Private or Shared Houseboat? Which One Should You Choose
We all know that to experience Alleppey backwaters, one need to make a trip in the canals and rivers of Alleppey in any means of water transport. One option is houseboat. Most of the guests book a houseboat for themselves. i.e. a private boat for their stay and backwater trip. Since houseboat stay is very expensive compare to hotel stay and the fact that availability is much less than requirement, some of the houseboat operators who have more than 3 or 4 rooms in a single boat start giving on sharing with other guests. That means, if a 4 or 5 bed room houseboat is given as sharing basis, each couple will get separate rooms with attached bathroom in one houseboat. They can share common lobby, dining area, top floor, sun deck etc., this is called a sharing houseboat.
In recent years, some houseboat operators have started offering themed shared cruises—for example, art or photography-focused tours, where like-minded travelers can meet. However, these remain niche and less common in Alleppey than in destinations like Kumarakom.
What is a Private Houseboat?
Unlock Best Deal on Kerala Tour Package NowA private houseboat means full boat is given to one couple or one family or group. You will get full privacy, your own bedroom(s), living room, dining space, staff for your group only, and customized food menu. It is perfect for honeymoon, family holiday, or peaceful relaxation.
What is a Shared Houseboat?
A shared houseboat is one big boat with 3-6 bedrooms, where you book only one room and other rooms are given to other couples or families. You will have to share common areas like the lobby, dining table, sundeck, and sometimes waiting time too.
This is mostly chosen by budget travelers, but there are some challenges which you must know.
Private vs Shared Houseboat – Key Differences
| Feature | Private Houseboat | Shared Houseboat |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Full privacy | No privacy in common areas |
| Cost | Expensive | Budget-friendly |
| Customization (Food, Route) | Full control | Fixed menu & route |
| Cruise Timing | Flexible | Delays possible |
| Ideal For | Honeymoon, Families | Solo/Budget travelers |
| Food Safety | Separate cooking | Veg/Non-veg mixed use |
| Sightseeing Time | Maximum | Reduced due to pickups |
Cost Comparison: Private vs. Shared Houseboat Rentals in Alleppey
There is a considerable reduction in prices of sharing houseboats than private houseboats. Below is a chart prepared to know the average price reduction in case of sharing a houseboat.
| Guests | Deluxe Houseboat | Luxury, Full Time AC Houseboat | ||
| Private | Sharing | Private | Sharing | |
| 2 Adults 1 Double Room | Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 | Rs 6,500 to Rs 7,000 | Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 | Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 |
| 8 Adults One 4-Bedroom | Rs 24,000 (4‑bed) | Approx. Rs 17,000 total (Rs 4,250 per couple) | Approx. Rs 48,000 (4‑bed) | Approx. Rs 32,000 total (Rs 8,000 per couple) |
| 8 Adults One 4 Bedroom | – | – | Rs 48,000 (4‑bed) | Approx. Rs 32,000 total |
Though there is considerable price saving in case of sharing houseboats, it creates more problems than comfort.
Common Challenges of Sharing a Houseboat:
- Most of the sharing houseboats have more than 3 rooms in one boat. That means, three or four different couple, who does not know each other, is going to stay in one boat.
- Lobby in the houseboat is the main area where guests used to sit and have relaxing sightseeing. Most of the houseboats dining table is also placed in the lobby. In this case, one lobby and dining table is being shared by unknown three different couples. Naturally there will be a problem since three unknown couples sharing a common dining table.
- Proper check in is a problem. Suppose one couple is staying in Alleppey and he is ready for check in at 12:00 pm, but other one couple is coming from Kovalam and reaching at 01:00 pm only. In this case the boat start at 12:00 pm, cruise for 40 mins and then come back to jetty to receive the guest at 01:00 pm. In case the third couple is coming from Munnar and he got delayed and reaching only at 03:00 pm, then either the boat need to wait till 03:00 pm or make some sightseeing and come back to jetty to receive other couple. The ultimate result is loss of sightseeing and visiting good places for which you are paying the money.
- If someone wants to have an early check out, the boat needs to be placed where road access is there. Normally a boat start moving and having sightseeing in different canals and stay overnight in a village area and come back to main land for check out.
- Security problems. Since these different couples joining together for an overnight stay, in case of any theft or any other problem faced by the guests, the boat staff may not be able to interfere.
- Always veg food will be a problem. Please note, out of 3 couples, in case two is Jain or pure veg and other couple is non veg, everything is cooked in the same small kitchen. Who knows that utensils are being used to cook veg and non veg simultaneously?
Read Also: 12 Best Places to Visit in Alleppey with Family for 1-2 Days
What About Food? Veg/Non-Veg Problems:
Food is one of the main issues in shared boats. In small kitchens, there is no separate setup for veg and non-veg. So:
- Jain or pure veg guests may feel uncomfortable
- Some utensils are used for both types of food
- No proper hygiene checks
In private houseboats, you can decide your menu, timing, and request Jain/veg-only food separately.
How to Identify a Shared Houseboat Rental Booking?
In case if you are choosing a travel agent to book the houseboat, it may clearly mentioned that you need a private houseboat and not sharing. But if you book with an online travel portal, it is very difficult to identify whether it’s private or sharing. Just see below Screenshots from booking.com and makemytrip.com
In the above & below screenshots, you can clearly mark that houseboats have more than one bedroom. So you will get one bedroom in a booking but if you wish to book more rooms you are free to book but it’s depends on availability of bedrooms. In this case online booking websites not mentioned that this will be shared houseboat. So you will get surprised when another couple/family checked in same boat at same time.
In the above both screenshots, the picture of the boat is of Casino Boat and JCT boat which is having 11 rooms and 6 rooms respectively. If you further check the availability, it shows 2 adults, 1 room cost is start from Rs 6000. This means, you are getting a room out of 11 room/ 6 room houseboat, purely a sharing boat. Moreover, a sharing boat price is not more than 5000.
Our recommendation – Your vacation is planned many days and weeks ahead and looks for a comfortable, memorable and enjoyable trip. Do not spoil your enjoyment or vacation against a few thousand rupees. It is highly recommended to go for a private boat or stay in a resort, rather than book a sharing houseboat against a small saving.
Srees Tours, a local travel agent in Kumarakom (Alleppey) provides good houseboats with guaranteed service.
While private houseboats provide the ultimate personalized experience, eco-conscious travelers might also explore hybrid packages that combine short canoe trips with overnight resort stays. These offer a deeper look into village life, untouched lagoons, and reduce the environmental load on backwaters.
FAQs:
A shared houseboat is rented by multiple parties, with common areas shared among guests.
Yes, shared houseboats can be suitable for families, though privacy may be limited.
Yes, both private and shared houseboats can be rented for single-day trips, depending on availability.
Consider your budget, need for privacy, and desired amenities.
