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:
Added on 1 December 2025
Personal touch that I received from the…
Personal touch that I received from the le boat sales team exceeded my expectations
Added on 22 November 2025
First class service as always
First class service as always . Quoted and booked in 24 hours. Looking forward to another great couple of weeks on the Canal du MIDI, Thanks again to Gemma.
Reply from Emerald Star, 22 November 2025
Dear Brian, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that the booking process was smooth and that Gemma was able to assist you so quickly. It’s fantastic that you’re already looking forward to another great couple of weeks on the Canal du Midi — we can’t wait to welcome you back! Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 21 November 2025
The Best Trip!!
This was quite possibly the best trip ever, we had fun sailing the boat, it was super easy to do and a really enjoyable experience. We went up the caledonia canal in scotland, absolutely stunning. I look forward to the next one!
Reply from Emerald Star, 21 November 2025
Dear Julie, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that your trip along the Caledonian Canal was one of your best ever. It’s wonderful that you found the boat easy to handle and the experience so enjoyable — Scotland truly is stunning from the water. We’re already looking forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure! Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 21 November 2025
What an experience! Fantastic!!
We hired a boat for the Caledonia Canals in the Scottish Highlands, and what can I say… The boat was spacious, comfortable and super easy to sail. The views were stunning and absolutely look forward to the next time!!
Reply from Emerald Star, 21 November 2025
Dear Scott, Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience! We’re so pleased to hear that your Caledonian Canal adventure was everything you hoped for — from the comfort and ease of the boat to those breathtaking Highland views. It’s wonderful to know you’re already looking forward to your next trip. We can’t wait to welcome you back aboard! Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 13 November 2025
The personal connection with Alejandra…
The personal connection with Alejandra made our booking very easy. She was able to answer all of our questions. We have 3 couples from different parts of the country signing up fpr the trip and she made it easy for everyone
Reply from Emerald Star, 13 November 2025
Dear James, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re so glad to hear that Alejandra made the booking process smooth and stress-free for you and your group. Coordinating three couples from different parts of the country can be a challenge, and it’s great to know she made everything easy for everyone. We truly appreciate you choosing Emerald Star and can’t wait to welcome you all on board! Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 12 November 2025
Very personal attention from Le Boat.
Very personal attention from Emerald Star to ensure we got the boat and the holiday we were looking for.
Reply from Emerald Star, 12 November 2025
Dear Nigel, Thank you for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that our team’s personalised support helped you find the perfect boat and holiday experience. It’s wonderful to know we met your expectations. Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 4 November 2025
Our go to for family river holidays
Have used them many times as a family. They are friendly, helpful and very organised. we have only ever had good experiences when boating with them.
Reply from Emerald Star, 4 November 2025
Dear Alan, Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that Emerald Star continues to be your go-to for family river holidays and that every experience has been positive. We look forward to welcoming you on board again soon! Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 1 November 2025
Fantastic Weekend Boating from Nieuwpoort!
We had a wonderful 3-day trip with Emerald Star from Nieuwpoort to Brugge and back. The team at the Nieuwpoort base, Bieke, Stephanie, and the mechanic, were outstanding! They prepared the boat perfectly, surprised us with a lovely welcome gift of local Belgian beers, and showed complete flexibility around our arrival and departure times.
Their guidance was excellent: clear boating instructions, navigation maps, and great local tips for attractions, moorings, and restaurants. They remained available throughout the weekend and always went out of their way to help.
The base itself is well maintained, with free parking and everything you need for a smooth start. Thanks to the whole team for making our trip so easy and memorable. Highly recommended!
Reply from Emerald Star, 1 November 2025
Dear Sergej, Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience! We’re thrilled to hear that the Nieuwpoort team—Bieke, Stephanie, and the mechanic—made your weekend so memorable with their guidance, flexibility, and thoughtful touches. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the boating, local tips, and the smooth start at the base. We look forward to welcoming you on another Emerald Star adventure soon! Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 1 November 2025
Great autumn break for the family
Great autumn break for the family. Any concerns about boating in October fell away with the cosy boat, peaceful waterways and beautiful views. We had some lovely sunny days too! A real tonic away from life in the city.
