Booking Info

Booking a boat or Waterside Cottage is straightforward.


Step 1

To Reserve a Boat online 24/7 please go to our 'Availability' page. 

Or

Call us to make a booking in person.

Telephone us during office hours on 01525 372355 (+44 1525 372355 for international customers) and we can complete the booking form and take your deposit or full payment by card. We will then post or email your confirmation.
Waterside Cottage can be reserved online using the Availability and Prices search bar above, but can only be confirmed over the phone during office hours.

Office hours: Summer: April to October - Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm, also Saturdays 9.00am to 2.00pm
                      Winter: November to March - Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

Self-drive narrowboat moored in scenery


Step 2

Confirm Your Booking

How to confirm your boating holiday.
Either phone the office (please have your debit/credit card details handy) and we will confirm the holiday with you over the phone. If you already have a provisional booking, you may also choose from the following options:
Our online boat holiday booking form - fill the form in online and submit it, with details of when and how you wish to make your payment whether over the phone, or using our secure online portal with a Debit/Credit Card or by Electronic Bank Transfer.

Relaxing on a Hire Canal BoatIf you submit the online form, it is not a confirmed booking until we have contacted you by email or phone and received your 20% deposit, or full payment if your holiday is within eight weeks.


Step 3

Pay the Remaining Balance

When do we pay the balance?
You will receive a remittance advice with your booking confirmation requesting the balance to be paid eight weeks before the start of your holiday (if you did not make the full payment in Steps 1 or 2).


Further Information

What Is and Isn't Included?

What is included in the hire fee?
The hire of the canal boat and all its equipment including bedding, VAT at 20% (where applicable), fuel, gas, toilet pump-out on holidays over seven days, car parking, buoyancy aids, television and damage waiver, credit card charges.

Please note that for all-male, all-female and group bookings a £250.00 per boat security deposit is payable on arrival. All same-sex crews and multi-boat bookings are at the Company's discretion.

What is not included in the hire fee?

Pets
For short breaks, there is a charge of £20.00 for the first pet and £10.00 for the second pet. For weekly hire there is a charge of £30.00 for the first pet for the first week, £15 for subsequent weeks and £15 per week for the second pet.
Cancellation scheme
Details below.

Occasionally, we can allow an extra person aged 4 and over on some boats. These are £20.00 extra for a short break and £40.00 extra for a week. Please speak to the office direct to see if this is possible.

Boarding and Disembarking

When can we board our canal boat?
A Happy Family on a UK Canal Boat VacationAll our holidays start at 4.00pm on the day of departure, however the barges are usually ready for boarding from 1.30pm; we advise our customers to arrive at 1.30pm. You must be back at base by 9.00am and off the boat by 9.30am at the end of your holiday - this allows us time to clean and service the boat ready for the next hirer.

Discounts

We give the following discounts off our full brochure prices.

Ten/Eleven Day Discounts.
For ten or eleven day hire please add the weekly price for the first week plus 40% of the following week's price. Please phone the office for a quotation.

Two Week Discounts.
25% discount off the second week.

Seventeen / Eighteen Day Hire.
For seventeen or eighteen day hire please add the first week's price plus 75% of the second week's price plus 37.5% of the third week's price.

Three week Hire.
25% discount on the second and third weeks.

Cancellation Scheme

We offer a cancellation scheme to UK residents whereby, for a small premium (see our Terms and Conditions), we can cover your booking liabilities if you unfortunately have to cancel your holiday. The premium must be paid when booking your holiday.

For Overseas Visitors - we recommend you have a comprehensive travel insurance to cover all your holiday arrangements.

Cancellation Scheme Premiums - find premium associated with your Total Holiday Cost including deposit.
Total Holiday Cost Premium Total Holiday Cost Premium
Up to £400 £20 £401 to £500 £23
£501 to £600 £26 £601 to £700 £29
£701 to £800 £32 £801 to £900 £35
£901 to £1000 £38 £1001 to £1100 £41
£1101 to £1200 £44 £1201 to £1300 £47
£1301 to £1400 £50 £1401 to £1500 £53
£1501 to £1600 £56 £1601 to £1700 £59
£1701 to £1800 £62 £1801 to £1900 £65
£1901 to £2000 £68 £2001 to £2100 £71
£2101 to £2200 £74 £2201 to £2300 £77
For each subsequent £100 add £3 to the premium.

Cancellation Scheme Cover
You may cancel your holiday without giving any reason up to 8 weeks before you are due to start.
Should you cancel within 8 weeks of the start of your holiday the scheme covers you in the event of death, injury, illness (including Covid-19 Sars-Cov-2), pregnancy (commencing after the date of booking), compulsory quarantine, witness summons, jury service or unemployment through compulsory redundancy (after the date of booking) of:
1. The insured and any prospective or actual travelling companion of the insured.
2. Partner, parent or step-parent, brother, sister, child or step-child, parent in law of any named member of the party.

Claims Procedure
The lnsured must give immediate notice by telephone and in writing (letter, fax or email) to the Wyvern Shipping Co Ltd of any event which may give rise to a claim.

We hope you enjoy your canal boat vacation with The Wyvern Shipping Co Ltd.