OUR GUIDE TO CRUISING
THE RIVER SHANNON

Key Things To Know

1

Pick up location / Collection times / Drop back times.

All collections and drop offs are made at our base location at Banagher, County Offaly.

Checking in times are available throughout the day & cruiser boarding times are from 4pm onwards.

Sunday & Bank Holidays; Checking in time between 10am to 2pm & cruiser boarding times are from 4pm onwards.

Return time is before 10am on the morning of departure.

If you are arriving late please contact us below so arrangements can be made.


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2

Items to bring and what is provided:

We recommend that proper boating shoes or non-slip footwear are worn on board at all times. The weather is changeable in Ireland and on the Shannon so bring waterproofs, warm clothes and wind proof jackets, a torch is useful , playing cards and board games for the children and don’t forget sunglasses to protect against UV light reflected by the water. Food and cleaning materials can be purchased in our local supermarket which is only a 5 minute walk from the marina. We do supply matches and a handy cleaning kit which includes washing up liquid, scourer sponge, tea towels and a bin bag. Suitcase and non-essential items can be stored at our marina.

We supply all our cruisers with towels and bed linen, we do suggest however that clients bring some extra towels for their own convenience. All our cruisers have a fully equipped galley, with crockery, cutlery and all cooking utensils, cooker and hob, fridge, toilet, shower, hot and cold water. For the safety of our clients we supply life jackets, fire extinguishers, first aid kit, binoculars, captains handbook, charts and an optional 4 metre fibre glass dinghy.

3

Diesel / Water

All our cruisers depart with a full tank of HVO(Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) , water and gas. HVO used will be paid for on completion of the hire period. HVO consumption varies between 5 -10 litres per hour depending on the size and speed of the cruiser. There are re-fuelling stations indicated on your charts.   Cruisers can be filled with water free of charge at marinas along the way.
4

Refundable deposit / Non refundable insurance waiver.

All hirers must pay a refundable damage deposit or a full insurance waiver prior to commencing your cruise. The refundable damage deposits range from €800 – €1,500.  The full insurance waiver is only available on certain cruisers and for longer rental periods and costs between €200 – €300.  The full insurance waiver also requires payment of a refundable deposit of €200.  Any damage sustained during the period of hire will be deducted from the refundable deposit.

5

Electricity / Power Sockets

Not all our cruisers are fitted with the standard 220 volt sockets, do please check the boat specification.  However all cruisers are fitted with a USB socket to enable the charging of mobile phones etc.

6

Routes

We are centrally located on the River Shannon so you can choose to cruise north or south.

We have a detailed map showing a selection of sample itineraries and routes from 14 day Family Adventures to 3 day Romantic Breaks.

You can find the maps on our Maps & Activities page

 

7

Car Parking

Free car parking is available at our marina.

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FAQs

LICENSE

No licence is required for cruising the inland waterways of Ireland. 

TUITION

All hirers are required to watch a safety briefing which will be sent via email prior to arrival or available to view on the day of check-in. The briefing covers boating safety and navigation techniques. Once the cruiser is ready for you, a member of staff will accompany you to your cruiser, you can then load up and make yourself comfortable onboard. One of our demonstrators will then provide a practical demonstration onboard the cruiser. Navigation charts, captain’s handbooks and general information are supplied to you on arrival at our marina.

MINIMUM AGE

Skippers must be at least 18 years of age.

PETS

Pets are not permitted onboard our cruisers.

BOOKING DEPOSIT

50% of the hire fee is required as a booking deposit. The balance must be paid on the day of arrival prior to commencing your cruise.

CANCELLATION

In the event of a cancellation, we should be notified immediately and we will endeavour to re-let the cruiser. If this is successful a processing fee of 15% of the total hire fee will be charged. If we are unsuccessful in re-letting the cruiser the hirer is responsible for the full amount. Where a customer chooses to return a cruiser before the period of the hire has expired, no refund shall be made.

Covid related cancellation only:

In the event of cancellation due to Covid restrictions, please notify us immediately and the booking will be cancelled free of charge and a flexible voucher will be issued for the full amount of the booking deposit paid.

DAMAGE TO CRUISER & HIRE EQUIPMENT

All hirers must pay a refundable damage deposit or a full insurance waiver prior to commencing your cruise. The refundable damage deposits range from €800 – €1,500.  The full insurance waiver is only available on certain cruisers and for longer rental periods and costs between €200 – €300.  The full insurance waiver also requires payment of a refundable deposit of €200.  Any damage sustained during the period of hire will be deducted from the refundable deposit.

