Cork, Ireland

[gbits]

Booked on an Oceania cruise in September 2020, cancelled and rebooked for September, 2021, cancelled again and rebooked for September, 2022. Although it is substantially the same cruise, some ports are new, one of which is Cork. I’ve been researching the other ports for 2+ years so kinda nice to have something new to research. Anyone have any recommendations of what not to miss? Tour or DIY? Thanks for any assistance.

[VMax1700]

On 10/14/2021 at 2:00 AM, gbits said:

Booked on an Oceania cruise in September 2020, cancelled and rebooked for September, 2021, cancelled again and rebooked for September, 2022. Although it is substantially the same cruise, some ports are new, one of which is Cork. I’ve been researching the other ports for 2+ years so kinda nice to have something new to research. Anyone have any recommendations of what not to miss? Tour or DIY? Thanks for any assistance.

What are your interests and how long is your port day?

Would you prefer organised tours or diy or maybe car rental?

Also, most importantly do you dock in Cobh or Ringaskiddy?  

 

(responses may be slow as we are currently on a Med cruise 😁)

[gbits]

On 10/15/2021 at 5:49 AM, VMax1700 said:

What are your interests and how long is your port day?

Would you prefer organised tours or diy or maybe car rental?

Also, most importantly do you dock in Cobh or Ringaskiddy?  

 

(responses may be slow as we are currently on a Med cruise 😁)

VMaxx 1700, we are in port from 9~6 and dock in Ringaskiddy. Definitely not car rental but open to either DIY or an organized tour. What do you recommend?

[WatchHill]

We've been to Cork twice on cruises and each time we did a tour through Butler's. Contact them to see if they have tours from this port or if you put together a very small group, you could do a custom day trip.  One tour was a full day and the second time we did a half day and once back in port we hit a few local pubs within walking distance of the ship.  

 

Darcy

Edited October 19, 2021 by WatchHill

[geoherb]

When our ship was docked in Cobh for the day, we took a tour through eCoach (Butlers) that went to Blarney Castle and Kinsale. Our ship was several hours late. The tour company accommodated us by adjusting the times, even emailing us the day before to let us know they were aware of the schedule change. Our guide was great. I thoroughly enjoyed Blarney Castle. We ran into friends while waiting in line to kiss the Blarney Stone, so the time seemed to pass quickly. We had plenty of time to tour the gardens afterward. Kinsale was picturesque. We enjoyed eating a late lunch there (fish and chips) and having ice cream (honeycomb flavor). The coach went through Cork on the way between the two places. We did stop at Charles Fort right before getting to Kinsale. I would have enjoyed more time there than just a photo opportunity.

[VMax1700]

Ringaskiddy port is not so convenient for private tours or self exploring.  It is a ferry/deepwater commercial port.  Passengers are not permitted to walk in the area and taxis unless pre booked are not allowed into the port area. Catch 22!

Your best bet is to contact Butlers https://www.ecoach.ie/index.php and ask them about a tour to Kinsale/Charles Fort/Blarney.  Otherwise you are stuck with ship's tours.

 

In the meantime I will ask around locally to see if anyone is arranging tours from Ringaskiddy.  I will also contact the port authority to see what updates have been made to its guidelines for Passengers.

 

[gfkcruiser]

We have docked in both places.  First time we docked Cobh and did excursion to Kinsale.  Lovely city and then had time in town.  

Second time we docked in Ringaskiddy and Celebrity had complimentary shuttle to Cork.  We had planned on taking train which is at port in Cobh so worked ok.  Ship then moved over to Cobh for the night and next day and wandered around Cobh again.  Some did private tour to Ring of Kerry as we overnighted in Cobh.