Holiday Cruiser FAQs

• How far can I go in a short break?

  A typical short break’s holiday on your boat could take you to the popular village of Wroxham (home to the famous Roys Department store), Salhouse Broad with its lovely sandy beach and woodland walks and Ranworth where a boardwalk nature trail leads to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s floating visitor centre. You can also climb to the top of the 100ft tower of St Helen’s Church, which earns you an amazing view of the local broads & rivers.

• How far can I go in a week?

  For a week or longer, your holiday could take in the village of Potter Heigham and the River Thurne, South Walsham and Barton Broads, or venture south into the tranquil waters of the Yare and Waveney, where you will find open marshes, great fishing (in season), the vibrant and historic city of Norwich and the popular river destinations of Beccles, Oulton Broad and Waveney River Centre.

• What's included in the price of the holiday?

  Along with the price of the boat hire we also include a full tank of fuel, parking and collision damage waiver.

• Passage under bridges?

  Wroxham, Potter Heigham and Beccles all have low bridges through which some boats will not pass at any time.
  Water and tidal conditions may make bridges impassable to ALL boats at certain times. Wroxham bridge has a mandatory bridge pilot.

  There is a charge for using Wroxham bridge pilot this is payable to the Pilot at time of passage.

  We advise that none of our vessels will pass under Potter Heigham bridge at any time, due to higher water levels in the Broads network.

• I want to go fishing what are the rules?

  The Broads has a closed fishing season from March 15th to June 16th each year. You will not be allowed to fish anywhere on the Broads during this closed season. During the open season you will need a license – this can be obtained from a post office, there is one in the village.

  • Fishing gear can be stored on the boat. We recommend that rods, nets and poles be kept on the roof of the boat.
  • We do not allow maggots to be kept on the inside of our boats.
  • You are only allowed to fish when the boat is stationary.
• What will I find onboard?

  On board you will find a TV & DVD player, microwave, bed linen (duvets),  a well equipped galley, warm air heating, toilet & shower, buoyancy aids, hairdryer & boat handling manual. All craft have normal household electric sockets for you convenience, therefore you can use your normal chargers for your phones etc. 

  We leave a toilet roll for each toilet, a tea towel and starter pack for the galley.

  Please bring your own towels on all boats.

• Can I use my own hairdryer?

  Our boats (with the exception of Whisper and Silent) can only power up to 1000w.

  We put a suitable hairdryer onboard for you to use.

• Can I use hair straighteners?

  Yes most hair straighteners are fine to use on board.

  Check the rating of your product – it must be under 1000w.

• Can I charge my mobile phone?

  Yes there are mains sockets on each boat suitable for phone charging.

• Can I bring my dog?

  Most of our boats allow dogs (cats, birds, rabbits) on board, please check individual boat details.

  We do reserve some pet free boats for people who have allergies.

  We charge £35 per pet for a short break and £49 per pet for a week.

• I am a beginner - will I get on OK?

  Boating holidays at Ferry Marina are available to all, from complete beginners to experienced boaters. On arrival one of our experienced and friendly staff will jump on board your holiday cruiser and give you a full show out. This will include driving the boat, mooring up and using all the facilities on board. Any queries, no matter how big or small will be answered by our staff during this briefing.

  If you are still a little unsure due to your beginner status, many of our boats have bow thrusters which make manoeuvring your boat even easier. The staff here at Ferry Marina will always be on hand to answer any questions throughout your holiday and offer a constant support system.

• I have been before - do I still need a handover?

  Yes. We need to make sure you remember all the operating aspects of the boat and be happy that you are comfortable driving the boat. We also make alterations and improvements to our boats each year so operating instructions may differ year on year.

• What time can I arrive?

  Our arrival time is between 1pm and 5pm. We try our hardest to have the boat ready for your allocated arrival time, allowing our dedicated team of cleaners and engineers to get onboard and ensure your boat is ready for your arrival, however we do not guarantee that the boats will be ready as unexpected delays may occur. We will email you 7 days before you travel to confirm an allocated arrival time between 1pm and 5pm, occasionally we may be able to prepare the craft earlier and will advise you if this is possible.

• I need to arrive after 4:30pm - what do I do?

