Houseboat Holidays
Houseboat Holidays
4.5
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About
Sightseeing in the 1000 Islands, offering visitors tailor-made tours and a chance to see what you can't see from the tour boats. Choose your own points of interest. You can even stop for swimming! From a family day outing, to a day fishing or going wreck diving, Houseboat Holidays provides a unforgettable experience in the 1000 Islands.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
43 reviews
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Cathy L
Haliburton, Canada55 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
As first timers before we boarded we wanted to rebook for next year as it looked so welcoming. As a person that rents my home too I have to say we were super impressed with the professionalism of this 48 year family run company. They are extremely organized and the orientation from Neil was clear and concise. He even comes with you to ride a long just to make sure you have the hang of it before he jumps back onto his helper boat. We downloaded the Navionics Boating app and it was amazing. Make sure you download it and learn it first before you go as it's so easy. Don't head out and then try to learn it like we did or you could end crossing over to the USA side if you didn't want to. The houseboat is an older style model but extremely clean and comfortable and it has everything you need to cook. We had a couple of cool nights with weather but we brought our down Duvet and own pillows and didn't need to turn on the furnace. They do supply all the blankets and sheets though if needed but I like to use my own bedding. We loved it! To conserve water I would wipe the plates first with a paper towel to keep my dish water cleaner. The water controls at the wheel are as simple as flipping a switch. To save looking for a gas station we brought our own gas (10 gallons) plus don't forget to bring bring a gas pump for pouring easily. Please remember when you are charged for the gas used from this company that you are being charged in gallons NOT LITRES. Therefore the price for their gas was fine and reasonable. Preparing meals in advance was a wonderful idea. Much less garbage and easier clean up. We had a small mishap (our own fault) and they came out immediately to fix it and they know exactly where to find you. As a renter of someone else's property I always want to be curtious and we left the house boat almost as clean as I found it, making sure all dishes were clean and put away and treated it like it was our own home on the water. On our return we did book again for next year as what a great idea for a beautiful getaway right in our own back yard in Ontario. R&C
Written July 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie B
Ottawa, Canada44 contributions
Jul 2020
We had a wonderful time on a houseboat we rented for a week. Neil gave us a good intro to the boat and how it works, and then we were off. We motored around to many different islands, very glad to have the Navionics app to help us navigate - basically a GPS for boats. It was so relaxing to do whatever we wanted, whenever we felt like it.
We took the boat operator's course beforehand since we're newbies at this, and were very glad we had. It gave us a lot more confidence with things like dropping the anchor in beautiful empty bays for the night instead of tying up to docks with other boats.
The Thousand Islands are so beautiful! We saw all kinds of wildlife, including ospreys (nest with young right above where we docked one night), eagles, Canada geese, swans, loons, and really cute mink.
The boat itself was far from new, but had everything we needed for a week in comfort. Tons of storage space. Before you set out, make sure to ask how to tell how much you have left of things like water and gas so you will know when it's time to refill things and not end up like us suddenly discovering we were out of drinking water (where's the tank? No idea! - finally found it under the bunk bed in a locker we hadn't gotten around to opening yet). Had to head to a marina for a refill, which is not difficult but would have preferred to do it BEFORE we ran out!
The price was excellent for a week of fun. We paid about $2000 total, including the boat, taxes, gas and oil for the whole week. There were no other costs at all. You will be very happy with this company!
We took the boat operator's course beforehand since we're newbies at this, and were very glad we had. It gave us a lot more confidence with things like dropping the anchor in beautiful empty bays for the night instead of tying up to docks with other boats.
The Thousand Islands are so beautiful! We saw all kinds of wildlife, including ospreys (nest with young right above where we docked one night), eagles, Canada geese, swans, loons, and really cute mink.
The boat itself was far from new, but had everything we needed for a week in comfort. Tons of storage space. Before you set out, make sure to ask how to tell how much you have left of things like water and gas so you will know when it's time to refill things and not end up like us suddenly discovering we were out of drinking water (where's the tank? No idea! - finally found it under the bunk bed in a locker we hadn't gotten around to opening yet). Had to head to a marina for a refill, which is not difficult but would have preferred to do it BEFORE we ran out!
The price was excellent for a week of fun. We paid about $2000 total, including the boat, taxes, gas and oil for the whole week. There were no other costs at all. You will be very happy with this company!
Written July 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sabrina Loyello
Montreal, Canada8 contributions
Aug 2020
We booked well in advanced and the process was quite simple. As we arrived everything was very smooth. They went through all the rules, how to drive the boat and fo someone who has never driven a boat before everything was quite easy. Once all that was done we were off and my friends and I had a great time. They give you all your essentials, the boat is cozy. I rented the red boat for 6 people and all 6 of us were comfortable. We were able to cook good meals with the oven/stove and bbq that was provided. All to say If you are looking for a nice calm getaway with the family or some friends on the water, this is the place to book! I would definitely go again!
