credit: Fox Narrowboats

1) A Floating Home Full of Surprises

There’s something magical about stepping aboard your very own boat for the week. It’s not just a holiday; it’s an experience. Fox Narrowboats come fully equipped with all the comforts of home: a galley kitchen, shower, toilet, and separate bedrooms. Boats like the 55 foot cruiser, Platinum Fox, even offer a double bed and two singles — ideal for families.

platinum fox narrowboat double bed cabin

As you unpack and explore, the kids will love claiming their bunks, opening every cupboard, and plugging in their gadgets to the USB sockets. (Yes, there’s power for tablets!) But don’t be surprised if the real fun starts when the devices are forgotten and they’re out on deck watching the world go by.

platinum fox narrowboat single beds in cabin

Browse the boats: Choose a holiday narrowboat.

2) Everyone Gets Their Own Space

Unlike cramming into a tent or squeezing into a hotel room, a narrowboat offers separate cabins, giving children and parents a little space. Older kids can chill with their phones or read a book, while adults enjoy steering the boat, making lunch, or catching up over a cuppa. It’s the best of both worlds: togetherness, with the option to retreat.

3) Bring the Dog Too

Yes, the family pet is invited. Our canal holidays are dog-friendly, so your four-legged friend can join the adventure. Dogs love trotting along the towpath, exploring mooring spots, or snoozing on deck while the boat gently chugs along. Just remember a life jacket for smaller breeds, and a lead for adventurous ones!

credit: dog with life vest Matt Seymour

The kids will appreciate that the dog can come to the pub, tag along on walks, and be part of the fun every step of the way.

You may also like: Canal Boating With Your Dog: The Ultimate Guide

4) A Screen-Free Adventure (Sort Of)

They may not know it yet, but the children are actually going to enjoy being outdoors. A child that was previously glued to a screen may find themselves sitting on deck watching the ducks, or walking the towpath, simply because there is so much to see and do. The boat will be travelling at less than four miles per hour so it’s possible to walk and keep up with the boat. Simple jobs like mooring up the boat together give a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of being part of a team. At the end of the day the whole family should feel tired in a good way, relaxing at a waterside pub, before taking a short walk back to the boat for a good night’s sleep.

Marmont Priory Lock

5) Easy Access to Family-Friendly Days Out

Our hire boat base in Cambridgeshire allows easy boating access to the Middle Level and several navigable rivers, with plenty to explore along the way. Think picnics in the sunshine, spotting kingfishers, and visiting historic sites like Ely Cathedral or Oliver Cromwell’s House. Interested in culture? You can cruise all the way to Cambridge and explore the University colleges or try punting on the river Cam. Museums, windfarms, old churches, local music festivals, quaint villages, ancient mills, medieval streets, fish and chips, and traditional pubs are just some of the things you can enjoy when you’re cruising in the Fens.

There’s something for everyone, from curious teens to inquisitive little ones (and grown-up history geeks, too).

6) Become Part of the Crew

If your weekdays feel like ships passing in the night, a narrowboat holiday brings you all back together… in the same boat! (Groan.) Before you set off, we’ll show you the ropes (literally), teaching your crew how to navigate and handle the boat safely. When you cast off and begin your first cruise there is a wonderful sense of freedom, and you’ll find you begin to spend quality time together.

credit: Scott Precious

Kids love getting involved, learning mooring knots, working the locks, or even having a go at steering, under supervision. Suddenly, everyone has a role. Even doing the dishes feels like an adventure when you’re chugging gently along on the river, with the countryside rolling past your window.

Ready to Make This Summer Unforgettable?

Whether it’s the freedom of the open water, the novelty of boat life, or the simple joy of shared experiences, a narrowboat holiday creates memories your kids will treasure for years.

credit : Fox narrowboats

Book your floating family adventure with Fox Narrowboats today, and discover the joy of slow travel, together. Booking on our website gets you an instant online discount.

Don’t miss more articles about what to see and do when narrowboating in the Fens: Sign up to follow this blog in the sidebar on the right.

Photos credits: dog life vest Matt Seymour on Unsplash, mooring Scott Precious on Unsplash

The post Why Your Kids Will Love a Narrowboat Summer Holiday appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Ahoy! 3 Fine Holiday Tips for Talk Like a Pirate Day

Do you enjoy a good pirate movie?

Fancy making your next canal boat trip one to remember?

Want to add a fun theme to your day boat trip?

Then look no further than International Talk Like a Pirate Day for some inspiration! This spoof international public holiday was dreamt up in the USA in 2002, when John Baur and Mark Summers suggested that everyone in the world should talk like a pirate, for one day. The one and only reason for this day is that, “Talking like a pirate is fun. It’s really that simple. It adds a zest, a swagger, to your everyday conversation.” Their website contains links to pirate glossaries, translators, name generators, music, events, festivals and more. My favourite phrase that I’ve found so far is the insult, “You son of a biscuit eater!”

Here are three ways that adding a pirate theme can improve your narrowboat holiday or day boat trip.

1) Act Like Kids

Have you ever set goals, as a couple or as a family, promising yourselves to spend more quality time together? Talk Like a Pirate Day is a good way to encourage grown-ups to let loose and enjoy silly, fun activities. So get a few cheap props together and dress as pirates on your next narrowboat trip. Acting like kids is just one of the 5 Family Goals You Can Achieve on a Narrowboat Holiday!

2) Be Prepared

At the very least you’ll want to bring some sea shanty music along with you. I recommend Admiral’s Hard, a 7-piece folk band offering shanties and traditional maritime folk songs. (Our boats are equipped with a CD stereo, and are fitted with a 12v and 230v socket for charging phones and laptops). You could also bring a bottle of rum, and some clothes to dress as pirates or mermaids. Invent new names for yourselves and make some pirate flags. Bring cheap jewellery and fake coins to make some pirate treasure and hide it on board the boat somewhere. Check out our top tips of what other extras to bring along when you’re boating with kids: Don’t Go On a Canal Holiday Without These 5 Kids Essentials.

3) Cruise Like a Celeb

Swashbuckling pirate of the Caribbean, Kiera Knightly, allegedly rented an East London canal boat in the summer of 2010. She was then sometimes seen taking a towpath walk through Hoxton with her partner. When a famous star wants to get back to nature, a narrowboat holiday is the perfect way to escape the paparazzi. A select few famous people have already discovered the secluded peace and quiet of England’s canals and waterways. Read more: How to Holiday Like a Celebrity Without it Costing a Fortune

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is on 19^th September, every year. If you want to expand your vocabulary beyond “Shiver me timbers”, “Avast!” and “Pass the grog!” check out this informative video: Talk Like a Pirate.

If ye wants to check that a worthy vessel is available for your next adventurous voyage, click here me hearty: Search narrowboat holiday dates.

And if ye be wanting day boat hire on the Cambridge river network for a group of up to 10 salty sea-dogs (and yes, you can actually bring your dog!) Click here: Day Boat Hire.

1. PS. Don’t miss out on more fun holiday ideas from the Fenland waterways: Sign up to get articles straight to your inbox, in the sidebar on the right.

The post Ahoy! 3 Fine Holiday Tips for Talk Like a Pirate Day appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.