Holiday Extras
Make the most of your boating holiday
We offer a range of optional extras to make your holiday more relaxing, comfortable and fun. You can add them up to 7 days before your departure. You can even purchase them at the base when you arrive. However, to guarantee availability and to enjoy a reduced rate, we recommend you pre-book before you travel. Just give us a call and speak to one of our Boating Experts or use our ‘My Account’ portal to add extras to your existing booking online.
Other costs are compulsory (depending on what or where you book) and are automatically added to your booking or are collected locally by our base teams.
Please note: all prices shown are subject to change without notice.
Damage Liability Reduction (DLR)
Upon collection of your boat, you must pay a refundable Damage Deposit. Your liability for loss or damage to your boat is limited to the amount collected. The amount of Damage Deposit required, and thus your liability, may be significantly reduced by purchasing a non-refundable Damage Liability Reduction (DLR) which can be added to your booking as a cost – or purchased locally at base.
The deposit required at base, if DLR is purchased, is reduced to:
2025 departures
Budget boats: €280 / £230 / CA$415
Comfort boats: €385 / £320 / CA$580
Comfort Plus boats: €550 / £455 / CA$825
Premier boats: €815 / £680 / CA$1,240
Luxury boats: €1,000 / £900 / CA$1,500
DLR Group 1
Braemore WHS, Capri, Capri WHS, Cirrus A & B, Classique, Classique Star, Consul, Continentale, Corvette A & B, Countess, Crusader, Curlew WHS, Cygnet WHS, Grand Classique, Kingfisher WHS, Lake Star, Mountain Star, Royal Star WHS, Shannon Star, Sheba, Town Star
France, UK & Ireland: £18 per day | Italy: £24 per day | Germany: £25 per day | Belgium: £26 per day | Netherlands & Canada: £26 per day
DLR Group 2
Calypso, Caprice, Clipper, Elegance, Magnifique, Minuetto 6+, Royal Classique, Salsa A & B, Tango
France, UK & Ireland: £33 per day | Italy: £34 per day | Germany: £36 per day | Belgium: £38 per day | Netherlands & Canada: £38 per day
DLR Group 3
Minuetto 8+, Mystique, Royal Mystique A & B
France, UK & Ireland: £36 per day | Italy: £37 per day | Germany: £38 per day | Belgium: £38 per day | Netherlands & Canada: £39 per day
DLR Group 4
All Vision models
France, UK & Ireland: £45 per day | Italy: £46 per day | Germany: £47 per day | Belgium: £48 per day | Netherlands & Canada: £51 per day
DLR Group 5
All Horizon models
France, UK & Ireland: £46 per day | Italy: £47 per day | Germany: £48 per day | Belgium: £49 per day | Netherlands & Canada: £52 per day
DLR Group 6
Liberty
France, UK & Ireland: £50 per day | Italy: £50 per day | Germany: £51 per day | Belgium: £52 per day | Netherlands & Canada: £53 per day
*subject to change
Pre-paid Unlimited Fuel
Price varies by boat/region/duration
Pre-pay for your fuel in advance, instead of at the end of your vacation:
- Easier to manage your budget
- Fix the price of fuel by paying today’s rates.
- Cruise for as long as you want – you get unlimited fuel when you pay in advance.
Pre-paid fuel is optional and can be purchased at any time up to 7 days prior to your departure date. If you choose not to purchase pre-paid fuel, you will need to pay a fuel deposit upon collection of your boat and then pay for the fuel you use at the end of your holiday. The amount charged willl be based on the number of hours you run your engine for. Not available on bookings to Italy. For more details, see compulsory costs.
This holiday extra is not currently available to purchase online. To purchase please contact us via phone or by submitting a contact us form.
Fuel & Damage Liability Reduction BUNDLE
Price varies by boat/region/duration
Book these two extras together as a bundle and SAVE!
- Pre-paid Unlimited Fuel
- Damage Liability Reduction
See individual listings for more details about each item. This bundle can be added to your booking any time up to 7 days before your departure date. Not available on bookings to Italy.
