Imagine arriving in Friesland on a Saturday morning, ready for a week-long boat adventure, only to discover another family aboard 'your' rented vessel. A double booking had occurred. 'If only we'd arrived earlier,' my husband Frank remarked. In these situations, first come, first served often applies. So, what do you do next?
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This isn't our first encounter with a double booking. Previously, it happened during a trip to Marrakech, farther from home. I was far from pleased—recently having lost my mother after a six-month illness, emotions were high, and our plans were derailed. We accepted a lesser alternative as per the fine print, with little recourse.
This time, with the boat in Friesland, I approached it calmly. Staying in the Netherlands meant solutions were accessible, and home was just a drive away. As the saying goes, 'Every disadvantage has its advantage.'
Our children, however, were heartbroken. They'd anticipated this first real boating holiday for months—sailing and sleeping aboard. Arriving with a fully packed car to find the boat occupied was a tough blow.
We've been saving for years toward our own boat (or holiday home), though we're not quite there yet. For Frank, a boat tops the list. To test the waters, we opted for this charter. The original, Mr. Fred, measured about 8 meters—substantial for beginners. Frank's hands-on experience was limited to steering and mooring for a few hours on two occasions.
We've slept aboard smaller vessels too, like a cozy 7-meter boat with four of us, where standing upright wasn't possible. Charming for a night, but not for a full week.
Due to the double booking, Mr. Fred was unavailable. The rental owner offered a smaller alternative, suitable for only three sleepers, with one on a convertible couch. Unappealing, chilly, and impractical for a week—especially with our dog joining.
We stepped out for a walk while they sought a solution.
Read also: two weeks ago we walked on the Stubnerkogel!
The fix: Fantasy, a beautiful boat comparable to—but slightly larger than—Mr. Fred. The rental described it as 3 meters longer; actually, it's 11.5 meters. Frank paled at the prospect, but extra space appealed to me. I wouldn't be steering anyway.
We headed across the lake to inspect it at Bootvakantiefryslan.
Ultsje, the owner at Bootvakantiefryslan, greeted us warmly—a character, but genuinely welcoming. The double-booking frustration lifted. Despite Frank's nerves over the 11.5-meter length, by late afternoon, we were underway.
Stay tuned for more on our first days aboard Fantasy. Frank's tension eased into excitement!
