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:
The ballad of the good ship Saucy Sally…
The ballad of the good ship Saucy Sally aka Horizon 2 – 31. St Jean de Losne seven nights to Fontenoy le Château
Saucy Sally serenely sails the sinuous Saône,
Silkily sliding by soft sibilant shores,
Slipping sluggishly through slimy sluices.
Spying stately storks silently surveying
Sweaty sunburnt shipmates singing silly sozzled shanties,
Swatting stinging suckers of sailors’ sap.
Sidling shoreward to the slyvan shade,
Suddenly the susurration of sizzling sausages
Stimulates salivation over salty snacks on the sun deck.
Sadly secured at Fontenoy-le-Château sans sustenance. The restaurant was closed – à jamais.
– Fin –
Beautiful and relaxed part of France
Beautiful and relaxed part of France. Boat was great and Emerald Star staff were fantastic.
We had a great cruise with Emerald Star…
We had a great cruise with Emerald Star mainly due to:
– Good organization: A very smooth onboarding process before the cruise.
– High quality: Emerald Star canal boats are excellent.
– Great experience: Exploring the rivers and channels around Messac-Guipry (France)
We loved out LeBoat holiday in Belgium…
We loved out LeBoat holiday in Belgium even during a historic heat wave that hit the country! Staff was so helpful from start to finish. Belgium is a beautiful route. I highly recommend this as a fun and unique way to see the country!
Fantastic trip – highly recommended
Boat was well prepared and presented. The welcome team were excellent, as were the team at the end of our trip.
Amazing experience
Unforgettable and adventurous experience. Lot river is beautiful part of France, very peaceful with amazing options for swimming. Passing through locks is sometimes challenging (especially on the first day) but it gets easier with every day, plus it support fitness of the crew 🙂 We really enjoyed and I would do it again!
Just a great holiday to be had on these…
Just a great holiday to be had on these boats!
It was such an easy process
It was such an easy process. Amazing experience.
Great experience! Must do trip down in Louch Derg
Great experience! Must do trip down in Louch Derg
We went on the Shannon for the first…
We went on the Shannon for the first time, a family of four. The booking was very easy and we chose our comfort level boat. The whole process was very straightforward and driving the boat was fine, parking was tricky in one or two spots but everyone we met along the way was very friendly and helpful. My two daughters really enjoyed the trip and we are going again this year.
Speedy response to email enquiry and…
Speedy response to email enquiry and then immediate return to telephoned enquiry which made booking holiday effortless
Thank you
Easy booking process great online…
Easy booking process great online portal with lots of tips, guides, relevant safety video. We are really looking forward to our mini break. Now if can just arrange the weather it would be perfect 😎
Absolutely easy this far
Absolutely easy this far
Great firm with great service and staff
Great firm with great service and staff
Booking and arrangement with Alejandra…
Booking and arrangement with Alejandra went very smoothly. We’re looking forward to our trip.
Try the German Lake District
We are regular “Emerald Star”ers and recommend them very highly. We have boated with them on the Thames (brilliant), the Broads, in France and on the Venice lagoon (astounding). This year we explored the lake district in Germany which was a complete revelation. It is a totally beautiful landscape of over 1,000kms of contiguous glacial lakes and rivers/canals and much of it is a National Park. The birdlife (and birdsong in the rivers) is astounding and deafening – white tailed eagles, red and black kites and a plethora of song and water birds. Also everything, everywhere is totally clean. No litter anywhere and all the boats have dirty water tanks. You can swim/watersport anywhere (unlike in France and Italy). There are marinas, city harbours and yacht clubs to moor up in at a cost (from 25 to max 50 Euros in Mirow) or you can overnight for free at anchor in the lakes -river or lake side mooring is not allowed. The Germans could not have been more friendly though 90% didn’t have any English. We had some very basic German which helped. We were the only non-Germans we met in a week, even on hire boats, which was rather wonderful. We felt totally immersed and welcome! Germany’s lake district in Mecklenburg-Strelitz is its best kept secret. We had never even heard of it and only found it thanks to the Emerald Star locations. Go there and be wowed! It is also fun cruising because of the mix of lakes, rivers/canals and locks although the self-manned locks are incredibly slow which is frustrating at first. You have to shift into “German boating time” as you sit in your queue, this year often in scorching June sunshine. It’s not that people don’t know what to do. It is because the locks have been set to fill and empty very, very, very slowly. The manned locks are faster (with friendly and relaxed lock-keepers) but the detailed chart provided sadly doesn’t tell you which the lock is. If you can see the lock from your waiting spot (often you can’t because it is round a corner) you can tell if it is manned because there will be umbrellas up. They all have red and green light which you must obey. The Emerald Star team at Marina Wolfsbruch was great and our boat was in very good condition and we loved it. In fact it quickly became our favourite boat – Royal Classique. We are three siblings in our 50 and 60s who choose to do this for a week together once a year so three cabins ensuite is perfect and the top deck space, table, moveable chairs and bimini are essential.
