Customer reviews and feedback
The feedback and reviews we receive from our customers are very important to us – they help us to continually improve and deliver the very best holiday experience.
What our customers say about our service:
Prompt turn around on queries.
Prompt turn around on queries.
Great way to see some beautiful parts…
Great way to see some beautiful parts of Scotland xx
Emerald star laggan scotland
We have rented a boat in scotland during the october break and we had a wonderful time 🤩
The team we meant were very nice and explained everything very well .
I would like to thank everyone for the great experience 🥰
Great staff seamless process
Great staff seamless process
Great trip
Great trip, which gives a unique, relaxing experience and a different way to see the countryside.
We loved Elegance – plenty room in the evenings.
We loved Elegance.
Another great Emerald Star holiday
Another great Emerald Star holiday – this time in Belgium on a Liberty houseboat.
The base team were very helpful in the arrival logistics and the boat was very modern, comfortable, spotlessly clean and well equipped.
We had a wonderful trip going from Niewpoort to Brugges and return. Even though we were a bit unlucky with a big storm during the trip, the boat was very easy to navigate from the top deck or inside and most of the bridges were automatic openings via an app – so it was very easy to plan and travel. All the moorings and harbours were safe, convenient and easy to arrange berths with the harbour master. We went in autumn so it was also very peaceful and tranquil and few other boats. Highly recommend for a great luxury adventure!
Booking was easy and got back to me…
Booking was easy and got back to me quickly.
This was a brilliant experience I’d…
This was a brilliant experience I’d recommend to anyone. Emerald Star made the whole experience so easy and enjoyable.
The Caledonian canal was beautiful the staff were pleasant and really helpful.
Booking was perfect
Booking was seamless and replies to questions were vey prompt. Look forward to our trip in July 2027!
My partner and I hired a boat with…
My partner and I hired a boat with Emerald Star Carrick-on-Shannon (Consul No.9). The boat was immaculate and everything worked in perfect order. We enjoyed our weekend stay so much we decided to extend our trip by 2 days. Thanks to the wonderful staff, this was made possible. Hannah was outstanding in accommodating us in every aspect of our trip. We would highly recommend and have nothing only great things to say about the boat and the team at Emerald Star Carrick on Shannon. We can’t wait to re-book another trip next year!
Fantastic first time boating
From the moment we enquired about renting a boat to the moment we returned it they did everything to ensure we had the best time possible. They were flexible and accomodating, the boat was beautiful and perfect for our needs. The route was amazing. From our experience they deserve ten stars. Highly recommend.
Booking was easy
Booking was easy
Selection of Boats was good
A wonderful weekend, made special by the outstanding LeBoat Nieuwpoort team
At the beginning of October, I rented a Horizon 4 boat from LeBoat to spend a weekend with my closest friends from work, a group of 8. LeBoat’s slogan, “The fastest way to slow down,” turned out to be exactly what we needed. The weekend gave us a chance to relax, recharge, and strengthen our bonds, both as friends and as colleagues. We came away feeling even closer, with memories we will cherish for a long time.
Unfortunately, we weren’t entirely lucky with the timing. Our weekend coincided with the transition of Belgium’s waterways from the summer to the winter schedule, which meant that navigating on Sunday was impossible due to bridge and lock closures. Even after adjusting our plans, we encountered further disruptions when some locks broke down on days they were scheduled to operate. However, this is where the LeBoat Nieuwpoort team truly deserves special recognition. Throughout these unexpected challenges, they were incredibly helpful, friendly, and solution-oriented. Every time something went wrong, they helped us find the best possible alternative, even when the issues were entirely beyond their control or responsibility. Thanks to their support, we never felt left to deal with the problems on our own. Instead, we could focus on enjoying our time together, knowing that the team was doing everything possible to help us make the most of our weekend.
The boat itself was in excellent condition, clean, well-maintained, and fully prepared for our arrival. The team was also wonderfully flexible and accommodating with both check-in and check-out, making the entire experience smooth and welcoming.
Despite the unexpected changes to our itinerary, we are leaving with nothing but good memories. A big thank-you to the entire LeBoat Nieuwpoort team for their outstanding customer service, flexibility, and positive attitude. You made the difference between a potentially frustrating weekend and a truly memorable one!
Really easy booking process
Really easy booking process, extremely helpful and responsive sales executive. All question answered. Competitively priced.
Amazing experience at Emerald Star Laggan, Scotland
All the staff were so helpful, booking was easy and the boat was just amazing. What a great way to celebrate a birthday with loved ones. What a great experience
Loved boating on Canal du Midi with Emerald Star
The pre departure info was really thorough and helpful; staff were all super friendly and knowledgeable and the boat was spotless and well setup. We would love a longer trip next time and are recommending it to friends!
We would recommend having at least three able bodied people if you are navigating numerous lochs- as it is quite involved.
Our first time renting. On arrival in portumna we were given a…
On arrival in portumna we were given a free upgrade to the boat we booked and we didn’t get charged for the late check out because it was my wife’s birthday, what a lovely gesture and many thanks for a great experience to all the team in portumna
All good with no issues
All good with no issues
Staff at Emerald Star and the Harbour Masters office were…
Staff at Emerald Star and the Harbour Masters office were superb. Nice local pub out the Harbour, turn left and about 1km walk. Dog freindly.
