Norfolk Broads Direct Reviews 

2,642
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.5

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 194 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for being friendly, helpful, and polite, making their interactions pleasant and ensuring a smooth operation. Many people enjoyed their holidays, often describing them as fantastic, relaxing, and memorable, with many looking forward to returning. Reviewers also appreciated the well-equipped and clean boats, with some noting the comfort and spaciousness. However, some customers reported issues with the cleanliness of the boats and cottages, mentioning dirty areas, mold, and general wear and tear. There were also occasional complaints about faulty equipment, such as non-working fridges, TVs, and issues with boat batteries or plumbing. A few people found the beds uncomfortable and the boats cold at night, impacting their overall experience.

What people talk about most

Staff

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of staff, consistently praising their friendliness, helpfulness, and... See more

Product

People report ambiguous experiences with the product, with some reviewers praising the boats as lovely,... See more

Quality

Customers had ambiguous experiences with quality, with many praising the cleanliness and comfort of... See more

Holidays

Customers consistently note positive experiences with holidays, with many having a wonderful and relaxing... See more

Facilities

Users describe ambiguous interactions with facilities, with some reviewers praising clean, well-stocked... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Friendly staff. Boat available early. Goody bag most welcome. Extra bedding and towels provided for our second week. Towels could be a little bigger. Boat was immaculately presented as always. Parking... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful maintained apartment, fresh and bright, everything you need for a pleasant holiday. Only comment is shower mat could be bigger, very small compared to shower cubicle, for older people a... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent communications & information by email, during and after booking. Friendly, helpful staff, nothing is too much trouble. Modern, well designed and reliable boats. This latest Fair Regal b... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Friendly, helpful staff. Good, basic training for the very inexperienced. Nice welcome pack, including some popular doggy treats. The four berth would have been very intimate for four adults, but gr... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Vacation Rental

Information provided by various external sources

With over 125 miles of stunning waterways and vast diverse wildlife to discover we know that a boating holiday has something for all of the family to enjoy. At Norfolk Broads Direct our visitors are our primary focus and we aim to ensure your visit to the Norfolk Broads lives long in the memory.


Contact info

4.5

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

3K reviews

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Asks customers to review

This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative

Replied to 33% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

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4.5

All reviews

(2,642)

152 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Mattress was like sleeping on a plank

Mattress was like sleeping on a plank. Boat was dirty. Essential items lacking from kitchen eg. Chopping board. Friendly staff for the welcome, different to the return

October 7, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

We’re sorry to hear the boat did not meet expectations on this occasion. Your comments regarding the mattress, cleanliness, and kitchen equipment have been shared with our team for review. We’re pleased you found the welcome team friendly and appreciate your comments, which help us improve our service.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Holiday aboard the Fair Consort

We had a lovely holiday on the Broads. As a returning customer we couldn't rate NBD highly enough. Our boat was great and spotless as usual. Welcome pack was lovely and a treat. Even our dog enjoyed her packet of biscuits. All staff helpful and friendly made us feel welcome. Shout out to Becky. We will return.

September 26, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for your lovely review and for choosing to return to Norfolk Broads Direct. We’re delighted you enjoyed your holiday. Your kind words mean a lot and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A friendly and professional service,

A friendly and professional service,

October 4, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

We are pleased to hear that you found our service both friendly and professional. Your review is greatly appreciated :)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The property was immaculate internally

The property was immaculate internally, we suggest some drawers for clothes in the bedroom would be a good addition. Externally we were concerned by the dirt on the balcony and on the access staircase from the pigeons. We suggested that this should be cleaned daily. The gutters are obviously blocked by “debris” and in the strong winds some “dirt” came in through the velux window in the bathroom -not pleasant. Please accept this feedback as constructive we enjoyed our stay and viewed other options with ground floor access before we departed yesterday for future consideration.

October 6, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for your feedback. We’re pleased to hear you found the property immaculate and enjoyed your stay. Your comments regarding the balcony, gutters, and additional storage have been noted and will be reviewed with our team. We hope to welcome you back soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fair Explorer holiday

Fair Explorer was an excellent boat - the best of the 4 in that class. We had a couple of small snags that I reported on return (saucepan handle loose and tv remote power button not working)
The staff of Carl & Becky were outstanding as usual and it was great to see Pat on our return to the yard.
Office staff were on the ball for our departure so we left the yard about an hour after car arrival - really efficient
Very much hope the change of ownership keeps all the high standards of NBD because after 20 years of being a very satisfied client - we always look forward to our next holiday.
Thank you all

September 29, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for sharing your feedback :) We’re delighted you had such a positive experience aboard the Fair Explorer and that the team helped make your trip enjoyable. Your loyalty over the past 20 years means a great deal to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Delighted. Highly Recommend!