CHECK IN & CHECK OUT

Checking in times are available throughout the day & cruiser boarding times are from 4pm onwards. Sunday & Bank Holiday; Checking in time between 10am to 2pm & cruiser boarding times are from 4pm onwards. If you are arriving late please advise the office so arrangements can be made. All cruisers must be returned to the marina and vacated by 10.00 a.m. on the last day of hire. All our cruisers are operated and returned to our marina at Banagher, Co. Offaly.

HVO/GAS/WATER/WASTE WATER

All our cruisers depart with a full tank of HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) , water and gas. HVO used will be paid for on completion of the hire period. HVO consumption varies between 5-10 litres per hour depending on the size and speed of the cruiser. Cruisers can be filled with water free of charge at marinas along the way, there are also re-fuelling stations which are indicated on your charts. Toilet waste water is stored onboard in a special holding tank which will need to be emptied at least once during the week. There are numerous pump-out stations along the river.

WHAT’S ONBOARD

All cruisers have gas oven/hob/grill, refrigerator, central heating, toilet & shower, hot & cold water, first aid kit, life jackets, CD radio. They also have fridges, however the marine fridges are smaller than your fridge at home and are not designed to store frozen foods. Cruisers are equipped with a full inventory including all cooking utensils, blankets, duvets, pillows, bed linen & towels, We also supply matches and a handy cleaning kit which includes washing up liquid, cleaning sponge, tea towels and a bin bag. One bath towel per person is supplied together with some hand towels however you may wish to bring some extra towels for your convenience.

ITEMS TO BRING

We recommend that proper boating shoes or non-slip footwear are worn onboard at all times. Bring waterproofs and don’t forget sunglasses to protect against UV light reflected by the water. If you are interested in golfing or fishing, bring along your gear as there are plenty of opportunities for both. Torch, playing cards, books and board games are also useful. Dress code is generally casual. Remember storage space is limited on a cruiser. Suitcases and non-essential items can be stored at our marina. Food and cleaning materials can be purchased in our local supermarket which is only a 5 minute walk from the marina.

ELECTRICITY & BATTERY POWER

Electricity supply varies depending on the class of boat you hire. Some of the boats operate from a 12V DC system from energy stored in the boat’s batteries. It should be used carefully as there is only a limited amount available for lighting / heat etc. The engine should be run daily to recharge the batteries. All boats have a USB socket for charging mobile phones; in some cases this is the only available socket on the boat.   Many of our higher spec’d boats have a second electrical system, ‘shore power’, whereby you literally plug your boat into the power provided on the jetty. Other Silverline boats can create their own AC power away from the dock with an invertor. Please see all our boat specifications via the website or brochure.

MOORINGS

There are plenty of free mooring places along the Shannon-Erne Waterway. However in certain places along your cruise, mooring charges do exist. The majority of marinas have shower/toilet facilities & shore power which are operated mainly by smart cards. The cards are available to purchase at our office and are readily available along the waterway. It is possible to use your hairdryer’s, straighteners etc at the majority of these facilities. Mobile phones/laptops etc can be recharged at the various IBRA company bases.

LOCKS

There are seven locks operated on the River Shannon all manned by lock keepers. A small passage fee applies, payable via smart card.

TRANSFERS & EXTRAS

We can organise transfers from all major Airports. Private transfers can also be arranged. Bicycles, outboard motors, extra dinghies and lake boats are available at additional costs and are subject to availability.

PRE ORDER FOOD

Have your food and drink waiting for you onboard by submitting your food order via our website or calling our office in advance.

FISHING LICENCE

No fishing license is required to fish the River Shannon, however, please obey the fishing laws and permitted catch numbers. There is a coarse fishing permit required for the river suck, the grand canal and lough Erne. This can be purchased in our local fishing tackle shop. Please view www.fisheriesireland.ie for more details.

FERRY PACKAGES FROM GREAT BRITAIN

We can arrange a ferry package with Irish Ferries to include your charter boat and ferry from Pembroke / Rosslare or Holyhead / Dublin. Contact our office directly for a quotation.

GIFT VOUCHERS

Gift vouchers are available, please contact us directly or visit our website www.silverlinecruisers.com.

CAR PARKING

Free and safe car parking is available at our marina, however parking is at the owner’s risk.

ELECTRONIC BANK TRANSFER & STERLING PAYMENTS

Silverline will accept an electronic bank transfer by way of payment, sterling payments are also accepted – please contact the office to make arrangements for payment.

CREDIT CARDS

Silverline accepts major credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa, Amex and Debit Cards.

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