No Fee! Best Prices! Knowledgeable Staff!
Where is Callville Bay Marina located?
The full-service marina is located about an hour east of Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information including address, nearest airport and drive times, visit our Distances page.
Is there a bus from Las Vegas to Lake Mead?
There is not public transportation from Las Vegas to Lake Mead. Most people will rent a car and drive themselves especially due to the fact they need to grocery shop for their trip on the way. If you don’t want to rent a car, you can research private companies that you can hire to transport you.
Where is the nearest grocery store?
There are grocery stores in Henderson, Nevada, which is about midway between Las Vegas and the marina. Henderson has most of the grocery stores you’re looking for including Costco, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. While the marina does have a small store it is really only for last-minute convenience items and ice, so be sure to come as fully stocked as possible.
Are there special regulations to drive a boat in Nevada?
To drive a houseboat or small watercraft in Nevada you must have a valid driver’s license and the required certification (if any) from the state that issued your driver’s license. Various states have different laws and Nevada law requires you to follow your state’s regulations. To check your state’s regulations click here.
Will the lower water levels at Lake Mead affect my houseboat trip?
No. While lake levels are lower than previous years, there is still more than enough water to enjoy the same water activities as you have in the past. The National Park Service also does a good job at flagging areas that might be a hazard or too shallow to boat in.
Can I bring my pet?
Yes! All of the houseboats are pet-friendly so you have the option to leave your animals at home or bring them aboard for the adventure. Should you choose to bring your pets with you, there i
is a $100 non-refundable pet fee, per pet.
How old do you have to be to rent a houseboat?
You must be 21 years or older to rent a houseboat at Callville Bay Marina.
Do I need a specific license to drive the houseboat?
While your state might require you to obtain a Boater Education Card to operate a boat in Nevada, you don’t need to have any prior experience of driving a houseboat or a special license in order to rent one. When you check in for your rental you are required by law to go through an orientation, which lasts roughly an hour. The orientation includes an introduction to houseboating, how to operate your houseboat and how to anchor or stake your houseboat.
Even if your state doesn’t require you to have a Boater Education Card (if unsure check here) it just might pay off to get one. Callville Bay Marina rewards houseboat captains who have completed a state approved, NASBLA certified, boating safety course. Why you ask? Because your safety and the safety of others is the number one priority on the water! Only one discount is allowed per houseboat and the cardholder must be the captain who has signed the rental contract. Present your state issued Safe Boating Course ID card at the marina upon check in and receive a $50 discount on your houseboat rental.
How many people can I have on the boat? What is the difference between “max sleeps” capacity and “max underway” capacity?
The “max sleeps” is the amount of people the boat will sleep comfortably with two individuals to a bed. The max underway capacity is the amount of people you can have on the boat when it is in motion. All houseboats (with the exception to the 50’ houseboats which is 10 underway) are allowed up to 12 people on the boat when it is moving. This regulation is set and mandated by the United States Coast Guard.
Can I still rent a houseboat if I have more than 12 people in my party?
Yes you can. There are not any restrictions once the houseboat is anchored to shore. However in order to comply with the Coast Guard regulation of 12 underway, you would need to rent or bring an extra watercraft to transport any of the additional people in your party.
How much does a houseboat vacation cost?
The cost of your houseboat vacation will depend on a variety of factors including the size and type of boat, the time of year you go and how many days you plan to be on the boat. To see the pricing, visit each boat individually. You can also call us at 866-610-9698 or submit a connect form and one of our reservation specialists would be happy to assist you.
What does the houseboat come with?
The houseboats all come in different sizes with varying bed configurations, amenities and features, however they all come with a waterslide, linens, BBQ grill, fully equipped kitchen, cookware, bathroom(s), sun canopy, air conditioning and television with DVD player.
Are we required to pay for gas?
Yes. Just like a rental car, the houseboat will be full of fuel when you pick it up and upon your return you’ll be required to pay for fuel that you’ve consumed.