Reply from Emerald Star, 1 November 2025
Dear Annabel, Thank you for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that your autumn break was so relaxing and enjoyable, and that the cosy boat and peaceful waterways provided the perfect escape from city life. Sunny days and beautiful views are definitely the icing on the cake! Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 29 October 2025
Good telephone communication!
Good telephone communication!
Reply from Emerald Star, 29 October 2025
Dear Delia, Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear you had a positive experience with our telephone communication. Clear and helpful support is always our goal. Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 27 October 2025
Fantastic company/team/way to holiday!
From start to finish the LeBoat team was fantastic. They provided a wealth of information when doing our research, then during the booking process, and after booked when we had additional questions and special request. Everyone on the team was so pleasant and helpful, they couldn’t do enough for us. I haven’t had service like this in years, amazing! If you have ever thought of doing this for a holiday, do it! It’s so easy to operate the boat and it’s a great way to holiday with family and friends.
Reply from Emerald Star, 27 October 2025
Dear Dan, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that the entire Emerald Star team made your holiday seamless and enjoyable from start to finish. It’s fantastic to know you found our boats easy to operate and your experience with family and friends so memorable. Your kind words mean a lot to us! Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 26 October 2025
October Multi family Cruise on Caledonian Canal
Boat was great for a mixed generation and multi family group – and location was awesome – lots to do and lots of fund to had on and off the boat – even in October when the weather was a bit cold and lots of places closing down for the season. Also – Price in October was awesome!
Reply from Emerald Star, 26 October 2025
Dear Tim, Thank you for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that your multi-family group enjoyed the Caledonian Canal, both on and off the boat, despite the cooler October weather. It’s great to know you found the location fun and the seasonal pricing a bonus. Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 26 October 2025
Another lovely tripon The Shannon
From when we arrived at Emerald Star in Portumna (again), we were met with a warm and friendly welcome at reception that immediately set the tone for our holiday. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful or accommodating ( as always).
The boat training was excellen and confidenc inspiring. The instructors were not only knowledgeable but also genuinely enthusiastic about boating and the Shannon, sharing great tips and local insights that made our trip even more enjoyable.
Our boat was spotless and beautifully maintained, reflecting the team’s pride and attention to detail. Everything worked perfectly, and it was clear that cleanliness and safety are top priorities for Emerald Star.
Overall, the entire experience was seamless and memorable. A huge thank you to all the team at Portumna for making our time on the Shannon so special.
Reply from Emerald Star, 26 October 2025
Dear Lee, Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re thrilled to hear that the Portumna team made you feel so welcome and confident from the very start. It’s fantastic that the boat training, local insights, and spotless boat all contributed to a seamless and memorable trip on the Shannon. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to the team—they’ll be delighted! Warm regards, Catherine Emerald Star
Added on 25 October 2025
The Venice lagoon is special
The Venice lagoon is something else! This was our fourth Emerald Star holiday and sailing the lagoon is so different from the previous rivers and canals! Only one lock but very different moorings on huge poles. The Emerald Star team (Houseboat Italia) was really good, the boat was in tip top condition but it was the whole Venice lagoon experience that was so amazing, navigating along the briccola channels, visiting so many amazing islands, seeing a dolphin and enjoying all the hospitality of the Veneto region.
Added on 25 October 2025
BEST ON-THE-GO STAYCATION EXPERIENCE EVER!
The staff at Emerald Star Chertsey were top clasd! The training received from Enzo was brilliant- informative and reassured us. The hospitality of Anti is one not to forget we were running an hour late when we arrived at check in and still welcomed us with a smile. Emerald Star can be quite spenny but when you have a reliable team, beautiful boats to choose from and stunning routes set up for you the money was worth every spend!
