Excursions Ireland

What Excursions Ireland does

Excursions Ireland is a privately held Destination Management Company (DMC) founded in Dublin in 2003 by Niamh McCarthy, specializing in ground operations for cruise lines visiting the island of Ireland. The company operates from its Dublin headquarters with a 20+ person core team and dedicated port teams in Belfast and Galway, complemented by a nationwide network of local guides and suppliers. Its six service lines comprise Shore Excursions, Pre & Post Tours, Turnaround Services, Land Programmes, Special Events, and Guide Training, all delivered through a B2B direct-sales model to cruise line destination services and shore operations teams.

The company serves more than 30 international cruise brands including Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Viking Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Ponant, TUI Cruises, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and Windstar, among others. Over 20 years the company has served more than 1.5 million cruise guests at Irish ports including Dublin, Belfast, Cobh, Galway, Derry, Waterford, Dun Laoghaire, Foynes, and Bantry. Pricing is negotiated per contract with cruise line partners based on group size, itinerary complexity, and service requirements, with no public pricing and multi-year contract cadence. Distribution flows through direct enterprise sales, cruise line reservation platforms, industry trade shows (Seatrade Cruise Global, ITB Berlin), and familiarization trips.

The underlying operational platform combines proprietary sustainable itinerary design capabilities with a deep local supplier and guide network. The company is a founding member of both Cruise Ireland and TWLGO (The World's Leading Ground Operators) and holds Stage 3 Travelife Certified status, the highest tier of the tourism industry's sustainability certification framework. Revenue model is professional services across all six streams, with no public revenue disclosure and no external funding rounds, M&A activity, or institutional investors recorded in available materials.

Name

Excursions Ireland

Legal name

Excursions Ireland

Website

https://excursionsireland.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Excursions Ireland is a Dublin-based Destination Management Company founded in 2003 that provides shore excursions, turnaround services, land programmes, special events, and guide training to more than 30 international cruise lines visiting Irish ports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cruise Ground Operations & Destination Management

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Shore Excursion Operators (Tours & Activities) (THAEAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Shore Excursion & Port Services Operators (THAKAEAE), Cruise Shore Excursion Operators & Port Services (Agency-led) (THAKAKAJ), Cruise & Land Tour (Cruisetour) Package Operators (THAKADAO)

Keywords

• Cruise ground operations
• Shore excursion services
• Destination management
• Inbound tour operator
• Corporate incentive travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Santry

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Shore Excursions: Core revenue stream from designing and operating shore excursions for cruise passengers visiting Irish ports. Includes coach transportation, expert guides, and venue access.
2. Pre & Post Cruise Tours: Land-based tour packages offered to cruise passengers before or after their cruise to extend their Ireland experience
3. Turnaround Services: Coordination services for cruise ship crew and passenger transitions including disembarkation, embarkation, and port logistics
4. Land Programmes: Corporate and incentive travel programmes for businesses and organisations seeking bespoke Irish travel experiences
5. Special Events: Bespoke event design and delivery for cruise lines, including cultural events, venue sourcing, entertainment, and culinary experiences
6. Guide Training: Training programmes for tour guides to maintain quality standards across the Excursions Ireland guide network

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Excursions Ireland is Ireland's leading cruise ground operator and Destination Management Company, designing and delivering shore excursions, pre- and post-cruise tours, turnaround services, land programmes, special events, and guide training for cruise lines and corporate clients visiting Ireland. The company coordinates coach transportation, expert local guides, venue access, and cultural experiences across all major Irish ports for 30+ cruise brands and 1.5 million+ guests over 20+ years.

Product overview

Excursions Ireland operates as a Destination Management Company (DMC) offering a portfolio of tour and travel services. The core offering centres on Shore Excursions for cruise line passengers, complemented by Pre & Post Tours that extend the cruise experience. Additional services include Turnaround Services for seamless cruise ship passenger transitions, Land Programmes for corporate and group travel, Special Events for bespoke occasions, and Guide Training to maintain service quality standards. These six service lines work together to provide end-to-end ground operations for cruise lines and tour operators visiting Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shore Excursions Designed and operated shore excursions for cruise passengers visiting Ireland, including coach transportation, expert local guides, and venue access across Irish ports.
• Pre & Post Tours Pre- and post-cruise multi-day tours through Ireland's culture, landscapes, and cities, designed to extend guests' Ireland experience beyond the ship's port call.
• Turnaround Services Coordination services for cruise ship crew and passenger transitions at Irish ports, including disembarkation, embarkation, transfers, and port logistics management.
• Land Programmes Bespoke land programmes for corporate clients and groups, including group tours, incentive trips, corporate retreats, and special interest itineraries across Ireland.
• Special Events Bespoke event design and delivery including venue sourcing, entertainment, cultural and culinary experiences for cruise lines, luxury brands, and corporate clients in Ireland.
• Guide Training Training programmes for tour guides covering engagement techniques, storytelling, cultural insights, and customer service excellence to maintain Excursions Ireland's service standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.5 million guests served over 20 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