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
romanceadventurers
Canada3 contributions
Sept 2021 • Friends
It was awful!! Old houseboats, leaking gas, underpowered, smelly bathrooms and then a cash grab for incidentals out of the deposit.
Don’t do it. Rent a pontoon boat for the day and camp. Small, expensive and like driving a brick through water.
Don’t do it. Rent a pontoon boat for the day and camp. Small, expensive and like driving a brick through water.
Written September 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul S
Rochester, UK126 contributions
May 2020
We didn't actually get out to Canada on our Houseboat. After having two trips cancelled, due to Covid, Pete suggested returning our deposit, which we accepted. It was back in our account the same day as we requested it. Great service.
We look forward to actually getting out on one of the boats, just as soon as things calm down.
We look forward to actually getting out on one of the boats, just as soon as things calm down.
Written March 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leib L
Reykjavik, Iceland35 contributions
Jul 2015
Houseboat holidays review
A very unique and relaxing holiday… House boating and exploring the thousand lakes region of The St. Lawrence river.
Houseboat holidays has a fleet of twenty two boats, and they quickly book up from June through September. With good reason. Affordable, fun, easy, varied.
The management, led by an experienced Peter, (and our friendly into guide, Randy) works like this…
1- Book one of three differently designed houseboats – by phone. No internet booking offered. Peter explains the design differences, and clearly explains pros and cons of different dates (more/less crowded, water temperature, weather, family choices), and a few ideas to think about for planning (islands or canal tour? Fishing or swimming? Hiking or island cruising)
2- Send a check for deposit $400. No credit cards. “I hate computers, the fees are high and with a check I can make sure the name and address are right” although a computer geek myself, I can appreciate his approach.
3- Arrival day… We drove up from Ohio the day before. It's a six-seven hour drive from Detroit border. About two hours east of Toronto. Lots of motel or B&B choices in the small town of Gananoque (gan-an-oh-qway) where three people stopped us, seeing our license and offered ideas, town comments, opines on the area, houseboat holidays (“they are a down to earth hard working family…”) and more.
4- Boarding- park just twenty feet from boat, and haul gear aboard.
5- Be impressed with what is on board.
a. Propane grill mounted to front deck. Tied to on-board propane
b. Gas stove with oven (no microwave)
c. Hot and cold running water for kitchen, bath, shower.
d. Good size fridge w freezer
e. Extra cooler for more.
f. Fully equipped kitchen… Pots, pans, percolator, utensils,plates, cups, glasses, dishcloths, pot holders, stove-top toaster, cookware… A judge lodge assortment but complete.
g. Lots of storage room and cabinets for stuff.
h. Blankets, sheets pillows.
i. Four deck chairs for fishing, reading, relaxing
j. Gas, extra gas, twin twenty lb propane tanks for fridge, hot water, and gas lanterns mounted inside
k. Cabin lights for night time
l. Open front cabin w l shaped couch next to captains area,mans privacy door to kitchen/bath/back cabin
m. Back cabin with table that converts to double bed, and twin bunks (we had two couples) Andre all worked fine.
6- We brought… Or needed…
a. iPad avionics chart. (I paid $50 for download, but was told a trial version for a week might be available) the islands all look very similar! This gps map was super easy and a wonderful augment and complement to laminated chart provided.
b. Towels, hand soap, dish soap, shampoo.
c. Bug spray, sun screen,
d. Fishing gear- week long Canadian licenses are $38 per adult- sold at the dock. Worms are $6 for 24 crawlers in a styrofoam box.
e. Inverter – the only power is a single 12volt car lighter plug.
f. Extension cord and multiple USB chargers for iphone, iPad, kindle, cameras…(did I mention I was a geek.)
g. Kayak – initially for fun, but needed to get ashore in places where docks were full, and we needed to anchor off shore.
h. Bicycle, for some shore grocery trips
i. Cards, games, kindle
j. Clothes- nights get cool. Rain happens. Warm days are great. Sandals and sneakers work well. Pack accordingly.
k. We always bring a travel laundry kit – (clothesline, clothesline, powder detergent, stain stick, big sink stopper)
l. A small folding camp table to hold drinks and cards on front deck (back deck has wide benches though)
m. Groceries… brought dry goods from home, and a cooler full. We, stocked up on meat, fish, fruit, snacks, ice (cheaper than at dock!) at the very good size Metro grocery store in Gananoque. WARNING: Other than that store, most shopping after departing dock is limited to convenience stores at gas stops along the river.
n. The friendly dollar store on Main Street was great source for some fishing gear, citronella candles, soap, etc. The “this, That and Everything” shop next door provided a dominos game, maps, and homespun advice.
