Planning a trip to Skellig Michael is an extraordinary adventure. To ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience, we’ve compiled answers to frequently asked questions about our Landing Tours and Eco Cruises.
Yes –there are two types of trip to the Skellig Michael, one which permits you to land and the other which brings you around the skelligs, this one is called “the Eco Cruise”
Yes, landing on the skelligs is permitted once you travel on a licenced boat.
If you know your date for the cruise then you should book it, to make sure you get your preferred date, But with the Eco Cruise you can sometimes book it much closer to the departure date (We have more availability on this cruise than on the landing cruise.)
To make a booking for an Eco-Cruise around Skellig Michael, choose from one of the following options:
PLEASE NOTE:
For bookings made by e-mail for the Eco-Cruise the departure time must be confirmed by phone on the morning of the departure.
Our Eco-Cruises depart daily from Portmagee, weather permitting. Since sailings depend on conditions, we recommend checking with us on the day of your trip to confirm if the cruise is going ahead.
Yes - The Eco Cruise trip around Skellig Michael is weather dependant. You need to contact us on the morning of your cruise to discuss the weather conditions.
You would need to book your trip to Land on Skellig Michael well in advance of your preferred date, anything upwards of 2 - 3 months. Sometimes you may be lucky and find a date suitable for you, closer to your time of departure. But that can be a risky chance to take.
Booking to Land on Skellig Michael can only be made online, at https://www.skelligsrock.com/skellig-michael-landing-tours/
PLEASE NOTE:
The bookings to Land must be confirmed by phone two days before departure.
The trip to Land departs daily from the 10th May until the end of September. This trip is weather dependent.
Each boat is permitted one landing trip per day.
Yes – The boats carry a full complement of lifejacket, As per the Dept of Marine rules the passengers are not required to wear these lifejackets during the voyage. The reason being they are what is called a positive buoyancy lifejacket and very restrictive during the trip to the Skelligs. IF SOMEONE WISHES TO WEAR A LIFEJACKET DURING THE TRIP, WE WILL GLADLY ACCOMMODATE THEM We do not give out Personal Floatation devices as these are not fit for the open waters and should only be used during water sports activities such as kayaking, jet skiing wind surfing etc…
Difficult to Know. On a day when conditions are inclement, we would sometimes have 2 to 3 people who get seasick. If the conditions are good then we would seldom have people sick, unless the person is a very poor traveller.
We are not medical people so we cannot give definitive advise on this, only to say what we have observed, that which seems to work for others.
TO HELP PREVENT IT
On the morning of your sailing
Yes there are toilet facilities on Skellig Michael
Please see a list of items which we suggest may be of benefit to you on the trip to Skellig Michael
The boats which land on Skellig Michael are on a Rota System. This means that boats are allowed to Land on the Skelligs at intervals of 45 minute slots. There are 3 boats allocated to each of these slots. This helps to regulate the amount of people on the Island at any particular time.
The first landing on Skellig Michael is at 09:00 and the last landing is at 12 noon. Therefore those on the first landing will be departing from Portmagee at 08:00 You will be informed in advance of your departure time.
Yes- There is a fully functioning toilet on board, located in the for ‘ward cabin
Yes-The boats are licensed by the Dept of Marine and have a P5 licence. They undergo a very intensive inspection every 2 years before the licence is issued.
The only facilities for the traveller are the toilets, they are located close to the steps which marks the beginning of the climb to the monastery
The weather is always different on the sea. So always bring extra clothes to keep warm. Also make sure that you bring some waterproofs with you. Light snacks/ sandwich
Always bring a backpack, here you can have your extra clothing in the event of a change in the weather. Waterproofs are always an essential, “better to be looking at them, than for them”
A person wishing to visit Skellig Michael should wear – preferably a hiking boot or at the least a strong walking shoe with good supports. Sandals should not be worn nor should shoes with a raised heel.
Copyright © 2025 | Skelligs Rock Cruises
