Boat Tours and Cruises in Dublin

 If you want to discover Dublin by boat, I recommend downloading the app called GetYourGuide and see what kinds of boat rides, cruises, and tours that Ireland has to offer! I went on a 45 minute boat ride along the River Liffey in Dublin to see the city from the water, and we had tour guide that taught us about the history of Dublin and its river. We were in the red boat pictured below, which is desgined for the changing weather, low currents, and to fit under bridges. The picture in the top right corner shows the Samuel Beckett Bridge, which looks like a harp lying on its edge. The harp has been the been the national symbol for Ireland from as early as the thirteenth century. This bridge is also capable of opening to allow ships to pass through. We passed by these ships pictured below during the tour. The bottom left corner shows a replica of the Jeanie Johnston, which is a Famine ship that 2,500 people used to flee from Ireland during the famine. You can take a tour on the ship and learn about its history and how it was like to live on board. The people that chose to flee took on a grim voyage and lived in cramped and filthy conditions with risks of disease and starvation. The bottom right picture shows Tenacious, which is a British ship that was just visiting Dublin. This is the largest wooden tall ship of this kind in the world, and it is the only ship that is designed for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users. If you want to learn more about Dublin's history, you should definitely go on this boat tour!

I also recommend going on this 2-hour dinner cruise along Dublin's beautiful Grand Canal. You get to board an electric, eco-friendly, luxurious cruise ship and enjoy a delicious, gourmet 3-course meal while floating past the city of Dublin. You get to go under a bridge and watch as the water lifts up the cruise ship to continue along the canal, which is fun to experience! There is also a bar that offers a range of beers, wines, and cocktails. You get to choose a starter, main course, and a dessert. I chose the vegetable soup with brown bread, chicken curry with rice, and Irish cheesecake. That was honestly the best cheesecake I've ever had! 

By Brandi Dickens