rivercruises.ie | CRUISES

Irish America Day Cruises | rivercruises.ie

Friday 22 June 2012 | rivercruises.ie

rivercruises.ie | CRUISES FOR KIDS

The Galley River Cruising Restaurant | rivercruises.ie

A first-timer's guide to cruising the River Shannon

First-time Shannon cruise guide: hiring, no licence needed, handover training, speeds, locks, mooring and what to pack.

Carrick-on-Shannon: the cruising capital of the Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon as a Shannon base: the marina, hire fleets, the town, eating and drinking, and cruising north to Loug

A boat trip through Lough Key

Boating on Lough Key: the islands, Castle Island, Lough Key Forest Park, moorings, walks and the trip through from Carri

Cruising the Shannon–Erne Waterway

Cruising the Shannon–Erne Waterway: the route from Upper Lough Erne to the Shannon, automatic locks, Belturbet and plann

Shannon locks: how they work and what to expect

Shannon locks explained: how locks work, keeper-operated and self-service locks, the crew's jobs and the classic beginne

Barge or cruiser: choosing your Shannon boat

Barge vs cruiser on the Shannon: space, handling, speed, comfort, routes and which type fits which kind of crew.

The best months to cruise the Shannon

When to cruise the Shannon: month-by-month character, weather and fishing, school holidays, water levels and value.

Dining aboard: the river kitchen

Dining aboard on the Shannon: provisioning, galley equipment, one-pot classics, barbecue nights and shopping along the r

Wildlife on the Shannon: what to watch for

Wildlife on the Shannon: birds of the reeds and callows, otters, fish, the best watching spots and quiet-boating etiquet

Cruising the Shannon with children

Family cruising on the Shannon with children: safety rules, on-board life, shore activities, ages and packing for kids.

Angling from a Shannon cruiser

Angling from a Shannon cruiser: pike, bream and perch, licences, tackle, hotspots, catch care and fishing etiquette aflo

Lough Derg and Portumna: the southern Shannon

Lough Derg and Portumna: cruising the big southern lough, ports and villages, weather awareness and the Portumna gateway

Athlone: the Shannon's big town

Athlone on the Shannon: the marina and town, the castle, eating and culture, Lough Ree to the north and river south.

Arriving at Clonmacnoise by boat

Arriving at Clonmacnoise by boat: the river approach, the monastic site, moorings, history and how to plan the visit.

One week on the Shannon: a working itinerary

One week on the Shannon: a day-by-day itinerary from Carrick to Lough Key, the callows, Athlone or south to Lough Derg,

From turf boats to cruisers: a short history of Shannon navigation

History of Shannon navigation: from monastic ferry routes and turf cots to the steamers, the Grand Canal link and the mo

Holy Island on Lough Derg

Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) on Lough Derg: history, the boat visits, what to see on the island and how cruising crews pla

Mooring etiquette on the Shannon

Mooring etiquette on the Shannon: jetty sharing, rafting, quiet hours, angler respect and the unwritten rules crews live

The bridge villages of the Shannon

The bridge villages of the Shannon: Shannonbridge, Roosky, Jamestown, Lanesborough and the towns that grew at the crossi

The Shannon in winter: floods and callows

The Shannon in winter: flooding and the callows, winter birds, why cruising stops and how the river's rhythm resets each

Swimming from the boat: a careful guide

Swimming from a Shannon cruiser: where and when to swim, safety rules, weirs and cold water, children and the flag etiqu

Provisioning a Shannon cruise

Provisioning a Shannon cruise: the big first shop, shopping along the route, storage on board, water and the provision-f

Angling seasons on the Shannon

Angling seasons on the Shannon: spring, summer and autumn patterns for pike and coarse fish, and matching the cruise to

Fuel, water and waste on the Shannon

Fuel, water and waste on the Shannon: ranges and tanks, where to fill, pump-outs, rubbish and the rhythm of services.