Larger cruise ships will dock at one of the berths in Alexandra Quay, at the mouth of River Liffey, to the east of the city centre. However, smaller vessels are able to sail up the river itself. From time to time, ships may also dock in the suburb of Dún Laoghaire, with passengers making the short trip into central Dublin via shuttle bus or tram.

Dublin may be planning to reduce its cruise ship traffic from 150 vessels per year to around 80 in 2021, but it remains the first choice for cruisers departing from Ireland. Celebrity Cruises homeports some of its ships here and operators such as Saga, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises also visit regularly.

Dublin is a fantastic city and it’s well worth arriving early to explore its legendary streets and pubs. A direct tram route (Red Line) from The Point can take you into town to discover the Guinness Storehouse, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College and much more. In short, cruises from Dublin are a great choice for anyone looking to experience some history and culture before they sail into the sun.