HOUSEBOATING FAQs

Guests who choose to book a vacation trip during a known pandemic, will not be refunded unless the reservation holder has a positive COVID-19 Test with in 14 days of their vacation and have purchased the Medical Cancellation Policy.

The whole check-in process can take up to 4-5 hours. This includes office paperwork, then once the boat is ready and assigned to you, Orientation and loading your belongings.

No, please bring your bedding and towels from home.

No, each boat has a stereo system on board. Please bring an aux cord with you to connect any iPods or phones to the stereo.

The provincial government does charge for park usage.  The following fees are applied per houseboat model:

• Cruiser: $75
• CC1, CC2, CC4:  $150
• CC3, CC5, CC6: $200
• Genesis 60 & Genesis 75: $200

Some work quite well, others not very well at all or only at specific locations. You should still give family and friends our office number (250) 836-2450), as this will be your best way of ensuring their messages reach you. If necessary we will advise you where the nearest telephone is to you so you can speak to the caller in person.

Yes, just make sure your family has our office phone number (250) 836-2450, and we will relay any messages to you via your V.H.F. radio. However, you must be monitoring your radio to receive the message. We require all guests fill out a Boat Manifest prior to leaving dock. This manifest ensures that we know which boat every guest is on in the event of a family emergency.

In the event of a medical emergency, call 911.  There is a rescue boat on the lake, they will come get you.  If you can’t reach 911 by your cell, call us via radio. Cell phones do not work on all areas of the lake.

Friends can join you in the middle of your trip.  You will need to call a water taxi.  We suggest using Sea Dog Boat Rentals as they leave from our dock.  Their number is 250-836-4567.  Or the houseboat can return to Old Town Marina to pick up guests.

Before dark you must “beach” your houseboat – houseboats cannot be safely secured in the middle of the lake as it is too deep – and we don’t provide anchors! You will be instructed on how to do this during your Captain’s Orientation. There are over 30 marine parks to choose from on the Shuswap Lake system.

Your houseboat will travel up to 6 knots or 7 miles an hour. We do recommend a specific travel speed to allow you to achieve the best fuel consumption. For example the average cruising time from Sicamous to Cinnemousun Narrows is 3 hours.

The ‘Captain’ of the houseboat must hold a valid driver’s licence and be at least 19 years old.

We are dog and cat friendly.  There is a fee of $50 for a small pet and $75 for a large pet.  Both are subject to tax.  These fees are a 1 time fee for the duration of your trip.

Return times are on an assigned basis between 8AM and 10AM on your final day.

The Captain’s Orientation covers all the operating systems of the houseboat. We also include a video onboard that you may review at any time, along with an Operating Manual specific to the boat you have chartered.

Anyone over the age of 19 can drive the houseboat provided that they have completed the Captain’s Orientation and hold a valid driver’s license.

OPTION A: Pay the balance (less deposit) 120 days prior to departure.

OPTION B: Pay the balance (less deposit) in 4 equal monthly installments starting 120 days prior to departure. (120 days / 90 days / 60 days / 30 days) for an additional 5% administration fee.

We accept VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, INTERAC or CASH! For more detailed information, please view our Policies page.

Your costs are minimal. You pay for the gas you use during your vacation, marine park fees, septic pump out and daily insurance during your trip. Your fuel costs will vary depending on upon how far you travel, cruising rpm, generator usage as well as the use of the remote fuelling station. We suggest budgeting around $200 a night in fuel for our smaller boats, $300 a night for our larger boats. These numbers are estimates and for the majority trips is on the high side, the final fuel cost is calculated at the end of the vacation when boat is fuelled up. *Fuel price on the water varies throughout the season*

Septic pump-out fee is $30. Marine park fees are charged per boat type.

Damage Deposit: Payment of $28/day will reduce the amount of security deposit required. If the payment is not made, we require the applicable damage deposit to be placed on a credit card as indicated:

Security Deposit: The security deposit will be applied to any outstanding charges including but not limited to lost or damaged items, late returns, excessively unclean boats, or any damages. Deposit must be placed on the Captain’s credit card. CASH OR PERSONAL CHEQUES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

Yes. All you require is a deposit of $500 (Cruiser, Mirage 42, CruiseCraft 1, 2, 3 and 4; Genesis 60, 70 & 75); the CruiseCraft 5 and 6; and the Legacy 94 require a deposit of $1500 to confirm your reservation. Your deposit will be applied to your charter fee and is required 10 days after making your reservation. Your deposit can be paid over the phone by approved credit card or you may mail a money order.

We recommend you reserve your houseboat 6 months to a year in advance, but we can usually accommodate most requests, as long as you have some flexibility in dates and houseboat types. It’s also always worthwhile calling us even on short notice (1-800-663-4026), as we occasionally get cancellations. If you are requiring very specific dates for your vacation, we highly recommend that you book 12 months in advance. Check out our online booking for to view immediate availability.

Houseboat vacations with Twin Anchors are based on the size of the boat, features, the number of people it can accommodate, the season you choose to vacation in and how many nights you would like to spend on Shuswap Lake. Choose the houseboat type that fits your needs and view the rates.