This holiday extra is not currently available to purchase online. To purchase please contact us via phone or by submitting a contact us form.
Holiday Flex Plan
€49 (short breaks)
€149 (1 week or more)
Our Holiday Flex Plan, gives you the flexibility to make up to two changes, subject to availability, to your confirmed booking arrangements, for any reason with no additional amendment fee. You can make changes from the moment you book, right up to 42 days before you depart.
Without this Holiday Flex Plan, there is a fee of €100 per amendment made up to 90 days before departure (which is when any outstanding balance is due) and after this period amendments are not permitted, as per our booking terms and conditions.
Please note: Purchase of this optional Holiday Flex Plan entitles you to make, subject to availability, changes to your departure date, duration, base, region and boat type and no amendment fees will be charged. However, you will be responsible for any difference in price as per our booking terms and conditions. You may request an amendment on no more than two occasions under the plan. Only available for purchase at the point you confirm your booking with Emerald Star/Le Boat and up to 7 days after. After this time, it may not be purchased or added to your booking retrospectively. Changes made under the terms of this plan are not permitted within 42 days of departure. For full terms, please see clause 6c of our booking terms and conditions.
Bike rental
Adult bike: €56.00 a week / €8.00 a day
Child bike: €42.00 a week / €6.00 a day
Child seat: € 14.00 a week / € 2.00 a day
Many of our customers rent our compact, foldable bikes to take on board with them, so they can visit local villages close to the waterway or bike along the flat tow paths that make for easy cycling.
The children’s bikes we offer are designed for kids who are between 120 and 135cm tall, typically suiting children aged 6 to 9 years old. To ensure the right bike for your child, kindly provide us with their height so that we can help you select the most suitable option.
Please note: All Liberty boat bookings include bikes to take on board with you free of charge. Costs shown are the pre-booked rates. A higher rate is applicable if purchased at base.
Our bikes are unisex. All our bikes are provided with a bike lock. Bike theft waiver is included.
Bicycle helmets are not provided with bike hire, but we recommend their use and to ensure optimum comfort of fit and safety, customers should provide their own. Bicycle helmets are required to be worn by law for persons under 12 in France and under 18 in Canada and it is the customer’s responsibility to provide and comply.
Hire a skipper for a day – 2025 Departures
Skipper: €179
If a little extra guidance would put your mind at ease, hire a Emerald Star skipper to spend the first full day with you. They will show you how to operate the boat, navigate the waterway and maneuver through locks at a leisurely and relaxed pace. They will be on hand to guide and advise while you and your party operate the boat, so that you become confident in doing so on your own for the remainder of your holiday.
Currently available in the Canal du Midi only*
Please note: Available on 2026 departures only. If you and your crew fill your boat to capacity, a skipper will not be able to accompany you.
As such, please consider the boat’s maximum capacity and allow for one extra passenger when choosing your boat type.
*Skippers are available in the Canal du Midi only, and only from our bases in Castelnaudary, Carcassonne (Trèbes), Homps and Port Cassafières.
Skippers will be able to speak English and French. If booked, the skipper will accompany you for approximately seven hours on the first full day of your vacation (i.e. the day after you arrive at base). If a skipper is booked, your pre-departure briefing on the day of collection will only cover the operation of the domestic facilities on board (i.e. power, hot water, cooking, etc). You will be required to stay at the base for your first night and will not be able to depart with your boat until the skipper arrives at approximately 9am the next morning. Exact timings will be confirmed during your pre-departure call.
Skippers will provide their own lunch and refreshments and, a suitable location must be found at the end of the day where they can leave the boat and make onward travel arrangements (i.e. in a town/village). Emerald Star assumes liability for any accidental damage caused while the skipper is on board, although not if caused as a result of your own negligence or reckless conduct as per our booking terms and conditions.
Early Check-in and Late Check-out
Early check-in: €105 – €140
Late check-out: €105 – €140
Why not get more time on the water and book an Early check-in and/or a Late check-out service. Early check-in allows you to arrive and begin check-in formalities from 11am on the first day (instead of 3pm).
