Award Winning Ferry to Aran Islands
Doolin Ferry is the ‘Best Boat Tour in Ireland 2025’
We’re thrilled to announce that Doolin Ferry has been awarded ‘Best Boat Tour in Ireland’ 2025 by the Travel & Hospitality Awards!
This exciting win marks another proud moment for our team, following a hugely successful 2024 where we were named:
- Best Irish Boat Tour Company at the Marine Tourism Awards by LUXlife
- A Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award winner
- Cruise Company of the Year 2024 by the Travel & Hospitality Awards
This recognition comes as we welcome the newest addition to our fleet — the state-of-the-art Cliffs of Moher Express, the largest and most advanced passenger ferry ever to sail from Doolin. With stabilisation technology, an all-weather upper deck, and eco-friendly features, it’s changing the game for sea travel along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Liam O’Brien, owner of Doolin Ferry, shared his thoughts on the latest accolade:
“Winning this award is an incredible honour for all of us at Doolin Ferry. It’s a reflection of the hard work and passion our crew brings every day – and the amazing guests who sail with us. We’re proud to offer an unforgettable way to experience the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher.”
Thank you to all our passengers and supporters — we’re looking forward to another incredible year on the water!
Doolin Ferry Wins ‘Operational Excellence in Tourism & Leisure’ Award
We’re proud to share that Doolin Ferry has been awarded ‘Operational Excellence in Tourism & Leisure’ at the OPEX Ireland Awards 2025.
This prestigious honour recognises our commitment to delivering exceptional visitor experiences and acknowledges the high standards we strive for in every sailing from Doolin.
Being recognised as a leader in the Irish tourism industry is a tremendous moment for our family-run company and a reflection of the passion and dedication poured into every journey — whether to the Aran Islands or beneath the Cliffs of Moher.
This award follows our earlier recognition as ‘Best Boat Tour in Ireland 2025’ at the Travel & Hospitality Awards, adding to what is already shaping up to be a milestone year.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff and, most importantly, to our customers from near and far who choose to sail with us. Your support makes everything possible.
Speaking about this latest award for Doolin Ferry, Liam O’Brien said, “This award highlights the incredible commitment across Ireland’s tourism sector – especially here on the west coast – to delivering world-class experiences. It’s a credit to the hardworking teams who consistently raise the bar for visitors from near and far.”
Doolin Ferry Wins ‘Best Irish Boat Tour Company 2024’
Doolin Ferry has been awarded ‘Best Irish Boat Tour Company 2024’ by the prestigious Marine Tourism Awards, hosted by LUXlife. This honour celebrates Doolin Ferry’s unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, innovative sailing experiences, and creating unforgettable adventures along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
This accolade follows a string of recent successes including being named Cruise Company of the Year 2024 at the Travel & Hospitality Awards. These achievements reflect the dedication of our team and the trust and loyalty of our incredible customers, who inspire us to keep delivering world-class tours.
Liam O’Brien, owner of Doolin Ferry, expressed his pride in the achievement:
“Winning these awards is a testament to the hard work of our entire team. With our new eco-friendly ship joining the fleet next year, we’re looking forward to raising the bar even higher for sustainable and unforgettable journeys to the Cliffs of Moher and Aran Islands.”
Doolin Ferry Wins Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2024
Doolin Ferry has been recognised in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2024. The award honours businesses that consistently earn great reviews, placing them among the top 10% of attractions worldwide on Tripadvisor.
Receiving such a prestigious accolade is a testament to Doolin Ferry’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional experiences to its passengers. From its express ferry service to the Aran Islands and breathtaking cruises beneath the Cliffs of Moher, to its professionalism and outstanding customer service, Doolin Ferry sets a benchmark for passenger ferry travel in Ireland.
Liam O’Brien, owner of Doolin Ferry, expressed his gratitude and excitement for the recognition, stating, “We are incredibly honoured to receive this award from Tripadvisor. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team and the wonderful feedback and positive reviews from our passengers. At Doolin Ferry, we strive to make every journey special, and this accolade motivates us to continue delivering exceptional experiences. We thank all our customers for their support and look forward to welcoming more travellers to experience the magic of the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher with us.”
The Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award is based on genuine feedback from anyone who has travelled onboard Doolin Ferry and left a first-hand review and rated their experience, on Trip Advisor over a 12-month period.
