Imagine waking up with the sun shining through a porthole, and a gentle breeze. The boat in Gent was more than we could have asked for. We were a party of 6 adults, and the three-bedroom houseboat was more than large enough for all of us. (Note: there is one full bathroom with a shower and running water... then there's a chemical toilet for the bathroom in the rear of the boat to save those dwellers from going up and down ladders in the middle of the night.) Full living room, dining room and kitchen were available. Very, very spacious. On top of the boat is a little garden with a picnic table... great for enjoying morning coffee or late-night cocktails on the water.
You will get an occasional whiff of the murky canal, but it was rare and hardly noticeable. The boat doesn't move, so you won't get "seasick." What you will get is an experience like no other. We were sad to only spend 2 days aboard Luctor (translates to "I struggle and I emerge") -- and you'll even have a pet goldfish who our beer-loving group nicknamed "Thirsty." This was a huge highlight of our two-week stay and we've recommended it to our friends and family who live in Belgium for their next getaway.
Nick, the owner was very responsive with emails and questions... and although we tried to schedule a time to meet him, our group was constantly on the move and we weren't able to. Next time, Nick!