Late check-out means you must return your boat and be ready to disembark/checkout by 12noon on the last day (instead of 9am).
It is important that you advise your intended arrival time (via our Guest Information Form) so we can plan for your early departure accordingly. We’ll need to spend some time with you completing the check in processes and pre-departure briefing so you won’t be able to leave the dockside straight away.
Please note: Owing to operational constraints, it sometimes may not be possible to offer this service. Customers cruising in Germany, and who don’t have a licence, must arrive at 1pm in order to begin your pre-departure brieifing and additional tuition which starts at 2pm. If this applies to you, you may book an early check-in in order to access your boat from 11am – although you will not be able to begin your additional tuition/pre-deparure briefing until 2pm. Early check-in is not available in Jabel, Vinkeveen, Hindeloopen, or on any of our Vision and Horizon 5 boats. Late check out is not available in Jabel or on any of our Vision and Horizon 5 boats.
Barbecues
€52.50 a week / €7.50 a day
Add some extra sizzle to your boating holiday with a stainless steel gas barbecue / plancha hot plate which is very easy to use. With lots of colourful food markets to visit, a barbecue is the perfect way to enjoy regional and local specialties, and alfresco dining on your sundeck.
Please note: Cost shown is the pre-booked rate. A higher rate is applicable if purchased at base. Available in one size only and is suitable for up to 8 people. Supplied with a spare gas bottle capable of fuelling two barbecues a week. Additional gas bottles are widely available for purchase from supermarkets, garages, shops and also from Emerald Star bases (subject to availability). Additional gas bottles cost approx €8-€10, depending on where you buy them.
A barbecue hotplate is already included on our Horizon, Vision, Mystique & Royal Mystique boats. Not available in Canada, England or Scotland.
Angling Dinghy and Motor
17ft angling dinghy + outboard €210 a week / €30 a day
12ft angling dinghy: €49 a week / €7 a day
Outboard motor: €105 a week / €15 a day
Available in Ireland only.
For the avid angler, you can hire an angling dinghy to help you reach the most secluded stretches of water, and maybe catch that ‘big one!’ Our large 17ft angling dinghy comes with an outboard motor and is purpose built for fishing with good stability, high sides and plenty of space on board for all the necessary tackle. We also offer a smaller 12ft dinghy for the less serious fisherman or those who just fancy exploring the shallows. For this dinghy, outboard motors are sold separately
Please note: Costs shown are the pre-booked rates. A higher rate is applicable if purchased at base.
Ecological cleaning pack
Eco pack: €14 (€20 in Canada)
Help us preserve the waterways for future enjoyment by purchasing a pack of eco-friendly cleaning products which come in a ecological cotton bag. The pack includes: Ecological kitchen spray, ecological washing-up liquid, insect repellent, a sponge and a box of matches.
Special Occasion Gift Basket
Gift basket: From €85 (€90 in Canada and Ireland)
If you are celebrating a special birthday or occasion, you can pre-order one of our beautifully presented gift baskets, full of local delicacies and regional specialities. It will be waiting for you on board when you arrive.
Please note: Not available in our Fürstenberg (Germany) base.
L.E.D Lanterns
Lantern: €17.50 a week / €2.50 a day
Neon LED lanterns that can be used to provide additional lighting up on deck in the evenings. Rechargeable via 220v / 12v boat battery.
How many pets can I take with me?
Pet supplement: €80 per pet
A boating adventure is the perfect kind of holiday to take your four-legged friend on. A maximum of two dogs are welcome on board each boat. A pet cleaning supplement applies.
Stand Up Paddleboards
Paddleboard: €70 a week / €10 a day
Provided in a bag, with everything you need, our new paddleboards are stable, inflatable and easy to use. You’ll love spending some time travelling down the river under your own power.
