Let us take a look at the pros and cons then.
The main pros for a cruising vacation are:
- You are totally independent of any schedules and can make your own plans.
- You are off the beaten track most of the time.
- You see parts of Ireland that are only accessible by boat.
- Cruising means self-catering and can save money.
- You can enjoy undisturbed peace for long stretches of time.
- You will enjoy the immediate communication with nature.
- Your cruiser is your own space.
On the other side there are some cons:
- You will have to work out your own schedule to take service stops and overnight mooring into account.
- You will encounter the occasional crowds of cruising enthusiasts and even run into "traffic jams" at some locks and service areas.
- You will not see anything but the immediate environs of the inland waterways.
- Some shops within easy reach demand outrages prices even for basic foods.
- You will be alone and left to your own devices occasionally.
- You will not be able to escape the elements.
- You are confined to your cruiser.
If you compare the pros to the cons you will notice that most are two sides of the same medal - ultimately you will have to decide which side is "your side".