Marine Cruises Reviews 

Just got back from a 3 day family narrowboat break with Marine Cruises (8 of us in two boats - including kids, disabled Grandad and German Shepherd) - we have been boating before but I highly recommend this company. The attention to detail and customer service has been impeccable! Complementary toiletries and cleaning products throughout the boat, local sample coffee, biscuits and juice and even a jar of dog treats (which we only found on the last day but so thoughtful) ...
Super communication and information from initial enquiry to us dropping the boat back off at the end. Great instruction videos sent before we went which would be brilliant for novices, and great instruction in person before we set off ! Super family business, very much appreciated the human touch - will definetely use Marine Cruises again. Thanks Hayley and team :) x

From start to end Marine Cruises was a excellent company to book our two week canal trip with. From answering questions , giving recommendations, and the boat were top notch. Stewart is a gem and helped us with knowing the boat and started us off with a winding hole for turning around and a run through a lock as well before we departed. Can’t wait to try another round in the near future.

Just returned from a 4 night holiday aboard Narrow boat ‘Debbie’. A brilliant experience starting off from Falkirk Wheel we headed off along the Union Canal. The scenery was beautiful with plenty to see. The boat was well equipped with everything you need, beds really comfy and very warm.
We had lots of information and phone numbers to contact if we needed assistance. Highly recommended and we would definitely book again.

We are coming to the end of a 3 week cruise on “Debbie” from Swanley.

We cruised on the Llangollen, Montgomery & Shropshire Union canals which gave us mainly rural scenery, peace and quiet. However, we also had the opportunity to moor up in a wide variety of places from the middle of nowhere, to the middle of Chester, to amongst the exhibits at the Inland Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. Plenty of locks too - narrow, wide, flights & staircases - but not so many as to turn it into a chore as there were only 2 of us on the boat.

We wanted to try a style of boat more suited to longer trips than boats we had hired before and “Debbie” did not disappoint. The layout, furniture and equipment were excellent and the easy chairs so comfortable.

This trip was booked for last year but we had to cancel for family reasons at the very last minute. Marine Cruises offered to transfer the booking to this year without us even having to ask. The service whilst on holiday has also been great - for example they offered to come out to replace our tv aerial on the day we reported it which we really hadn’t expected.

We had not hired from Marine Cruises before but would definitely do so again and would recommend them to others.

We won’t want to hand “Debbie” back!

Love canal boating, it takes you to a quiet beautiful place that can be so near industry and town centres but you’d never know. It’s like a secret place, peaceful with amazing scenery and wildlife. Canal boat people are so polite, friendly and helpful too not to mention the great pubs along the way, just moor up and grab a bite to eat and a well earned drink.

We had loveliest time on the Falkirk to Edinburgh canal. The boat we used Kimberley 2 was fantastically equipped, clean and the beds were very comfy. The staff at Marine cruises were all friendly and helpful and we would definaley use them again.

We have been holiday cruising with this firm for many years,the boats are always spotlessly clean and well maintained, the staff very helpful and you can contact them at anytime for help with any problems, once you go with marine cruises you stay.

We had a fantastic holiday on Debbie, chosen as it was the wifes name ! We had a text to say the boat was ready earlier than the normal collection time, so we got to Swanley Marina earlier and had a handover talk by Stuart and Hayley. We loaded our things onboard and Stuart took us up the canal for some practice, having already done it many years earlier he was satisfied we were competent !!

We were then away on our own...the wife wanted Stuart to go through the lock process so he met us at the first lock and talked us through it again.

The boat was equipped with everything we could need and was spotless clean.

We did our research on the Four Counties Ring route and had booked evening meals at a canal side pub every night. If you are thinking about a narrowboat holiday do it with these guys, cannot praise them enough.

We will be back next year for another trip.

Thank you from the Bullock Family

A fantastic holiday. The team at Marine Cruises were helpful and friendly, and our narrow boat Suzanne was very well equipped and perfect for a family of six.

