Waterways and lock closures
Boating vacations rely on waterways, and even during boating season navigation may not always be possible. Disruption could be caused by a lock or bridge needing maintenance, or there may not be the right level of water to safely navigate.
Please be aware that our Base teams are expert in their cruising regions. They will also be happy to provide up to date advice on the best cruising conditions and suggested itineraries on arrival and during your cruise. With the safety and enjoyment of our Customers in mind, we may sometimes advise against navigation within a certain part of the cruising region where local conditions may be challenging at that specific point in time. Conditions continually evolve so it is not always possible to inform you of relevant conditions in advance, however please do use the information below as a guide to the current navigation restrictions in place in our boating regions.
- Due to maintenance work on the Lokanaal navigation between Veurne and the junction down to Ypres is not possible up to 24th April.
- There are no current restrictions.
- There are no current restrictions.
- There are no current restrictions.
- Helpful link: Environment Agency
- Due to a public holiday on May 1st and November 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
- Due to river maintenance cruising is possible up to Saverne. Customers will not be able to take their boat to Strasburg or Boofzheim.
- Due to a public holiday on May 1st, locks will be closed (except on the Baïse river) which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
- There are no current restrictions.
- Due to a public holiday on May 1st and November 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
- Due to a public holiday on May 1st and November 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
- Due to a public holiday on May 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
- It is not currently possible to navigate The Canal de la Robine past South Narbonne to Port la Nouvelle.
- Due to a public holiday on May 1st, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
- It is not currently possible to navigate The Canal de la Robine past South Narbonne to Port la Nouvelle.
- Due to a fire causing significant damage to a building near Trèbes lock, one ways between Castelnaudary base and our bases at Port Cassafieres, Homps and Narbonne are not currently possible.
- There are no current restrictions.
- There are no current restrictions.
- Please note that a cruising licence is required in order to cruise the Moselle River towards Toul, Metz and Luxembourg. This applies to all cruises going via the Sarre River, Sarrebrücken and Canal des Houillères.
- There are no current restrictions.
- There are no current restrictions.
Venice Access Fee: Please be aware of the new Venice Access Fee introduced by the Municipality of Venice for occasional visitors on selected days in 2025.
- When: The fee applies on specific days between 18th April – 27th July (8:30am-4pm). Outside these dates and hours, no payment will be required.
- Where: The fee is required for access to the Ancient City of Venice.
- Cost: €5 per person if paid at least four days in advance. €10 per person if paid later than four days before your visit.
- How to Pay: Payment must be made online through the official Venice Access Fee portal.
For full details and to check the applicable dates, please visit the official Venice Access Fee website.
- Due to maintenance on the lifting bridge in Ouderkerk, navigation will not be possible up the Amstel river to Amsterdam. Customers wishing to complete a circular route via Gouda and up to Amsterdam, would need to take a longer route via Leiden and Lisse or via Westeinderplassen. However, we would recommend taking our most popular route along the River Vecht, to avoid this closure altogether. The base team can give further details during your pre-departure call.
- From October 16th to April 15th each year, no starts will be possible on Saturdays from our Vinkeveen base. For the same period the first lock and bridge south of our Vinkeveen base will be closed on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and from midday on Saturdays.
- Due to new regulations, our boats can no longer enter Utrecht directly. Boats will need to stop at nearby moorings listed below. From these locations, you can use public transportation to reach the city centre. Here are the estimated travel times from different moorings to Utrecht by public Ttansport: Breukelen: 23 min by train (SPRINTER), Loosdrecht: 1h 15 min by bus and train via Hilversum, Nieuwegein: 25 min by bus, Ijsselstein: 23 min by bus. For easy route planning, we recommend Google Maps. You can also check: Dutch Railways: Nederlandse Spoorwegen – Buy train tickets | NS or Public Transport Utrecht (in Dutch): Qbuzz
- Due to the introduction of a low emission zone in central Amsterdam, cruising through this specific area with our boats is no longer permitted.
- There are no current restrictions.
- Helpful link: Scottish Canals
Need help?
If any of the above information affects your vacation please do contact the team to discuss the options that are available to you +18665245487