7- After paying for the week (checks only) and getting fishing licenses $38 per adult and a styrofoam box of worms for $7), we got a short boat orientation… Fuel, motor, charts, switches, lights, stove, propane things, and a walk through of how to navigate and where we might go. A large laminated chart had detailed info on routes, islands, moorings, parks, fishing, restaurants, gas, etc. we were off.
8- Randy- after orientation, stayed in board for first ten minutes to assure we had the hang of steering and controlling the 38ft boat. Then he got off (tied small boat to our side when we left dock) and we were off on our own.
9- Cruising speed is very modest… 9-12 kph according to gps. ~6-(7 miles per hour) smooth and easy. (Still hard to stay in a straight line though w waves, winds and currents)
10- Fishing – my wife got a dozen small perch in a few hours. (Her second time ever)! We used worms, leftover chicken, and some lures. Cleaned and Cooked a few small ones on the boat grill!
11- Throughout he week we stayed someplace different every night. Sometimes at Canadian island park (free pass w boat), at municipal dock in Brookville (Cn$65!)- nice town, but should have stayed off shore at nearby camping islands, NY state park on southern side (US$24), throwing out the anchor in a cove is free and easy. But one night wind kicked up, swung 180 degrees and had us worried about dragging anchor (it held)! We quickly learned to seek out places away from wakes and waves! Or to put out stern anchor to keep bow pointed towards them to minimize rocking.
12- Using the head was easy and didn't smell.. Hot and cold running water worked great. Shower was plenty hot, but barely bigger than a coffin. Wet down, soap, then rinse off w shower head on convenient hose.
13- Kitchen was plenty big enough. Three burner stove with oven was more than adequate. Counter, drawer, cupboard and cabinet space, and fridge (other than some condensation that caused floor underneath to stay damp) were much more comfortable and roomy than our pop up camper at home! The propane grill mounted to front of boat worked like a charm! (We blocked vent holes w aluminum foil on windy nights to get temp up though).
14- Dinette table was great for four adults for meals and games. Would not want to squeeze in six people. Rather than clear off and drop table every night to make double bed, our other couple was fine with using the two bunk beds.
15- Wide tall windows with screens kept the boat breezy and comfortable. Although on two hot nights, we were glad to have brought two small clip-on fans from our camper w extension cord – they worked off inverter w no trouble. The sliding side door lacks a screen and HAD to be closed during evening and at night to keep bugs out!
16- To do… Explore islands, cruise the river, stop at towns for a few meals near docks, or for groceries (about a ten minute walk from docks in Gananoque, Brookville, and Clayton NY. (Mostly to get something special we wanted, more so than needed).
17- History: We toured Faulford mansion in Brookville (20 minute walk from dock), singer and Bolt castles on river. All three well worth visit. As was (definitely!) the historic boat museum in Clayton, NY.
18- Gananoque playhouse- we booked tickets for a pirates of Penzance on our last night… Fantastic performance (tickets just $31 each). You can reserve a dock space just steps from theatre!
19- Always meeting warm, friendly wonderful people. Boaters at the same dock, fisherman, local shop keepers… On both Canadian and NY side.
20- Small shops in towns were a delight.
21- After meeting a perky young actress while walking, we Booked tickets for “Pirates of Penzance” at Gananoque playhouse cn$32 each) for our last night. (They sell out!)
22- Local Wines and interesting panini were a hit at coyote Moon winery just off dock in Clayton!
23- Spent hours on board fishing, reading, writing, cards, dominoes, kayaking. Can't get more idyllic than this.
Check out was fast and easy... Pull car up to dock, load up and go.
An active/lazy vacation!
We will be back! (I'm researching houseboats for sale!)
Leib and barb Lurie
A very unique and relaxing holiday… House boating and exploring the thousand lakes region of The St. Lawrence river.
Houseboat holidays has a fleet of twenty two boats, and they quickly book up from June through September. With good reason. Affordable, fun, easy, varied.
The management, led by an experienced Peter, (and our friendly into guide, Randy) works like this…
1- Book one of three differently designed houseboats – by phone. No internet booking offered. Peter explains the design differences, and clearly explains pros and cons of different dates (more/less crowded, water temperature, weather, family choices), and a few ideas to think about for planning (islands or canal tour? Fishing or swimming? Hiking or island cruising)
2- Send a check for deposit $400. No credit cards. “I hate computers, the fees are high and with a check I can make sure the name and address are right” although a computer geek myself, I can appreciate his approach.
3- Arrival day… We drove up from Ohio the day before. It's a six-seven hour drive from Detroit border. About two hours east of Toronto. Lots of motel or B&B choices in the small town of Gananoque (gan-an-oh-qway) where three people stopped us, seeing our license and offered ideas, town comments, opines on the area, houseboat holidays (“they are a down to earth hard working family…”) and more.
4- Boarding- park just twenty feet from boat, and haul gear aboard.