This recognition by Tripadvisor follows another significant achievement for Doolin Ferry earlier this year when it was named Cruise Company of the Year 2024 Ireland by Travel and Hospitality Awards. These accolades underscore Doolin Ferry’s position as a favourite choice for both local and international travellers.
Doolin Ferry is named Cruise Company Of The Year 2024
– The Doolin based ferry to the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher, was awarded Cruise Company of the Year 2024 at the prestigious Travel & Hospitality Awards.
Doolin Ferry has garnered a remarkable series of accolades in recent years, including the prestigious ‘Cruise Company of the Year 2024 – Ireland’ from the Travel & Hospitality Awards, ‘Best Irish Boat Tour Operator’ in 2023 and ‘Best Tourism Experience in Clare’ 2023. This string of awards reflects the company’s commitment to excellence and outstanding service and why it deserves recognition as the Best Irish Boat Tour to the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher.
Speaking about the latest award, Liam O’Brien, owner of Doolin Ferry said, “Receiving the ‘Cruise Company of the Year 2024’ award from the Travel & Hospitality Awards is an incredible honour for all of us at Doolin Ferry and is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team”. “We are committed to providing exceptional experiences for our passengers, and this award inspires us to continue striving for excellence in everything we do. Thank you to our loyal customers and the Travel & Hospitality Awards for this prestigious recognition.”
THE TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY AWARDS is an annual celebration of excellence across all sectors of travel. Recipients of Travel & Hospitality awards are scrupulously selected and judged based on specific criteria, including online reviews, ratings, and feedback.
Doolin Ferry is named Best Irish Boat Tour Operator for 2023
The Doolin based ferry to the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher wins a string of awards in 2023
The Nautical Tourism Awards, run by LUXlife Magazine, celebrate excellence in the maritime industry and rigorously evaluate contenders on the basis of merit and quality. Accordingly, awardees are analysed and assessed objectively by the LUXlife research team.
Speaking about the award, Liam O’Brien, owner of Doolin Ferry said, “Receiving the title of ‘Best Irish Boat Tour Operator‘ is not just an award; it is a recognition of our team’s hard work, dedication, and our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible experiences for our passengers.”
Being crowned ‘Best Irish Boat Tour Operator’ tops off a year of success, as Doolin Ferry already secured two other awards in 2023: and a Silver Award for ‘Transport & Logistics Family Business of the Year 2023′ at the National Family Business Awards.
Best Tourism Experience in Clare 2023
Doolin Ferry wins ‘Best Tourism Experience in Clare 2023‘ accolade at the Clare Business Excellence Awards run by Ennis Chamber
On awarding the company with this prestigious award, the judges commented, “this dynamic company demonstrates impressive commitment to customer service, underpinned by ongoing investment and a strong company ethos of responsible tourism.”
As a 2nd generation, family-run business rooted in Co.Clare, winning the accolade ‘Best Tourism Experience in Clare 2023’ means a lot to Liam O’Brien and his team:
“We are immensely proud of this accomplishment, and it motivates us to continually strive for excellence in all that we do”.
Judges’ Comments at Clare Business Excellence Awards:
- The company provides an impressive range of different tours and services to meet the needs of their guests
- Customer service is key to the experience and the emphasis on the comfort and safety of customers is central to the company ethos
- The commitment to responsible tourism is very strong and the company try to minimise any negative impact on the local environment and community.
- The staff were available for assistance when required and they were really friendly and knowledgeable, created good rapport and engaged warmly.
About Doolin Ferry
Doolin Ferry provides a seasonal passenger ferry service from Doolin to the enchanting Aran Islands along with scenic voyages along the Cliffs of Moher including private Seafari custom boat tours. The string of recognitions is a testament to Doolin Ferry’s unwavering commitment to excellence, outstanding service, and dedication to providing unparalleled experiences for its passengers.
Accolades such as ‘Cruise Company of the Year’ and ‘Best Irish Boat Tour Operator’ serve as both a celebration of past accomplishments and an inspiration to continue setting the standard for exceptional boat tours in Ireland.
Plan ahead and book your tickets with Doolin Ferry Co for 2025 as seats during peak periods fill fast. We look forward to seeing you on board!