Le Boat launches a new base in Canada’s capital, Ottawa
Le Boat has revealed plans to expand into Ottawa, Canada, for its 2023 season. From May, Europe’s largest self-drive boating company will be offering 32 state-of-the-art Horizon cruisers in Canada which can access the new base on Ontario’s historic Rideau Canal. Le Boat has included Ottawa in its self-drive itineraries since its launch on the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal in 2018. The new location is expected to attract more customers from the UK and Ireland, with the addition of Ottawa’s *Dows Lake Pavilion as a new satellite base. The new base is in response to demand generated by Le Boat’s guests to include more convenient one-way trips to Ottawa, and allows guests to visit Canada’s capital with a charm that extends beyond its ornate Victorian buildings. The country’s capital also features world-class museums, beautiful scenery, and a variety of unique neighbourhoods to explore.
Cheryl Brown, Le Boat’s managing director; says: “Today’s announcement reinforces Le Boat’s commitment to the Canadian market and the returning demand for international travel. Demand is flooding back and so it is best for clients to book now to secure bookings for the popular dates, the size of boat and the chosen base from where guests connect to the Rideau Canal more easily. We expect our new Le Boat base on the Rideau Canal to bring important economic benefits to Ontario. The new Ottawa base provides the opportunity to extend stays in Ontario from visitors ‘bookending’ their Rideau Canal excursion to enjoy the wonderfully diverse offerings of Ontario”.
The additional base will help Le Boat grow, and create new full-time and part-time jobs as it prepares customers to return. Le Boat’s guests will benefit from six new itineraries, including convenient one-way trips to Ottawa from its main base in Smiths Falls, Ontario, or vice versa. Ottawa continues to be a favourite destination for clients of all ages due to its world-class museums, fascinating attractions, festivals and events, and eclectic shopping and dining experiences.
“We could not be more thrilled to be welcoming Le Boat to Ottawa for the 2023 season“, says Catherine Callary, Vice President, Destination Development at Ottawa Tourism. She continues: “Working with this global company means additional exposure for our destination in several European markets. As international travel ramps up after the pandemic, the popular activity will be an additional draw for visitors to Ottawa. Clients arriving and departing from Dows Lake will have all of Ottawa’s tourism attractions and dining options available to them, benefiting those visitor experiences and Ottawa’s visitor economy”.
For the 2023 Season, Le Boat will be accepting delivery of two new Horizon Plus Cruisers (Horizon 1 Plus and Horizon 4 Plus) from Delphia Yachts, bringing their fleet on the Rideau to 32 boats. The boating season on the Rideau Canal starts on 19 May 2023 and ends on 9 October 2023. Clients will be able to cruise on the Horizon 1 Plus, Horizon 2 Plus, Horizon 3 Plus and Horizon 4 Plus from Le Boat’s new base in Ottawa and will have the option of choosing short breaks (three to six nights) or longer journeys (7-10 nights one-way or round-trip cruise options) starting in Ottawa or Smiths Falls. Boating holidays start from just £1,121/€1187 for a four-night cruise or from £1,874/€2161 for a seven-night cruise. Le Boat (+44 (0) 23 922 2177, www.leboat.co.uk)
