Every year new boats are added to the Drifters fleet.

We offer the choice of over 500 canal boats for hire from 40 locations across England, Wales and Scotland. Every year we build new boats overs the winter, ready to launch the following spring.

Here’s a guide to our new narrowboats for hire in 2026:

The new ‘Princess 2 Royal’ will launch at Falkirk

This 47ft cruiser stern narrowboat for two will be available from Falkirk on the Scottish Lowland Canals. The Princess 2 Royal is perfect for couples and beginners, as the shorter length makes it easier to steer. The boat features a galley kitchen at the back of the boat with microwave, 4-ring gas cooker, oven, grill, small fridge, toaster and cooking equipment. There’s a full-sized double bed in the front of the boat (which can be extended to king size). The saloon has a smart TV, and a seating/dining area that can be converted into a double-bed. The boat also has a bathroom with a full sized shower, wash basin and flushing toilet.

*2026 prices for the new Princess 2 Royal start at £1,049 for a short break, £1,499 for a week.  Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, damage waiver, buoyancy aids, bed linen, towels and first pet.  Fuel is charged on return, circa £10-15 per day.

The new ‘Crown Royal’ narrowboat will be available from Stoke Prior

This new 65ft Royal range ‘Crown’ cruiser stern narrowboat for up to six people will be available from Stoke Prior on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Worcester. The Crown is a great choice for friends holidaying together as there are two separate bedrooms with full-sized double beds (or two singles) and two toilet and shower rooms. The Crown also features a spacious galley kitchen with microwave, a large flat screen TV and DAB/Bluetooth Radio.

*2026 prices for the new Royal range Crown narrowboats start at £1,249 for a short break, £1,849 for a week.  Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, damage waiver, buoyancy aids, bed linen, towels and first pet.  Fuel is charged on return, circa £10-15 per day. 

The new ‘Crown Royal’ narrowboat will be available from Napton

This new 65ft Royal range ‘Crown’ cruiser stern narrowboat for up to 6 people will be available from Napton, where the South Oxford Canal meets the Grand Union Canal. The Crown is a great choice for friends holidaying together as there are two separate bedrooms with full sized double beds (or two singles) and two toilet and shower rooms, allowing for more space and privacy. The Crown also features a spacious galley kitchen with microwave, a large flat screen TV and DAB/Bluetooth Radio.

*2026 prices for the new Royal range Crown narrowboats start at £1,249 for a short break, £1,849 for a week.  Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, damage waiver, buoyancy aids, bed linen, towels and first pet.  Fuel is charged on return, circa £10-15 per day. 

A new ‘Ocean Class’ narrowboat will launch at Trevor

A new 60ft ‘Ocean’ Class cruiser stern narrowboat for up to 10 people will be available to hire from Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales.  The boat will feature: two double cabins and three sleeping areas that can either be configured as a doubles or singles; a toilet/shower room; and an extra toilet.

*2026 ‘Ocean’ Class prices start at £1,245 for short break, £1,615 for a week.  Price includes bed linen, towels, first pet, parking and tuition on arrival.  A fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) is extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day. There’s a compulsory £50 damage waiver. Second and third pets are charged at £25 each for a short break, £35 each for a week.

A new ‘Ocean Class’ narrowboat will launch at Wootton Wawen

A new 60ft ‘Ocean’ Class cruiser stern narrowboat for up to 10 people will be available to hire from Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal in Warwickshire.  The boat will feature: two double cabins and three sleeping areas that can either be configured as a doubles or singles; a toilet/shower room; and an extra toilet.

*2026 ‘Ocean’ Class prices start at £1,245 for short break, £1,615 for a week.  Price includes bed linen, towels, first pet, parking and tuition on arrival.  A fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) is extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day. There’s a compulsory £50 damage waiver. Second and third pets are charged at £25 each for a short break, £35 each for a week.

