Discover the scenery and historic structures throughout Ireland during this 7-day cruise aboard Shannon Princess. Cruise through the most beautiful stretch of River Shannon and pass by the Portumna swinging bridge that opens up as you glide by. Explore the Leap Castle, rumored to be one of Ireland's most haunted houses. Enjoy traditional Irish music and hospitality onboard as the guests will be served by the owners of the barge themselves, Captain Ruiari and Chef Olivia, a couple who will make your tour an unforgettable experience!
Highlights
Partake in a day excursion to Portumna Castle and Galway
Explore the Leap Castle, rumored to be one of Ireland's most haunted houses
Tour the famous Birr Castle’s Gardens and Science Center
Visit Kilbeggan Distillery, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Guests are met in Dublin and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to the Shannon Princess. Your Captain and his crew welcome you on board with champagne, Black Velvets or Irish coffees. You might have time perhaps for a gentle stroll before your first dinner on board.
This morning you begin your cruise around the beautiful “Inner Lakes” of Lough Ree and then continue north as you explore some of the 365 islands on the lake. You will then circle back to the River Shannon and onto your mooring in Athlone Town. After lunch, you will visit the Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery, dating from 1757 and the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. On the return journey there is time for a visit to Ballinahown, an artisan craft village. Dinner on board.
Today you will navigate Athlone Lock and head south through Europe’s richest example of “Callow” landscape. You will moor at Clonmacnoise ruins, a famed 6th century university and an early monastic settlement. Following a tour, you will cruise on to our mooring at Shannonbridge. Then, after lunch you can visit Leap Castle, reputed to be Ireland’s most haunted house. You will be given a personal tour by the eccentric owner Sean Ryan, whom with traditional Irish musicians, will relate to you the fascinating history of the castle and its part in founding the American Constitution. After dinner on board, perhaps join the captain for a pint in Killeen’s pub and an evening with the locals.
This morning, you will cruise a very pretty stretch of the River Shannon through Meelick lock, pausing as Portumna swing bridge is opened to allow passage onto idyllic Lough Derg and then moor at Terryglass Harbour. This afternoon you will visit Birr Castle, still resided in by the Earl of Rosse and family. You will see the magnificent gardens, the fascinating Science Centre and admire the historic Great Telescope. Dinner on board.
Today, your tour will head to the walled gardens of Portumna Castle, then on to Galway, a lively University City and cultural centre for Irish-speaking regions in Western Ireland. Visit the Galway crystal, craft and linen shops and then lunch at a traditional Guinness & Oyster pub. You will then return to Shannon Princess and set sail across beautiful Lough Derg, passing Forrest Park and ancient mountains as you enjoy your dinner and sunset cruise to Mountshannon – a lovely lakeside village perched above the Lough.
Today you will set sail across south Lough Derg, re-joining the River Shannon to moor at Killaloe, once home to the court of the greatest High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. After exploring this elegant little town, you will have lunch on board, then set off to Adare Manor, a magnificent estate located on the banks of the River Maigue. Here, in the setting of the Walled Garden, you will gain a real insight into the history and tradition of falconry and have the opportunity to ‘get up close and personal’ with birds of prey such as owls, falcons and eagles – a magical experience. You will end the afternoon by visiting a traditional Irish hand-weaving workshop. ‘Sláinte’ cocktail reception and Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 7: Killaloe
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Dublin.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$5,6502-3 travelers
Rates are subject to change without notice. Book early to get the best rate.
Suite
Twin/double, 130 sq. ft., cabin suites with picture windows, stylishly furnished and each is air-conditioned, centrally heated, and accompanied by a modern en-suite shower room.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Credit card, check, and bank transfer. All final payments by credit card subject to a surcharge of 2.5% and maximum of $20,000 charge
Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!
Justin Chappelle
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
2 days ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.