Added on 25 October 2025
A holiday to remember
Very helpful staff from start to finish . Not done this before but plenty of information and reassurance to have a great time . The boat had everything you needed .. you can not book the weather so sunny /raining /hot /cold you take this as it comes . The boat was lovely and cosy inside .
If you can listen to instruction and all work together which fortunately my husband and I can this is well worth doing
Nervracking in places but laughed and learnt a lot
Added on 25 October 2025
Brilliant holiday experience
Very friendly helpful staff, both at Emerald Star and all the Lock Keepers from Laggan to Loch Ness. Our boat (Clipper 8) had all amenities and clean. This is a 6 berth boat, but perfect and lots of space for a group of 4. Will definitely repeat this experience, but will extend to 5 nights as 3 is just not enough! A ‘must do’ trip for everyone. Would be good if all the Caledonian Canal mooring points all had onshore power supply , as I can imagine it would be hard to find available power points to hook up to in the height of the season when it’s very busy.
Added on 23 October 2025
Great selection of boats on the Thames…
Great selection of boats on the Thames , with en-suite bedrooms for 3 couples. Easy to search and book through boat type. Good bundle pricing to make it easier and less stressful.
Added on 4 November 2025
Informative , helpful friendly staff in a beautiful location
Informative , helpful friendly staff in a beautiful location
Added on 3 November 2025
St-Gilles to Port Cassalfiere is a very interesting itinerary with…
St-Gilles to Port Cassalfiere is a very interesting itinerary with minimum locks (two). The towns where we stopped overnights were Aigues-Morte (two nights- extremely interesting to visit), Meze and Marseillan (in the Etang de Thau). All nice ports with reasonable fees. In Galician and Frontignan, we just anchored in town for free.
Overall, very satisfied with this itinerary.
Added on 31 October 2025
Excellent trip, staff, boat and location.
Excellent trip, staff, boat and location.
Added on 30 October 2025
Great staff and brilliant scenery
Great staff and brilliant scenery
Added on 28 October 2025
Emerald Star staff were very friendly and helpful.
Emerald Star staff were very friendly and helpful.
Added on 26 October 2025
We really enjoyed our trip. The quality of light is…
We really enjoyed our trip. The quality of light is what inspired the impressionists. We especially liked that the locks are automated, not manual.
Added on 16 October 2025
Customer service is there for anything you might need. Happy…
Customer service is there for anything you might need. Happy to help in any way.
Added on 16 October 2025
A beautiful location, pleasant, informative and helpful Emerald Star employees…
A beautiful location, pleasant, informative and helpful Emerald Star employees – all in all, a most welcoming experience and wonderful send off on our memorable and peaceful voyage on the Rideau Canal!
Added on 12 October 2025
Friendly and professional service during check-in / check-out. The Horizon…
Friendly and professional service during check-in / check-out. The Horizon 5 was well equipped and rand very well.
Added on 10 October 2025
This really helpful group made an three weeks awesome.
This really helpful group made an three weeks awesome.
Added on 10 October 2025
Great boat, good handling characteristics and very comfortable
Great boat, good handling characteristics and very comfortable
Added on 9 October 2025
Pleasant trip from Trebes to Carcassonne
Pleasant trip from Trebes to Carcassonne
Added on 4 October 2025
The base is well organised. It is 20 minutes walk…
The base is well organised. It is 20 minutes walk from a Spar and various cafes and restaurants, and the coastal tram stop. We used public transport to get there – train to Ostende and then the dear wee tram along the coast costing E3 each
Added on 1 October 2025
Charming city, friendly people great restaurants.
Charming city, friendly people great restaurants.
Added on 1 October 2025
The boat was great, whole family, 3 generations with 5…
The boat was great, whole family, 3 generations with 5 grandchildren ( aged 7 to 14 ) managed 9 nights and lots of meals with minimal fuss
Added on 30 September 2025
this was the perfect three day cruise to Westport and…
this was the perfect three day cruise to Westport and back
Added on 29 September 2025
The staff was fabulous before and during our trip. We…
The staff was fabulous before and during our trip.