We pushed the concept to its limits by being eight adults (four couples) in one boat, Suzanne Marie, with two double and four single beds. Really enjoyable and relaxing journey. Not one bad remark. Great company.

We were greeted by a very friendly team from the boatyard at Swanley Marina. The boat was clean, ready on time, with the pre-departure briefing conducted quickly but professionally. Our boat, Lucy Michelle was perfect for 6. For a 70’ she was easy to steer.

In the contract the boatyard requires you to be moored up outside the yard the night before you disembark. However we discussed this with the staff before departure and the requirement was waived.

I’m sure most people will head left out of the marina and up the Llangollen but the base is ideally suited for those who want to tackle the four counties ring.

In my 49 years of chartering this was one of the best experiences I have had.

Enjoyable Trip

We have just returned from a week spent on a Marine Cruises' Debbie class boat cruising the Llangollen canal from their base at Swanley.

On the first day we arrived at the marina to a friendly greeting from the team and proceeded to place our things on board. The boat was well equipped and very clean - even the engine compartment was spotless. After getting settled we were conducted on a training trip by Stewart and Gareth whose expert and good humoured tuition gave us every confidence that, even though we had no previous experience, we would be able to make sure that no disasters would befall us!

There was a slight issue with the on-board wifi connection but this was resolved efficiently once we contacted the office.

All in all a really enjoyable trip on a high quality boat from an enthusiastic and highly professional operator. Highly recommended.

We recently had a four night break on a narrowboat called Debbie, it was our first time was a great experience and highly recommend it, barge was well equipped and the staff were extremely helpful

We had a great holiday on narrow boat Suzanne.
She was well-equipped and very clean.
The staff at Marine Cruises were very helpful.

The Holiday we had from the Falkirk Wheel was great .Nice boat ,great staff all so helpful.
I would urge anyone interested to use this company.

Hired Kimberley for a week. Beautiful and luxurious boat, very well looked after and cleaned to perfection. In the run up to the holiday Hayley was great at getting us prepped and ready and upon arrival we had the warmest welcome from Stuart, along with a driving lesson before we set off.

While on our stay, we had everything we needed and heaps of utensils including everything you need to cook and clean.

Once we returned Stuart and Co were there to see the boat safely in and offered warm farewells.

I would recommend narrowboating and Marine Cruises to anyone and everyone.

Thank you Marine Cruises!

We cruised the Union Canal between Falkirk and Edinburgh over the Easter break. It is a trip we have wanted to do for several years, and it didn't disappoint. The Falkirk wheel was an amazing experience. We gently cruised our way to Edinburgh, which was a great destination to explore. We were on the Kimberley, which was a lovely, modern, comfortable boat. As usual, the Marine Cruises staff were helpful and efficient with their handover. We can't wait until our next trip with Marine Cruises in September!

Booked a canal boat trip for myself and 2 friends in April. First time on a canal boat and surprised at how much we all enjoyed it. Staff were all very helpful and friendly and everything was well organised, with lots of information about the boat and Union Canal. The narrow boat, called Debbie, was very comfortable and well maintained. Would recommend and book again.

What an absolute fantastic week we had on Marine Cruise Lucy Boat . The boat was spotlessly clean and well equipped . The decor was beautiful and modern . We picked our boat up from the Swanley Marina ,where we were met by a lovely gentleman who showed us the boat and was extremely helpful. We did the 4 Counties ring high we did comfortably stopping at a few pubs along the way .
We have had several holidays on Canal boats over the last 20 years and we have to say that this is the best , cleanest and well equipped boat we have had . Also the layout of the boat totally worked for us
Would highly recommend Marine Cruises

Marine Cruises are the best. We did 2 different routes for a week on the Kimberley out of Swanley Bridge back in 2015 and 2017. The staff, boats, location and routes cannot be matched. We were hoping to be back this year (2022), but with things too unsettled, we held off. Hoping for a return in 2023.