Brilliant boating holiday
Super friendly welcome, very knowledgeable and welcoming staff. Lovely holiday. Would highly recommend.
It is our 3 time renting with Leboat
It is our 3 time renting with Leboat
Everything is smooth
Easy
Fast
Sharp
We are very happy
Benson is a great place to pick up your boat…
Benson is a great place to pick up your boat and head off either towards Oxford or down stream towards the beautiful Marlow and Henley or as far as you like towards Windsor and on.
The boat was clean and ready to go. This was not our first trip although the Elegance18 boat was new to us.
Thank you Emerald Star and the guys at Benson
Great for large family get together
Great for large family get together
Fabulous place to collect boat and head off towards Inverness,…
Fabulous place to collect boat and head off towards Inverness, lovely staff
It was a wonderful experience, beautiful location , and the…
It was a wonderful experience, beautiful location , and the staff were brilliant and extremely helpful .Would definitely recommend Emerald Star to my friends .
Emerald star experience was fantastic for the whole family. The…
Emerald star experience was fantastic for the whole family. The people at Laggan was friendly and very welcoming.Kay was outstanding and so was Carlos .The boats have everything you need .Very comfortable beds and well equipped kitchen.The lock keepers are so friendly and all the different nationalities we met which was a lot was really friendly.We took our two small dogs and they enjoyed it as well.Very enjoyable time and hopefully will be returning.I would definitely recommend Emerald star.
We cruised the Migennes to tannay route, visiting lovely towns…
We cruised the Migennes to tannay route, visiting lovely towns such as Auxerre, Chantel – Censoir, Vincelles , Accolay, Vezalayetc.
We also took a taxi from Vezalay to Chablis which was so beautiful. Etienne , the harbour master in Chantal Censoir also organised a taxi to Vezalay which was well worth visiting.
Our rental experience at Emerald Star’s base in Peterborough was…
Our rental experience at Emerald Star’s base in Peterborough was excellent with helpful and knowledgeable staff we arrived, unpacked, underwent the necessary training and were off on our boat in 2 hours!
The location was good, staff friendly and helpful.
The location was good, staff friendly and helpful.
Beautiful countryside and towns. Fantastic restaurants.
Beautiful countryside and towns. Fantastic restaurants.
Beautiful countryside and towns. Fantastic restaurants.
Beautiful countryside and towns. Fantastic restaurants.
The staff at Chertsey are amazing, so friendly, polite, and…
The staff at Chertsey are amazing, so friendly, polite, and helpful. The location is perfect and easy to get too. Can’t wait to do it again.
Jarnac/Jarnac for 7 nights was perfect. The staff at the…
Jarnac/Jarnac for 7 nights was perfect. The staff at the Jarnac location are amazing!!! Customer service abounds and they are so friendly and welcoming. The boat was in perfect condition and spotless. We ended up spending a few nights in Saintes and doing day trips to La Rochelle and Royan. The train station is an easy walk and the trains go everywhere in the region. The locks were easy and fun.
Port Cassafière was a perfect starting point for our trip.…
Port Cassafière was a perfect starting point for our trip. The staff there was very helpful in getting us set up. We had to wait a little bit, but they have a lovely patio, and it was very scenic in the French countryside, so it was enjoyable.
