Navigation and Life on board
Practical information for your cruise
Life on board
In our well equipped and comfortable boats, you will soon feel at home. Navigating and discovering the area will make life on board pleasant and far from boring. Everyone will be busy – handling the boat, going through locks, sightseeing, shopping, preparing meals, cycling and walking in the nearby countryside... A healthy and simple life following nature's rhythm..
Choosing your boat
- For a family cruise, the SEDAN range is ideal: its rear terrace is on the same level as the living room/kitchen offering a pleasant light and airy space, making it easy to move between the inside and outside spaces (no steps)
- Crews with 2, 3 or 4 couples will appreciate the CONFORT range, where every cabin has its own shower and toilet
- the ESTIVALE range will appeal to those who are looking for the latest comfort and easy access (side and rear doors on the terrace)
- If you are looking for a comfortable yacht charter with top-of-the-range equipment (air conditioning, upper deck with outdoor kitchen): opt for the Fly range
What to bring
Comfortable clothes, soft and non-slip shoes (trainers), toiletries, flash-lights, cameras and extra blankets or duvets for cold season. For ease of storage, we suggest soft bags rather than suitcases.
You will need protection from the sun: sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat... and don't forget to bring your camera, radio or speakers!
LINEN
All bed linen is supplied, but please bring your own towels and some tea towels.
FUEL, GAZ, WATER
Enough fuel and propane gas are provided on the boat for your cruise.
All our boats are equipped with an engine hour counter which is read on your departure and return.
The number of hours used are then calculated in accordance with the current hourly rate indicated at the base (average 30 to 50€ per day). You should fill up with drinking water every 2 or 3 days.
ELECTRICITY / INVERTER
Our boats provide 12 Volts power via the cigar lighter and 220 Volts via an inverter to charge mobile phones, video cameras and laptops. For all other electrical equipment a 220 Volts power supply is also available in harbours (an electrical extension lead is supplied on each of our boats).
CHILDREN
On our boats, children are completely safe with our life jackets and the guard-wires which surround the boats. Some boats are better for certain ages than others.
Do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
And children won't be bored. Depending on their age, they can navigate, help with the manoeuvres, go exploring, enjoy the animals and nature, go for a bike ride, fishing..
PETS
Pets are welcome on board. A supplement of €50/animal will apply, payable on departure. The hirer must bring everything necessary (dishes, blankets etc.), and is responsible for the animal's safety and must ensure that it causes no nuisance to others or damage to the boat.
Navigation
INSTRUCTION AND BOAT HANDLING
All our boats are easy to handle. No special licence is required. On your starting day, you will be given all the necessary instructions so that you become "the perfect captain on board". We will give you a "carte de plaisance", a provisional licence valid for your cruise.Young people from 16 years of age may take the helm, but remain under the captain's responsibility.
LOCKS
Locking is a simple and pleasant operation if you follow the instructions which you receive on your starting day. All locks in Aquitaine are automatic and free of charge. The locks of the Baïse are open from 1st April to 1st November inclusive, daily from 9 am to 7 pm (6 pm in October). On the canal, locks are open daily (except 1st May) from 9 am to 6 or 7 pm (depending on the season).
BOATING SEASON
Our boats are available from April to October. Take advantage of reduced rates by booking your boat for spring and autumn. The hire prices are lower in low season.
CANAL OR RIVER ?
Depending on the chosen departure base, you will cruise on a canal and/or river. Rivers are naturally wilder than the manmade canals and are therefore more susceptible to the possibility of flooding, especially in spring and autumn, or drought in summer.
Some navigation restrictions may occur as a result of this flooding/drought and for your own safety we may restrict cruising to the canal only or change your departure base, which will not, under any circumstances, be grounds for cancellation.
ONE-WAY CRUISES
In some regions, we can offer one-way cruises (one-way supplement: €150); this does not include transfer of vehicles or passengers). One-ways may be subject to unforeseen circumstances which can impede their operation.
Considered as an additional service, a one-way cruise as well as its direction is only confirmed 48 hours before departure.