We travel extensively and this was one of our favorite trips ever.
Added on 29 September 2025
The route was amazing- and we are coming back next…
The route was amazing- and we are coming back next year
Added on 3 November 2025
Very nice boat. Good quality for boat accessories and bedding.…
Very nice boat. Good quality for boat accessories and bedding. Very satisfied overall.
Added on 31 October 2025
Wonderful trip, boat was very spacious for our group of…
Wonderful trip, boat was very spacious for our group of 4
Added on 30 October 2025
Good basic boat for first time sailing
Good basic boat for first time sailing
Added on 16 October 2025
The Horizon 1 is a spacious boat that is equipped…
The Horizon 1 is a spacious boat that is equipped with pretty much anything that you might need for a comfortable multi-day excursion on the Rideau Canal. We definitely look forward to becoming return customers in years to come.
Added on 12 October 2025
Very nice boat; forward and aft thrusters made docking and…
Very nice boat; forward and aft thrusters made docking and lock entry delightful
Added on 5 October 2025
Lovely boat. Bow thrusters front and back meant going through…
Lovely boat. Bow thrusters front and back meant going through locks and mooring was easy.
Added on 4 October 2025
Very comfortable and great for 2 couples with the living/…
Very comfortable and great for 2 couples with the living/ kitchen area being in between the two cabins (so no idea if the others snore or not!). It was very well equipped (5 frying pans?!! and 4 corkscrews but no grater) with plenty of cutlery and crockery so we didn’t have to wash up every time we had a coffee/ ate something. Steering from the top is great and the boat handled very well indeed, even in high wind.
Added on 2 October 2025
Great experience
Great experience
Added on 1 October 2025
Wonderful way to explore and experience our country. The staff…
Wonderful way to explore and experience our country. The staff were great and the boat exceeded our expectations. It was well equipped, clean and easy to drive.
Added on 1 October 2025
Wonderful and very relaxing
Wonderful and very relaxing
Added on 29 September 2025
This is a very well designed boat. All glass around…
This is a very well designed boat.
All glass around the helm, salon, and galley make it special.
The bow and stern thrusters made me look like a professional Captain.
Added on 26 September 2025
Really easy boat to navigate and accommodation well thought out.…
Really easy boat to navigate and accommodation well thought out. We had a Tango for two of us, which gave us plenty of space.
Added on 24 September 2025
Loved the layout of the boat. There were a few…
Loved the layout of the boat. There were a few minor issues with the boat but they were quickly dealt with.
Added on 24 September 2025
The boat was excellent for accommodation and ease of access.…
The boat was excellent for accommodation and ease of access. We had one member of our party who has some physical challenges.
Added on 24 September 2025
The boat was perfect. Not easy to do with no…
The boat was perfect. Not easy to do with no experrience bit this made the adventure bigger so that was fine.
Added on 20 September 2025
Emerald Star Horizon 4 sleeps 8 but it was just…
Emerald Star Horizon 4 sleeps 8 but it was just two of us for 7 days and we loved having the extra rooms for our luggage. The boat was very spacious and modern. We loved being able to cook on board, especially with the outdoor grill/BBQ, and were pleasantly surprised that with a few hatches open, nights in mid-September 2025 were cool and comfortable.
The thrusters were a huge bonus (and a must!) — they made maneuvering so much easier and forgiving. The Horizon 4 was otherwise straightforward to handle, and we had zero issues with the boat during our trip.
Added on 18 September 2025
The Royal Mystique is a top drawer vessel. Highly recommended.
The Royal Mystique is a top drawer vessel. Highly recommended.
Added on 17 September 2025
The boat was very clean and well supplied. It handled…
The boat was very clean and well supplied. It handled well.
