| DEPARTURE
RATES |
RATE |
ROUTE |
| April
17, 24 |
Value |
Lower
Shannon |
| May
1, 8 |
Value |
Lower
Shannon |
| May
15, 22, 29 |
Regular |
Lower
Shannon |
| June
5, 12, 19, 26 |
Regular |
Lower
Shannon |
| July
3, 10 , 17, 24 |
Regular |
Lower
Shannon |
| August
7, 14, 21, 28 |
Regular |
Lower
Shannon |
| September
4, 11, 18, 25 |
Regular |
Lower
Shannon |
Meeting
Point
IRELAND - Dublin - Aberdeen Lodge Hotel, 3pm.
Shannon
Princess Barge Information
The ten passenger Shannon Princess II is
the only luxury hotel barge cruising the waterways of
Ireland. Her thoughtfully designed interior has panoramic
windows, through which you can view the passing scenery,
and includes a comfortable saloon, dining area and bar.
The Shannon Princess II also features full length, roof
top sun deck ideal for relaxing with a drink, or watching
the sunset after dinner.
The five suites have en-suite facilities and give a
choice of twin or double bed configuration. The experienced
Irish crew go out of their way to ensure your every need
is accommodated. Your chef was trained at the Ballymaloe
School and distinguishes herself at every meal with her
signature dishes and your captain has piloted and managed
the Shannon Princess II for many years.
-
See
the Iron Age Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
-
Tour
the Ruins of the legendary 6th century Clonmacnoise
-
Full
day excursion to Galway City
-
Visit
the unusual hunted Leap Castle
-
Tour
the Birr Castle with its stunning landscaped gardens
-
Visit
Killaloe and its cathedral
-
Regional
Specialities
Baked Baby Lobster, Roast Sholder of Lamb, Black Velvet
Crepes filled with Raspberries and served with
Champagne Sauce
-
Wine
Cellar
A wide selection of French & other European
wines, complemented by fine Irish single malt
whiskies
-
Cheese
Board
Cashel Blue Farmhouse Cheese, Boilie Goats
Cheese, Carrigbyrne Soft Cheese
Sunday,
DUBLIN to QUIGLEY’S MARINA
Guests are met at the designated Dublin city centre hotel
at 3pm and transferred by coach to the Shannon Princess II,
moored at Quigley’s Marina. Your Captain and his crew
welcome you aboard with Champagne, Black Velvet or Irish
Coffee! Dinner aboard.
Monday,
QUIGLEY’S MARINA to ATHLONE
This morning we cruise along the River Shannon’s
beautiful “Inner Lakes” passing stately riverside
homes and some of its 365 wooded islands. We then circle
back to the River Shannon and onto our mooring in bustling
Athlone. After lunch we visit the “Corlea Trackway
Visitor Centre”. The centre interprets ancient archaeological
finds, including an intact Iron Age bog road, carbon dated
from 148 B.C. Dinner aboard.
Tuesday, ATHLONE to SHANNONBRIDGE
This morning we descend through Athlone Lock and head south
through Europe’s richest example of the lush “Callow” landscape,
rich with wildlife. We moor at Clonmacnoise ruins, a
famed 6th century monastic settlement, soaked in history
and myth. After a visit we lunch onboard en route to
Shannonbridge arriving mid-afternoon at this charming
Irish riverside town. Then we travel by private bus to
Birr Castle, the family seat of the Earl and Countess
of Rosse and home to The Great Telescope and Ireland’s
Historic Science Centre. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday, SHANNONBRIDGE to TERRYGLASS
We cruise a very evocative stretch of the Shannon through
Meelick lock, pausing as Portumna swing-bridge is opened
to allow the Shannon Princess passage onto idyllic Lough
Derg. We moor at Terryglass harbour and enjoy lunch at
the Derg Inn in the village, before an afternoon excursion
to “Leap Castle”, reputed to be Ireland’s
most haunted house. You will be given a personal tour
by the eccentric owner Sean Ryan, who, with traditional
Irish musicians, will relate to you the fascinating history
of the castle. Dinner aboard.
Thursday, TERRYGLASS to GALWAY to MOUNTSHANNON
Today, a morning visit to the riverside Portumna Castle
with its walled kitchen gardens, then on to Galway City,
a lively University City and cultural centre for Irish-speaking
regions in Western Ireland. Lunch is at an authentic
Guinness and Oyster Bar, with time to browse the town
with its profusion of linen and local craft shops. Return
to Shannon Princess and cruise through beautiful Lough
Derg, passing Forrest Park and ancient mountains as we
head for Mountshannon – a lovely lakeside village
perched above the Lough. Dinner aboard.