Please note: Cost shown is the pre-booked rate. A higher rate is applicable if purchased at base. Only available in Jarnac (Charente, France), St Jean de Losne (Burgundy, France), Marina-Wolfsbruch (Germany), Casale & Precenicco (Italy), Benson (England), Laggan (Scotland), Hindeloopen & Vinkeveen (Netherlands), Nieuwpoort (Belgium) and Smith Falls & Peterborough (Canada).
Deck Cushions
1 seat and 1 seat back cushion: €10.50 a week / €1.50 a day
Why not rent a pack of deck cushions for extra comfort while you cruise? They also double up as sunbathing matresses.
Please note: Cost shown is the pre-booked rate. A higher rate is applicable if purchased at base. Cushions are already provided on our Horizon, Vision Series, Mystique & Royal Mystique boats.
WiFi
Wifi: €56.00 a week / €8.00 a day
A mini router that provides internet access wherever there is a mobile phone signal.
Please note: Not available in Italy and Canada. Cost shown is the prebooked rate. A higher rate is applicable if purchased at base. All Liberty boat bookings include WIFI free of charge. Full coverage is not guaranteed at all times, especially when cruising in remote areas.
Car Transfers
Car Transfer: prices range from €125- €600 depending on destination
If you are doing a one-way cruise (i.e. returning your boat to a different base), we can transfer your car from your departure base to your end base.
Please note: Car transfers are available for a charge, must be pre-booked at least 7 days prior to your departure date and are subject to availability. Not available in Germany, Canada or Holland. Please contact the sales team for more information and prices.
See further information and conditions below.
Parking
Ungated: FROM €38.50 a week / €5.50 a day
Gated: FROM €52.50 a week / €7.50 a day
Undercover: FROM €66.50 a week / €9.50 a day
If you are traveling to your start base by car, you should add parking onto your booking as an optional extra. Parking in a gated compound and gated undercover parking is also available at selected bases.
Note: All Liberty boat bookings include our best available parking free of charge. Some bases have parking off-site, no further than a 15minute walk back to the base. Where on-site parking is available, we will try to accommodate at least one vehicle per booking on-site with additional vehicles parking off-site. You will not be expected to park offsite, until you have checked-in and unloaded your vehicle(s). Motorhomes (RVs) and cars with trailers will require two parking spaces to be booked and paid for. Check out our base pages for more information about the parking facilities offered at your start base. Costs shown are the pre-booked rates. A higher rate is applicable if purchased at base. We accept no responsibility or liability for any damage or loss to any vehicles.
Car transfer conditions: Our staff are insured to drive your vehicle on your behalf. Please bring with you your car registration document and car insurance certificate. Our base teams can transfer rent/lease cars, but you should check with your rental/leasing company first as the terms of your agreement may not permit this. If it is permitted, your rental/leasing company may charge you extra to add a member of our base team as a named driver. We may not know the name of the driver until the week of your departure, so you should check with the rental/leasing company to see if they will add an additional ‚un-named‛ driver to the hire agreement. All the cars can be transferred except: cars heavier than 3.5 tonnes, cars pulling trailers or caravans, trucks, bikes, motorbikes, camping cars and red license plates.
Fuel
Fuel charge
Onboard equipment will record how many hours you run your engine for during your cruise and you will be charged a rate per hour when you return your boat – payable at your end base in local currency. This cost covers the fuel you use to power the boats engine and onboard systems (such as heating), as well as gas and general engine wear & tear.
The ‘hourly rate’ differs by region and boat-type and also depends on significant fluctuations in the market rates of fuel and so is subject to change. As a guide, here’s an approximation to help you budget.
Sheba boats: €7 – €13 approx
Budget boats (exc Sheba): €11 – €21 | £12 – £17 approx
Comfort boats: €13 – €24 | £12 – £19 approx
Comfort Plus boats: €13 – €29 | £15 – £18 approx
Premier boats: €11 – €30 | £16 – £23 | CA$22 – CA$33 approx
On average, in 2023, our customers ran their engines for a total of 26 hours on a 7 night vacation
Our Sales Team can give you a more accurate rate for your particular boat type/region, based on our most recent rates published. However, the actual rate you will pay will be confirmed with you at check-in.
