Cruises to Cobh (Cork)

458 Reviews
Cobh (Cork) (Photo:Shutterstock/Remizov)

About Cruising to Cobh (Cork)

Dominated by a mighty neo-gothic cathedral, Cobh -- pronounced "Cove" -- lies on the Great Island, one of three islands in Cork harbor linked by roads and bridges. The small town is the gateway to County Cork and has one of the world's largest natural harbors, an ideal location to dock for your upcoming cruise to Ireland.

Originally called Queenstown to commemorate a visit in 1849 by Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Cobh has a sprinkling of brightly colored houses and steep, winding streets leading to the center. However the center itself is quite flat with a waterside park and varied selection of bars, shops, cafes and restaurants. Monuments -- to sporting legends, Antarctic explorers, emigrants and Maritime tragedies, including the sinking of the Lusitania and the Titanic -- are everywhere you look.

This town has a sad history. It was the last port of call of the Titanic on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912; a museum opened in 2012 to commemorate the voyage's centenary. It was also where many victims and survivors from the Lusitania tragedy were brought ashore. For thousands of mostly penniless emigrants, Cobh was the last sight of their homeland as they left to build a new life, especially in the famine years of 1844 to 1848. Although some thrived and prospered, many more died on the journey in the terrible traveling conditions of the time.

Cobh developed as a popular seaside resort in the early 19th century, and the town's fame was further boosted in 1838 when the first transatlantic steamer, Sirius, crossed to America in 18 days.

Nowadays, Cobh is always busy with visitors; about 60 cruise ships call on the port each year.

  • More about Cobh (Cork)

  • Why Cruise to Cobh (Cork)?

  • Cobh (Cork) Cruise Port Facilities?

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Holland America Line's Rotterdam at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

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Norwegian Pearl

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Holland America Rotterdam
Holland America Line's Rotterdam at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

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Celebrity Silhouette
Celebrity  Silhouette  Exterior  Image

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13 Nt Western Europe Transatlantic

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Transatlantic Cruise

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3,015 Reviews
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28 Night
World Cruise

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10 Night
Europe - Northern Capitals

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13 Night
13 Nt Western Europe Transatlantic

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14 Night
Europe - Western Cruise

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Cruise Critic Favorite

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British Isles Cruise

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11 Night
Europe - British Isles

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14 Night
Passage To Normandy

1,028 Reviews
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11 Night
Iceland & Ireland

203 Reviews
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More about Cobh (Cork)

Why Cruise to Cobh (Cork)?

Pros:

The gateway to County Cork, Cobh is located close to the city of Cork and is a top destination for Titanic buffs

Cons:

Cobh is a walkable town, but its steep roads could prove challenging for some cruisers

Bottom Line:

Known for being the Titanic's last port of call, Cobh is a small town that offers some worthwhile historical sites

Cobh (Cork) Cruise Port Facilities?

Other than the Cobh Heritage Center, there is no reason to hang round. If you turn right on leaving your ship, the center of Cobh is within 300 feet of the cruise terminal.

Good to Know?

The Irish Police Force (An Garda Siochana) produces a leaflet with helpful information for tourists visiting the Cobh area. Visitors can pick one up at the tourist information center. Some suggestions they give are: Leave valuables in the safe on your ship; keep a separate note of passport number, credit cards and driving licence; and carry with you a note of emergency contact numbers for each of these services. If you rent a car, park only in secure car parks. To call an ambulance or police, dial 112 or 999.

Getting Around?

On Foot: It's a short distance to walk from the dock to town. However, it's quite steep, so walking to the cathedral and museum might prove difficult for some.

By Rental Car: Car rentals are available from Great Island Car Rental (21 481 1609), and your car can be collected just outside the gate to the quay. There is Avis, too. (Emmet Place, Cork City; 21 428 1111)

By Taxi: There are always plenty parked at the dock, or you can walk up the hill to town and get one from the taxi rank in the town center. Taxi drivers are always friendly and chatty.

By Train: There are trains to Cork every half hour, and the journey takes 25 minutes. The railway station is accessed through a gate on the quayside.

By Coach: Cobh Sightseeing Tours (Westbourne Place, opposite the Tourist Office, 087 347 5050) offer 75-minute tours of the town. No booking is required; just hop on. Tickets cost 30 euros for a family, 12.50 euros per adult or 5 euros per child.

By Cobh Road Train: These fun, touristy trains take you around town, stopping at local viewpoints where passengers can disembark. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes and leaves every hour from the town center across the street from the Lusitania Peace Memorial. Trains run from 11 a.m. Tickets are 20 euros per family, 8 euros per adult and 5 euros per child.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The euro is the official currency, and there are ATMs in town. Banks include the Trustee Savings Bank (29 West Beach; 21 481 10 52; open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The bank building used to be Cunard's offices; Cunard started its scheduled calls to Cobh in 1859, and survivors from the Lusitania were landed at Cunard Wharf at the rear of the building. Another bank is The Bank of Ireland (18 Westbourne Place; 21 481 1088; open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m). Both banks are close to the promenade.

Language?

Irish Gaelic is the official first language, but English is spoken by all.

Where You're Docked?

Cruise ships dock at Deep Water Quay, and passengers disembark directly onto the wharf alongside the Cobh Heritage Center. There is no designated terminal building.

Cobh Heritage Center has a cafe, shops and toilets but no public telephones or Wi-Fi. A local tour representative comes onboard ships to provide passengers with maps and information about the town and surrounding area. Otherwise, Cobh Tourism Ambassadors -- they wear green vests so they're instantly recognisable -- are available on the dock to answer any questions you might have. To cover all eventualities, there is also a Tourist Information Center nearby. (Old Yacht Club on the waterfront; 21 481 3301; open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends)


Cobh (Cork) Cruise Reviews
Sadly, it rained all day. While Cobh itself does not have much, and it is a chore to get into Cork, there were lots of options on shore excursions. Read More
MostlyLegal
I had been to Cobh before and explored the port, so this time I took the train to Cork which leaves just adjacent to the port and takes about 20 mins and cost about 7 euros. I got on the HOHO bus just opposite the stRead More
Yaya_in_Oz
We did not go to Cork. Cobh is lovely. We went to their little Titanic museum. Get tickets in advance. We walked around and went to a pub. This is a very nice little port. They had a community band playing for us wheRead More
NCruiser2012
WAAAAAAY to short. We had just a few hours in port, which is made even shorter by the fact that the shp ddoes not dock in Cork, but in the tiny town of Cobh. From there you take a train to Cork. We toured both towns Read More
NorthSeasCruising

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