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WE ARE DELIGHTED TO AGAIN HOST FOR 2012
OUR
FAMILY STYLE BARGE CHARTER CRUISE
Our Family or Club Style Charter is a perfect casual cruise choice for families or a group of old friends. In style - it is relaxed and less formal and above all great value too. It has proven to be a very personalized & charming experience with great Guest appreciation.
CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS
Exceptional Value –a return to simpler values- beautifully executed.
Bespoke Cruise each day can be changed and arranged to your immediate requirements.
A Friendly personalised experience.
Professional Crew
Owners part of Crew.
Culinary/ Gourmet Dining or Dining of your choice.
Charming barge with excellent modern Facilities including Wii & PS3 on board (we carry games for all age groups) as well as DVDs and Satellite TV.
Cruising through an area of spectacular unspoiled landscape & atmospheric ancient settlements & ruins.
Also history, antiquity & folklore.
Excellent extra activities- Walking, Trekking ,Fishing, Cycling, Horse Riding, Water Sports, Traditional Music, Pottery & Crafts, Go cart racing etc.
NOTE
Optional excursions / Extras/Restaurants/ Golf /Equestrian paid at local rates.
RIVER SHANNON 'CLUB/ FAMILY’ CRUISING ITINERARY.
DAY 1- SUNDAY: Lough Ree & County Westmeath
Guests shall be met at 3.00pm at Their Dublin City Hotel and transferred by coach to the Shannon Princess at Quigley’s Marina.
“Cead Mile Failte,” -Your Captain and his crew welcome you onboard the elegant Shannon Princess with Complimentary Champagne, Black Velvets or Sparling Elderflower cordial for the younger guests! From the moment you step aboard you’ll enjoy- the tranquil ambience, skilled service & wealth of on board facilities.
Time enough to meet new friends; relax on deck or watch the world float.
Water sports, swimming, play grounds and soccer are all available at all our moorings including our mooring here.
Welcome aboard dinner is served on board during evening cruise.
DAY 2 – MONDAY: The Broad Majestic Shannon &Athlone
This Morning breakfast on hot buttery pastries fresh from the galley oven. There’s also time for an early morning stroll, before we set out to explore a river wrapped in the legends of time. The Shannon Princess slips through countryside little changed through the centuries. Relax & unwind as we cruise through the beautiful “Inner Lakes” of Lough Ree & some of its reputed 365 islands a preserved area of ecological importance. Club Lunch is served on board. We moor in the pretty bustling Town of Athlone. Explore Athlone at your leisure, time for shopping, antiquing or visit any of its impromptu traditional music pubs. An optional afternoon tour of your choice can be arranged by your captain. This could be a visit to Tullamore Dew & Irish Mist Distillers, Glendeer Farm, or Ballnahown Craft Village for Pottery and craft Demonstrations & Classes. Dinner in aboard. Athlone has a thriving Theatre scene as well as cinemas and Bowling. Crew are delighted to barge sit younger guests while adults enjoy the local night life.
DAY 3 – TUESDAY: Mystical Clonmacnoise & Shannonbridge
The Shannon Princess descends through Athlone Lock and heads south through Europe’s richest example of “Callow” landscape. Countryside little changed in over 1000 years. This is one of Ireland’s premier Wildfowl Reserves. Captain invites younger members to the wheelhouse to assist with navigation
We moor at Clonmacnoise ruins - Mythical ancient burial grounds of high kings of Tara & Connaught. Atmospheric & Spiritual 6th Century monastic settlement.
After a guided tour & visit to the interpretive centre we lunch enroute to Shannonbridge or alternatively for energetic souls wishing to linger & explore, a picnic lunch can also be arranged while enjoying an undulating walk/cycle through country lanes to re-join the barge her overnight moorings at Shannonbridge...
Shannonbridge is a charming little walled riverside village, an excellent spot for walking, swimming, fishing and traditional music pubs.
Younger members can join the galley team and learn to cook breads & desserts for your family
Gourmet/Family dinner on board.
DAY 4 – WEDENSDAY: Journey through the Ancient Kingdoms of Connaught & Leinster to County Tipperary
We travel a very pretty stretch of the Shannon with an ever-changing landscape slipping by. Travelling down 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.
Club Lunch onboard... Time to explore this charming Hamlet before an afternoon guided excursion to & Leap Castle –reputed to be Ireland’s most haunted. Optional Horseriding, Water Skiing, Fishing, Swimming & Go carting available Lakeside.
Dinner is a riverside Barbeque with Gaelic football and moonlight swim.
DAY 5 – THURSDAY: To the Waters & the Wild....County Clare
Today we meander effortlessly through the especially beautiful Lough Derg.
Passing Forrest Parks and ancient mountains as we set our course for Mountshannon – a lovely old estate village perched prettily above the Lough. Look out for deer and wild boar.
Lunch on deck ‘alfresco style’ - afterwards enjoy excellent lakeside rambles, swimming, cycling with Optional open ferry trip to nearby Holy Island Heritage Site.
Afternoon Visit to The Burren region of Co. Clare. Here we visit the Ailwee Caves and the spectacular Cliff of Moher – Among Europes highest cliffs.
Family Dinner is served on deck during evening cruise with visit to Traditional music pub and Irish Dancing.
DAY 6 – FRIDAY: The last of The High Kings...The Twin Towns of Killaloe & Ballina.
This morning we literately go with the flow, south through Lough Derg and her many Islands, Castles & Medieval strongholds. The River Shannon carves a dramatic route through the Hills & Valleys of Munster’s North Riding and entering Killaloe, once home to the court of the greatest High King of Ireland, Brian Boru.
Family lunch.
We moor on the Tipperary side of this elegant little Ecclesiastical town, with plenty of time for you to visit both villages & local sites of interest. Afternoon visit to Excursion of your choice we recommend the’ Foynes Flying Boat Museum’ the exhibits here are evocative of the pre second world war era. When transatlantic air crossings between The USA and Europe was based here in Foynes using Flying Airboats. .or enjoy a pampering spa afternoon at a luxury spa, or an afternoon fishing with a professional Gillie fishing guide. Also Lough Derg Adventure centre for the young or young at heart to enjoy sailing, canoeing, absailing or orienteering
Farewell “Slainte” cocktail reception with Captain before final gourmet Dinner
DAY 7 – SATURDAY: Farewell
Depart barge after breakfast & transfer by private coach to your hotel in Dublin.