John Galligan Travel

13/06/2025

ULTRA-LUXURY SILVERSEA CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS FLY-CRUISE From €5,900pps (Vista Suites)

Depart Dublin on 22 December for 14 nights of exquisite Christmas pampering, at the hands of Silversea Cruises. Fly to Barbados and spend 14 nights exploring the Southern Caribbean on one of the most luxurious and most inclusive cruise lines in the world.

JGT's prices includes limo from home in Dublin (and back), return flights to Barbados, transfers, 14 night cruise, shore excursions, drinks, gratuities, fine dining, wi-fi, butler service and so much more. Or you could stay at home and cook the Turkey.

This offer is €000's cheaper than is available from Silversea themselves (check it out) and and we have only a limited number of suites available. Balcony suites from €7,300pps. Must be booked before 20 June and first up, best dressed!

This is only available from The Real Cruise Experts -
JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL (01) 207 6555 [email protected]

11/06/2025

ABOARD RIVERSIDE RIVER CRUISES YOU GET YOUR JUST DESSERTS

Now, if there is something we have a weakness for, it’s our grub. Especially desserts!

This is where the really great cruises make their mark. With a choice of restaurants and cuisine to die for, Riverside have it sussed. The variety, the ambience, the service and presentation were all outstanding but above all, the quality is stunning. Waiters dance attendance and keep the fine wines flowing. The sommelier is always on hand to advise you about what wine goes with what. The welcome bottle of bubbly in your suite when you first board may light the fuse but you want to keep the firecrackers going.

But the desserts………….

We head home today filled with thoughts of dieting. You have been warned!

JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL - The Real Dessert Experts. (01) 207 6555

11/06/2025

DANUBE CRUISE ON RIVERSIDE MOZART - What a ship!

River cruise ships are narrow, low and long. They have to be to get around the river bends and under the bridges. Riverside Cruises have broken that mould with their glorious “Mozart”. Aptly named as it only sails on the Danube, and a lot of the theme is naturally around Mozart, Strauss etc.

The first thing you notice when you step aboard is the space. There are similar ships on the Danube but they sail with 50% more passengers, so the space-to-passenger ratio on “Mozart” is as good as it gets.

This is a “double-width” ship, so much wider than most and the Danube is the only river that can accommodate such a large ship. The larger size allows her to have plenty of elegant, comfortably furnished nooks and crannies. Uniquely, it has a full length, wrap around walking outside deck, if you need to walk off those stunning meals. Again, uniquely for a river shop, there is a choice of 4 restaurants, including the grill on the top deck for outdoor summer dining.

There are 3 bars, a large gym (if you are so inclined), a full spa, indoor pool and whirlpool bath, sauna and steam room.

A beautiful Connoisseur Room, which is actually for those pesky smokers but they should be barred and this room preserved to readers. The e-bikes are a delight along the superb flat cycle paths beside the Danube and the quality of the excursions is superb. Our guide in Salzburg was an opera singer and she treated us to most of the “Sound of Music” (which was filmed there) on our way around. Just one of the extra little touches that make Riverside a cut above.

There are great river cruises and there are really outstanding river experiences. If you want the latter, like the finer things in life and have a few bob down the back of the sofa, Riverside would be a great investment. Well worth the extra.

JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL - The Real Rivet Cruise Experts (01) 207 6556

11/06/2025

JGT Back on the Danube Checking Out Top-End River Cruises

For the second time in a month, JGT travelled to the Danube in search of river cruise knowledge. Last time, we were on a lovely 4-star cruise line. This time we were keen to see why a top-of-the-range 5-star cruise line can justify a price premium.

As soon as we stepped aboard, we could see what the difference is. You definitely get what you pay for.

While most of the ships on Europe’s rivers are 3 or 4 stars, there are a few that stand out from the crowd. When the luxurious Crystal Cruises went bust a few years ago, a Spanish hotel company snapped up their fleet of five river ships. These ships now sail under the Riverside name and it was on one of Riverside ships that we found ourselves on this week. But not just any ship - the Riverside Mozart. A very special ship. More about that later.

Riverside operate on the Rhine/Moselle, the Danube and the Rhone/Soane in France. We will go into more detail about the premium nature of the cruise later but know that if you want to do the rivers in style, Riverside definitely deserve very close scrutiny.

If you have the budget, you will love this. For solo travellers, they are offering 0% single supplement on all their sailings and some sharing offers in 2025, so the price can work out great value if you are travelling alone or looking for a bit of luxury at great value with your loved one.

They also do 3 or 4 night cruises, so you can tag in a hotel and make a short cruise/stay holiday out of it.

JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL - The Real River Cruise Experts (01) 207 6555

29/05/2025

EVEN MORE TAXPAYERS MONEY WASTED BY A STATE BODY OVER A MESS MADE BY THE STATE ITSELF!

We are an extremely highly taxed people. We have to be, to fund the kind of wastage our state piddles away every year. When are we going to reform our public sector? We have had a Minister for Public Sector (no) Reform for years. Pascal just doesn't seem to be aware of it. Or doesn't care about the wastage, maybe?

In the meantime, Irish taxpayers are fleeced to fund this "drunken sailor" version of governance. The Dublin Airport Cap is a mess entirely made by the state and a number of state bodies are enriching lawyers at our expense, as they try to protect their own patches from each other and third parties. Could we fire one or two of the more incompetent ones? Perish the thought, Pascal!

A great little country to run a quango in.

JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL - This mess should have been sorted years ago.

Legal costs incurred by the Irish Aviation Authority surged last year to almost €1.6m from €1.1m a year earlier, as it battled airlines in relation to the passenger cap at Dublin Airport.