What is the average cost of gas?
That is the million dollar question! Each boat engine will consume on average 5 – 7 gallons and the cost of fuel will vary due to fluctuating gas prices, speed, how much the houseboat is driven during the trip and how much you run the generator. The generator will consume approximately 1 to 1.5 gallons of fuel per hour.
We typically tell clients to budget roughly $150 per day for gas but keep in mind it could be more or it could be less. Don’t quote us on that figure!
What time can we pick up the houseboat and when does it have to be back?
The check in time for the houseboat rentals is between 8:00 - 10:00 am on the morning of your departure. Keep in mind you have to load up your boat and go through an hour long orientation, so we always recommend getting to the marina early to check in. The return time for the houseboats is by 2:00 pm.
How do I check availability?
Please call us at 866-610-9698 and our team of reservation agents would be happy to check availability for you and help answer any questions. We are open everyday from 7:00 am - 11:00 pm MST. You can also connect with us by filling out an online form with as much information as possible and a reservation agent will get back to you within 24 hours or less.
What is required to book a houseboat?
The cost will differ depending on the boat you want. To secure the reservation, you will need to put down a deposit, which is typically one day on the water before any tax or discount. The deposit goes toward the rental rate. The remaining balance for the houseboat is due 60 days prior to the arrival date. If you make the reservation within 60 days or less prior to the arrival date, you will have to pay the full balance at the time of booking.
Are there any other hidden fees?
Other than paying for the gas you consume on your trip, the only other fees are optional. The optional purchases you can add onto your reservation include small watercraft, water toys, the damage waiver, and the trip cancellation protection.
What is the cancellation policy?
If you cancel the reservation outside of 60 days prior to the arrival date, you will receive your deposit back minus a $150 cancellation fee. If you were to cancel within 59 - 45 days prior to the arrival date, you would lose your deposit. Within 44 days or less prior to your arrival date, if you were to cancel, you would lose the full rental amount.
What if there is an emergency and we can’t go our trip?
While we understand that unforeseeable and unfortunate things that are out of your control do occur, there are no exceptions to the cancellation policy. For this reason we recommend you purchase the Trip Cancellation Protection to protect your investment.
What is Trip Cancellation Protection?
The trip cancellation protection is a non-refundable option that protects your investment in case of an emergency. The protection allows you to cancel for any reason inside the 60 day cancellation window and receive a full refund back minus the nonrefundable amount you paid for the protection. If you purchase the trip cancellation protection and you cancel outside of the normal 60 day cancellation policy, you will only pay the standard
$150 cancel fee. The price for the protection varies depending on your houseboat and it is only available for purchase on advance reservations within seven days of making your reservation and has to be at least 60 days prior to your scheduled departure.
What does the damage waiver cover?
The non-refundable damage waiver protects the outside hull of the houseboat. Should you purchase the damage waiver and have an incident occur, your responsibility for any covered damages would be reduced from $10,000 down to the amount equal to your deposit (one day on the water). The damage waiver is not insurance nor does it cover damage to inventory items, boat propellers, outdrives, personal property or additional users and/or other parties who are not covered by the waiver.
Can I fish on Lake Mead and if so what state do I get my fishing license for?
Yes! Fishing is a favorite hobby for those visiting Lake Mead. Popular fish that can be caught in the more than 290 square miles of water surface include largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie and bluegill to name a few.
A valid Nevada state fishing license is required to fish on Lake Mead and can be purchased ahead of time online at http://www.ndow.org/fish/ or at the marina store.
Are linens included?
Yes all linens are included on the houseboat. We recommend bringing beach towels as the boat is only outfitted with bath towels.
Will I have cell service or internet on the boat?
Cell service is spotty on the lake and hit or miss. For that reason, we tell customers to anticipate not having cell service or internet access. Cell service and internet can sometimes be accessed when at the marinas.
Is there anything else you recommend bringing?
Yes! Below is a helpful checklist of items to keep in mind when packing for your trip.