Riverly Reviews 652

After 2 very nice houseboat holidays in Germany, this time we chose a different area and therefore a different provider. We booked a spacious Europa 400 from Corbigny, worked out the route and friends from Argentina wanted to join us, but only to go alongside by bike and spend the nights ashore as she is a bit claustrophobic and didn't like going through locks and spending the nights in cramped cabins. Three weeks before departure we were told that the boat was no longer available and instead we were offered a Penichette 1080 aprox. 100 km from the actual cruising area - or a free cancellation. Although even their catalogue categorizes the Europa 400 with 4 anchors and the Penichette with only 3, we were told that the boats were of equal comfort and therefore no price reduction would be justified. Simply the fact that the beds are no longer accessible from both sides and one person now always has to climb over the other is an extreme reduction in comfort for me... Nevertheless, as a concession, they wanted to provide us with a barbecue and the free car park and seriously thought that this would solve the inconvenience and our disappointment. Nobody is interested in the fact that, in addition to the poorer comfort, all other plans have largely become obsolete, but a cancellation is still out of the question unfortunately because of the flights booked before and after. Loca means ‘crazy’ in Spanish and the company truly deserves this attribute. Mistakes or problems happen - I work at Lufthansa and know what I'm talking about - but it's a question of how you as an employee deal with them and this attitude is exemplified and influenced by the company. So far I have only recognised disinterest and audacity here, which is why I personally warn against this company and say: NEVER AGAIN

Nach 2 sehr schönen Hausbooturlauben in Deutschland haben wir diesmal ein anderes Fahrgebiet und damit auch einen anderen Anbieter gewählt. Es wurde eine grosszügige Europa 400 ab Corbigny gebucht, die Route ausgearbeitet und Freunde aus Argentinien wollten uns begleiten, allerdings nur mit dem Rad nebenherfahren und an Land übernachten, da sie etwas Platzangst hat und nicht gerne durch Schleusen und in engen Kabinen übernachten wollte. 3 Wochen vor Abfahrt erhalten wir nun die Nachricht, dass das Boot nicht mehr zur Verfügung stünde und es wurde uns stattdessen eine Penichette 1080 knappe 100km vom eigentlichen Fahrgebiet entfernt angeboten - oder eine kostenlose Stornierung. Obwohl selbst im Katalog das Komfortniveau der Europa 400 mit 4 Ankern und das der Penichette mit 3 angegeben wird, will man uns weissmachen, dass die Schiffe gleichwertig sind und damit kein Preisnachlass gerechtfertigt wäre. Allein dass die Betten nicht mehr von beiden Seiten begehbar sind und einer immer über den anderen hinwegsteigen muss, empfinde ich als extreme Komforteinschränkung... Als Entgegenkommen wollte man uns einen Grill und den ohnehin kostenlosen Parkplatz zur Verfügung stellen und meinte allen Ernstes, damit wären die Unannehmlichkeiten und Enttäuschung aus der Welt geschafft. Dass neben dem schlechteren Komfort auch alle anderen Planungen größtenteils hinfällig geworden sind, eine Stornierung aber wegen der davor und danach gebuchten Flüge trotzdem nicht infrage kommt, interessiert niemanden. Loca heisst auf spanisch "verrückt" und dieses Attribut hat das Unternehmen wahrlich verdient. Fehler oder Probleme passieren - ich arbeite bei Lufthansa und weiss wovon ich rede - aber es ist eine Frage, wie man als Mitarbeiter dazu steht / damit umgeht und diese Haltung wird durch das Unternehmen vorgelebt und beeinflusst. Hier erkenne ich bis jetzt nur Desinteresse und Dreistigkeit, deshalb warne ich pers. vor diesem Unternehmen und sage: NIE WIEDER

ADDENDUM / NACHTRAG
Even the reply of the company to contact me at short notice to help and to „find a solution“ seem to be a hoax just to calm down others reading a negative review - 6 working days passed by and the only reaction of them was a reminder to pay the outstanding fees
Selbst auf die hier eingestellte Antwort von Locaboat kann man nichts geben, da sie nur zur Beruhigung anderer Leser gedacht zu sein scheint. Die einzige Reaktion die ich nach 6 Werktagen bekommen habe, war eine Mahnung über ausstehende Beträge.

