Reservations
Use our Boat Finder to help you choose the perfect boat for your cruise.
The minimum hire period is 3 nights and you can start and finish your cruise any day except Sundays or Bank Holidays.
Some of our more popular boats are available for weekly hires only, starting and finishing on a Saturday.
Experience
Don’t worry – you are in good company. Half of our clients have never been on a boat before, but they soon get to grips with the very simple controls. We will provide all the tuition you need.
You can complete the Boat Tutorials at any time prior to arriving at the marina. They provide a lot of information and are great fun too! We also have Boat Demonstration videos for each boat type and this gives you an introduction to the Practical Demonstration you will receive on arrival.
Inventory
All electrical services on board eg water, lighting, radio, showers etc. are powered from batteries which are charged from the engine (12V).
We can provide an invertor for small electrical items like mobile phone chargers. Any other electrical items can only be used when moored using shore power. See each boat description for which boats have shore power.
All our cruisers have a full-sized cooker with burner rings, grill and oven and a small fridge. There is a full inventory on board appropriate to the size of each cruiser. This includes everything from pots and pans to cutlery and crockery.
One set of linen per person is provided and includes a sheet, pillow, duvet, blanket and towel.
All of our boats have a radio and CD player, similar to a car stereo. Some boats are equipped with a TV/DVD player and, for all other boats, this can be hired at a cost of €60 for a week.
It should be noted however that there is not always a good TV reception when on the water, so they are hired as a DVD player.
Insurance
Insurance for accidental damage and public liability is included in your hire cost. However we do ask for a returnable insurance excess of between €1,200 and €1,750 depending on the size of the boat hired. This may be reduced to an amount between €150 and €250, by paying a non-refundable waiver of between €105 and €165, according to the size of boat. Payment of the waiver will be permitted at the company’s discretion. We cannot, however, provide for wilful or negligent misconduct. The insurance cover provided is set out in the Conditions of Hire.
The insurance does not cover you for personal injury or loss or damage to your own property. We strongly recommend that you take out Personal Travel Insurance before you travel.
Transport
We can offer scheduled transfers from Dublin airport to all marinas at a cost of €55 per person single or €110 return. Our scheduled transfers are between 12 noon and 6pm on arrival and between 6am and 10am on departure. If you are travelling outside these times, we can organise a private transfer at the cost of a taxi or minibus.
Yes, unsecured parking is available free of charge at all of our 3 marinas. This is not under cover.
General
Pets are allowed on the Wave boats, Penichettes®, Leitrim Sixto, Galway Octo, Clare, Kilkenny and Carlow class boats for an extra charge of €80. For those of you travelling on other types of boat, we can recommend excellent local kennels.
Yes – you get the boat full of fuel and when you come back at the end of your holiday, we fill the boat again and you pay for the fuel used! Typical fuel bill is €150 to €300 for a week depending on the size of boat. We also offer an all-inclusive package to include all your fuel, the damage waiver, cleaning and one lock card. Cost depends on the type of boat and length of holiday. Ask for details when you book or when you arrive at the marina.
Unless you add anything extra to your booking like airport transfers or bicycles, the only extra costs will be the insurance (see above), fuel and an optional cleaning charge. There is an option to take an All-Inclusive package to cover the cost of all extras. There are no charges for mooring at public marinas. A small charge of around €2 is made if you go through any locks.
We have to clean and service every cruiser before it can be put out on hire, therefore cruisers are normally available for pick-up between 4 and 5pm. In certain circumstances we may be able to arrange an earlier pick up. You will be required to vacate your cruiser by 10am on the day of departure.
A navigation chart covering the entire Shannon and Erne Waterways has been produced by Carrickcraft and will be given to all hirers on arrival at the marina. The chart shows where you can moor and the different facilities available at each mooring. An online preview is also available.
From 2025, travellers need a valid passport and an electronic travel authorization (ETA) to enter the UK, which includes Northern Ireland. This authorisation can be obtained online here. There is a processing fee of £10, which must be paid by credit card. However, it is likely you will still fly to Dublin and take a bus to our base in Enniskillen. There will be no restrictions on people going over the border and you will be able to proceed unhindered. For those of you travelling by boat between Carrick-on-Shannon and Bellanaleck, there will be no checks at the border (you will be hard-pushed to even know when you have crossed over). So please don’t let the uncertainty stop you from renting a boat on the Shannon or Erne and coming to the nicest, most natural and peaceful boating holiday ever!
