What “private charter” means here
When you charter privately, the boat is yours for the outing. No other guests join, and there's no shared timetable. The quote covers the entire vessel for your group, not a seat price per person. On the main pontoon that means up to 12 guests with a skipper and the onboard sound system included; on the electric canal cruise it's 2–4 people for a maximum of two hours, strictly within The Islands Estate canals.
You choose the occasion, the group and a requested duration. We then check skipper and vessel availability and confirm the details in a written quote before anything is fixed.
What a shared cruise usually means
A shared cruise runs to a set schedule and sells individual seats, so you pay per person and travel with other bookings. Departure times and route are fixed by the operator, and the group on board is mixed. That model suits travellers who want a single ticket on a public departure — it isn't what we offer.
How the two compare
We don't publish rival operators' prices. For our quote-only rates, see the prices page.
Which suits a couple or small group
Even for two, the private model applies. A couple can hire the whole main pontoon for a sunset outing, or choose the quieter electric canal cruise for 2–4 people within the estate canals. The choice is about the waterway and the mood you want — open dam or sheltered canals — not about sharing with strangers.
- Main pontoon charter — up to 12 guests, skipper and sound included, open dam waters.
- Electric canal cruise — 2–4 people, up to 2 hours, estate canals only (never the main dam).
Notice and next steps
Standard cruises need at least 24 hours' notice; the floating bar normally needs eight days (192 hours). We check availability and confirm in writing — an enquiry doesn't confirm a booking.