28/05/2025

IRISH CRUISE PASSENGERS GETTING YOUNGER AS IRELAND OUT-PERFORMS WORLDWIDE CRUISE INDUSTRY GROWTH AVERAGE

Andy Harmer, UK Managing Director of CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), the body that represents the cruise industry worldwide, flew into Dublin yesterday with some good news.

He was announcing that Ireland had a very strong performance in 2024, with a 11% increase in Irish passengers choosing to cruise. And they were getting younger too, with the average guest age dropping to 46.3 years. Just over 65,000 people took a cruise in '24, the highest total ever recorded from Ireland.

The Mediterranean is the most popular, then the Caribbean, followed by Northern Europe and the rest of the world. The average length of a sailing is just short of 8 days.

JGT was there in our capacity as members of the CLIA Ireland Advisory Board. Andy said: "Cruise is thriving among Irish passengers, with the convenience and value-for-money a holiday at sea offers shining through. As the average age continues to drop, and with more choice available than ever before, these are very exciting times for the local market.

JGT has some outstanding value in cruises this summer and into 2026. Many cruise lines have sales that end on 31 May. Call us on (01) 207 6555 for more.

JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL - The Real Cruise Experts

26/05/2025

BRAY SEAFRONT TONIGHT. EVEN THE RAIN BRINGS GOOD STUFF TO OUR LIVES!

If the rain and the rainbows get a bit too much for you in the coming wet weeks, call The Real Cruise Experts - JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL on 01 207 6555 and we’ll put a bit of sunshine into your life.

21/05/2025

JGT's 14 NIGHT SILVERSEA NORWEGIAN FJORD FLY-STAY-CRUISE WITH 2 NIGHTS IN 5-STAR VILLA COPENHAGEN HOTEL
€6,395pps DEPARTS 13 AUGUST 2025

Imagine the stunning Fjords towering over you as you dine on your balcony. Explore Copenhagen for a few days before boarding.

JGT is delighted to bring you €000,s in savings on our "special" time limited offer. For €6,395pp you will get:

Flights Dublin - Copenhagen return
Transfers airport-hotel-port-airport in Copenhagen
2 nights at 5-star Villa Copenhagen
12 nights Norwegian Fjords cruise in Superior Balcony Suite

Included in the cruise:
Fine dining in a selection of speciality restaurants
Free drinks throughout the ship
Gratuities included
Choice of shore excursions included in every port
Butler service
Wi-Fi

And so much more.....

Book with JGT before they are all gone. JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL
(01) 207 6555 [email protected]

20/05/2025

SILVERSEA ULTRA-LUXURY CRUISES & JGT FLASH SALE - BOOK BY 31 MAY

Up to €7,000 (per suite) off a huge range of '25 & '26 cruises.

Up to $500 to spend on in the Spa.

10% Deposit

Book by 31 May!

Only at The Real Cruise Experts - JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL.
(01) 207 6555

18/05/2025

JGT TRAVELS TO TROON TO CHECK OUT AE EXPEDITION’S SHIP “Greg Mortimer”

This weekend JGT travelled to Troon, Scotland to check out the Greg Mortimer. This was the first time we had been on an X-bow ship and we were keen to see her, meet her expedition team, explore the cabins and facilities and try the cuisine.

She is a small ship, frequently sailing with only 130 passengers but with an expedition team of up to 23. She is designed for polar exploration but is currently doing a Scottish Isles cruise as she repositions from Antarctica to the Arctic.

A lovely ship with comfortable cabins, bars, restaurant, gym, sauna and all the good stuff that keeps you comfortable. More importantly, she has all the kit for hard core expeditions. Zodiacs, kayaks, landings are all here but this is one of the very few ships that can offer diving and snorkelling in Antarctica. Camping, snow-shoe hikes and mountaineering are also on the menu. They are doing a “Footsteps of Shackleton” traverse of South Georgia later in the year.

Delighted to have been aboard and experienced her. Every day is a school day and we certainly learned a lot today. More for us to share with our clients in pursuit of their ideal expedition.

JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL - The Real Expedition Experts. 01 207 6555

14/05/2025

GOVERNMENT MOVES AT LIGHTNING SPEED TO RESOLVE DUBLIN AIRPORT MESS

- OR SHOULD THAT BE THE SPEED OF A SNAIL STRUCK BY LIGHTNING?

Over 100 days in and nobody could call this government "speedy gonzalez". In fairness they have been extremely busy with the more important issues of the day, at least to them. Items like speaking rights in the Dail, Michael Lowrey's two fingers gymnastics and, of course, committee members and chair appointments were all consuming. So, after over 100 days, the Minister for Transport has a magical solution for the state's own mess that is Dublin Airport?

No hurry there, Minister. Sure, it'll be grand.

JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL - The people of Ireland deserve better!
(01) 207 6555

O’Brien is hopeful for a solution that can also respect independence of planning process

06/05/2025

CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS ULTRA-LUXURY CRUISES FROM €4,750

Cruise the Caribbean this December with ultra-luxury, ultra inclusive Silversea Cruises. All-inclusive, fly-cruises from Dublin. Only from "The Real Cruise Experts " JOHN GALLIGAN TRAVEL.

02 Dec 10 nts Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale from €7,050
10 Dec 9 nts Barbados - Colombia from €4,750
15 Dec 7 nts Barbados - Barbados from €4,850
19 Dec 9 nts Colombia - Barbados from €5,150
22 Dec 14 nts Barbados - Barbados from €6,750
28 Dec 7 nts Barbados - St Maarten from €6,950

Book by 31 May. CALL JGT ON (01) 207 6555 for more.