Crusing in Ireland

Surrounded by water and with hundreds of rivers and lakes, Ireland is a natural for nautical experiences.

Cruise to Ireland. Although most people fly into Ireland, you can also get there as part of a European cruise. Sail into the beautiful Irish coastline and call into popular Irish port cities such as Dublin, Waterford, Cork/Cobh, Glengarriff and Belfast. Once in port, you can opt for a local sightseeing tour by day and return to your floating hotel at night.

River Cruising. If you are planning a trip with family members or grandchildren, one of the most relaxing “get-away-from-it-all” ways to see Ireland is by hiring a boat and cruising along the rivers Shannon, Barrow, and Bann, or Loughs Erne and Neagh, as well as the Royal or Grand Canals. These waterways are the least-crowded in Europe and meander beside castles, ancient monuments, stately homes, parks, gardens and picture-postcard marina villages. Local companies hire out cabin cruises or barges by the week. No license is required and past boating experience is not necessary. You’ll get a brief training course at the start of your rental. More information: The Irish Boat Holidays Association. For river cruise tours consider European Waterways. Some American tour operators also offer travel packages that include renting a boat in Ireland such as:

Funtrek (www.funtrek.com)

My Guide Ireland (www.myguideireland.com).

Sightseeing from the Water. Although the best way to see an Irish town or city is usually on foot, many of Ireland’s river and port towns also offer one- to two-hour tours by boat from the adjacent river, bay or lake. These vessels usually have open and covered decks so there is all-weather sightseeing. The boat captain not only steers the course but also provides a live commentary with a bit of history, folklore and perhaps a song or two. Cities and towns such as Dublin, New Ross, Killarney, Dingle, Killaloe, Galway, Sligo, Derry, and Belfast all offer boat cruises. One of the newest vessels afloat is the 160-passenger Donegal Bay Waterbus (www.donegalbaywaterbus) which provides views of the town shoreline plus abbeys, estates, an old coast guard station, castles, and even a wind farm and oyster/mussel farm, as well as islands and a seal colony. On Ireland’s southern coast, “The Spirit of Kinsale” (www.kinsaleharbourcruises) sails beside the marina of the historic port of Kinsale as well as local forts and lighthouses.

Island Hopping on the Irish Coast. Set out in the Atlantic on the western edge of Europe, Ireland is an island surrounded by over 30 small islands. These islands are an adventure unto themselves. Some islands are reached by land bridge but most require taking a boat and walking for miles when you land. Chief among the Irish offshore islands are the three Aran Islands (www.visitaranislands.com), 30 miles from the mainland. Although somewhat modernized in recent years, the Arans are still far-flung outposts of Irish culture, language and lifestyle. The resident population of just over 1,500 people crosses the sea via currachs, traditional small keel-less rowing boats, made of a watertight tarred canvas stretched over wooden slats or laths and rowed with bladeless oars. Visitors do not have to rely on currachs, but arrive via a daily 40-minute ferry service (www.lynotttours.com)

My Guide Ireland (www.MyGuideIreland.com)

Ferry from Place to Place. A favorite way to save time and mileage when driving around Ireland is to take a car ferry crossing from one side of a river, bay or lake to the other. Operating on a drive-on/drive-off basis, with no-reservations needed, Irish ferry services are like mini-cruises providing a refreshing break in the middle of a day’s driving. The most popular ferry route is the Shannon Ferry (www.shannonferries.com) across the Shannon River Estuary, connecting Tarbert, Co. Kerry, with Killimer, Co. Clare. This 20-minute crossing saves 85 miles of driving between the two points. Other car ferries to watch out for are Passage East Ferry (http://homepage.eircom.net/~passferry/main_frame.htm), connecting Counties Waterford and Wexford; Cross River Ferry (www.scottcobh.ie), linking east and west County Cork; Lough Foyle Ferry (www.loughfoyleferry.com), between Northern Ireland and Donegal., and the Valentia Island Ferry (http://indigo.ie/~cguiney/ferry.html) connecting Valentia Island to the Kerry mainland at Cahirciveen.  Some escorted tour companies from the US feature the Shannon Ferry ride in their itineraries

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