equal or higher standard may be offered, if there is a technical or safety issue.
- Price paid for pre-booked extras will be honoured no matter what boat is assigned.