(Small Group) Shore Tour from Cork

Overview

The price of this tour will increase shortly for season 2025. Book any date for 2025 / 2026 at current pricing now while you can. With a free cancellation option up to 24 hours before departure you can pre- book with confidence.

This small group shore excursion follows a slightly different route from our popular group coach shore excursion from Cork.

Operated by our 5 star sister company Elegant Irish Tours, the small group vans seat no more than 25 passengers and allow for a particularly intimate day on shore.

Your day begins in style as we collect you with a small group tour van from the cruise liner terminal in Cobh, Cork Harbour. (Note: if for operational reasons your ship is diverted to the other Cork terminal in Ringaskiddy we will of course meet you there instead)

We’ll drive straight to Blarney Castle. Your admission to Blarney Castle and Gardens is included in the price of this tour - skip all the lines ahead of your fellow shipmates as our guests enjoy priority status. En- route, we’ll enjoy a panoramic drive through Cork City. Your guide will point out the highlights of
the southern capital such as St Finbarre's Cathedral, Shandon Bells, historic English Market and beautiful River Lee. In the afternoon enjoy a scenic drive to Jameson Distillery @ Midleton.

On our return to the ship we get a quick overview of Cobh, the last departure point of Titanic on her fateful maiden voyage and have time to visit St. Coleman's Cathedral - the final place of worship for many Irish emigrants.

The list of all ships and dates will be published here once finalised by the Cork / Cobh Port Authority.

In the meantime, if your dates have been confirmed by your cruise operator you can go ahead and book at 2025 rates on the booking calendar on this page - all dates for the new season have been made live for your convenience.

Rates will be increased for 2026 shortly. Book now for any date at the current rate and cancel free of charge up to 24 hours prior to departure.

If you do not see a tour scheduled for the ship and date you are traveling upon - please contact us - and we may decide to schedule a tour if there is likely to be enough demand.

Arrivals confirmed by Cork Port Authority so far:

3rd September 2025 - Emerald Princess

4th September 2025 - Nieuw Statendam

5th September 2025 - Crystal Serenity

10th September 2025 - Disney Fantasy

11th September 2025 - Norwegian Jewel

13th September 2025 - Regal Princess (Limited availability - selling rapidly)

