Who owns the boats on boat and cycle tours

[PAB855]

Studying different boat and bicycle tour/Holiday operators, it looks as if the boats can be filled by people who book through many different organisations, just like booking theatre tickets. Even my lbs offers holidays and they must be forwarding all the details to a bigger organisation.

Just as a matter of interest, do the crews have shares in the boat? Is the captain the owner?

Curiosity killed the cat

[simonhill]

What sort of bike and boat holidays are you talking about?

[PAB855]

The type of boat where the majority are people on bikes hired from the boat. The boat is the overnight accommodation every night and while the boat cruises from place to place, the people on holiday cycle on a variety of routes and go back on board later in them day.

Cheers

[eileithyia]

Interesting thought but would assume ultimately the company that owns / operates the cruise boat. Are you thinking along the lines of ultimate maintenance and insurance issues?

[simonhill]

I'm still unclear about what sort of tours. Do you mean the big European River tours, or something more local like English canal boats?

Whatever, the threads connecting businesses are often long and complicated. For example, Hoseasons' canal fleet used to be mainly owned by private individuals who bought as an investment, got limited usage rights, but then had the boat after a few years. Hoseasons owned the business, but with limited assets.

The big Euro cruisers may be owned by the skipper or a consortium or by the company eg Viking, who run the trips. Pretty specialist knowledge, but I'm sure you could find out from the relevant authorities.

As to the 'extras' and as an example, in the past some pub landlords were allowed perks, such as supplying food, etc. It is probably similar on the boats, some probably have specific things run by stakeholders others are all company business,.

Why do you want to know?

[PAB855]

Just curious because different boat and bike tour operators offer the same tours on the same boats and as far as I can make out, on the same dates?

Cheers

[RickH]

Just curious because different boat and bike tour operators offer the same tours on the same boats and as far as I can make out, on the same dates?

Cheers

It will probably depend on the size of the boat.

A big boat may sell spaces via a number of companies, who may well organise different itineraries for the cycling.

A smaller one will probably have an exclusive charter of the boat by the folk organising the overall trip. There may be companies who both own the boat & organise the trips.

CTC Holidays usually list a couple that seem to be the smaller boat type trips mainly using the canals of the Netherlands (but none showing on the website at the moment).

This page (on the Boat Bike Tours site) gives an idea of the differing types & sizes of vessel used.

[Bonefishblues]

Big boat - just like hotel.