Excerpt taken from the Porthole Cruise Magazine
Cruising the Emerald Isle
Shannon Princess, described as a luxury barge hotel, is owned and operated by husband/wife team Ruairi and Olivia Gibbons. Assisted by a well-trained staff of two, they combine warm personalities and every conceivable talent to bestow an unforgettable journey on 10 fortunate guests through the heart of the Emerald Isle.
Like a Noah’s Ark passenger list, the sailing’s diverse group came in pairs, and soon discovered that we all came seeking the same thing: refuge from our everyday real world lives.
Boarding the vessel immediately introduces a welcoming, unpretentious salon and dining area. Plush chairs and sofas beckon to weary travel legs and the family-style table sets the scene for engaging dining camaraderie. Following a brief champagne toast from our hosts ensuring a comforting “our home is your home” ambience, we walked 10 steps down a graciously appointed hallway to our awaiting suite.
Expectations had been tempered to anticipate basic accommodations, but surprisingly the king-size bed and overall room design left Irish eyes smiling. A massive double window skimming the surface of the water would serve as the 3-D movie screen to the transitional….