Fuel deposit
Before you depart, you must leave an Fuel Deposit in local currency:
Up to 6 nights: €260 / £260 / CA$300
7 nights: €375 / £375 / CA$460
8+ nights: €475 / £475 / CA$725
At the end of your cruise, your Fuel Charge will be calculated and you will either be refunded the difference or will need to pay any excess hours used.
Damage Deposit
Upon collection of your boat, you must pay a refundable Damage Deposit. The Damage Deposit will be retained (in part or in full) at the end of your holiday if the boat or any of its equipment or inventory is returned damaged or lost. Your liability is limited to the amount collected. Please read our terms and conditions for full details.
Please note, the amount of Damage Deposit required, and thus your liability, may be significantly reduced by purchasing a non-refundable Damage Liability Reduction (DLR). See our optional extras for details.
Budget boats: €2,860 / £2,370 / CA$4,320
Comfort boats: €3,170 / £2,630 / CA$4,920
Comfort Plus boats: €3,490 / £2,890 / CA$5,270
Premier boats: €4,120 / £3,420 / CA$6,240
Luxury boats: €4,480 / £3,720 / CA$6,780
Lock Fees
The fee to go through the locks & lifting bridges is included in the charter price for all our destinations, except in Ireland (1.5€) & Holland (an average of 8.50€).
Cleaning Service
To make sure every boat is sparkling clean for our guests, we include a cleaning fee that covers a deep clean after each trip. Our dedicated team takes care of all the dusting, vacuuming, and disinfecting so the boat is fresh and ready for your next adventure.
Before you set off, we also perform a thorough inspection to ensure everything is in perfect shape. We kindly ask guests to leave the boat tidy by emptying the fridge, stripping the beds, and disposing of any rubbish at the base.
One-way supplement
Our extensive network means Emerald Star can offer more one-way cruises than any other operator. These are a perfect way of seeing more of your cruising area without retracing your steps. There is an additional supplement for all one-way cruises, payable at the time of booking. A return-to-base cruise is great if you fancy seeing more of the towns and villages en-route. Whichever you choose, you decide where and when to stop, and for how long. This fee will be automatically added, as a cost, to your oneway booking and is included in the prices quoted on our website when applicable.
Mooring fees
In many of our cruising regions, free moorings are easy to find. However, when you stop at a marina, there is often a fee to moor overnight and to access the services offered (electricity/shower/water, etc). This fee varies enormously from as little as 2€ a night, up to as much as 100€ or more. To ensure availability and to check prices, we recommend calling the marina prior to your arrival to book a place for the night.
Italy: Cruising in and around the Venetian Lagoon can get very busy and it can be difficult to find moorings. You can’t just moor anywhere: it is forbidden to moor along the sides of the canals or tie up to the channel markers (called ‘briccole’). Marinas are also very expensive. As such, exclusive private moorings have been made available for all Emerald Star customers cruising in the Venetian Lagoon and a compulsory supplement (short breaks €60 | 1 week €90) will be charged to all customers cruising from Casale. These moorings are located on Mazzorbo (Burano), Vignole (for Venice) and in Chioggia – areas which are well connected with the public transport (the famous water bus called Vaporetto) to help you visit central venice and all the surrounding islands. They do not have access to water or shore power and availability is limited – they are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. This fee will be automatically added, as a cost, to your Italy booking and is included in the prices quoted on our website when applicable.
Canada: You are only allowed to moor in private marinas, town/village marinas and Parks Canada moorings (situated at lock stations) which all provide overnight moorings for a fee, with varying facilities and services. However, a mandatory fee (short breaks €75 | 1 week €110) will be charged to Emerald Star customers and covers overnight moorings at all Parks Canada sites. Availability at these sites is on a first-come, first served basis and the supplement excludes the use of services such as shore power, which is available in some locations. Other mooring options are available for a fee, which is payable locally. This fee will be automatically added, as a cost, to your Canada booking and is included in the prices quoted on our website when applicable.