Everything happened fairly much as planned. Geronimo was very helpful during check-in. He also provided us with a cart to bring back our groceries for the boat. The boat functioned properly except the... See more
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The towns along the Petite Baise were fabulous with power and water at most stops. It exceeded all expectations. The boat was old, beds uncomfortable with very thin mattress and pillows, and mould ar... See more
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An incredible experience on a large and beautiful E400 boat. We were greeted and instructed by very kind and helpful staff. We spent a wonderful weekend enjoying the landscapes along the river. My hus... See more
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The boats clean & tidty great kitchen for on board cooking, plenty of plates glasses etc & utensils.on our boat I was a little disappointed in the fridge,freezer worked well but fridge did not..Predep... See more
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Company details
About Riverly
Written by the company
About us: Riverly is the French No. 1 for licence-free boat rentals, offering getaways on the rivers and canals of France for stays of 2 nights or more (Canal du Midi, Burgundy, Camargue, Canal de Nantes à Brest, Alsace, Lot, Charente...).
Our boats can accommodate from 2 to 12 people and are fully equipped with all the comforts of home (kitchen, bathrooms, cabins...), making them perfect for disconnecting for a weekend or a week.
On the agenda: gliding along the water in the heart of nature, cycling along the towpath, visiting local wine cellars and buying regional produce at the market, exploring 15th-century villages, meeting passionate lock keepers, improvising a BBQ on the riverbank... so many special moments to share with friends, family, or as a couple.
Riverly was born from the merger of 2 leading French companies in the river tourism industry, combining over 50 years of expertise: Locaboat and Nicols.
As a result, our fleet features 2 distinct boat styles:
- The Pénichettes (like the Néo model), which evoke the authentic charm of traditional inland barges.
- The Cruisers, featuring the sleeker lines of classic yachts.
What our customers love: the new "riverlife"
- True disconnection: 99% of our customers say that river tourism offers a real sense of escape without having to travel far.
- Absolute freedom at your own pace: you have the wonderful luxury of following your own desires, with no schedules or set itineraries.
- Being surrounded by nature.
- Spending genuine, quality time together.
- It's very easy:
- No boating licence required.
- Accessible to everyone (including children and pets).
- It's great fun:
- A multitude of activities (boating, sightseeing, cycling, local tastings, golf, fishing, festivals...).
- A refreshing change and a whole new way to travel.
- It brings people together: everyone plays a role in the boat manoeuvres and participates in the adventure.
Contact info
France
- riverly.com/en
4.2
Great
963 reviews
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Replied to 100% of negative reviews
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Great holiday on Canal du Midi
Great holiday on Canal du MIDI. Boat was in good condition and well appointed.
Supportive staff, great introduction, highly recommend.
8 July 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your comment and recommendations. Best, Julien.
Very helpful friendly staff-not as easy as expected
Very helpful friendly staff.However, with little boating experience we felt quite insecure steering the boat and spent the first two days zigzagging until we got the hang of it ,which was quite stressful .Locaboat is a first rate company so have no issues with them whatsoever,I just think older clients should be aware that jumping on and off boats at locks and throwing ropes etc can be quite physically demanding and the claim that steering the boat is easier than driving a car is not true .
Also some of the information about facilities at moorings needs updated as a couple of places no longer had water
12 July 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion and advice. We do indeed recommend at least two adults in good physical condition for the mooring maneuvers and locks. We hope you were able to enjoy your stay despite the slight adjustment time. Best, Julien.
Seeing the country from a different perspective
We liked seeing the country from a different perspective. the staff at Locaboat were very friendly and helpful and the boat was well equipped with the basics required.
Although sailing the boat on a canal was advertised as being suitable for those without experience, sailing and handling the boat (Penichette FB) really required at least one crew member to have some sailing experience when it came to navigating locks and mooring in strong winds. The boats also need air conditioning for summer use, and the Canal du Midi needs a clean - currently untreated sewage from the boats is dumped into the canal which is potentially hazardous
12 July 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion. We're sorry to hear that you had trouble navigating despite the training you received at the start. Regarding waste water, all our boats are equipped with tanks. However, very few ports in France offer a pump to empty them, which is why this water is sent back into the canal and we recommend avoiding environmentally hazardous products in the sanitary facilities. We've been committed to CSR for many years, and are campaigning for the installation of these pumps. Best, Julien.
Quick responses to queries and good…
Quick responses to queries and good English spoken. Everything as quoted. Efficient.
8 July 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion and your compliments. Best, Julien.
This was our second time using…
This was our second time using Locaboat. The family had a wonderful time navigating through France. There's a very good chance. We probably do it again in a couple years.
