Imagine unwrapping your Christmas gifts as you float by wintry hamlets, tucking into your turkey dinner at a waterside pub and toasting the Queen's speech as you cruise past the grade II listed Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

These are just some of the highlights from Black Prince Holidays' new Christmas canal boat holidays, which leave from the narrowboat specialist's newest base at Clifton upon Dunsmore, near Rugby.

Prices start from just £729 for seven nights departing 22 December on a narrowboat sleeping up to four people ( www.black-prince.com, 01527 575 115).

Frost tinged Christmas cruises along several canals are available, giving travellers the chance to enjoy the festive period with family and friends at a snail's pace as they meander through some of the UK's prettiest scenery.

Christmas canal cruises aren't only for the hardiest of waterway enthusiasts, every award-winning Black Prince boat is equipped with central heating, hot showers, proper duvets, TV for festive films and wifi to keep in touch with the outside world.

It is free to moor almost anywhere on the canal network, so unscheduled stops to explore the festive celebrations in destinations such as Stratford-upon-Avon and Royal Leamington Spa, or to grab a bite to eat by a roaring fire in a canal-side pub, are part of the experience.

Leighton Jones, operations manager at Black Prince Holidays says: “A canal cruise is a unique way to enjoy Christmas and is perfect for anyone who wants to escape the usual frenetic pace of the festive holiday.

“Wrap up warm, cruise for a few hours, moor the boat and then head to a country pub as darkness falls – could there be a more appealing Christmas treat?”

Black Prince Christmas cruises start from just £729 for seven nights departing 22 December on a Princess Narrowboat sleeping up to four people. To book visit www.black-prince.com or call 01527 575 115.

Four Christmas canal cruises to discover

Warwickshire Ring is a fascinating and energetic trip through the historic towns of Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick and Birmingham. Travellers can also head south to Stratford Upon Avon, the home of William Shakespeare.

Oxford Canal is a countryside cruise through pretty scenery to picture postcard canal-side villages; look out for the huge tunnels at Braunston, Stoke Bruerne and Blisworth.

Leicester Line is a beautifully scenic, meandering waterway through rolling hills and unspoilt countryside of central England.

Ashby Canal has just one lock for miles of stress free cruising past the Battlefield of Bosworth, Shackerstone Steam Railway and many small villages.

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Notes to editors

About Black Prince Holidays

Black Prince Holidays is one of the UK's leading narrowboat specialists. The Bromsgrove-based company has a fleet of award winning narrow boats at 10 bases across England, Scotland and Wales, and is has British Marine Federation accredited personnel for hire boat instruction and handover procedures.