Emerald Star made my first time ever boating experience a…
Emerald Star made my first time ever boating experience a enjoyable and memorable one. Highly recommend!
Great location/cruising base, with a range of options, mooring by…
Great location/cruising base, with a range of options, mooring by a superb traditional highland castle hotel one night or in Fort William for great choice of restaurants and bars another and with majestic scenes in between plus great fishing.
Canal and river were both wonderful
Canal and river were both wonderful
Canal and river were both wonderful
Canal and river were both wonderful
My husband and I had no boating experience but have…
My husband and I had no boating experience but have lived in and around the Rideau Canal and the lakes of Ontario for many years without any real way to access them and travel on them. Emerald Star made our dream come true! We celebrated our 20th anniversary by learning to pilot a boat and travel through the beautiful lakes and rivers. We stayed overnight moored to out of the way islands and by quaint little towns that you cannot easily see or get to from roads. We had fun cooking in the boat kitchen and enjoying coffee while the sun rose and tea while the sun set, just outside the big boat windows. Best of all we were not anxious about the boat or operating it due to the excellent preparation and training we received from the Emerald Star staff at Smiths Falls. Troy gave us the details upon arriving at the office, Igor introduced us to the boat and was a patient instructor for us new boat pilots and Mike helped us get underway. Lock staff were also super friendly and helpful along the way. Fellow Emerald Star boaters and other boaters were also fun to chat with. Special thanks goes to Igor for his great training and alleviating our fears when we called him while on tour with our questions!
Needs more printed guides on refrigerator, better fenders a place…
Needs more printed guides on refrigerator, better fenders a place to tie up short term mid lake
Laggan Lock is an easily accessible and convenient location to…
Laggan Lock is an easily accessible and convenient location to start your Caledonian Canal holiday. Staff are helpful and friendly and the moorings are sheltered and provide easy access to both the canal, Loch Lochy and Loch Oich.
Great experience
Great experience
Smiths Falls Base was excellent with an amazing staff!
Smiths Falls Base was excellent with an amazing staff!
The beds were not very comfortable, the service was terrific.
The beds were not very comfortable, the service was terrific.
Very pleasent and enjoyable 7 nights on the river Shannon…
Very pleasent and enjoyable 7 nights on the river Shannon on the Clipper.
Laggan employees were amazing. Absolutely top notch.
Laggan employees were amazing. Absolutely top notch.
We were met with a warm welcome. We were given…
We were met with a warm welcome. We were given a very thorough introduction to Emerald Star, how they operate and then the boat itself. We were left in no doubt that if we encountered a problem we should not hesitate to contact Emerald Star Messac. We set off in our boat feeling comfortable with how it operates and confident that any problems would be swiftly sorted out. We encountered no problems.
This was a wonderful way to see central Ireland and…
This was a wonderful way to see central Ireland and go to towns and sites a little off the tourist path. The staff was excellent about helping us plan our trip and stops.
Easy cruising through the locks and along this beautiful historic…
Easy cruising through the locks and along this beautiful historic canal.
Great route for first time boaters like us. few locks,…
Great route for first time boaters like us. few locks, a couple of them automated, so easy to operate, great towns, loved Cognac and Saintes. The Charente is simply beautiful
All good. Ready as agreed.
All good. Ready as agreed.
Great trip down the canal du Midi on a great…
Great trip down the canal du Midi on a great boat. Thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.
Easy to control Clean, fully equipped
Easy to control
Clean, fully equipped
It is one of the old fleet but everything was…
It is one of the old fleet but everything was in order and the price was very reasonable indeed
Our Clipper boat was clean, comfortable and well equipped. It…
Our Clipper boat was clean, comfortable and well equipped. It provided a stable platform and was relatively easy to control with adequate power for the conditions. The beds were very comfortable, bed linen freshly laundered, and en suite bathrooms were more than adequate.
For the two of us this was a very comfortable…
For the two of us this was a very comfortable boat. It was easy to navigate down the rivers in Brittany. Overall, we had a very enjoyable holiday.
The Horizon 5 is only a couple years old. It…
The Horizon 5 is only a couple years old. It felt like a brand new boat. With 3 couples, Ed had plenty of room to spread out and stash our luggage in the spare rooms. This boat is big, but the side thrusters made it incredible easy to maneuver into tight docking spots. Loved this boat.
Boat so roomy
Boat so roomy
A very spacious comfortable boat, handled better than I expected.
A very spacious comfortable boat, handled better than I expected.
Great boat, incredibly comfortable, with enoguh space. The same model…
Great boat, incredibly comfortable, with enoguh space. The same model with modern upgrates would be unbeatable. If you are a family of three like us, or even four, it’s the perfect fit.
The boat was easy to handle. Plenty of room
The boat was easy to handle. Plenty of room
Lots of room Comfortable Clean Kitchen had all we needed
Lots of room
Comfortable
Clean
Kitchen had all we needed
Very good…
Very good…
Old fashioned but well designed and spacious for 4
Old fashioned but well designed and spacious for 4
We had a wonderful time and will definitely do it…
We had a wonderful time and will definitely do it again
Great boat.
Great boat.
Comfortable space
Comfortable space
Excellent boat for 2 people or a couple with 2…
Excellent boat for 2 people or a couple with 2 children. Boat was well equipped and handled very well. Thank goodness for bow and stern thrusters.
