Cruising from Dublin: port info
Alexandra Road, Dublin Port, Dublin 1, D01 WD28
At Alexandra Quay, Dublin's main cruise port, one and a half kilometres from the city centre, there are several berths that accommodate cruise ships.
Ocean pier is the main cruise ship berth with most large ships having to dock in the main cruise port at the estuary of the Liffey River. However, smaller ships are able to travel inland via the waterway to the city centre's quayside dock along the bank by the Samuel Beckett Bridge.
If your cruise is labelled as ‘Tender’ this means the port is not actually Dublin itself but rather Dún Laoghaire cruise port 8km north of the city. Previously, the town was called Kingstown but now the original name and spelling are used, pronounced "Dun Leary". From the city centre, travelling to Dún Laoghaire is easy, at around just 25 minutes via train or 45 minutes by road.
Cruise ships from Dublin
Celebrity Eclipse is the first cruise ship to have Dublin as her homeport and as a result, many of the cruises starting in Dublin are onboard Eclipse. Other lines with large ships beginning their cruises in Dublin include Princess Cruises, along with the medium-sized Regent, Silversea, Seabourn, Azamara Cruises and Cruise and Maritime Voyages.
Meanwhile, smaller cruise ships and luxury yachts can even head up the river to dock closer to the city centre such as Ponant, Scenic and Windstar.
Cruise Ships often in Dublin: Celebrity Eclipse, Reflection, CMV Marco Polo, CMV Magellan, Oceania Nautica and Seabourn Ovation
Cruise destinations from Dublin
As Ireland's capital city, and largest port, it's no surprise that you can cruise to all corners of the world from Dublin. From Dublin it's possible to sail around Ireland and the wider British Isles, the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe, or even an iconic transatlantic voyage to New York like in the golden age of ocean travel.
Here are just some of the main cruise destinations from Dublin:
British Isles: Cobh, Belfast, Liverpool, the Hebrides, London
Northern Europe: Iceland, the Faroes, Norway's Fjords and the Northern Lights
Baltics: Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm and St. Petersburg
Getting to Dublin cruise port
If driving to Dublin cruise port, avoid the heavily congested city centre by taking the M50 clockwise or R101 around the city centre and onwards to the cruise port. This approach is clearly signposted and the Sat Nav code to head to is D01 WD28.
The M50 is the best route around the city from any direction you approach Dublin. However, when taking the Dublin Port Tunnel, be aware that there is a toll, which you can pay by card or cash.
| Dublin Port Tunnel | Price | Times |
|---|---|---|
| Peak | €10 | 6am-10am Southbound 4pm-7pm Northbound |
| Off-peak | €3 | Mon-Fri all times not peak Weekends Bank holidays |
Dublin has two main train stations connecting other cities and counties. Heuston Station generally serves the North and East. From here, a twenty-minute taxi ride is the fastest and most direct route to Alexandra Quay but the Red Luas Line is also very convenient. Also connected by Luas, Connolly train station provides connections to the South and West. Connolly is also just across from Busàras, the main bus station for long-distance and regional coach connections.
| Dublin Stations | Destinations | Links to port | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connolly | Belfast, Sligo, Wicklow Rosslare, Drogheda | Red Luas: Busáras to The Point- 4 stops, 10 mins approx. Buses: 747, 757, 53 or the airport link. | Amiens Street |
| Heuston | Cork, Limerick,Waterford, Kilkenny Tralee, Killarney, Galway | Red Luas: Heuston to The Point- 10 stops, 22 mins approx. | St John's Road Wes |
From the city centre a taxi costs around €13 to Alexandra Quay. Some cruise lines provide shuttle bus services for free from Kildare Street, but others could cost about €10 a ticket, in which case a taxi may end up being cheaper. On the other hand, there are also Luas and public bus routes heading to the harbour area. If taking the Luas, the closest stop to the port is The Point, at the end of the Red Line, a few minutes’ walk to the terminal.
If you are cruising from Dublin as part of a fly cruise, Dublin Airport has connections through the rest of the British Isles, including domestic Irish airports, and Europe. From the airport, the fastest way to get to the docks is by taxi, which only takes between 10 and 15 minutes, as you avoid the central traffic congestion with both locations to the north east of the city. There is also the 747 outbound and 757 inbound bus, only taking around 20 minutes, which runs every ten minutes between the airport and Busáras via the port. Get the bus at Dublin airport's bus bays and get off at the stop called Point Village. From here, you are directly outside the cruise terminal facility.
Cruise port facilities
Car ParkingAs Dublin is a major port for not only cruises but also ferries and cargo ships, there is no shortage of parking options both in the city and around the port. The closest independent car park for long and short stays is Q-Park on Grand Canal Square. From here is a ten-minute taxi ride to The Point or 20 minutes to Terminals 1 and 2. Both long and short-stay parking is available at Terminals 1 and 2 in the port. Terminal 1 serves as the ferry port and Terminal 2 the Stena Line. Here parking prices are €2 an hour, €9 per day and €50 a week. You can pay at the machine upon parking – remember to clearly display your ticket in the windscreen.
What to do and see in Dublin
While in Dublin either side of the cruise, you can make sure you make the most of your holiday time by seeing the delights of Dublin. One of Europe's most iconic and popular city break destinations, Dublin has a plethora of sites to take in from the worlds of literature, history, shopping, and, of course, Guinness. The hop on, hop off bus tour is a fantastic way to discover the city and make sure not to miss any of Dublin's cultural highlights. A ticket for the day costs €20 and allows you to see and learn all about famous Dublin landmarks such as:
| Time | Price | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin Castle | 9:45am-5:45pm | Adults: €7 Kids: €3 Concessions: €6 | Dame St., Dublin 2 |
| Trinity College | Winter Mon-Sat: 9:30am-5pm Sun: 12-4:30pm Summer Mon-Sat: 8:30am-5pm Sun: 9:30-5pm | Adults: €14 Concessions: €13 Families: €28 | College Green, Dublin 2 |
| Kilmainham Gaol | 9am - 6pm | Adults: €8 Concessions: €6 Kids/Students: €4 Families: &euro20 | Inchicore Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8 |
| Guinness Storehouse | 9.30am-5pm | Adults: €18.50 Teens: €16 Kids: Free | St James's Gate, Ushers, Dublin 8 |
| Epic Museum | 10am-5pm | Adults: €15 Teens: €13 Kids: €7.50 Families: &euro37 | Custom House Quay, North Dock |
If you're looking for hotel accommodation, you will find plenty of hotels around the city centre ranging from between €50 and €50 per night. In addition, if you would prefer to leave your bags in the city centre as you explore during the day, there are several baggage storage services to choose from. One luggage storage facility is by O'Connell Bridge and the other inside the shopping centre on Parnell Street. Meanwhile, for shopping, a wander down the world-famous Grafton Street is a must as well as Temple Bar for a taste of the legendary Dublin bars and nightlife.