I Rented a Houseboat on New York's Erie Canal-Here's What It's Like to Captain Your Own Cruise

""Slow travel" is trending, and from my experience, there's nothing slower-or more relaxing-than canal cruising. And it's not just because the average speed is 6 mph. Unlike river cruises, which hop in and out of bustling ports along major waterways, canal cruises are far more tranquil. They float along calmer, narrower channels, typically aboard small houseboats that only accommodate intimate groups."

"My first multiday canal cruise was with European Waterways along France's 17th-century Canal du Midi, aboard an eight-passenger barge-turned-floating luxury inn. We cruised slowly through the countryside, stopping for guided visits to wineries and medieval towns, and dined onboard with meals from a private chef. Self-guided cruising, on the other hand, strips away the luxury hospitality and adds a healthy dose of adventure-and that's exactly what I did this year."

"My adventure began with an hour-long orientation session, complete with videos explaining the do's and don'ts of operating a boat on the Erie Canal. While I listened studiously, the real learning happened during the three hours of hands-on, real-world training aboard our rental: a 41-foot Lockmaster named Cayuga. The exercise-a two-mile round trip to the nearest lock and back-was a confidence booster for a first-time captain like me, with no prior boating experience."

Slow travel includes canal cruising, which averages about 6 mph and prioritizes relaxation. Canal cruises are calmer than river cruises, moving through narrow, peaceful channels on small houseboats for intimate groups. A multiday cruise on France's Canal du Midi aboard an eight-passenger barge featured guided winery and medieval town visits and onboard dining prepared by a private chef. Self-guided rentals on the Erie Canal provide comfortable vessels with beds, kitchenettes, bathrooms, and air conditioning plus mandatory piloting training. Training consisted of an hour-long orientation with videos and three hours of hands-on practice aboard a 41-foot Lockmaster, including a two-mile lock exercise.

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