5- Be impressed with what is on board.
a. Propane grill mounted to front deck. Tied to on-board propane
b. Gas stove with oven (no microwave)
c. Hot and cold running water for kitchen, bath, shower.
d. Good size fridge w freezer
e. Extra cooler for more.
f. Fully equipped kitchen… Pots, pans, percolator, utensils,plates, cups, glasses, dishcloths, pot holders, stove-top toaster, cookware… A judge lodge assortment but complete.
g. Lots of storage room and cabinets for stuff.
h. Blankets, sheets pillows.
i. Four deck chairs for fishing, reading, relaxing
j. Gas, extra gas, twin twenty lb propane tanks for fridge, hot water, and gas lanterns mounted inside
k. Cabin lights for night time
l. Open front cabin w l shaped couch next to captains area,mans privacy door to kitchen/bath/back cabin
m. Back cabin with table that converts to double bed, and twin bunks (we had two couples) Andre all worked fine.
6- We brought… Or needed…
a. iPad avionics chart. (I paid $50 for download, but was told a trial version for a week might be available) the islands all look very similar! This gps map was super easy and a wonderful augment and complement to laminated chart provided.
b. Towels, hand soap, dish soap, shampoo.
c. Bug spray, sun screen,
d. Fishing gear- week long Canadian licenses are $38 per adult- sold at the dock. Worms are $6 for 24 crawlers in a styrofoam box.
e. Inverter – the only power is a single 12volt car lighter plug.
f. Extension cord and multiple USB chargers for iphone, iPad, kindle, cameras…(did I mention I was a geek.)
g. Kayak – initially for fun, but needed to get ashore in places where docks were full, and we needed to anchor off shore.
h. Bicycle, for some shore grocery trips
i. Cards, games, kindle
j. Clothes- nights get cool. Rain happens. Warm days are great. Sandals and sneakers work well. Pack accordingly.
k. We always bring a travel laundry kit – (clothesline, clothesline, powder detergent, stain stick, big sink stopper)
l. A small folding camp table to hold drinks and cards on front deck (back deck has wide benches though)
m. Groceries… brought dry goods from home, and a cooler full. We, stocked up on meat, fish, fruit, snacks, ice (cheaper than at dock!) at the very good size Metro grocery store in Gananoque. WARNING: Other than that store, most shopping after departing dock is limited to convenience stores at gas stops along the river.
n. The friendly dollar store on Main Street was great source for some fishing gear, citronella candles, soap, etc. The “this, That and Everything” shop next door provided a dominos game, maps, and homespun advice.
7- After paying for the week (checks only) and getting fishing licenses $38 per adult and a styrofoam box of worms for $7), we got a short boat orientation… Fuel, motor, charts, switches, lights, stove, propane things, and a walk through of how to navigate and where we might go. A large laminated chart had detailed info on routes, islands, moorings, parks, fishing, restaurants, gas, etc. we were off.
8- Randy- after orientation, stayed in board for first ten minutes to assure we had the hang of steering and controlling the 38ft boat. Then he got off (tied small boat to our side when we left dock) and we were off on our own.
9- Cruising speed is very modest… 9-12 kph according to gps. ~6-(7 miles per hour) smooth and easy. (Still hard to stay in a straight line though w waves, winds and currents)
10- Fishing – my wife got a dozen small perch in a few hours. (Her second time ever)! We used worms, leftover chicken, and some lures. Cleaned and Cooked a few small ones on the boat grill!
11- Throughout he week we stayed someplace different every night. Sometimes at Canadian island park (free pass w boat), at municipal dock in Brookville (Cn$65!)- nice town, but should have stayed off shore at nearby camping islands, NY state park on southern side (US$24), throwing out the anchor in a cove is free and easy. But one night wind kicked up, swung 180 degrees and had us worried about dragging anchor (it held)! We quickly learned to seek out places away from wakes and waves! Or to put out stern anchor to keep bow pointed towards them to minimize rocking.
12- Using the head was easy and didn't smell.. Hot and cold running water worked great. Shower was plenty hot, but barely bigger than a coffin. Wet down, soap, then rinse off w shower head on convenient hose.
13- Kitchen was plenty big enough. Three burner stove with oven was more than adequate. Counter, drawer, cupboard and cabinet space, and fridge (other than some condensation that caused floor underneath to stay damp) were much more comfortable and roomy than our pop up camper at home! The propane grill mounted to front of boat worked like a charm! (We blocked vent holes w aluminum foil on windy nights to get temp up though).
14- Dinette table was great for four adults for meals and games. Would not want to squeeze in six people. Rather than clear off and drop table every night to make double bed, our other couple was fine with using the two bunk beds.