DEPARTURE AND RETURN DAYS AND TIMES
- for one week: from Friday, Saturday or Monday between 2pm and 6pm to Friday, Saturday or Monday 8.30/9am
- for a mid-week: from Monday between 2pm and 6pm to Friday 8.30/9am
- for a 2-day-weekend: from Friday between 2pm and 6pm to Sunday 5pm
- for a 3-day-weekend: from Friday between 2pm and 6pm to Monday 5pm
- for a 4-day-weekend: from Wednesday between 2pm and 6pm to Sunday 5pm
Our services
YOUR CAR
In Buzet: Free parking is available at the port as well as an unsupervised private car park
BICYCLES
Highly recommended. You will enjoy using them to do your shopping in town or even to visit the surrounding countryside. You can also book a free child seat. The bicycles are under your full responsibility during your holiday.
FISHING LICENCE
Whether you enjoy the occasional fishing trip or you are a true angler, you will enjoy catching pike, carp and even eels. You will however need a fishing licence, which you can buy at our office. The newsagent in Buzet can provide you with fishing rods and gear!
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
In the unlikely event of a breakdown, our staff will help you as soon as possible. We are available every day, any time during regular working hours.
Formalities
HOW TO BOOK
- Online availability and reservation for Buzet
- Reservation by e-mail or post.
- Send us your availability inquiry by internet specifying your choice of boat and dates.
- Aquitaine Navigation will confirm the availability by taking an option and will give you details of the price calculation. The option is valid for 4 days.
- Send us your booking form completed and signed by internet or by post.
- For reservations more than 6 weeks before departure, you pay a booking deposit of 40% of the total hire price.
- For reservations less than 6 weeks before departure, you pay the full amount of the hire price.
- You will receive a detailed booking confirmation of your reservation.
- The balance is due 6 weeks before departure.
- Before departure you will receive your cruise documents including the boat inventory, the user’s handbook, the DVD about navigating, the access map to our port and the navigation map if ordered.
PAYMENT
- initial booking deposit is 40% of the booking price
- 6 weeks before departure the balance (65%) of the booking price is due
- less than 6 weeks before departure: 100% of the booking price
- on the starting day: extras and boat and cleaning deposits
METHOD OF PAYMENT
- credit card (VISA – EUROCARD – MASTERCARD) – secured payment via our website
- bank transfer (the bank charges are paid by the hirer)
- from France : Crédit Agricole Anjou Maine: 17906/00032/96391169842/52
- from abroad : BIC: AGRIFRPP879 / IBAN: FR76 1790 6000 3296 3911 6984 252
- cheque drawn on a French bank
- cash
BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE
- We will send you your complete documentation including:
- The user’s handbook: preparation and advice for your cruise.
- The navigation map (if ordered): indispensable for your cruise (locks, moorings, sightseeing, tourist information, towns, restaurants,…).
- The access map to the port.
- The inventory of equipment on board the boat (interior and exterior).
ON ARRIVAL AT THE PORT
We will ask you to go through the final formalities (inventory of fixtures, navigation contract, extras, deposits, …) while your crew starts to install the luggage on board or goes shopping for the first day. A technician will welcome you on board to give you instructions and to show you how to navigate the boat. You should allow between 1 and 2 hours before setting off.
ON RETURNING TO THE PORT
Don’t forget to return your boat empty and clean at the agreed time and place! Our staff at the port is available to provide you with any equipment you need for cleaning the boat (vacuum cleaner and cleaning products).
OUR PRICES INCLUDE
- Boat hire
- Boat insurance
- Technical assistance
- Equipment and dishes
- All linen (duvets or blankets, sheets, pillowcases)
- Navigation taxes
OUR PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE
- Fuel, gas and sundry motor requirements (calculated depending on an hourly navigation rate, allow 160 to 300€ per week, depending on the boat and the hours navigated)
- Navigation map (25€)
- Deposits (boat + cleaning)
- Optional extras (bicycle, car park, BBQ, pets…)
- Final cleaning of the boat
PERSONAL INSURANCE
The insurance included in the boat hire does not cover any responsibility for third parties, any personal liability, any responsibility for your belongings and equipment nor cancellation or interruption of your cruise.
Insurance forms on request