The Bristol Packet is probably the best boat company to go with if you are looking for a trip up…read morethe Avon. They offer a variety of 'cruises' ranging from a short trip around the floating harbour, a trip under Clifton Suspension Bridge and back, and even all the way to Bath. The trips themselves up and down the river are really very pleasant. It is a very good way (especially for tourists) to get a good view of the slightly nicer parts of Bristol without too much exercise! Prices are fairly reasonable, with a trip to Bath costing £22 for an adult. Each boat offers a full bar and a toilet. Boats only seem to run weather permitting, and once you have arrived at the ferry it is a little unclear when the boats actually run. It would therefore be advisable to ring in advance.

If you want to hire a boat in Bristol, there are two options. Number 7 boats are the cheaper…read morechoice, but if you want a full-scale rave with decks, a bar and a dancefloor, there's only once place to come. These guys know what they're doing and supply the vessels for all the club nights who put on boat parties. If you fancy hiring one for yourself, they have a number of different sized options that come with a soundsystem installed plus they can supply decks too for an extra charge if you can't be bothered to lug yours down. I remember it being a tad pricey, but if you want to rock the boat, the Bristol Packet really is the only option.

I've hired out boats for two different parties over the years and after doing my research, found…read morethat No 7 are cheaper than their bigger rivals. They have less choice but if the number of attendees suits their slightly smaller capacity, No 7 offer the best value. Be warned, however, that if you want something that can take decks and a provide a dancefloor, you need to speak to the Bristol Packet company. The on boat booze (cans of cider and lager) are cheap, allowing you to fuel up as you cruise from pub to pub in the Hotwells area, and the young staff are friendly, though the old guy who runs the show is a bit of a mentalist. When we turned up for our tour, he started shouting at me that he didn't take all male parties. I responded that he hadn't mentioned this at any point during the booking process, but he was insistent that it should have occurred to me to know this and tell him - even though it didn't occur to him to ask! We got our tour in the end when the staff intervened on our behalf, but I'm not sure I'd want to give him my business again.

well what can I say, excellent boat, fantastic trip. it…read morehappened that the driver was the owner, Richard who we all found to be the most charmng person you could ever hope to meet. Would I use No 7 again yes!!!

Besides fin cruises for kids the Island Voyage also do a 2 hour coastal adventure or the one I went…read moreon that is a 1 hour coastal cruise. The boats are a lot of fun and can reach up 60mph on a clear day, an adventure all on it's own! The driver also gives a good deal of information on the area and it's transformation, it is really good if your visiting the town or a newbie like myself. I wouldn't suggest going on this if your a bit dodgy on a boat as it can get quite rough. A special mention most be made about the gorgeous Labrador that frequents the stand where you pay. It's such a friendly little thing and is probably the reason I got roped into the trip, clever.

My nephew and I I went on a hour long trip whizzing around the bay with the bay water and the wind…read morerushing through our hair laughing as we went. Whenever you go to the bay you often see these distinctive yellow speedboats hammering it around the bay - it looks like fun because it is! I'd highly recommend it - on a busy bank holiday you're probably better off booking even though they leave pretty regularly. You can do a bay tour or actually go out to the channel through the barrage. The owners are lovely, chatty and full of information too! If I remember correctly it was £10 for an adult and £5 for kids but check the website and give them a call to make sure.

I have to say, I am never quite sure if I like boats...I mean they look nice enough but it's that…read morewhole not being able to just get off when you want to thing. So, I was a bit sceptical when I was invited to a boat party through a friend a work but I thought I shouldn't waste the opportunity for a new adventure so off I went, mini inflatable pocketed sized life jacket safely tucked in between my mobile phone and waterproof mascara. It was actually a really good do, and the weather was lovely which really helped. The Silver Salmon can be hired for all sorts of events, hen and stag dos, weddings, party celebrations, corporate events, anything really, and is something a little different. They can take all sorts of route including the 5 hour trip to Bath. Not cheap but a fancy alternative!

Never ever written bad reviews but couldn't help feeling awful about the way I was treated while…read morebooking for my twin babies 1st birthday party. We wanted a good treat for our lovely friends and family. So I never got on the boat to talk about my experience on it. When I spoke to a lady she was kind and told me there is enough time to book for the party. A month later I spoke to the guy who is the owner. Said he was busy etc but he later had free spaces for my time slot. Kept sounding disinterested throughout my chat on the phone but when I pointed out that he wasn't being kind to me he mellowed. My group was big and I was happy to split them in two boats and you would have thought that would bring him more money. When I called the next day to confirm a visit to look around he was so rude, gave me some silly reasons for not accepting. When I said he was my only choice with such large numbers he said he cannot discuss it with me and cut the phone on me. I am guessing he was not happy with my non- English accent as there didn't seem any other reasons!! Fuming.... Never had such experience in my 15 years in the UK His boats may be good but he certainly lacks people skills...so no stars but it wouldn't allow me to post without a rating. So please read minus a star!