15- Wide tall windows with screens kept the boat breezy and comfortable. Although on two hot nights, we were glad to have brought two small clip-on fans from our camper w extension cord – they worked off inverter w no trouble. The sliding side door lacks a screen and HAD to be closed during evening and at night to keep bugs out!
16- To do… Explore islands, cruise the river, stop at towns for a few meals near docks, or for groceries (about a ten minute walk from docks in Gananoque, Brookville, and Clayton NY. (Mostly to get something special we wanted, more so than needed).
17- History: We toured Faulford mansion in Brookville (20 minute walk from dock), singer and Bolt castles on river. All three well worth visit. As was (definitely!) the historic boat museum in Clayton, NY.
18- Gananoque playhouse- we booked tickets for a pirates of Penzance on our last night… Fantastic performance (tickets just $31 each). You can reserve a dock space just steps from theatre!
19- Always meeting warm, friendly wonderful people. Boaters at the same dock, fisherman, local shop keepers… On both Canadian and NY side.
20- Small shops in towns were a delight.
21- After meeting a perky young actress while walking, we Booked tickets for “Pirates of Penzance” at Gananoque playhouse cn$32 each) for our last night. (They sell out!)
22- Local Wines and interesting panini were a hit at coyote Moon winery just off dock in Clayton!
23- Spent hours on board fishing, reading, writing, cards, dominoes, kayaking. Can't get more idyllic than this.
Check out was fast and easy... Pull car up to dock, load up and go.
An active/lazy vacation!
We will be back! (I'm researching houseboats for sale!)
Leib and barb Lurie
Written July 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Leib and Barb,
Thank you for such a detailed and flattering review. We know this is a special and unique vacation for people so we do our best to ensure guests like you have a great time. And your review even helped people with the pronunciation of Gananoque! We're impressed! We really look forward to seeing you again.
All the best.
Written July 21, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TravelingFamilyinSingapore
43 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
The boat was riddled with problems and very old ….but we made the best of it and enjoyed the time with the family. We rented Big Blue 1, the 48 foot monster on the 5 day package - 3 adults and 4 kids, in late July. On the morning of the second day the engine was smoking horribly and upon inspection we noted the fuel line had a leak in it. We called the company - no one called back so we drove 30 minutes back to the marina and they fixed it no problem (one of the co-owners met us upon arrival and was really nice about it). We also had him fix half of the screens that had holes in them as we were overrun with bugs our first night out. We had to close the windows which made for a very hot night of sleeping. He mentioned that this should have been handled before we were given the boat. When we received the boat, the refrigerator and freezer were turned off by mistake. The freezer never did get cold enough to freeze anything, so we lost a bit of the food we brought with us that didn’t last. On the third day we ran out of fresh water. We used maybe 2 gallons (brushing teeth and filled one pot for cooking hotdogs because the grill wouldn’t stay lit). We had plastic bottles of water for everyone to drink and 10 liter spout containers for our use in the kitchen. On the fourth day the sewage backed up and began to leak out the back drain plug. I won’t even go into the odor, I’m sure you can imagine. The last afternoon we drove to back to our original anchoring spot about 30 minutes from the rental place and anchored for the night. At about 9 PM the anchor lights and interior lights were dimming. By 10 PM all lights were out - batteries were dead. That meant no lights and no water at all. The motor still started (different batteries) so we called the rental place and let them know, but figured we’d make due until morning when we had to turn the boat in anyway. There was no answer so we left a message - no one called back. The next morning the motor didn't start – those two batteries were dead. We called about 5 AM and left a message that we were stranded and the wind was blowing us towards the rocks. Called again at 6 AM and left another message. Called again at 7 AM and still no answer. Called again at 7:30 and the owner, Peter, answered. We explained the situation and he said he "must have missed that one" when we asked why no one called us back. I’m not sure why they have a “help” line posted on the boat, if the phone is only answered during office hours. Finally, about 40 minutes later he showed up and changed out the batteries. We asked him if that was normal for the batteries to go dead and he said no. When we returned the boat, we asked one of the dock mates at the rental place the same question and he said they had been having problems with those batteries for a while. When we explained all the problems to the other co-owner of the company, Peter, he didn't seem to care or be concerned when we explained the 40 gallons of fresh water ran out after two days, the sewage was full after 3 days, the batteries went dead even though we had run the boat for over an hour every day. He kept making excuses saying "there could be any number of reasons." Anyway, the boat was old, more like an old camper than a nice house boat. It has wood paneling and brown musty curtains and cushions. It could definitely use some updating. The boat goes about 7 miles an hour and drinks a lot of gas. When I told him because of his houseboat a great deal of fuel leaked into the river he took off half the price of the fuel, (20 gallons at $7.00/gallon). I told him it wasn’t the money I was frustrated with it was the poor working condition of the boat and having to listen to my wife, sister-in-law and four kids complain because the fresh water ran out so quickly, the toilet stunk after a few days and became unusable after 4 days, etc. Overall we made the best of it and had a nice adventure, but next time we'll rent a cottage on the river and take our ski boat out every day to enjoy the beauty of the 1000 Islands area. Definitely won’t rent a houseboat from Houseboat Holidays, Ltd.