  If you cannot arrive before 4:30pm or traffic is bad and is causing a delay we can make the necessary provisions to ensure you can still get onboard your boat. Please contact the office here at Ferry Marina to alert us of your late arrival. You are more than welcome to climb onboard and establish yourselves. All we ask is you don’t leave the Marina until the following day when one of our staff will check you in and ensure any queries are answered before you depart for your relaxing Broads holiday.

• What is the minimum age a driver can be?

  A responsible adult must be in control of the boat at all times (18 years or older).

• Do I need any qualifications or experience?

  No qualifications or experience are needed to enjoy a Broads holiday. Our friendly members of staff are always on hand throughout your stay to deal with any queries. On arrival you will receive a briefing by an experienced crew member so even beginners leave the boat yard feeling confident and in control.

  We do ask that all in-experienced and new hirers read up on The Broads before their holiday and allow time for the full briefing before departing. If you arrive after 4pm and are new to boating we may complete some or all of your demo on the next day, to allow enough time to fully show you how the boat works.

• I can swim do I need a buoyancy aid?

  Yes. We recommend that you wear a buoyancy aid when walking around decks and getting on and off the boat.

  The river has mud, weeds and is tidal – being a good swimmer will not help if your legs are tangled or if you’re in a strong tide.

  We will fit everyone with a buoyancy aid before you get the boat.

• Can I get shopping delivered?

  We get very busy during peak arrival times, so we cannot accept delivery for you, if you are not here. Please ensure that you only arrange for delivery after your allocated arrival time, then it can go straight onto your boat. We do not have facilities to store cold or frozen food and cannot be responsible for food spoiling / defrosting.

• Can we bring bikes?

  Boats and bikes don’t mix. There is nowhere to store them without impeding the deck space and we don’t allow them on the roof as they damage the boat.

• I really like using wipes - what can I do?

  Just put them in a bag and dispose into refuse. Putting wipes of any description (yes even flushable) into our toilets will block them and we will charge for unblocking. Our lovely engineers definitely don’t want to be pulling wipes and sanitary products out of toilet pipes.

• I want a break away from everyone, can I come on my own?

  Get in touch with us if you wish to hire solo – we view each of these case by case. Don’t book unless you have spoken to us first. The things we consider are experience, physical ability (for mooring up), your proposed route and the boat you wish to take. The reason we take extra care is because there are risks involved in boating and being around tidal water. Mooring up solo is much more difficult than with another crew member to help.

  We may refuse to accept bookings for solo boaters.

• I am a single Mum/Dad - can I come on my own with the children?

  As with solo boating, we view each booking, on a case by case basis. Don’t book until you have spoken to us first. We consider the following, experience, age of the children, physical ability (for mooring up), number of children, proposed route and the boat you wish to take. We want everyone to have a happy and safe holiday, so we may not be able to accept single adult holidays, in all cases.

  Please call us and we will do our best to help.

• How long will the water last?

  This will depend on how long you shower for, how many times you flush the toilet and if you accidentally leave the tap running (this happens regularly). We recommend that you fill the tank up each day. Most places charge £1-£3 per fill. Tanks usually take 20 minutes to fill up.

• Will I need the toilet tank pumped out?

  If you are out for a short break you will usually not need a pumpout – it will depend how many times you flush the loo and how much water each flush.

  During a week away you will usually need to get the tank pumped out half way through the week. This is chargeable at other yards (£25-35), or if you are at Ferry Marina, we will do it for free.

• Am I allowed to smoke on board?

  All our boats are strictly non smoking – this includes e-cigarettes and all forms of vaping. We ask that you smoke completely off the boat, as smoke drifts back into the boat through open doors and windows.

  We do charge £50 for decontamination if you have smoked on the boat.

• What happens if I have a collision?

  We ask that you let us know immediately if you have a collision of any kind. This way we can assess damage and respond to any third parties. If you hit another boat please pass the owner or hirer our name and contact information. If another boat hits you please get their name, boat name and registration number.

• What are the speed limits on the Broads?

  Different stretches of river have different speed limits – there are round signs detailing the speed limits. They range from 3mph to 6mph. The speed limits ensure the river banks are protected from wash and also ensure moored boats are not damaged by large waves created from speeding boats. We expect everyone to keep to the speed limits and it is an offence to break these limits.

  The Broads Authority have rangers who keep an eye on speeding vessels and they will stop and fine hirers for speeding.

  The Broads is a place to relax and slow down.