17 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion. We look forward to welcoming you for a third time. Best, Julien.
leaky window
used Locaboat for six consecutive years, never no issues except for a Leakey roof window in main bedroom this trip, reported to maintenance come to look at problem but never rectified spent the week with a bin bag over window.
8 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your feedback. We are committed to the quality of our boats and our services, and it's not normal to have a leak in a window. We will pass on this information immediately. We hope you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to welcoming you back on our Pénichettes. Best, Julien.
Good service from Locaboat, but it can be a challenging canal with limited moorings.
The service from locaboat was good. Although I was a bit surprised at the extras for parking, dog cleaning and fuel (€650). However the canal du Rhône et Sete can be challenging. We enjoyed it, but reverse parking is essential as there is limited space (this is a bit of skill), We went in late June and parking in the busy towns was difficult. In august ???? Winds, we had 35mph cross winds in open lagoon areas and currents play a part, so this is no ordinary inland french canal cruise where you can park anywhere in normally calm waters, you definitely need to plan ahead and book slots in the popular towns. Overall, I prefer inland cruising.
8 July 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the extras to be paid in addition to the cruise (in particular fuel) were not clear enough in our documents. As for navigation in the Camargue, it's true that you're in a protected nature zone and it's forbidden to moor in the middle of nature, unlike in other regions. Lastly, crossing the Etang de Thau can be difficult in high winds, and is forbidden if the winds are too strong. We hope these inconveniences didn't spoil your stay with Locaboat, and we invite you to repeat the experience in a more traditional region. Best regards, Julien.
Poor customer service
Due to flooding our cruise was changed at the last minute. We were notified late the night before and we were given only one option which was a there and back and not a one way as booked. I feel that management must have been aware from a few days before that there may be problems due to the excessive rain and had we been contacted timeously we could have found a good alternate option.
The cruise we went on was noting like the one booked and was extremely disappointing.
29 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion. We're sorry about this last-minute change. Unfortunately, we don't have any information in advance and the navigation stops are as sudden for us as they are for you. We did everything we could to offer you a pleasant cruise despite the flooding and the change of route beyond our control. We have also received your e-mail, to which we have replied. Best regards, Julien.
A really terrific experience in a…
A really terrific experience in a beautiful part of the world.
Nice company to deal with.
20 May 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you very much for your opinion. Best, Julien.
Great Experience
The boat was excellent for our first time. Being all electric you could hear the birds on the canal.
Staff at Bram were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful with information about the canal and stops along the way.
We intend to do this canal again and will use LocaBoat.
24 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion and your compliments about our boats and our teams. Best, Julien.
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion. We are delighted to have given you complete satisfaction for your cruise. Best, Julien.
Quiet French countryside
This was a delightful, quiet boating holiday through the French countryside
24 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion. We are delighted to have been able to participate in this pleasant moment aboard our license-free Pénichettes. Best, Julien.
Love Locaboat
Love Locaboat - second time we have used them and the service is perfect every time. Boat always up to scratch, and good value,
17 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion and your compliments. We look forward to welcoming you for a third experience. Best, Julien.
THE COMPANY DID EVERYTHING PERFECTLY
1 July 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion. We're glad you enjoyed the Locaboat experience. Best, Julien.
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thanks a lot for this review. Best, Julien.
Great trip, very enjoyable
The Canal du Midi was beautiful and enjoyable. The boat was clean, reliable and great value. Staff were very friendly. Highly recommend
8 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your review and recommendation. We are delighted to have welcomed you aboard our Pénichettes. Best, Julien.
Good instruction and suggestions on a…
Good instruction and suggestions on a route to take. Very responsive to our questions and needs.
24 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your review and your compliments. We are pleased to have been able to answer all your questions. Best, Julien.
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you very much for this very positive review. Best, Julien.
Everything was easy
Everything was easy. The boat was super clean and ready to go when we arrived. The checkout was thorough and everyone was so nice!
11 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your compliments on our boats and our teams. Sincerely, Julien.
Bram-Carcassonne. Everything was just perfect
Everything was just perfect. Marine, the Bram base host, was welcoming and explained every detail. The voyage was easy and nice, the lock's keepers were always helpful. Carcassonne was beautiful and interesting. The weather was great and the overnight stay in nature was unforgettable. Beautifulness and silence. Amazing!
3 June 2024
Reply from Riverly
Hello, thank you for your opinion. We are happy to have been able to offer you this experience on our Pénichettes.
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