A luxury narrowboat break is a holiday experience like no other.
It’s like a home from home on the water, where you can escape the rat race, get away from the stresses and strains of daily life and explore beautiful stretches of some of the most picturesque waterways in the UK.
While narrowboats are designed to be compact and self-contained, many are equipped with all the mod cons you need to help you get the most out of your holiday.
If you book with Cafwin Cruises, you can expect the same level of luxury you’d get in a boutique hotel. Our two boats, Arthur Owl and Annie Owl, are fitted out to extremely high specifications to provide luxury, comfort, space, accessories and all the creature comforts you need to enjoy your time on the water.
But, whether you’re a seasoned narrowboater or a first-timer, there are a few items you’ll need to bring from home to make your stay enjoyable.
Here’s a rundown of our top packing essentials for your luxury narrowboat break.
What to expect from your luxury narrowboat break
One of the main benefits of a luxury narrowboat break with Cafwin Cruises is the level of comfort you get in our two boats.
Our larger narrowboat, Arthur Owl, sleeps two-to-four people, and although it’s been designed for couples, it also makes the ideal space for a holiday with children or friends too.
Our smaller boat, Ollie Owl, is cosier but is still finished to an extremely high specification, so you can enjoy a relaxed and romantic getaway with all the facilities and amenities you need.
Both narrowboats combine the contemporary décor and ambience you’d expect from a boutique hotel with the freedom that holidaying on the waterways brings. They have fully equipped kitchens with ample storage and cooking facilities and modern bathrooms inclusive of rainfall showers and heated towel racks. They also come with unlimited Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity to the on-board entertainment system, and a TV/DVD combi player which comes with the ROKU streaming media system enabling you to enjoy live TV, news, sports, movies and TV episodes on thousands of free and paid channels like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, Disney+, Prime Video, NOW TV and many more. Also, with mobile charging points throughout, your devices will never be short of juice.
Perhaps the best thing about narrow boating is the freedom it offers. When the weather is warm, you can sit out on the deck and enjoy the vista or relax under the stars and when it drops cooler, or gets wet and windy, you can snuggle up below deck and stick on your favourite film.
You’ll be surprised at the facilities and amenities we’ve managed to pack into each of our boats, and you can check out everything we offer on our inventory page. However, to get the most from your holiday, there are a few essential extras you should bring.
What to pack for your luxury narrowboat break
As we’ve said above, we’ve done everything we can to make your cruise with us as comfortable as possible, and you’ll have access to all the comforts you’d find at home.
However, to max out your enjoyment, there are a few things you should definitely bring along.
When it comes to luggage, soft bags are a better bet than hard suitcases. Storage space is at a premium on board, and it’s far easier to stow away soft luggage which can be folded than hard-shell suitcases, which are big and bulky.
For safety’s sake, you’ll definitely need at least one torch, as it can get really dark on the canal (although we do have one on board if you forget your own).
Hard-wearing gloves come in handy for the everyday tasks you’ll need to take care of, like mooring up or working the locks. A canal map is also essential to ensure you stay on the correct waterways and don’t get lost, but we provide a waterways map for free so that you can take it home and show your friends and family where you cruised.
Remember, you don’t need to bring items along like extra loo roll, bin liners, toiletries and cleaning materials as we provide plenty of high quality eco-friendly essential items for your use, which are shown to be kind to nature and our boats.
Great British weather permitting, you’ll hopefully be spending a lot of your break outside on the deck, so be sure to pack plenty of sun cream and insect repellent. And don’t forget your camera, to capture all those special moments.
When it comes to clothing, comfort is key. It’s important to remember that storage space is limited, so you’ll need clothes that can be folded and fit into drawers as well as hung in wardrobes.
Non-slip trainers or shoes (without laces) for when you’re on deck are important for safety, and it’s worth packing some wellies too, in case it gets wet or muddy when you moor up.
Sunglasses and hats are also essential to help protect against the sun.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that the weather can change quickly – it can be baking hot one minute and cold the next, so you should take some warm, comfy clothes along with your deck shorts and t-shirts. Waterproofs will also come in handy if it rains, but we do provide Military-1st high grade waterproof ponchos for your use too.
When it comes to entertainment, both our boats have been equipped with the latest on-board technology and an array of games and some magazines, but you might want to bring your favourite DVDs, CDs, board games and books along too.
Enquire about your luxury narrowboat holiday now
If you’re planning a luxury break with a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Our luxury narrowboats are available to hire for a unique getaway with all the home comforts you need, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday in style.
Just don’t leave things too late to book, or you might miss out.