What Boat Types Are Available for a Shannon Boating Holiday on Discover the Shannon?

Discover the Shannon lists seven boat classes on its site: Shannon Star, Horizon 4, Longford Class, Horizon Linssen 350AC, Silver Shadow, Wave Duke, and Wave Princess. The site groups them under a single "Our Boats" section with a "View All Boats" page, but the source material does not publish capacity, cabin count, or per-boat specifications — so the practical way to choose is to shortlist by cruising style and route first, then confirm the exact boat details with the operator before booking.

The boats listed

Because the site does not attach passenger numbers or cabin layouts to these names, treat the table as a starting list, not a comparison. Two patterns are worth noting: the fleet mixes named one-off cruisers (Shannon Star, Silver Shadow) with class or series names (Horizon, Wave, Longford Class), and at least one boat — Silver Shadow — is tied to specific deals such as "10 nights for 7" and a "10% off Aug–Oct" offer.

How to narrow the choice

1. Decide your route first. The boat you pick should match where you want to cruise, since the site organises destinations separately from boats.
2. Open "View All Boats." This is the site's own filter-and-compare entry point for the full fleet.
3. Check the Special Offers page. Some discounts are boat-specific (Silver Shadow, Emerald Cruisers, Silverline), so a deal can decide the boat for you.
4. Confirm specifications directly. Capacity, cabins, and facilities are not published in the source material, so ask before you commit.

Matching boat to region

The site splits the Shannon into four cruising areas, and your route should shape which boat suits you:

• Upper Shannon — start from Carrick-on-Shannon; lakes, islands, and winding countryside. Described as one of the most popular areas.
• Mid-Shannon — start from Banagher; can go north to the Upper Shannon or south to Lough Derg. Includes Clonmacnoise, Athlone, Shannonbridge, and Lough Ree.
• Lough Derg — start from Banagher or Portumna; dramatic scenery and nine villages from Terryglass to Killaloe. The Lough Derg Trail is pitched as a weekend break.
• Shannon Erne Waterway — 16 locks, suited to "the boating enthusiast," and can be done by cruiser or barge. Start from Ballinamore or head south to Leitrim Village.

The Erne Waterway is the clearest signal for boat choice: the site explicitly says it suits cruisers or barges and is for boating enthusiasts, so a slower, more handling-oriented boat fits better there than on a short Lough Derg weekend.

Cruise packages that pair with a boat

The site also sells named packages, which can be a faster way to choose than picking a boat in isolation:

• Lough Derg Trail Weekend
• Family Weekend Cruise
• Lough Erne Cruise
• Barging Along the Canal
• Family Adventure Cruise
• Taste of the Shannon Cruise North / South
• Ancient Ireland Cruise

If a package matches your trip length and route, work backwards from it to the boat rather than the other way around.

What to confirm before booking

The source material does not state prices, deposit terms, licence requirements, or whether a skipper is needed. Before you decide, ask the operator directly about:

• Passenger capacity and number of cabins for your chosen boat
• Whether the boat is self-drive or crewed
• Any licence or experience requirement, especially for the 16-lock Shannon Erne Waterway
• Which special offers apply to your dates and boat

The site also offers a Gift Voucher and lists a "10% Early Booking Discount," so timing your booking can affect cost — but confirm the current terms rather than assuming they still apply.