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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.

  • On Sundays in April and October locks and bridges will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on these day.

  • Lock opening time from 19th May to 18th June: Monday to Thursday 10am-4pm, Friday to Sunday 9am-7pm and Victoria Day (22nd May) 10am-4pm.
  • Lock opening times from 19th June to 4th September: Monday to Thursday 9am-6pm, Friday to Sunday 9am-7pm, Canada Day (1st July) 9am-7pm, Civic Holiday (7th Aug) 9am-6pm and Labour Day (4th Sept) 9am-6pm.
  • Lock opening times from 5th Sept to 9th Oct: Monday to Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday to Sunday 9am-5pm, Thanksgiving Day (9th Oct) 10am-4pm.
  • We recommend booking early check-in and late check-out for 3 day short breaks departing before the 19th of June and after the 5th of September.

  • Due to a public holiday on the 1st May, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • 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.

  • Due to a public holiday on the 1st May, locks will be closed (except on the Baïse river) which may restrict how far you can cruise on this day.
  • Please note that the Baïse river will be closed to navigation from the 22nd to the 31st of October 2023 for routine inspection and maintenance on locks.
  • Due to the lock closure before Auvillar on the Canal lateral à la Garonne, Moissac will not be reachable via waterways from the 10th of October until the end of the 2023 boating season.

  • Please note that the 2023 season will close on the 29th of October in the afternoon. As this date falls on a Sunday and the base will technically be closed on this day, customers will still be able to drop off their boats.
  • Please note that a portion of the Canal de Nantes à Brest, between Guenrouet and Nantes, will be closed for maintenance in 2023. This means you will not be able to reach Nantes via waterways.
  • Due to the Montertelot lock being closed for maintenance until the end of our 2023 boating season, Josselin will not be reachable via waterways. Customers must stop at Le Roc St Andre, 3 kilometres before the lock.

  • There are no current restrictions.

  • There are no current restrictions.

  • The Nourriguier Lock is closed for maintenance works until further notice. It is not possible to reach Beaucaire from St Gilles by waterways.
  • Due to the Frontignan bridge being closed for maintenance until the end of our 2023 boating season, one-ways between Port Cassafières and Saint Gilles are currently not possible.

  • 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 the May 1 and Nov 1, locks will be closed which may restrict how far you can cruise on these days.
  • Some businesses and restaurants along the canal close on or after Nov 1.

  • Access to moorings in villages along the Charente will be limited in 2023 while the waterways authorities make repairs to quaysides in various locations along the river. This means that access to waterside services, such as electric hook-up and water will also be less frequently available. While mooring facilities will still be available in the larger towns of Cognac and Saintes, customers may find it necessary to moor and overnight along the river bank a little further outside of some other villages where quaysides may be closed. There will be no facilities available in these locations and a walk back into the village might be necessary to access restaurants and amenities.
  • These works are also affecting the Le Boat moorings in Jarnac, resulting in reduced capacity of boats that are allowed to be moored with passengers on board. As such, it will not be possible to moor overnight at our base in Jarnac at any stage during your cruise, unless otherwise agreed with the base team. On the last night, to ensure you are within easy reach of the base, customers should seek alternative moorings in either Bourg-Charente, which is approximately 45 minutes cruising to the east of Jarnac (including 1 lock to pass through) or along the river bank on the west side of Jarnac Lock - which is approximately 25 minutes cruising from our base (including time to pass through the lock). Customers looking for a wider choice of restaurants should choose the latter. There is a very nice Michelin-rated restaurant in Bourg-Charente, but it is quite expensive. Locks on the Charente are manual and passable from sunrise, so customers should still have ample time to return and disembark their boat by 9am.

  • Please note that due to scheduled maintenance work at St Gery lock, the Douelle base will be closed from the 1st of October 2023.

  • Please note that due to seasonal maintenance, the lock of Fürstenberg will be closed from the 16th of October until the end of the boating season on the 31st of October. This means that navigation South from Marina Wolfsbruch or Fürstenberg, in the direction of Zehdenick, Liebenwalde and Berlin will not be possible during this time. Navigation on all the lakes within the licence-free section is still possible from Marina Wolfsbruch or Fürstenberg.
  • 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.

  • No current restrictions

  • Please note that due to maintenance works, one-ways between Casale and Precenicco will not be possible for the remainder of the 2023 boating season.

  • Please note that due to current restrictions on road bridge operational hours in Vinkeveen, we are not able to provide late check-out on our Horizon fleet, Vision fleet and our Consul boats between the 27th of July until the 10th of August 2023.
  • The lifting bridge in Ouderkerk is undergoing repair and will be out of action until further notice. While it is closed, navigation will not be possible up the Amstel river and all the way to Amsterdam (or in reverse). Customers wishing to complete a circular route via Gouda and up to Amsterdam, would need to take a longer route via Leiden and Lisse. 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.

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 1-800-734-5491