Ireland Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call
68 ships from 21 cruise lines
Ireland cruises at a glance
Waterways Cruise lists 235 upcoming sailings on 68 ships from 21 cruise lines visiting Ireland, calling at 11 places. Cruises can start in Dublin and Cork and end in Dublin and Cork. Of 235 upcoming sailings, 27 start in Ireland and 20 end there. More British Isles cruises.
Reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard · About this page · About us
Compare Ireland cruise lines
See every Ireland cruise line by ocean and river and by ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary style, with fares, cruise lengths, ships and ports.
About Ireland
Ireland is compact enough to explore at a human pace, but layered enough to reward repeat visits. Its cruise product splits into two very different experiences: large-ship calls on the Atlantic and Irish Sea, and self-drive/hotel-barge cruising on the Shannon, Shannon-Erne, Grand Canal and Barrow.
Typical routes
- British Isles & Atlantic Voyages
- Coastal & Inland Ireland
Ports overview
Ireland's cruise calls are a mix of large deep-water ports (Dublin, Cobh/Cork), tidal river ports (Waterford, Shannon/Foynes) and tender calls (Galway). Inland, the Shannon and its connected waterways form one of Europe's best self-drive cruising areas.
Cruise season
Canal cruising runs mainly April to October; ocean cruise season is May to September. June and September are sweet spots for lighter crowds and soft weather.
Find your Ireland sailing
Upcoming sailings calling at Ireland, earliest departure first.
44 Days One-Way from Copenhagen to New York
Visits Ireland. Also visits Denmark, Sweden, Finland
Azamara Quest
19 Days One-Way from Rotterdam to Boston
Visits Ireland. Also visits Netherlands, United Kingdom, Iceland
ms Volendam
18 Days One-Way from Leith-Edinburgh to Rouen
Visits Ireland. Also visits United Kingdom, France
World Explorer
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9 Days One-Way from Leith-Edinburgh to Dublin
Ends in Ireland. Also visits United Kingdom
World Explorer
27 Days One-Way from Stockholm to London-Tilbury
Visits Ireland. Also visits Sweden, Estonia, Poland
Viking Vesta
28 Days One-Way from London-Tilbury to Reykjavik
Visits Ireland. Also visits United Kingdom, Norway, Svalbard And Jan Mayen
Viking Mars
13 Days One-Way from London-Tilbury to Bergen
Visits Ireland. Also visits United Kingdom, Norway
Viking Mars
27 Days One-Way from Stockholm to London-Tilbury
Visits Ireland. Also visits Sweden, Estonia, Poland
Viking Sky
44 Days One-Way from Venice to New York
Visits Ireland. Also visits Italy, Croatia, Montenegro
Oceania Sirena
29 Days One-Way from Rotterdam to Amsterdam
Visits Ireland. Also visits Netherlands, United Kingdom, Denmark
ms Nieuw Statendam
10 Days One-Way from Dublin to Rouen
Starts in Ireland. Also visits United Kingdom, France
World Explorer
19 Days One-Way from Dublin to Bordeaux
Starts in Ireland. Also visits United Kingdom, France
World Explorer
Where Ireland cruises start and end
Embarkation ports (2)
Cork (135) (cruises from) · Dublin (190) (cruises from)
Ships by type: 57 ocean 6 river 9 expedition · a ship that visits several places here is counted once; an expedition ship that also sails as an ocean ship appears under both types.
Plan your Ireland cruise
Ireland cruise port guide
Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.
Ireland cruise port guide →More British Isles cruises
United Kingdom · Jersey · Guernsey · Scotland
Frequently asked questions about Ireland cruises
How many places do cruises visit in Ireland?
11 Ireland places are visited by 68 ships from 21 cruise lines.
When is the best time to take a Ireland cruise?
Canal cruising runs mainly April to October; ocean cruise season is May to September. June and September are sweet spots for lighter crowds and soft weather.
Sources and further reading
Background on Ireland draws on these references. Sailing, fare and port data come from cruise line itineraries and are refreshed regularly.
- Fáilte Ireland: Discover Ireland – Plan your trip
- Central Statistics Office Ireland: Census of Population 2022 Summary Results
- Citizens Information: Government in Ireland – Houses of the Oireachtas
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Ireland – Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List
- European Union: Ireland – EU member country profile
Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard, Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise.
Published September 9, 2026 · Last updated October 16, 2026
Fares, availability and itineraries change often. Confirm current details with your cruise line or a Waterways Cruise agent before you book.
Cruise Disclosure
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!