16th September 2025 - Queen Mary 2

17th September 2025 - Ambience

18th September 2025 - Msc Preziosa

18th September 2025 - Regal Princess

25th September 2025 - AIDASol

15th October 2025 - Artania

23rd October 2025 - Norwegian Prima

4th September 2025 - Norwegian Dawn

7th September 2025 - Mein Schiff 3

9th September 2025 - Crystal Serenity

9th September 2025 - Norwegian Jewel

11th September 2025 - Regal Princess

13th September 2025 - Emerald Princess

15th September 2025 - Ambition

15th September 2025 - Ambience

17th September 2025 - Norwegian Prima

19th September 2025 - Msc Preziosa

20th September 2025 - Regal Princess

23rd September 2025 - Bolette

27th September 2025 - Ambition

1st October 2025 - Regal Princess

13th October 2025 - Artania

15th October 2025 - Ambition

22nd October 2025 - Norwegian Prima

6th November 2025 - Ambition

3rd September 2025 - Norwegian Dawn

6th September 2025 - Crystal Serenity

10th September 2025 - Norwegian Jewel

12th September 2025 - Regal Princess

19th September 2025 - Regal Princess

26th September 2025 - AIDAsol

30th September 2025 - Regal Princess

3 Apr 2026 – Viking Vela

7 Apr 2026 – Viking Neptune

15 Apr 2026 – Viking Neptune

20 Apr 2026 – Majestic Princess

24 Apr 2026 – Ambition

10 May 2026 – Viking Sky

11 May 2026 – Nieuw Statendam

12 May 2026 – Celebrity Eclipse

13 May 2026 – MSC Preziosa

14 May 2026 – Majestic Princess

20 May 2026 – AIDAsol

23 May 2026 – Norwegian Sky

25 May 2026 – Majestic Princess

28 May 2026 – Viking Sky

4 Jun 2026 – Norwegian Sky

4 Jun 2026 – Viking Vela

5 Jun 2026 – Carnival Legend

7 Jun 2026 – Majestic Princess

7 Jun 2026 – Viking Sky

8 Jun 2026 – Oceania Marina

9 Jun 2026 – Norwegian Sky

9 Jun 2026 – Viking Saturn

12 Jun 2026 – Viking Vela

16 Jun 2026 – Oceania Vista

17 Jun 2026 – Viking Saturn

21 Jun 2026 – Viking Mira

25 Jun 2026 – Norwegian Sky

30 Jun 2026 – Norwegian Sky

7 Jul 2026 – Celebrity Eclipse

10 Jul 2026 – AIDAbella

11 Jul 2026 – Viking Jupiter

13 Jul 2026 – Majestic Princess

16 Jul 2026 – Viking Saturn

18 Jul 2026 – Viking Vela

22 Jul 2026 – Viking Mira

25 Jul 2026 – Viking Saturn

2 Aug 2026 – Viking Sky

3 Aug 2026 – Carnival Legend

5 Aug 2026 – Celebrity Eclipse

6 Aug 2026 – Norwegian Sky

10 Aug 2026 – Majestic Princess

11 Aug 2026 – Oceania Vista

15 Aug 2026 – Norwegian Sky

18 Aug 2026 – Majestic Princess

22 Aug 2026 – Viking Sky

24 Aug 2026 – Carnival Legend

28 Aug 2026 – Viking Saturn

29 Aug 2026 – Majestic Princess

30 Aug 2026 – Viking Sky

31 Aug 2026 – Oceania Marina

31 Aug 2026 – Oceania Vista

1 Sep 2026 – Nieuw Statendam

2 Sep 2026 – AIDAsol

4 Sep 2026 – Viking Jupiter

5 Sep 2026 – Viking Saturn

6 Sep 2026 – MSC Preziosa

10 Sep 2026 – Viking Vela

13 Sep 2026 – Viking Jupiter

16 Sep 2026 – Oceania Marina

18 Sep 2026 – Viking Vela

22 Sep 2026 – Viking Mira

25 Sep 2026 – Viking Saturn

15 Oct 2026 – Norwegian Sun

Pick-up Points

We collect passengers from the cruise ship at 07:30 for departure at 08:00. Where your ship docks later than 07:30 the tour will begin 30 minutes after disembarkation commences. - Cobh (Cork) Cruise Ship Terminal

Itinerary

8am (or as soon as the Ship docks if later) Tour Begins At Cobh Cruise Terminal

We will collect you in style from your Cruise Ship. When you leave the Ship, turn to the right, and your guide will be waiting for you near the pedestrian exit gate( At The Annie Moore Statue ). We begin at 8am, or if the Ship arrives later, please leave the ship immediately to meet your guide! We like to get ahead of the crowd and avoid the queues in Blarney!

Blarney Castle & Woolen Mills

Our first stop of the day is Blarney. Visit the most famous Castle in all of Ireland!! Lie back and kiss the magical Blarney Stone and get the gift of the gab! Your admission is included saving you EUR 22.00.

WE ARE HAPPY TO INCLUDE ADMISSION TO BLARNEY CASTLE:

others will make you join a queue and pay at the gate! You will also have time to visit the world famous Blarney Woolen Mills. Famed as the largest Irish Store in the world, many take advantage of its tax free shopping offers on quality Irish products.

Cork City Tour

We take a panoramic drive through Cork City. We view the highlights of this fine City such as the River Lee, St Finbarre's Cathedral, Shandon Bells, English Market and Grand Parade. Cork was recently considered by the Lonely Planet one of the 10 must see cities in the world. Some of its famous sons include Henry Ford, Michael Collins to name a few

Midleton - home of the Jameson Distillery.!!!!

Our next stop is the beautiful town of Midleton, famed as being the home of Jameson distillery since 1825. Today it is home to many Irish whiskeys such as Jameson, Powers, Paddy, Redbreast, Green Spot, previously produced in separate distilleries.

In 1992, the Old Midleton Distillery reopened as a visitor's centre, known as the Jameson Experience.

Glorious Cobh

Our last stop before boarding the ship, Cobh is famed as the final departure point for the Titanic. Built on a side of the hill, time permitting, we visit the St. Coleman's Cathedral one of the most magnificent Cathedrals in the country. Time permitting, those on ships with late departures will have time to visit the Titanic experience 100m from where the ships dock.

Return To Cruise Ship on Time

We structure each tour to make sure you are back on board at lease 1 hr before time for departure. The service ends back at the dockside after approximately 8 hours on tour. If the boat is leaving earlier we will amend the itinerary as necessary.

Additional Info

Language

This tour is exclusively in English.

Ticket

You will receive your ticket (featuring your booking number) via email immediately at time of booking. There is no need to print the ticket. If you wish, you can simply show it on your phone or tablet.

When to Book?

Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities. You can book up to 60 minutes before departure if there are still places available.

Free Cancellation

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour's start time.

If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour's start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour's start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the local time in Ireland.

Learn more about cancellations