Written August 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Well, first of all, we're sorry about your problems. It is very unusual to hear something like this. We wouldn't have been in business since 1973 if this was normal. I don't know what happened with the phone messages, but I don't remember that ever happening before. You did have some problems that shouldn't have happened. The fridge was turned off to defrost, and was not turned back on in time. It was a simple mistake by cleaning staff, and they have been asked not to do it that way anymore. It was working later through the trip though, and it just took some time to get cold as all rv propane fridges do. The gas line did have a very minor leak, which was corrected by cutting 1 inch off the end of the hose and re-clamping. You said you had to make a special trip back to our dock. It's too bad you never mentioned in your review you were coming back anyway to pick up your ski-boat, which you left at our dock the night before...and planned to pick up the next day. You mentioned that half the screens had holes in them. There are 12 screens on that boat, but actually one had a small hole in it, and two had a bit of the spline falling out. This is a three minute repair. All of our boats are checked every time they are in and screens are repaired all the time. If they were in fact so bad when the boat was picked up, it's too bad you never mentioned it. It's a quick easy fix. You said you ran out of drinking water after three days. This is why we recommend refilling the fresh water tank (20 gallons, not 40) anytime you are at a marina...but normally 20 gallons is plenty for drinking water. That is why we have two water systems, with unlimited water supply for sinks, toilet, and shower. The sewage did not back up...you filled the tank. That's why we recommend you sometimes try to use the facilities at the islands that we give you a park pass for. We also explain you may need to get the tank pumped out at a marina at some point through the trip. It is very hard to calculate how many times somebody will use the bathroom during the trip, which is why we explain all these options. If the toilet had an odor early in the trip, maybe it needed some chemical that we supply for that. Late on your last night you had the batteries lose power. These batteries get some charge from the engine, but mostly from the solar panel on the roof. On occasion a boat may lose power in these batteries. We don't always know what people do. Some leave lights on, some run other electronics on them, and many don't understand that battery power is not unlimited power. We have 22 boats going constantly, and seldom have this issue. After testing everything when you returned the boat it turned out the voltage regulator on the engine had blown and that's why the engine battery (one, not two batteries) had died...which may have been partly to blame for the two batteries for the lights and pumps. As you may know, this is something that could happen at any time, just like any other unpredictable mechanical problem. You talk about the paneling we use in our houseboats. Maybe if you looked at the pictures on our websites, you would not have been surprised about that. We use wood paneling in all our boats, even new ones, as anyone can see if they look at the construction photos on our websites. We also update our boats as required. They all get redone every year...some get minor repairs and paint, some get complete refits. Finally, anybody can conserve fuel simply by reducing speed, and we have no control over fuel prices. Fuel that the marinas sell us and everybody else is priced higher than auto. It is also ethanol-free hi-test, and right now is over $1.50/litre. Converting that to imperial gallons is $7. We actually have a good reputation for getting problems fixed up quickly, even when they are caused by our customers...like when we had to go rescue your boat after you left it anchored improperly and unattended, and left in your ski-boat ;-) William.
Written August 25, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laura L
Keswick, Canada11 contributions
Jun 2021
Heard about the word "houseboat" in Feb, booked one in March, not knowing what's waiting for us. Finally the big day came. Check-in was a breeze, highly recommend that you get some prior knowledge on house boating. HH's website did a great job, be sure to check all the videos and important information BEFORE you start your journey. For me, reading others' reviews here also helped A LOT! Another thing I learnt from others was downloading Navionics - Boating, a very handy and useful app. With this app and the chart provided onboard, you will have almost no problem navigating 1000 Islands area.
We spent 5 days in total, set foot on five islands - Beau Rivage, McDonald, Grenadier, Mulcaster and Gordon. We also had a brief taste of Rockport, had our lunch at Cornwall’s Pub, got some ice cream at Andress Boat Works. With kayaks, we were able to get a closer look at a shipwreck (near McDonald Island), which excited the kids (as well as those forever young at heart) very much! We did some hiking and a bit of exploring on each of the five islands, fishing was good at some spots (so we had a super fresh fish soup one night) but no luck at all at some other spots. We met some nice boaters and shared a lot of laughter:) Did I mention the amazing sunset and moon rise? No picture did it justice!
Here are my two cents:
1. In order to conserve fresh water on food preparation, better pre-wash your washable grocery at home.
2. Purchase something that is fully cooked, like chicken wings.
3. Freeze bottled water so you don't need to bring ice packs.
4. As Neil pointed out, an experienced sailor never uses the washroom on boat, instead, he/she uses the facilities on the islands. The only place we planned to have a pump-out service midway was out of service. Luckily we listened to Neil and seized every chance on the islands. Our sewage tank didn't overflow. Whew!