2. ADDENDUM / NACHTRAG
12 days before travel I called company again to let them know that everything would go to court. Spoke to an experienced employee who had been on holiday and was completely stunned what has happened during bkg. He somehow organized the originally booked E400 and departure point. Thx to his help trip went well. Area + Boat great, staff in France nice/helpful, canal narrow with a lot of locks.
Nach Gespräch mit komp. Mitarbeiter doch noch gute Reise

Quick check in. Friendly staff. Good explanations of the boat. Large boat, spacious bathrooms compared to other houseboats I’ve been on. Well equipped kitchen.
Only problem was that many businesses (bars restaurants shops) were closed or non existent…

The Fundaboat company at Bernburg have been Locaboat agents for only three months,and have made a creditable start.We were the third English speaking( others were American) customers they have had.The river is only just in the process of development as a leisure waterway,and they have produced an excellent map/guide themselves.This is a big river( locks over 100x18m) ,and understanding the various buoys and signs is essential.There is very little small boat traffic ( but plenty of canoes) ,a number of fair size trip boats,and a very few heavy barges.We only once had to share a lock with with a commercial boat.
Only a few boats are available here; our previous Locaboat bookings have been on a spacious Europa 400,but here there are only Penichettes( FB type).We had the smallest one,which has a rather narrow and tapered stern” double “ berth ,and two good size singles in the bow.Boarding amidships is easy,and there is also access near the bow,but stern on mooring( not done on this river) uses a very precarious platform.It offers a much easier foredeck access than a Europa.
We only used the upper steering position,and moored to pontoons and locksides with nobody in the bow,just one with a rope at the high cleat on the upper stern deck.There were only two of us,total age 133.One of us needed longer arms and legs, otherwise we would have managed easily.Experience with a narrowboat in the UK is of almost no value with this type of boat.
The river is at present very short of mooring places,and the unscheduled failure of a lock at Wettin further reduced cruising range,but these problems will have been overcome when several projects are finished this winter.The Saale has pleasant arable/wooded scenery and the old industrial buildings ( mills) provide interest.The small towns are a bit ramshackle in places( remember this is the former East Germany) but old and interesting.There are plenty of opportunities for walks on the Saale Radweg( cycle path),and adequate food shops and eating places.
Bernburg itself is worth a couple of days visit .
Fundaboat provides a good briefing in English,and the boat was clean and properly maintained.Locaboat should have provided a proper manual with details of the various systems,but they have not.Please ensure you understand the details of gas ,hot water and electrical( especially the peculiar master switch/ CB for the bow thruster) before you set off.
The standard Locaboat punitive charges for minor damages apply- be careful with the bimini and especially the bicycles( or don’t take them).
The Saale is an excellent ,almost traffic-free large waterway, which I found much more enjoyable than my boating in France.It would not be suitable for careless people or undisciplined children.The Fundaboat people are serious and reliable,and I wish them success in their new business.

Hat alles gut geklappt.
Das Boot (Penchipette E) war super.

Top Hausboot, super netter zuvorkommender Service vor Ort (Standort: Fleessensee).

Super friendly team, easy to deal with as multi-lingual. We booked a trip with "trip cancellation plan" for the first time ever and really needed it. Locaboat was very fast in proposing an alternative solution for the remaining vacation time (we had to cut from 2 to 1 week) and reimbursed the money w/o discussion and with no delay. Very helpful!

It is advisable to take a larger boat. We were happy to book a bigger one than originally foreseen in the course of the changes we had to do to the trip and were very satisfied to have two WCs/showers and 3 bed rooms (for 2 adults, 3 kids and one dog). Next time we will definitely also go for a model with a flying bridge to be able to sit outside while steering and to have a better overview (I always had our 5 bikes blocking my sight).

Otherwise our boat was not new (I think from 2002) but reasonably well in shape and cleaned.

And finally: Don't think that anyone onboard will be bored - there's always a watergate ahead (actually they come very frequently on French channels) which requires everyone to lend a hand to the team ;-)