Ireland - Boating Holidays

Take centuries-old monastic settlements, lush landscapes, dramatic scenery and delightful small villages with a big heart - and you have all the ingredients for a perfect cruising holiday. No wonder cruising the River Shannon with Emerald Star is such a popular holiday option in Ireland.

Book your Cruising Holiday in Ireland by the end of June and get 25% Off our Star Class Cruisers (Shannon Star, Royal Star, Mountain Star, Lake Star & Town Star).

From our three strategically placed bases - Portumna, Carrick-on-Shannon and Belturbet - you can cruise the full expanse of the Shannon and its lakes or just select a particular area in which to potter about and enjoy your holiday.

Cruising at a very leisurely pace along the Shannon-Erne waterway, Europe’s longest inland cruising system, you’ll soon cast aside the pressures of today’s more hectic lifestyles as you settle down to enjoy a very different holiday experience - one that gives you a whole new perspective on the beautiful countryside, historic castles, grand houses, deserted hamlets and ancient monastic settlements that surround you.

Suggested Cruises in Ireland

Southern Shannon Cruise

Carrick-on-Shannon - Shannonbridge - Carrick-on-Shannon

Visit Jamestown before enjoying cruising on the wider river beyond Lanesborough into pretty Lough Ree with its diverse wildlife and inspiring scenery. Play golf at Glasson or Hodson Bay before reaching Athlone, the commercial centre of the Midlands and the culinary capital of the inland waterways.

Duration:: One Week
Cruise Type:: Return Trip
Distance:: 240 km
Locks:: 4
Cruise Time:: 40 hrs

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Lough Erne Upper Cruise

Belturbet - Belleek - Belturbet

The Fermanagh Lakelands offers Upper Lough Erne with its mass of reed-covered islands to explore and Enniskillen as its hub. Lower Lough Erne is one of Europe’s least crowded waterways and Tully Castle, Boa Island and Castle Caldwell are just some of the attractions before reaching the home of the world famous Belleek Pottery.

Duration:: One Week
Cruise Type:: Return Trip
Distance:: 130 km
Locks:: 0
Cruise Time:: 22 hrs

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The Angler's Cruise

Portumna - Killaloe - Portumna

Lough Derg is one of Ireland’s finest lakes and a haven for fishermen. It is renowned as a place of pilgrimage and surrounded by diverse cultural, social and sporting opportunities. Visit Portumna’s newly restored 17th century castle and walk in the beautiful National Park before cruising south to charming Terryglass and onwards to the ...

Duration:: One Week
Cruise Type:: Return Trip
Distance:: 64 km
Locks:: 0
Cruise Time:: 12 hrs

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Northern Shannon Cruise

Belturbet - Carrick-on-Shannon (or vice versa)

Use the modernised Shannon-Erne Waterway to join the Shannon at Leitrim and take a trip into Lough Allen where Drumshanbo is a must for fishing enthusiasts. The islandstudded Lough Key is the jewel among Roscommon’s lakes and its forest park is an outstanding feature in a region rich in natural attractions.

Duration:: One Week
Cruise Type:: One Way
Distance:: 75 km
Locks:: 16
Cruise Time:: 16 hrs

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The Celtic Cruise

Carrick-on-Shannon - Portumna (or vice versa)

Visit Portumna’s impressive castle set in beautiful surroundings overlooking Lough Derg and Portumna Forest Park. Enjoy local hospitality en route in Lanesborough, Athlone and Shannonbridge and visit the ancient monastic site at Clonmacnoise.

Duration:: One Week
Cruise Type:: One Way
Distance:: 160 km
Locks:: 5
Cruise Time:: 30 hrs

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The Emerald Isle Cruise

Portumna - Belturbet (or vice versa)

Cruise from Portumna to Belturbet along the length of the Shannon and its lakes. Go as far south as Killaloe and north to Belleek and enjoy all the natural, cultural, sporting and social attractions of the Shannon in between.