The ‘Ringed Plover’ will launch at Hilperton

The 58ft ‘Ringed Plover’ semi-traditional stern narrowboat for up to 5 people will be available to hire from Hilperton, on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Trowbridge. The ‘Ringed Plover’ will have two cabins: the rear can be configured as one double or 2 singles, with optional wider beds; and the mid cabin will have a permanent double bed. The seating/dining area in the saloon can be converted into a single bed in the evening, if required. The bathroom has a hand basin, flush toilet and shower with bi-fold doors.  The boat has a fully equipped galley kitchen, two televisions and free wifi.

*2026 prices for ‘Ringed Plover’ start at £899 for short break, £1,999 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman’s waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week’s holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

The ‘Oriental Plover’ will launch at Whitchurch

The 58ft ‘Oriental Plover’ semi-traditional stern narrowboat for up to 5 people will be available to hire from Whitchurch on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire. The ‘Oriental Plover’ will have two cabins: the rear can be configured as one double or 2 singles, with optional wider beds; and the mid cabin will have a permanent double bed. The seating/dining area in the saloon can be converted into a single bed in the evening, if required. The bathroom has a hand basin, flush toilet and shower with bi-fold doors.  The boat has a fully equipped galley kitchen, 2 televisions and free wifi.

*2026 prices for ‘Oriental’ start at £899 for short break, £1,999 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman’s waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week’s holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

The ‘Peregrine Falcon’ will navigate from Gayton

The 69ft ‘Peregrine Falcon’ semi-traditional stern narrowboat for up to 8 people will be available to hire from Gayton on the Grand Union Canal near Northampton.  The ‘Peregrine Falcon’ will have three cabins. Two at the front which can either be configured as a double or 2 singles, with the option to make them wider. The mid cabin has a permanent double bed and the seating area can be converted into a double bed in the evening, if required. There are two bathrooms with hand basins, flush toilets and showers with bi-fold doors.  The boat has a fully equipped galley kitchen, two televisions and free wifi.

*2026 prices for ‘Peregrine Falcon’ start at £1,249 for short break, £1,799 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman’s waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week’s holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

‘Bamboo Partridge’ will cruise from Blackwater Meadow

The 66ft ‘Bamboo Partridge’ semi-traditional stern narrowboat for up to six people will arrive at Blackwater Meadow on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire.  The ‘Bamboo Partridge’ will have two double cabins that can be made up as singles or doubles (with optional wider beds), and the seating/dining area can be converted into a double bed. She will have two shower/toilet rooms, a front deck table, LED lighting, two televisions and WiFi.

*2026 prices for ‘Bamboo Partridge’ currently start at £1,199 for a short break, £1,649 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman’s waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week’s holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

‘Blackpoll Warbler’ will be bookable from Aldermaston

The new 69ft ‘Blackpoll Warbler’ semi-traditional stern narrowboat for up to 8 people will arrive at Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Berkshire.  The boat will have three cabins: one fixed as double; and two which can be configured as doubles or singles.  ‘Blackpoll Warbler’ will have LED lighting, a front deck table, optional wider beds, two shower/toilet rooms, WiFi and two TV’s.

*2026 prices aboard ‘Blackpoll Warbler’ currently start at £1,249 for a short break, £1,799 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, collision damage waiver, two pets, car parking and tuition.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week’s holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £10-15 per day.

The new ‘Duchess 6 Royal’ will be available from Acton Bridge & Stoke Prior

The new Duchess 6 Royal cruiser stern narrowboat for up to six people will be available from Acton Bridge on the Trent & Mersey Canal and Stoke Prior on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.  The Duchess 6 Royal features full-sized double beds (which can be extended to king size) in two cabins, and two toilet and shower rooms.  The saloon seating area can be made up into an extra double bed at night. There’s a spacious galley kitchen with microwave, a large flat screen TV and DAB/Bluetooth Radio.

*2026 prices for the new Duchess 6 Royal start at £1,249 for a short break, £1,849 for a week.  Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, damage waiver, buoyancy aids, bed linen, towels and first pet.  Fuel is charged on return, circa £10-15 per day.