Captain Ron was on sight when I arrived and showed me around. House boat had everything I needed and there were parks close by to walk my dog. The bed was a dream to sleep on. The boat has a lot of character which was delightful. If you need a lot of space this isn’t the place for you. I loved it!

We stayed in the GiaMaria for the weekend and it was lovely. Very cozy and rustic. Capt Ron was wonderful to deal with and gave us great recommendations of things to do in the area. We can't wait to rent one of his other houseboats.

Amazing and unique place to stay. Captain Ron was a ideal host and was kind enough to give me a ride to downtown when I was running behind. Definitely will be back sooner than later.

Amazing experience!

Very nice time. We'll be back next year!

Captain Ron is a gracious and gregarious host. Staying on his houseboat in a quiet marina on the James River was a unique experience. On the upper deck we enjoyed eating breakfast, watching the birds, and toasting the sunsets with a glass of wine. It’s a short drive to the Lily Pad restaurant where we had delicious dinners and great service. The only downside was not having Internet or TV cable service during our stay.

Had an amazing weekend filled with serenity laughter and alot of peace.

We enjoyed the time we were able to be on the boat. We had fun on our stay for our anniversary! It was a unique experience and Ron was a great host.

The property was quiet and a great place to relax

Stayed there while my son played in a baseball tournament. We’ve been traveling all summer and wanted a different experience. We had a good time and took advantage of fishing during our downtime. Host was extremely kind and attentive.

Thank you to Ron for his hospitality and help. I not only read his book, but I've ordered even more copies to share with family and friends.

We had fun on our overnight stay for our anniversary! It was a unique experience and Ron was a great host. He even has a book he wrote that I enjoyed reading while staying there.

Loved the boat. The town of Henrico is wonderful. The children and I enjoy our stay very much.

My husband and our dog joined me on this trip! We had a wonderful experience. We stayed 4 nights and was able to cook and have dinner on the boat a couple of nights, it was lovely! The bed was very comfortable and shower was plenty big enough. Captain Ron was the perfect host! We will be back for sure!!

It was a very relaxing stay! The area is beautiful with plenty of areas to explore nearby! Captain Ron is an absolute pleasure to talk to! And has plenty of local knowledge to share. Bonus.. I caught a lot of fish off the back of the boat! One last thing he gave me a signed copy of the BOHEMIAN SKIPPER which he wrote! Top noch guy :)

It was a new experience and got me inspired to look for a houseboat to buy. We enjoyed cooking, playing Yahtzee , studying and fishing from the deck. My friend caught a catfish & released it.It was a nice time & we really enjoyed meeting Captain Ron. He’s great!

If you decide to stay on the Gia Maria, be prepared to detox from sound pollution and the stress of the everyday. The marina is private and secure, and life moves at a more natural pace once you get down to the dock. The boat herself is not new or fancy, but she is full of personality, comfort, and charm I had a wonderful time spending full days on the upper deck watching the birds and the turtles and feeling the tension just drifting away with the breezes. Ron is a very attentive host with a huge, kind heart and collection of great stories to share. I can’t say enough about what a wonderful time I had staying here!

This boathouse is super cute and in a beautiful location. The check in process was simple and fast. I highly recommend this property for it’s relaxation and beautiful scenery

Really enjoyed the short time we were able to be on the boat. Sunset was great one day the rained the next. Got caught in the heavy traffic around Newport coming and going, so spent too many hours on the road. My teenage grandson and I both wished we would have just stayed at the boat. Enjoyed reading Captain’s book! This was a “bucket list” thing for me. Have never stayed on a boat . Would do it again!

What a great change of pace. Very memorable experience for our family. Everything we needed was right on board. What a huge shower for a boat! The main bed was luxurious. The pull-out couch was very comfortable as a couch but not so comfortable as a bed (needs a mattress upgrade?).