Last but not least, we want to give a shout-out to Pete and Neil. One of our boats had a minor problem on hot water supply and it was already dark, Pete answered the phone and promised to send someone in the morning around 8:30 to give us a hand. The next morning, Neil arrived in his speedboat, right on time, and fixed the problem immediately. To him, it looks like he knows everything about the boat and had everything under control.
The boats are definitely not new, but still in good shape. Every part worked. That's all we need.
What's luxurious is the quality time with family, friends and Mother Nature. That's all we want.
We are sure to come back soon!
We spent 5 days in total, set foot on five islands - Beau Rivage, McDonald, Grenadier, Mulcaster and Gordon. We also had a brief taste of Rockport, had our lunch at Cornwall’s Pub, got some ice cream at Andress Boat Works. With kayaks, we were able to get a closer look at a shipwreck (near McDonald Island), which excited the kids (as well as those forever young at heart) very much! We did some hiking and a bit of exploring on each of the five islands, fishing was good at some spots (so we had a super fresh fish soup one night) but no luck at all at some other spots. We met some nice boaters and shared a lot of laughter:) Did I mention the amazing sunset and moon rise? No picture did it justice!
Here are my two cents:
1. In order to conserve fresh water on food preparation, better pre-wash your washable grocery at home.
2. Purchase something that is fully cooked, like chicken wings.
3. Freeze bottled water so you don't need to bring ice packs.
4. As Neil pointed out, an experienced sailor never uses the washroom on boat, instead, he/she uses the facilities on the islands. The only place we planned to have a pump-out service midway was out of service. Luckily we listened to Neil and seized every chance on the islands. Our sewage tank didn't overflow. Whew!
Last but not least, we want to give a shout-out to Pete and Neil. One of our boats had a minor problem on hot water supply and it was already dark, Pete answered the phone and promised to send someone in the morning around 8:30 to give us a hand. The next morning, Neil arrived in his speedboat, right on time, and fixed the problem immediately. To him, it looks like he knows everything about the boat and had everything under control.
The boats are definitely not new, but still in good shape. Every part worked. That's all we need.
What's luxurious is the quality time with family, friends and Mother Nature. That's all we want.
We are sure to come back soon!
Written June 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ohioiontraveler
Gananoque, Canada2 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
There isn't enough space and time for me to write everything I would want to say about our vacation on the houseboat. It was amazing. We brought our three children, 10, 10, and 12 out for 5 days. The weather was perfect, water crystal clear and refreshing, the people friendly, and the possibilities endless. We caught so many fish we stopped counting; Northern Pike, small mouth bass, white and yellow perch. The biggest Northern Pike was 29" long and the largest small mouth bass was 21". The kids loved snorkeling in the clear waters and fishing all day. We cooked out on the grill on the boat every day. Eating fresh fish caught an hour earlier is just awesome. We have boating, camping, and SCUBA experience which made this a pretty easy going trip. We travelled all the way out to Boldt Castle and back in a large circle taking in many different Islands and points of interest along the way. Here are some tips: 1 Kids under 10 probably not a great trip for them. 2 Anchor for the night on the leeward side of an island in every case. 3 When anchoring for the night, drop your bow and stern anchors staying off the docks directly; too much lapping and splashing. 4 Plan your route and know the weather so you get the most out of every day. 5 Bring something to do during quiet times. 6 If you are not an experienced angler get solid advice on what tackle to bring and where to go or you may not catch anything. Crank bait and worms were the best for us. 7 Watch your currents and wind when operating between close islands and in the coves. 8 Follow the advice of the great crew at Houseboat holidays. They know what they are doing. 9 Bring motion sickness medicine even if you have never had motion sickness before. 10 If you have the money to bring a dingy or raft to get to the islands easier and with less effort or waiting. We will definitely be back again and again in the future. I highly recommend this vacation adventure to anyone.
Written August 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for such a glowing review. You have offered great tips to visitors! We can arrange a fishing guide for those not as knowledgeable/skilled as you ;-) and we can also help with kayak rentals. Great idea for exploring around the islands. Hope to see you again. And thanks again for your review.
Written August 13, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
0Canada
Ottawa, Canada233 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
I rented the Big Blue houseboat in July- we had two families with a total of 7 people.
The experience was fantastic! I have been wanting to rent a houseboat for years, and this year we were able to do it. The Big Blue is their largest boat and we plenty of room for two families. There is a near-full-sized fridge and a propane stove. There is plenty of storage in cupboards and under all the seating for all of the stuff we brought with us.
