Starting in mid-June 2026, Uber plans to launch Uber Boat on the coast of the Alpes-Maritimes, notably in Nice and Cannes. In partnership with Click&Boat, the mobility platform will allow users to book sea outings with a skipper directly from its application.
Uber Boat: a sea service based on a local partnership
By mid-June 2026, residents and tourists on the Côte d’Azur will see a new way to travel appear in Nice and Cannes: booking a boat directly from the Uber application. Called Uber Boat, this new service will provide access to sea outings with a skipper through a partnership with Click&Boat, Europe’s leading boat rental specialist.
According to Manon Guignard, Head of Product & Consumer Communications at Uber France, this launch “is part of a broader vision of Uber in terms of travel” and marks “the ambition to accelerate in the tourism sector.” Uber will therefore rely on Click&Boat’s existing offering to connect users with boat owners, thus promoting the local economy.
The goal will therefore be to make these experiences more visible and more accessible. Skippers who own boats will retain management of their activities (schedules, routes, prices…).
A simple and personalized maritime experience
With Uber Boat, the goal is not to offer a simple maritime transport method, but an experience designed around discovering the Côte d’Azur coastline. The service will be based exclusively on sea outings supervised by certified professional skippers. They will be responsible for ensuring organization and safety of trips that will be adapted according to weather conditions and validated by the skipper.
From the application, users will be able to suggest a route, for example between Nice and Cannes. However, final validation will remain with the professional, depending on the conditions and feasibility of the route.
“The service focuses on experiences with a skipper, for sea outings, discovering the surrounding area or moments with friends and family“, explains Manon Guignard. Users will be able to book excursions for half-day or full-day trips, guided tours of the coastline or private outings according to their preferences.
In the application, Uber Boat will have its own space, accessible like other platform services. “The idea is that it is as simple to book a boat as a car on the application, in just a few clicks“, emphasizes the communications manager. Two booking modes will be offered: an instant option, automatically validated when the boat is available, and a “on request” option, requiring the owner’s agreement based on availability.
Prices will remain aligned with those already offered on Click&Boat and will vary depending on the type of boat (sailboats, semi-rigid boats…), the duration of the outing or the number of passengers. “Generally speaking, these are affordable and reasonable prices“, indicates Manon Guignard. Uber One subscribers will also benefit from approximately a 10% discount.
Nearly 150 boats on the Côte d’Azur
Among the first cities affected by the launch of Uber Boat are Nice and Cannes, two emblematic destinations on the Côte d’Azur. In this region, demand for nautical activities is already well established, particularly during the summer season. “These are coastal cities with strong tourism stakes and an offering already very present on Click&Boat“, notes Manon Guignard.
Uber continues its ambition to combine multiple uses within the same application: having food delivered, booking a ride, shopping… and soon, booking a sea outing. The company thus wants to simplify the lives of users, whether at home or traveling.
In this logic, a partnership with the Accor group is planned for the second quarter of 2026 to integrate hotel booking directly in the application. This development is part of Uber’s desire to expand its tourism and travel offerings.
By launching Uber Boat in cities where Click&Boat is already well established, Uber relies on an existing nautical offering. The objective is to respond to strong summer demand while ensuring a smooth experience for visitors. In Nice, for example, approximately 150 boats will be available from launch. Monaco, however, could be more difficult to integrate in the short term due to regulatory and municipal constraints.
With this targeted rollout, the platform aims to serve both local and tourist clientele seeking sea experiences directly accessible from an application already widely used on a daily basis.
While the Accor collaboration represents the next step in the project, Uber is currently focusing its efforts on the deployment of Uber Boat, designed for locals, travelers and international tourists. The long-term objective: multiply the uses of the application to cover all needs related to mobility and leisure.
Associations warn of maritime “uberization” risks
Regarding environmental protection, Uber Boat claims to rely on the expertise of local boat owners, who guarantee compliance with maritime regulations and protected areas. Part of the fleet is electric, and the boats offered are not new, thus promoting resource reuse.
However, some associations such as Terre Bleue warn of the risks of “uberization of the sea“. This concerns increased pressure on sensitive coastal areas and pollution linked to thermal engines that still dominate. Moreover, the association highlights an inconsistency: if municipal restrictions have reduced the presence of cruise ships, the arrival of Uber Boat now multiplies small boats, raising questions. These warnings are endorsed by many co-signatories, including Françoise Loquès (marine biology specialist) and Daniel Moatti (researcher engaged on environmental issues in the Mediterranean), both members of the FNE PACA movement (France Nature Environnement PACA).
The association calls for enhanced vigilance to ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of marine ecosystem preservation.
While Uber remains cautious about the arrival of this new service, the group already anticipates strong enthusiasm with the beginning of the summer season.
Elisa Lanois and Charlotte Nguyen Van
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