From the tender to your tour at Dún Laoghaire
At Dún Laoghaire, your ship anchors out in Dublin Bay and a tender brings you ashore to St Michael's Pier. The good news: coaches wait in a harbour compound right beside the landing pontoon.
Coming ashore by tender
Tenders shuttle back and forth in batches, so your group probably won't land together. Pick a spot on the pier to gather, let the operator know roughly which tender you're aiming for, and count heads before you set off.
Cruise lines calling here
- Princess Cruises (Regal Princess, 8 calls in 2026)
- Norwegian Cruise Line (9 calls in 2026)
- Viking (25 calls in 2026)
Terminals
- Tender landing pontoon at No 4 berth, east side of St Michael's Pier (ships anchor in Dublin Bay)
Into Dublin or down to Wicklow
Most shore days head north into the city or south into the Wicklow hills. Measured from Dublin city, Powerscourt Estate at Enniskerry is about 25 km and Glendalough about 55 km, and the two pair nicely in one outing.
In town, coaches can't load at the on-street coach bays, which allow two hours at most. Groups board and step off at the signed coach stops instead; the one on Nassau Street is handy for Trinity College and the Book of Kells.
Mind the last tender
On a tender call, the deadline that matters is the final boat back to the ship, not the sailing time. Aim to be back at the pier with time to queue before the last one, and build that cushion into your plans for the day.
Who's calling, and the airport
More than 70 cruise calls were scheduled for 2026, with Viking, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess among the visitors. The numbers beside each line are 2026 figures, so check your own itinerary for 2027. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council runs the harbour.
Flying in or home? Dublin Airport is about 25 km away, 35 to 50 minutes by road.
Questions
Does the ship dock at Dún Laoghaire?
No. It anchors out in the bay, and tenders ferry everyone to the pontoon at St Michael's Pier.
Where will our vehicle be?
There's a coach compound in the harbour right by the tender pontoon. Your booking confirms where your own vehicle meets you.
How far is Glendalough?
About 55 km measured from Dublin city, roughly an hour by road.
How long is the drive to Dublin Airport?
About 35 to 50 minutes.
Cities
Vehicles
- Full-size coach — 49-57 seats
- Midi coach — 29-35 seats
- Minibus — 16-19 seats
- Executive van (Mercedes V-Class / Sprinter class) — 7-8 seats
- Executive car (E-Class saloon class) — 1-3 seats
- Wheelchair-accessible minibus — 10-16 plus wheelchair spaces seats
Anchoring off Dún Laoghaire?
Let us know the ship, the date, your tender plans and the size of the party. A licensed, insured operator quotes the day for you to accept or not.
Request a quote or call 35312659159