Friday, MOUNTSHANNON to KILLALOE
This morning we set sail south through Lough Derg and her
many Islands, then rejoin the River Shannon as it carves
a dramatic route past medieval landmarks to our mooring
at Killaloe, once home to the court of the greatest High
King of Ireland, Brian Boru. After visiting this elegant
little town, we lunch aboard, and then set off by private
minibus on our excursion to the unique project at Craggaunowen
Castle, a re-creation of Iron Age life and Celtic culture. ‘Slainte’ cocktail
reception and Captain’s Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday, KILLALOE to DUBLIN
After breakfast, we return you by coach to Dublin for approximately
11.30am.
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On
alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction.
Sunday Dublin to Killaloe
Guests are met at the hotel in Dublin at 3pm and transferred
to historic Killaloe, which is situated in County Clare on
the Shannon’s West Bank and named after a monastery
founded by St. Lua in the sixth century. Time for a stroll
around the picturesque town of Killaloe. St. Flannan’s
Cathedral is worth a visit. It was built in the thirteenth
century to replace the first Cathedral destroyed by Donal
Mor O’Brien, King of Munster and a descendant of Brian
Boru. It has many artefacts predating the 13th. Century including
an ancient Ogham stone. Dinner on board.
Monday Killaloe to Mountshannon
Today we begin our cruise, moving through from the fjord like
reaches of the Shannon into lovely Lough Derg. Enroute past
Holy Island, Deer Rock & Derry Castle, we move onto the
widest point of the lake and ease westward towards to our
mooring at Mountshannon. Arrive at Mountshannon, a previous
winner of the Tidy Towns competition. After lunch depart
by bus for a visit to the Craggaunowen Project which is a
Celtic Bronze Age settlement or “Crannog” reconstructed.
(approx. 35 mins by bus). Dinner on board.
Tuesday Mountshannon to Terryglass
During a leisurely cruise north through a wide variety of lake
and shoreline scenery we pass the island of Illamore and
ease towards the Eastern Shore. Arrive Terryglass, a beautiful
tiny picturesque village a few hundred yards from the harbour.
The village has twice won the highly coveted national prize
of Irelands Tidiest Town. Lunch is ashore today in the quaint
Derg Inn in the village. After Lunch we depart by bus to “Birr
Castle” Irelands Historical Science Centre and home
of the Oldest Telescope in the World, with its glorious landscaped
gardens dating from 17th. Century and family seat of the
Earls of Ross. Dinner on board.
Wednesday Terryglass to Galway to Banagher
Depart Terryglass by bus for a shopping trip to Galway City
and a visit to Galway Crystal Factory. Lunch in Galway City
at one of Galway’s finest luncheon Bars. Return to
Shannon Princess and Dinner Cruise North to Banagher. This
evening we leave Lough Derg and join the River again through
Portumna Swing Bridge and on through a lovely stretch of
river scenery. We enter Meelick Lock and rise up to meet
the Meelick waters, which will carry us onto our destination,
Banager Town on the Co. Offaly shore. Dinner on board.
Thursday Banagher to Athlone
Today we move towards the riverside town of Athlone, stopping
enroute at Clonmacnoise Ruins a famed 6th. Century University
and early Christian settlement. After a visit to the interpretative
centre we continue north through Europe’s richest example
of “callows” landscape. This is one of Ireland’s
premier wildflower reserves. Dinner on board
Friday Athlone to Quigleys Marina
This morning we sail north to Lough Ree as we explore some
of the 365 islands. We moor the pretty Quigley’s Marina
on the beautiful “Inner Lakes” of Lough Ree.
After lunch we depart by bus to the “Corlea Trackway
Visitor Centre”. The centre interpets an Iron Age bog
road which was built in the year 148 BC across the Boglands
close to the River Shannon. The oak road is the largest of
its kind to have been uncovered in Europe and was excavated
over the years by Professor Barry Rafterty of University
College Dublin. Dinner on board.
Saturday
Quigley’s to Dublin
After breakfast transfer to Dublin Airport or Aberdeen Lodge
Hotel
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.
|