I was delighted with the whole Norfolk Broads Direct Experience.
Booking was simple and easy. Splitting the payment into three at no extra cost really helped.
Check in and on holiday support with Chris at reception was excellent, very clear and concise and happy to answer questions.
The boat was prepared to a very high and very clean standard. Becky and her team do an excellent job given how many boats come and out on changeover days.
My walk around and briefing on the boat with Dillon was excellent.
And when we had an issue on the first night (turns out I had turned off a switch by mistake) Toby was very swift to respond by phone and in person to help us out.
Really couldn’t rate this holiday highly enough. We have a 10min the old daughter so probably need to steer clear of water holidays for a couple of years, but we look forward to returning once she’s able to listen to instructions!

September 26, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for your kind feedback. We’re so pleased to hear you had an excellent experience and that our team provided great support throughout your holiday. Your comments are very much appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We had a lovely holiday

We had a lovely holiday. The staff were very knowledgeable and very friendly. Nothing was too much.
The boat was very clean and well equipped and suited our needs perfectly.

September 27, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for your lovely feedback. We’re delighted you enjoyed your holiday and found everything to your satisfaction. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

TLC required for Cotman cottage.


Cotman cottage needs some TLC, hole in the ceiling, decorating might help, mould in the bathroom, stairs don't feel safe as they creek badly, furniture is a bit out dated and the double bed is so uncomfortable, the draws unit is uncomfortable safe. After all the years we have stayed with NBD in Wroxham 30 years plus this is the worst stay we have had, also parking is very tight for the said cottage. Would like to put the photos on.

September 27, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry that Cotman Cottage did not meet the high standards you have come to expect after so many years with NBD. Your comments will be shared with our maintenance and management teams to help guide improvements.
We greatly value your loyalty over the past 30 years and hope we have the opportunity to welcome you back for a much better experience.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Could be better

Although, we had a lovely time it could be stressful. No rules/ques for pump out or water in could be easier. We felt rushed to find a place to moor as there wasnt as many places available and mud anchoring wasn't an option due to high winds.

As for the boat, the kitchen was well equipped. However, not many plug sockets throughout and it would be nice to have more hooks for coats etc. The interior really needs an update as it felt like an 70s/80s caravan.

All staff we met were lovely and very helpful. Checking in and out was very organised.

September 19, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re pleased you enjoyed your time with us and found our team friendly and helpful, with check-in and check-out running smoothly. We appreciate your feedback regarding mooring, water facilities, and the boat interior — it’s incredibly helpful as we continue to improve our guests experience. We hope to welcome you back soon for an even more relaxing and enjoyable stay on the Broads!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Our fourth year

Our fourth year. Love Norfolk, like Wroxham out of season and the location is comfortable and interesting watching the boats come past.

September 26, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

We’re thrilled to hear that you’ve enjoyed your fourth year with us and that Norfolk and Wroxham continue to delight you. It’s lovely to know you appreciate the location and enjoy watching the boats go by. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Boatyard staff were friendly and…

Boatyard staff were friendly and helpful and got us
Out quickly and assisted us mooring upon return as
Quay 1 can be busy and quite tight to navigate.
Fair prince was clean and roomy for two people,at
35ft x 12ft, I would suggest it would suit people
Who have previous experience of boat handling.
However the provision of bow thrusters is a bonus
And can assist in boat manoeuvres.

September 29, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad our team could assist with mooring and that Fair Prince was clean, spacious, and comfortable. We appreciate your note on handling experience, and we’re pleased the bow thrusters helped. We hope to welcome you back to the Broads soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

SUPER NBD HITS THE SPOT!Cottage was ready early and super…

Cottage was ready early and super clean, rooms bright and airy, furniture comfortable, especially the beds!!!. Staff ,as always, really friendly and helpful. No negative comments whatsoever. Brilliant holiday to relax and watch the world go by, and the boats. Thank you x

September 23, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

We’re so glad you had a fantastic time! It’s wonderful to hear the cottage was comfy and clean, and that you got to enjoy some well-earned relaxation. We would love to welcome you back soon!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Cotman cottage/site rev