41 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Viking CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor cruise line partner for shore excursions and destination experiences throughout Ireland
• Princess CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing cruise line partner receiving shore excursion services at Irish ports
• Silversea CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury cruise partner for curated destination experiences in Ireland
• PonantcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium expedition cruise partner for bespoke shore excursions and special events
• Windstar CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdventure cruise partner with long-standing relationship for shore excursion services
• Norwegian Cruise Line HoldingscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor cruise holding company including Norwegian Cruise Line, receiving turnaround and excursion services
• TUI CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean cruise partner receiving shore excursion services for Mein Schiff vessels since 2016
• Azamara CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDestination-focused cruise line partner for immersive Irish experiences including Azamazing events
• Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury yacht cruise partner for inaugural turnaround services in Ireland
• Saga CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium cruise line partner for shore excursions across multiple Irish ports
• Virgin VoyagesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorModern cruise brand partner for shore excursion services
• Oceania CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium cruise line partner for curated Irish destination experiences
• Celebrity CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorModern cruise brand partner for shore excursion services
• Crystal CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury cruise partner receiving destination experiences
• ScenicminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury expedition cruise partner for shore excursion services
• ExplorisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExpedition cruise partner for destination experiences
• Holland America LineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraditional cruise line partner for Irish shore excursions
• CunardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHeritage cruise line partner for premium Irish experiences
• Carnival Cruise LineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMass-market cruise partner for shore excursion services
• Royal CaribbeanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor cruise line partner for shore excursion services
• Regent Seven Seas CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUltra-luxury cruise partner for bespoke Irish experiences
• Disney Cruise LineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFamily-focused cruise partner for Irish port experiences
• P&O CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBritish cruise line partner for Irish shore excursions
• Fred Olsen CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraditional British cruise line partner
• SeabournminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUltra-luxury expedition cruise partner
• Swan Hellenic CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCultural expedition cruise partner
• Atlas Ocean VoyagesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExpedition cruise partner
• Adventure ShippingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdventure cruise partner
• Explora JourneysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorModern luxury cruise brand
• Road ScholarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational travel cruise partner
• Noble CaledoniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoutique expedition cruise partner
• AuroraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorP&O Cruises Australia brand partner
• Ambassador Cruise LineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBritish premium cruise partner
• Norwegian CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorModern cruise line partner for shore excursions
• Cruise IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational cruise tourism development organisation; Excursions Ireland is a founding member actively involved in promoting Ireland as a cruise destination
• TWLGO (The World's Leading Ground Operators)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry network of leading ground operators maintaining high-quality standards; Excursions Ireland is a founding member; chaired by IDNZ Managing Director Debbie Summers
• McPortsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPort services coordination partner for turnaround operations at Irish ports
• Dublin PortminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPort authority partner providing berth facilities for cruise ship turnarounds
• Pro Bus and CarminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTransport services partner providing vehicle fleet for cruise guest transfers during turnaround operations
• Tourism Northern IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment tourism body supporting destination promotion and familiarisation trips
• ITOA (Irish Tour Operators Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for Irish tour operators; Excursions Ireland participates in workshops and networking events

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TUI Musement: The tours and activities arm of TUI Group, serving TUI Cruises and a broad portfolio of cruise and leisure customers globally. Comparable as a much larger, vertically integrated ground operator and excursion platform competing for the same cruise line RFPs.
• Viator (Tripadvisor): A global online marketplace for tours, activities, and shore excursions operated by Tripadvisor. Comparable as a digital channel competing for both cruise-line B2B contracts and direct-to-cruiser shore excursion bookings at Irish ports.
• GetYourGuide: A leading global marketplace for tours, attractions, and excursions, including Irish shore experiences. Comparable as a scaled digital distribution channel that cruise lines increasingly use to source or distribute excursion inventory at Irish ports.
• Kensington Tours: A luxury tour operator offering fully customized private travel worldwide, including Ireland. Comparable as a premium, tailor-made tour provider competing for high-end cruise and corporate clientele that Excursions Ireland also serves.

Direct peers

• Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland: An Ireland-focused small-group tour operator offering active and cultural experiences. Comparable as a competing Irish tour operator with overlapping guide pools, supplier networks, and authentic-experience positioning targeting premium travelers.
• Celtic Tours World Vacations: A US-based tour operator focused on Ireland and the British Isles, packaging land tours for FIT and group travelers. Comparable as a competing inbound tour operator in the Irish destination market, though more oriented to land-based rather than cruise-driven demand.
• ShoreTrips: A specialty cruise shore-excursion marketplace and operator offering tours at ports globally, including Ireland. Comparable as a B2B/B2C shore-excursion provider competing for the same cruise line contracts and direct cruiser bookings.
• IDNZ (International Destination New Zealand): A founding co-member of TWLGO alongside Excursions Ireland and a long-established inbound DMC/ground operator serving cruise lines in New Zealand. Highly comparable as a destination-specialist B2B ground operator with similar cruise-line customer mix and TWLGO governance role.
• Rabbie's Group Tours: A Scotland-based small-group tour operator with strong British Isles expertise and sustainability credentials. Comparable as a regional DMC operating in an adjacent British Isles market with similar small-group, guide-led, sustainability-certified positioning.

Regional players

• Wild Rover Tours: An Irish tour operator running multi-day and shore-excursion-style coach tours across Ireland. Comparable as a domestic competitor targeting similar Irish attractions and guide networks, primarily competing on coach-based group excursions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ExcursionsIreland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/excursions-ireland
• Instagraminstagram.com/excursionsireland
• Xx.com/ExcursionsIrl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Excursions Ireland