Making the most of Cobh Cork
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The approach through beautiful Cork Harbour is spectacular, with Roches Point on the right and Crosshaven, the sailing mecca, on the left.
Most ships berth near town beside Cobh Heritage Center. If more than one large cruise ship is visiting, you may instead dock at Ringaskiddy, about 2 km away, with a ferry service to Cobh.
When departing Cobh, spend time on both sides of the deck, especially the port side, for views of the coastline and a lighthouse.
Smaller cruise ships, with an overall length of no more than 499 feet/152 meters, can berth in Cork city centre.
Cobh is the gateway to Cork, about 20 km away. A Mallow -Cobh/Midleton train runs from Cobh port to Cork centre, and its station is at the port. A return costs about 7 euros, the journey takes about 24 minutes, and trains run every 30 minutes when a cruise ship is docked. Sunday service is limited.
Check the port's cruise calendar to see which berth will be used.
Cobh is a pleasant town whose streets climb a steep hill to the fine St. Coleman's Cathedral, with its carillon of 47 bells. Formerly called Queenstown, it stands on Great Island, one of the three large islands in Cork harbor, now linked by roads and bridges; Little Island and Fota are the others.
The harbor is one of the world's largest and safest, able to accommodate the biggest vessels afloat. Great Transatlantic liners called here until the 1950s. A quayside memorial remembers Lusitania victims, many buried in the old church cemetery. The ship was sunk off Kinsale in 1915 by a German submarine, an event that brought the United States of America into the Great War, and survivors were returned here. Cobh also has a sombre Titanic connection: Queenstown was the last Cruise Port on the maiden voyage of the ship known as 'the safest liner in the world'. Visit the Titanic…
Getting around
Butlers Bus Tours runs a Blarney & Kinsale Bus Tour Including Cork City & Cobh; it sells out quickly.
Trains between Cobh and Cork generally run every hour and take 24 minutes. A round-trip costs around 10 € for adults and 3 € for children.
Taxis wait outside the port; a one-way trip to Cork costs approximately 35 € – 45 €.
Cork City sightseeing hop-on/off buses visit attractions including the English Market Cork, Cork City Goal, the Shandon Bells, UCC and other leading Cork City sights. Show your train ticket for a 2 Euro discount.
Nearby places
A Cork stopover offers a broad choice of quality shore excursions. Experienced, courteous, multi-lingual guides take passengers by luxurious, air-conditioned coach to historic, cultural and scenic sites.
Cork City Gaol is a relatively recent heritage attraction, using image and sound to portray prison life in southern Ireland from the 1820's to the 1920's.
Blarney village, a short coach ride from Cork city, is perhaps Ireland's best-known and most visited attraction. Blarney Castle dates from around 1446, and tradition says kissing its famous stone guarantees eloquence. At Blarney Woolen Mills, see old Irish crafts including hand weaving and hand knitting, and choose from the world's largest retail collection of Waterford Crystal. Bus 224 from Cork train station goes there (9 miles). Kinsale is 17 miles / 27 kilometers from the city and is one of the most…
West Cork lies south-west of Cork, where magnificent Bantry Bay, neighbouring Glengarriff and Garnish Island show the Gulf Stream's influence in their sub-tropical vegetation.
Food and shopping
Shops, pubs and restaurants are plentiful along the harbor.
Money
As part of the Eurozone, the Republic of Ireland uses the Euro (symbol: €), as do many European Union countries. Stand Alone Cash machines (ATMs) are common in every city and town, and credit cards are accepted by 90% of outlets. Irish ATMs do not generally charge fees, although your bank may do so.
Staying connected
Free WiFi is available at Cobh Heritage Center beside the terminal.
English is used throughout, although Irish (Gaeilge) is the first official language.
Opening Hours and
Offices operate 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Shops trade 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, until 8pm on Thursday, and 9am to 6pm on Saturday; Sunday has Limited Hours. Pubs open 10.30am to 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, close at 12.30am on Friday and Saturday, and operate 12.30 to 11.30pm on Sunday. Pubs close on Christmas Day and Good Friday.