Site could be improved as lots of derelict buildings,a bit like a dump, cottage tatty lots of scuff marks on walls,lots of dirty limescale around taps in bathroom and down toilet,sofa very tatty,not very dog friendly outside of cottage no dog poo bins. In actual fact we went home early (Thursday)

September 20, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry that your recent stay fell short of the high standards we aim to provide. Your comments regarding cleanliness, maintenance, and facilities are very important to us and will be shared with our team to help improve future stays. We hope to have the chance to welcome you back and provide a better experience.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic service from start to finish

Fantastic service from start to finish. The team were helpful, friendly and made our first time boating holiday an amazing experience. Our boat FAIR executive 2 was clean, spacious, warm and the bed was soooo comfy. We had a very relaxing time. Thank you.

September 20, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad the Fair Executive gave you a comfy and enjoyable stay, and that our team helped make your first boating holiday so special. Hope to welcome you back again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

First class service and experience

This was the second time we had hired a boat from this company and it was once again seamless. The boat was immaculate, the customer service first class and the experience amazing. We have once again booked for next year and can't wait. We would certainly recommend Norfolk Broads Direct.

August 22, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback. We’re absolutely thrilled that you enjoyed the cruiser and that your second experience with us was seamless. It’s fantastic to hear that you’ve already booked for next year—we can’t wait to welcome you back for another memorable adventure on the Broads! Your kind recommendation of Norfolk Broads Direct is truly appreciated.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful riverside cottage

Excellent location, cottage clean and well equipped.
Staff in reception extremely welcoming and helpful

September 18, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for your lovely feedback. We’re pleased you enjoyed the cottage and found it well-maintained and fully equipped. It’s great to hear that our reception team were friendly and accommodating. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A thoroughly enjoyable week

A thoroughly enjoyable week. Our first trip to the Broads. Pleased with the details and information provided both prior to and on the handover at the start of the trip, although the boat wasn't available quite as early as expected. We did leave the boat a little bit cleaner than when we picked it up! Although we didn't need to contact the company during our trip, I'm confident that the support would have been excellent.

September 20, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you very much for your lovely feedback. We’re delighted that your first trip to the Broads was such an enjoyable experience and that you found the handover details helpful. We do apologise for the slight delay in your boat being ready, and we truly appreciate the extra care you took in leaving it so clean. It’s wonderful to know you felt confident in our support, and we would be delighted to welcome you back for another memorable holiday in the future!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

We had another enjoyable week

We had another enjoyable week, I felt though that over the 5 years or so we have been using nbd the boat this boat which we have had a few years ago was looking a bit tired, especially the floor scratched and marked, cooker was rusty, kettle rusty, mildew around windows in bedroom and cobwebs in bedroom, the standard didn’t seem as high as previously so for what the cost was I will be looking at other companies next time before I decide. The boats are always reliable and staff handover is good, but a bit let down on the state of the boat his time which was a shame

September 19, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

We’re pleased to hear you enjoyed another week with us and continue to find our boats reliable and our handovers helpful. That said, we’re very sorry the condition of your boat on this occasion fell short of the high standards we strive to maintain. Your feedback on the interior condition, cleanliness, and maintenance has been noted and passed to our team for immediate review. We greatly value your loyalty over the years and would welcome the opportunity to restore your confidence on a future visit.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic experience throughout

Fantastic customer service on arrival. Care taken by the staff to ensure we were confident enough to start our cruise.

Our boat Royale 1 was very clean and everything worked as it should throughout the break.

We will without a doubt use NBD again in the future.

September 22, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

Thank you for sharing such lovely feedback. We’re so pleased our team helped you feel confident before setting off and that Royale 1 was clean and reliable throughout your trip. It’s wonderful to know you had a great experience and we can’t wait to welcome you back on board with NBD in the future!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Fair Entrepreneur 1

We arrived boat was ready. Usual efficient handover.
We had Fair Entrepreneur 1 for 4, we were not disappointed. Plenty of room to store things and very comfortable. Huge rear shower with plenty of hot hot in the mornings for a shower if wanted. Easy to handle and impressive to look at.
The holiday was fantastic, good weather and an excellent cruiser.
We only had one problem! 10nights just wasn't long enough. Well done to all atNBD

September 15, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Norfolk Broads Direct

We’re delighted to hear that Fair Entrepreneur met your expectations, providing comfort, space, and ease of handling. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the onboard facilities and had such a fantastic holiday with the bonus of good weather. Thank you for your kind words — we look forward to welcoming you back to NBD for your next holiday.

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