Cruising the shannon

elaine.rodger

My boyfriend, me, my sister and her boyfriend are planning on cruising the shannon. We were planning on booking with Carrick Craft and starting in Carrick on Shannon for 5 nights. Was just wondering has anyone cruised with them? And would they be alright to rent a boat from and cruise with?
Any tips on doing a cruise like this would be helpfull too as this is the first time we're doing this.
Very excited about it, hope the weather be's good for us!

Thanks in advance

Tabnabs

If the weather is good you'll have a wonderful time, if the weather is bad you'll still have a wonderful time. All the big operators on the shannon are good. There;s none with a bad reputation.

The IWAI website has a world of information, Carrick is classed as the upper Shannon,

http://www.iwai.ie/nav/shannon.html
http://www.iwai.ie/ents/food.html#Upper
http://www.iwai.ie/maps/shannon-erne/index.html

jondom

Myself and a few friends are going on the Shannon next week for 4 nights. We booked with CarrickCraft too so I'll let you know how we get on.
Leaving Carrick on Shannon on the Wednesday and returning Sunday. If anyone has could recommend a route that will take 4 days, taking in lively villages and pubs etc that would be great. Thanks.

GeeNorm

Hey Jondom
How did you get on? We have something similar planned (3 nights leaving from Carrick) in a few weeks and would love any advice re route towns etc.

We're an inexperienced group looking for a bit of craic rather than spending all day travelling to cover as much ground as possible.

Thanks"!

elaine.rodger

Hi GeeNorm,

You'll love going down/up the Shannon. We did it last May(just when we had that bad wind) and we got on great. Loved every minute of it and would love to go again.
We had no sailing experience and we got on fine, no problems at all. We started in carrick-on-shannon and in Rooskey first(my favourite) and then somewhere else I think can't remember now but we turned around at Lanesboroughand went back up then. We were up early on the Friday so we drove to Lough Key and went around there. We did the Boda Borg in lough key and would definitely advise you to try it if you have time, we actually went back down a month after to do it again, great fun with a group!

Hope you's have a good time

Kaner2004

We do this every year for a week in the summer.
Its terrible when the weather is bad tbh, but great fun when you get the weather.

We usually go with Carrick Craft, but there are others. Its very easy to get 50% off the prices they quote on their website.
Just check the price on the website but dont book it. Ring them demanding 50% off. They will refuse. Just say "I have (50% of whatever the price on the website is) right now waiting to book a boat. If you want it take it or i'll just go to a rival who will."
When they still refuse leave your number and say they have two weeks to make up their minds, and to ring you. They will ring. Do this with ALL of the companies and play them off against each other.

When I ring now they just say "Hello again Mr Kane, yes you can have 50% off the web price. They dont even try to increase it".

Or you could say nothing and just pay the full price. It takes practice but its worth learning to haggle for everything. Most people cant or think they cant. There is no need to pay full price for any service in Ireland anymore, especially things that cost hundreds of euro.