Aran Island Ferries

Great crew!
We did not book our trip to Inishmore in advance. Instead we waited for the worst possible weather day and then booked an Atlantic ferry to the Aran Islands.
The Aran Island Ferries take you from Ros a Mil Galway to the Aran Islands. You can also get to the Aran Islands from Doolin, County Clare. The boats from Ros a Mil hold 300 people, the ferries from Doolin hold about 80. The day we went the ferries were all cancelled from Doolin because the water was rough for the smaller boats.
What should have been a 30 minute ride took a bit longer as it was incredibly choppy, but we got there and back in one piece. The crew was pleasant and professional.

God, I hate sailing. Because I hate throwing up. However, if I have to sail, it may as well be with a service that’s efficient and reasonably comfortable. We missed the ferry back as it departed a couple of minutes before time (our fault, it clearly says be at the departure point half an hour in advance) but apart from that, it was all good, especially as we were able to catch the next one an hour later.

Nice service that stayed on time for my round trip departures. It was not very clear from the website that you have to go check into the office first to get your actual tickets after you pay for it online, so give some time for that. The person in the office didn’t seem to have the record of my ticket purchase but since I had the printed receipt (a must for travel in foreign lands!) they accepted my statement that it was already paid. Eventful ride back with a tour group of choir girls from the USA touring Europe, we were treated to a surprise performance in the aisles including choreography! The whole luggage handling left some organization to be desired and I heard some people arguing about whether or not bikes are let on, with mixed answers.

It’s not a yacht and certainly nowhere near a cruise ship, but this boat does a decent job of transporting you to the Aran Islands. There is plenty of indoor seating for those who want to nap or read a book and a small outdoor deck to soak up the sun. The whole trip takes around 30 minutes and is a relatively smooth journey.
There’s also a small holding area for luggage, so don’t worry about getting in people’s way.