Trip from Nieuwpoort to Oudenburg and further to Brugge and…
Trip from Nieuwpoort to Oudenburg and further to Brugge and back. Perfect balance between steering the boat and visiting Oudenburg and Brugge. (5 days, 4 nights on the boat, latest night at the basis in Nieuwpoort)
Trip of a lifetime!
Trip of a lifetime!
We did a round trip Hindeloopen – Heeg – Leeuwarden…
We did a round trip Hindeloopen – Heeg – Leeuwarden – Sneek – Hindeloopen. It is quite easy route with many marines on the way to choose from. Our definitive recommendation.
The trip was amazing and we were lucky to have…
The trip was amazing and we were lucky to have fab weather which made scenery spectacular. Staff were amazing and very friendly. Boat was spotless and experience was fab. Would recommend.
Exceeded our expectations of a fun holiday.
Exceeded our expectations of a fun holiday.
we were the crew of 2. For 2 people boat…
we were the crew of 2. For 2 people boat is very comfortable and easy to control. Adding of the
stern and bow thrusters is very welcome feature compare to the boat we used in our 2016 trip by LeBoat on Thames River in England.
We had 11 family members and it worked out great
We had 11 family members and it worked out great
Fantastic 6 berth cruiser, we had a great time cruising…
Fantastic 6 berth cruiser, we had a great time cruising Loch Ness and the canal
It was a beautiful cruiser and had everything, that we…
It was a beautiful cruiser and had everything, that we needed
Amazing team. Fast and responsive customer service.
Amazing team. Fast and responsive customer service.
Our Emerald Star Horizon 4 houseboat was very comfortable for…
Our Emerald Star Horizon 4 houseboat was very comfortable for 4 adults sailing the Trent-Severn Waterway. Having 4 bathrooms was the best, with one in each cabin. We prepared most of our meals on the rooftop grill, conveniently located next to the rooftop dining table.
The cabins, bathrooms, salon, kitchen and upperdeck were all comfortable.
The cabins, bathrooms, salon, kitchen and upperdeck were all comfortable.
We had the Horizon 1. Loved it so modern lots…
We had the Horizon 1. Loved it so modern lots of space and all the facilities you could need. Very easy to drive too.
We had a really lovely experience with the most stunning…
We had a really lovely experience with the most stunning backdrop. Thank you.
We originally booked the Horizon class, but upon closer inspection…
We originally booked the Horizon class, but upon closer inspection of the cabins on the website decided to switch to this boat and we were VERY grateful we did! For two couples this boat can’t be beat. The staterooms are huge. Walk around beds, tons of storage and individual AC controls. The boat was in spectacular condition. It looked like a brand new boat inside. Everything worked perfectly. We loved the BBQ on the top deck and cooked some incredible food up there. We are chefs and the kitchen had everything we needs and more. The dishes/pans/etc were great quality. The boat handled well and we easy to dock. If you want space and the feeling of a private yacht, pick this one!
This boat was surprisingly comfortable for 6 adults, the layout…
This boat was surprisingly comfortable for 6 adults, the layout inside perfect for our purpose, food could be prepared in the gally without hindering the rest of the crew playing card or socializing around the table. the height of the boat allowed us to pass under most bridges which made cruising a lot easier.
Boat was big enough for 10 of us. Everything you…
Boat was big enough for 10 of us. Everything you needed. Kitchen well equipped
Comfortable, well equipped boat. Some of the showers a bit…
Comfortable, well equipped boat. Some of the showers a bit small although fine, but mainly used canalside showers. Lovely shared areas and galley big enough with lots of storage space throughout the boat.
Liberty was a joy to sail, so comfortable.
Liberty was a joy to sail, so comfortable.
Perfect little boat for a couple or two couples with…
Perfect little boat for a couple or two couples with plenty of space and great galley
Perfect Condition, great comfort
Perfect Condition, great comfort
Very nice boat. Good quality for boat accessories and bedding.…
Very nice boat. Good quality for boat accessories and bedding. Very satisfied overall.
Wonderful trip, boat was very spacious for our group of…
Wonderful trip, boat was very spacious for our group of 4