Just got back from a narrowboat holiday on the Kennet & Avon canal. We chartered the narrowboat…read morefrom Nikki at Moonraker Narrowboats. I cannot say enough good about how hard Nikki worked to make sure we were comfortable with our arrangements and with the boat. All my previous experience had been with sailboats (max 52ft) and a 65ft long wide-beam narrowboat was a bit intimidating to say the least. Nikki stayed with us for a bit while I got the hang of steering the boat and my crew passed us through one lock. Then it was off to Bath for a few days (Bonfire Night) and afterwards we worked our way back to Cain Hill Flight. Being in the center of Bath on the river Avon was a wonderful experience. Nikki currently has a fleet of 4 narrowboats. Ours for the week was Moondance. No issues with the boat at all. Being a sailboat owner I know how hard you must work to keep everything working on a boat. The only issue we had was a fuel gauge that doesn't like cold weather. Nikki arranged for a marina on our route to add an additional 100 liters of fuel and naturally the gauge worked perfectly after that. Moondance has a very open feel to her and the cabins are all very large for someone coming from sailboats. In spite of being about the size of "Rubeus Hagrid", I never found the space cramped or claustrophobic. The coal stove keeps the galley and living area nice and warm and there is always central heat if you need it. We were out during November, so at night we just snuggled in under the down comforters and enjoyed a peaceful sleep. I highly recommend Nikki and Moonraker! Cheers

We recently completed a week long narrow boat holiday on the Kennet & Avon canal. There were a…read moretotal of 14 of us...three generations, from age 7 to 84! After considering all the narrow boat rental companies, we chose Moonraker Canalboats. We are SO glad we did! Their boats are 10 feet wide (3' more than most) which makes a big difference in spaciousness. It also allows you to go through the locks alone (rather than pairing with another narrow boat) which is a big benefit. We rented two boats--each one was luxurious from stem to stern...very modern fully-equipped kitchens, fluffy linens, jacuzzi tubs, satellite television...all the amenities of a luxury hotel. I can tell you with great candor that, during the entire week, we never saw a boat that was superior to the ones we were on! Also, the staff could not be more helpful or accommodating. They made sure we were fully trained and comfortable with boat operation before we set off. Even when we experienced an unrelated family emergency, they stopped what they were doing and spent time with us to make sure we got the help we needed. Genuinely wonderful folks! If you decide on a K&A canalboat holiday, you will not regret choosing Moonraker.

A lovely way to spend an afternoon after a tour of the countryside as we had the wrong postcode. We…read morewere going to celebrate a friend's 70th birthday and were given the post code from website but this is the website for their office. We called and were given an alternative post code which took us to the centre of Evesham by the river. There is a small car park just at the edge of the park next to the river. We boarded the boat and greeted by the crew. It is a large barge with tables and seats for 24. Our party was 19 so we had the boat to ourselves. We had a quick safety briefing we set off. The skipper commentated as we cruised the Avon. We were served our food. There was a choice of fish & chips, chicken & chips & pie & chips which was preordered. I opted for fish & chips. It came in a box with mushy peas and there were sachets of tartare sauce on the table. The fish and chips were lovely with the scenery going past. We bought drinks at the bar they sold alcohol, soft drinks and hot drinks. £2 for a Coke and £2.10 for a J2O- I was drinking. £3.00 for a cuppa tea. The cruise last 2 hours and cost £16.50. It was a lovely few hours.

Pulteney Cruisers run a 1 hour round trip up and down the Avon River. It goes under the Pulteney…read moreBridge and exits Bath quite quickly, and into more of a nature river cruise than a city cruise. You'll some lovely greenery, private back yards of the wealthy riverfront homeowners, and some beautiful majestic swans...and a few average looking ducks. While not a "must do" during your Bath explorations, it is very relaxing to take in a bit of nature, and sit for an hour if your legs and feet are exhausted after so much walking in Bath. £14/$19 seems just about right.

Review Title: Disappointing Cruise Experience - Not Worth the Money…read more We queued for 40 minutes with my child, only to be met with rudeness from staff who insisted he finish his ice cream before boarding. Once on the boat, the promised commentary was inaudible -- we couldn't hear a single word over the microphone. This was particularly frustrating as we had hoped to learn some history of Bath together. Instead, the focus seemed to be on selling drinks and snacks, with little care for the advertised experience. When several of us raised concerns afterwards, staff dismissed them and hurried us off. The seating was uncomfortable, and overall the short cruise felt poorly managed. Sadly, this was a complete waste of money. I would not recommend this company to anyone looking for an enjoyable or informative trip.

This small company is run by a husband and wife team, and through them chartered yachts and boats…read morecan be hired almost anywhere in the world. I met a couple in New Zealand who hired a boat and sailed all the way to Fiji. I took them over two weeks and for six days they were sailing through storm. It was some of the worst weather that year. They battled through it hour after hours. And suddenly, they were out in the calm. They were in the eye of the storm with mile-high banks of clouds in all directions and sunlight gleaming in the evening light; rainbows everywhere. It was an experience to make a lifetime; one of those things that sets a never fading glitter of awe in the corner of someone's eye. These are the people who arrange these dreams. With private hire and working through other companies around the globe, if you have the time and opportunity, certainly very good people to speak to. Go and arrange an adventure!

absolutely amazing trip, staff fantastic, thank you to Skipper Colin and Paul, delicious food,…read morescenery WOW, most definitely will book again - thank you for a fantastic experience kindest Regards Suzie and Janet

From the owner: Sailing days, weekends and holidays on the Solent and worldwide!read more