CA publishes updated Cruising Guides to Europe's Inland Waterways

The Cruising Association has launched new, fully updated editions of its seven flagship inland waterways cruising guides - essential companions for anyone planning to explore the heart of Europe by boat.

The updated titles are:

• An Introduction to the European Inland Waterways
• Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium
• Through France via the Inland Waterways
• Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes
• 50 Great Cruising Routes in the Netherlands
• Cruising the River Moselle/Mosel
• The German Rhine

Produced by the CA's European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS), these full-colour print and digital guides are packed with the latest information, directly from members who have been cruising the canals and rivers throughout 2025. Editions are written by EIWS members and edited by Gordon Knight.

More than a Cruising Guide

Whether you are dreaming of your first trip or are a seasoned ‘waterway explorer’, these guides offer unparalleled insight. For anyone purchasing a guide, there's an immediate welcome for non-members of a 15% discount* (valid until 31 December 2026).

For existing CA members, digital editions are free to download. These interactive editions are packed with hyperlinks to additional resources and integrate seamlessly with the CA's award-winning CAptain's Mate app, providing the latest location information. Members can also download free GPX files of most of the routes, simplifying cruise planning with a single click.

A library of exploration

The seven updated titles cover everything from a first cruise to complex route-planning:

• An Introduction to the European Inland Waterways (£19.95 plus P&P) is the perfect starting point. This 109-page guide answers every beginner’s question: What's it like? What boat do I need? What are the rules and required qualifications? The guide offers practical advice for yacht and motorboat owners, with chapters on France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands outlining main routes, attractions, and official and app-based resources.
• Now in its 30th edition, Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium (£39.95 plus P&P) is the trusted companion for thousands. This 278-page guide is indispensable for planning routes, especially for skippers heading to and from the Mediterranean. It also contains a wealth of information on preparations, supplies, equipment, licences and documents, useful addresses, books and websites. It lists around 250 mooring places with maps of all routes and comments upon facilities, depths, prices, closest shops and restaurants and nearby attractions.
• For yachts up to 1.8m draught, Through France via the Inland Waterways (£23.95 plus P&P) details the four main routes to the Mediterranean, including preparations, boat handling in locks, and over 100 hyperlinked resources in the digital edition. It details preparation, equipment, licences, navigation, lock handling and supplies, plus comprehensive mooring information.
• Two guides unlock the Netherlands. Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes (£17.95 plus P&P) details navigation information on 14 different routes to transit the Netherlands, covering over 1000km of waterways from Vlissingen near the Belgian border to Delfzijl close to the border with Germany. The considerably expanded 50 Great Cruising Routes in the Netherlands (£39.95 plus P&P) covers over 50 routes across the 12 provinces, with step-by-step navigation and local insights. Explore bridge and lock procedures and times, moorings and facilities, highlights of major cities and villages, and sources of information on every aspect of Netherlands cruising.
• For focused journeys, Cruising the River Moselle/Mosel (£13.95 plus P&P) covers the 394km route from Neuves-Maisons in France through Luxembourg and Germany to Koblenz on the Rhine. It provides step-by-step navigation details, lock and bridge data, moorings and facilities, plus highlights of cultural and visitor attractions along the river. The German Rhine (£9.95 plus P&P) provides essential guidance on navigating 725km of this spectacular river from Rheinfelden to Nijmegen, just inside the Dutch border. It introduces the hazards and highlights, mooring points, fuel stations, ports, harbours, along with online and printed information sources.

The voice of experience

"The CA’s guides are invaluable," says EIWS Section Secretary Julian Dussek. "I would not cruise Europe's inland waterways without them. They are packed with information and contain lovely colour illustrations and are kept up to date with reports submitted by CA members. The information is not restricted to basic details but includes personal comments such as how to approach pontoons in a particular marina or where the shower jetons may be obtained in another."

All seven guides are available in full-colour print or PDF digital format via the CA online shop.

For more information on these and the CA's eighteen other inland waterways publications, visit the European Inland Waterways Cruising Information page.

Cruising Skills Week - 23-28 March 2026

As part of Cruising Skills Week, the EIWS will host a free webinar on Friday 27 March: 'Cruising Routes on the European Inland Waterways: Preparation, Routes and Planning'.

Open to members and non-members, this session is a great opportunity to gain expert advice and insights. Find out more and book your place for this and other weekday webinars, as well as the Go Affordable Boating Seminar on 28 March, at www.theca.org.uk/cruising-skills-week.

*First year of membership, when paying by Direct Debit - for one or two members at the same address.