The Barrow Princess cruise ship is a new tourism offering connecting Waterford and New Ross via the river.
It will begin sailings seven days a week from Friday March 18th, the day after St Patrick's Day, with an official launch planned for May.
The ship is run by Three Sisters Cruise Company and came about through funding from Wexford County Council's Leader programme.
Speaking to WLR, the ship's captain Declan Bates said that refurbishing the ship has been a labour of love for him for many years, and that he's delighted to finally get the project over the line.
"I tried everything to get a suitable boat, and was met with every obstacle you could ever imagine, regulations mostly. Finally I bought a ferry on the Islands of Scilly and brought her to Ireland then. I spent a fortune refurbishing her over the last two years... it took a lot of time and a lot of frustration but we're finally there now. She's like a new ship."
The capacity of The Barrow Princess
The Barrow Princess can carry 75 passengers and has an inside lounge and a viewing deck. It has a fully licensed bar on board, as well as a snacks offering, using locally sourced produce where possible.
Front of house Rachel Power said that the cruise offers a "fascinating" history along the river between Waterford and New Ross, expecting it to be a huge attraction for locals, tourists and private functions. "We're looking forward to a varied clientele," she said.
"The River is there for everybody to enjoy, it's just the access to it wasn't there," Rachel added.
Sailings
The initial schedule will have morning sailings at 10am from New Ross, getting into Waterford at 11.30am. There will also be mini-cruises along the River Suir.
The experience will be packaged up with coach tours for when customers disembark. It's hoped The Barrow Princess will also link in with the Dunbrody Hotel to offer hot food to private parties.
You'll find out more details here.
Meanwhile, community meetings are upcoming regarding enhancing the St Declan's Way walk between Ardmore and Cashel. More here.