We brought enough food with us for a BBQ each night (though we did go for dinner one night at a river-side restaurant (Glen House) that offered plenty of docking space. We generally had cereal and eggs/toast for breakfast. There is no electric toaster (no power for one), but there is a toaster that you can use on the propane stove. For lunch we did cold cuts/sandwiches and for dinner we usually used the bbq which is located on the front deck.
We travelled down into the US for July 4 celebration and then came back to the Canadian side for touring around some the Parks Canada islands.
The staff was very helpful when we arrived. They showed us how to work everything. They then travelled with us out into the bay to ensure we know how to drive the boat. They then get picked up in a speed boat and we were on our own.
Because of the high water in the St Lawrence river this year, many of the docks at the Parks Canada Islands were closed. So we anchored each night. We left the large anchor at the front and used the small anchor for the back. We had no problems at night and did not drift at all.
We did have to empty the septic tank one time, which was easily done at a marina. While we were there we added some gas and filled the drinkable water. There is separate battery systems for the engine and the interior needs (lights water pump) The last morning the battery was dead (so no running water). We could have called and they would have come out right away to replace it, but we were heading back shortly to the Marina. We used the bucket to flush the toilet.
The boat was in good shape and very clean. There is a little bit of musty smell when you go into the storage areas under the seats.
Houseboat Holidays provides a very good (roll-able) chart that they have marked up with points of interest, Parks Canada Islands, Marinas etc. It was very useful. We also used the app as suggested on their website.
We loved the houseboat experience. The company is first rate and we will be back again!
The experience was fantastic! I have been wanting to rent a houseboat for years, and this year we were able to do it. The Big Blue is their largest boat and we plenty of room for two families. There is a near-full-sized fridge and a propane stove. There is plenty of storage in cupboards and under all the seating for all of the stuff we brought with us.
We brought enough food with us for a BBQ each night (though we did go for dinner one night at a river-side restaurant (Glen House) that offered plenty of docking space. We generally had cereal and eggs/toast for breakfast. There is no electric toaster (no power for one), but there is a toaster that you can use on the propane stove. For lunch we did cold cuts/sandwiches and for dinner we usually used the bbq which is located on the front deck.
We travelled down into the US for July 4 celebration and then came back to the Canadian side for touring around some the Parks Canada islands.
The staff was very helpful when we arrived. They showed us how to work everything. They then travelled with us out into the bay to ensure we know how to drive the boat. They then get picked up in a speed boat and we were on our own.
Because of the high water in the St Lawrence river this year, many of the docks at the Parks Canada Islands were closed. So we anchored each night. We left the large anchor at the front and used the small anchor for the back. We had no problems at night and did not drift at all.
We did have to empty the septic tank one time, which was easily done at a marina. While we were there we added some gas and filled the drinkable water. There is separate battery systems for the engine and the interior needs (lights water pump) The last morning the battery was dead (so no running water). We could have called and they would have come out right away to replace it, but we were heading back shortly to the Marina. We used the bucket to flush the toilet.
The boat was in good shape and very clean. There is a little bit of musty smell when you go into the storage areas under the seats.
Houseboat Holidays provides a very good (roll-able) chart that they have marked up with points of interest, Parks Canada Islands, Marinas etc. It was very useful. We also used the app as suggested on their website.
We loved the houseboat experience. The company is first rate and we will be back again!
Written August 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your detailed review and kind words. Yes, we would have been out right away on the dead battery issue but you managed it like true boaters. ;-)
Hope to see you next year. Or next month! September is a fantastic time to be on the river. Less traffic and still swimmable water.
Cheers
Bill
Written August 5, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Do we need to bring septic-safe toilet paper or is it already supplied on boat?
Written June 19, 2021
Not being familiar with what the power availability is on board, if I bring a crockpot, will I be able to plug it in and let it cook away during the day? Thx.
Written June 16, 2018
There is an inverter on board but it is good only for recharging smartphones, laptops etc. I think a crockpot would draw too much power.
Written June 17, 2018
rmfangio
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
What are some of the must stop islands or scenic places to visit on the boat?
Written January 20, 2018
Hi, The Thousand Islands is home to Canada's National Park, (Thousand Islands National Park) and there are many islands in the park worth exploring where you can also dock or moor for the night. Camelot is a beautiful island in the park. Another favourite attraction in the area is Boldt Castle on the US side. You can get lots of info on our website. Google the name of the company, Houseboat Holidays for our web address. Hope this helps and hope to see you!
Written January 21, 2018
What is the cost of fuel if renting a house boat for a Long Weekend. I know it will depend on how far and long we are running the motor, but just an average amount would be helpful. Thanks
Written February 28, 2016
Hi, last summer for 5 days it was about $200 however that was 2015 gas prices and we did travel quite a distance. I think if you were to budget around $150 for a long weekend it should be more than reasonable.
Hope you enjoy the time if you go. We have booked again for this summer we had so much fun last year.
Written February 29, 2016
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