Wow what a great experience! The houseboat was very unique with so much character. We loved living the houseboat life for 4 nights. The location was quiet and beautiful nestled away along the James river. So much wildlife out your window, eagles, osprey, otters, fish jumping along with numerous other birds. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets! The boat has a front deck and back deck with large upper deck. Both decks had seating to enjoy your favorite beverage while taking in the sights & sounds of nature along the river. Capt. Ron, Maria and Curt were extremely accommodating, showing us the ropes of houseboating. Their communication was excellent, we couldn't have asked for better hosts! Capt. Ron was so interesting to talk with, his knowledge and background is amazing! Inside the boat was very clean, so comfy & cozy. It had everything we needed, like Wifi, TV, small kitchen and complete head (bathroom). For cooler nights Capt. Ron has heat & for summer he has AC! We didn't need either for our Spring stay. The unique stay and river nature surroundings alone made for a perfect trip! We will be back! Kelly & Julia

We had a great time. Captain Ron met us at the boat and answered every question. Living on a boat on the water was fun. We ate dinner on the top deck each night, watching cranes, other wildlife and really lovely moon rises and sunsets. My husband is 6'8" tall and managed very well in the cabin. Thank you for such a different and enjoyable experience.

Thanks Ron for your hospitality.

The mornings and evenings in the river were the high spots of our stay; the boat is in a wonderful spot and well located for touring by car as well as for watching the wildlife along the river. Being able to have breakfast and dinner up on deck was magical, and the marina is very peaceful yet there were enough other people around that it didn’t feel isolated or unsafe. Of course staying on a boat is more cramped than a hotel room, but that adds to the experience and the charm , and the boat is very well equipped with a decently sized shower, excellent bed, air conditioning units, oven/microwave, two induction hobs, and fridge/feeezer. There are also toilets and a free-to-use washing machine and dryer in the Marina office building. All the things that mattered most (bathroom, kitchen and equipment, bedding) were clean on arrival, but perhaps one improvement opportunity is that the accommodation could benefit from a more thorough vacuuming. Captain Ron was super-friendly and helpful, and I could easily have stayed there for a whole week. Indeed I hope one day to return.

Thank you so much. Very nice owner. Wonderful experience.

I booked this houseboat as a unique experience for my fiancé as a Father’s Day weekend retreat. From the moment we arrived on the boat and were greeted by Captain Ron to the time we departed, we had the most amazing and relaxing time. We watched the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening. The boat itself is a nice size so it didn’t feel cramped. The inside was charming and came equipped with kitchen essentials where we were able to brew and enjoy fresh coffee in the morning and there’s an electric cooktop and microwave. It is centrally located close to a Food Lion, Dollar General and other convenience stores. When we weren’t enjoying just relaxing on the boat, we did venture out during the day to a beautiful park also close by perfect for walking, riding bikes and there is a farmer’s market on Saturdays. In the evenings, we enjoyed the soft waves and listening to music. The mattress is large and very comfortable and provided the best sleep. There is also a tv in the living area and a hot spot for wi-fi available. Ron and his wife Ruth have beautiful souls and we truly feel blessed to have met them and will definitely be looking forward to booking our next retreat really soon!

We had a nice quiet stay...me, my adult daughter, and my sister. We very much enjoyed our evenings on the deck, watching the stars, drinking wine, and laughing. If shiny and new matters to you more than ambience, this might not be the vacation for you. The boat is older, but feels well loved. Sleeping on a houseboat feels very special (and the mattress on the bed is the most comfortable I have ever slept on)

Our reservation was changed last minute but we enjoyed the other boat. Our children loved the experience and we really enjoyed meeting Ron and hearing some of his stories. We are glad we booked it.

We had a great time during our stay. The boat is great. Very comfortable. The marina is quiet and has free washer/dryer and ice machine, which were hugely helpful. Capt Ron is a great host! Very responsive and full of great stories....read his book that he leaves on board! We are coming back again in September!

The location is absolutely delightful! Safe and secure behind a locked gate. Located right in beautifully preserved and maintained Civil War Historic Sites. Walk right off the boat and feel like you've stepped right into the era. Just a 20 minute drive in to Richmond. The boat is a fun experience and Captain Ron a sweetie, but the boat, a little like me, is starting to show its age, wear and tear and could really use some repairs and a good thorough cleaning.

Jack and I had a wonderful stay. It was exactly as advertised and Captain Ron was a generous host. We enjoyed our stay and would recommend Captain Ron’s Gia Maria.

Fishing off the back of the boat was fun and relaxing. The sleeping was easy with a gentle rocking motion the weekend was so relaxing we hated to leave