Circumnavigation of Ireland on a small ship

[knitr]

My husband and I had booked a Lindblad cruise circumnavigating Ireland, and it was cancelled. We're very interested in a similar itinerary. We've found one on National Trust Tours and one on Noble Caledonia. We are inexperienced, have taken one Lindblad cruise to Alaska (100 passengers, fabulous). Can anyone provide advice about how to assess possible choices?

[CruisingAlong4Now]

I entered "cruises around Ireland" into my search engine and got many results.

 

I would also contact a good travel agent who specializes in small ship cruising (speak with friends - cannot recommend agents on this site) who can assist you.

 

The British Isles/Western Europe - Cruise Critic Community board may also provide some assistance.

 

Edited June 23 by CruisingAlong4Now

[clo]

Would you be interested in or able to do a driving trip, DIY? It's a super easy trip. Just a thought.

[jsn55]

I had never heard of Noble Caledonia, but a friend was just telling me about a circumnavigation cruise she took with them and how pleased she was.  I've sailed on Grand Circle's Corinthian three times and it's a great ship with a fabulous crew.

[Host Kat]

7 hours ago, knitr said:

My husband and I had booked a Lindblad cruise circumnavigating Ireland, and it was cancelled. We're very interested in a similar itinerary. We've found one on National Trust Tours and one on Noble Caledonia. We are inexperienced, have taken one Lindblad cruise to Alaska (100 passengers, fabulous). Can anyone provide advice about how to assess possible choices?

 

Hello @knitr and welcome to Cruise Critic and the message boards!

 

A good cruise specialist should be able to help you with choices. Perhaps this oldie but goody Cruise Critic article will be helpful: Finding a Cruise Travel Agent

 

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Host Kat

[Host Kat]

6 hours ago, valereee2000 said:

Hm...and somehow I appear to have created two profiles, then logged in with a different one than the one I posted this question from yesterday. Weird. 

 

@knitr and @valereee2000

 

Members should have only one user name account and email address of record. To rectify, please email help@cruisecritic.com from one of your current Cruise Critic email addresses of record. Please include a list of all previous Cruise Critic user names and Cruise Critic email addresses of record. Be sure to state which user name and which email address of record you want to keep. That should solve the problem.

[Lois R]

Hi Val, check out the company called European Waterways. They have small barges, holds between 8-20 people. I am not sure if they do Ireland or not but I know they sail around Scotland. 

They have a website so you can look directly at their barges and itineraries.

[knitr]

Wow, Lois R, that looks awesome, and not just for Ireland!

 

[Canuker]

whoever you choose, two things are essential for these itineraries:

1. Umbrella. The sturdier the better.

2. Sea sickness pills.

[clo]

48 minutes ago, Canuker said:

whoever you choose, two things are essential for these itineraries:

1. Umbrella. The sturdier the better.

2. Sea sickness pills.

1. A jacket with a hood

 

2. Why?

[navybankerteacher]

1. Agreed - a good rain jacket is far more effective (even just plain workable) than an umbrella.

 

2. The Irish Sea and the Western Approaches, especially on a small ship/large boat, can be challenging.