Uber enters the boat hire market: launching this summer on Europe’s coasts

Uber Boat: Head to the Mediterranean via the app
By summer 2026, booking a boat will be as easy as hailing a taxi. Uber is launching the new Uber Boat service in partnership with European boat hire specialist Click&Boat – integrated directly into the familiar Uber app.
The official launch took place at the end of April 2026 at the Uber event GO-GET 2026 in New York, where the company presented its strategy to evolve from a pure ride-hailing platform into a comprehensive travel and lifestyle provider.

How does Uber Boat work?

Users will soon see a boat icon in the Uber app. Tapping on it opens the booking process via the Click&Boat platform. The service is specifically aimed at leisure trips – such as day trips, sunset cruises or excursions to secluded bays – and not primarily at point-to-point water transfers.

According to Uber, all trips are operated exclusively by certified professional skippers, so neither a boat licence nor sailing experience is required. Bookings can be made either as an instant booking or on request with the respective boat owner.
Prices correspond to the standard rates on the Click&Boat platform and are not marked up by Uber. For the Côte d'Azur area (Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez), daily rates can range from around €250 to over €3,000, depending on the type of boat, date and number of passengers. Uber One members receive 10% of the booking cost back as Uber credit.

The partnership with Click&Boat

Uber does not operate its own fleet of boats. The service is based entirely on the infrastructure of Click&Boat, a Paris-based company often referred to as the ‘Airbnb of boats’. The platform lists over 55,000 privately owned boats in around 100 countries – ranging from motorboats and sailing boats to catamarans.

Christian Berces, CEO of Click&Boat, sees the partnership as democratising boating: coastal regions, islands and hidden coves that were previously difficult to reach are now becoming accessible to a much wider audience. The model is aimed particularly at younger travellers seeking extraordinary and shareable experiences.

Launching in mid-June – these cities are taking part

The pilot scheme will run from mid-June to October 2026 – specifically during the Mediterranean high season. In total, more than 20 coastal towns across five countries are planned:

The official launch date for the Côte d'Azur has been set for 26 June 2026. A coastal boat service between Nice and Cannes is also planned – an alternative to the road traffic, which is often plagued by congestion in the summer.

Uber on its way to becoming the "app for everything"

Uber Boat is not an isolated project, but part of a clear diversification strategy. The company has already signed agreements with the Expedia Group and the Accor hotel chain to integrate accommodation bookings into the app. Added to this is the acquisition of Blacklane, a global chauffeur-booking platform.
In parallel, Uber is testing autonomous robotaxis in the US and has launched Uber Elite, a premium service for business travellers. The strategy: a single digital tool for all mobility and travel needs – from city taxi rides to boat trips in the Mediterranean.

Fazit

Uber Boat is the first service to position sailing and motorboating as a spontaneous leisure activity that can be booked on demand. The summer of 2026 will reveal whether the model will take off beyond the pilot phase. For travellers along Europe’s coastlines, it at least offers a new, convenient option – directly through an app.

Source

All sources were accessed in May 2026. This article reflects the information available at the time of research.