From the moment passengers step on board this smallest of luxury cruise ships, the welcome is warm and genuine. Customers quickly become honoured guests and friends, with a maximum number of 49 passengers onboard. Now part of the All Leisure Holidays group, the Hebridean Princess has retained its unique style and Scottish hospitality.
Moored most of the time at Oban, in the west coast of Scotland, the Hebridean Princess cruises around some of the most far-flung islands of the Hebrides, and is able to access the type of lochs and inlets that are unavailable to bigger ships.
Facilities on the Hebridean Princess
The comfortable lounge is reminiscent of a country house drawing room, complete with large armchairs, settees and fireplace. Panoramic windows ensure that guests can watch the passing scenery while relaxing.
Discreetly situated just inside the entrance to the lounge, is the well-stocked bar offering a good range of whisky and other drinks, included in the cost of the cruise. Through from the lounge, a peaceful conservatory offers an alternative sitting area, where guests may help themselves to tea and coffee.
On the same deck, a cosy library, with leather armchairs, is stocked with a selection of books and many guests add their own to the collection at the end of their cruise. On the lower deck, a small gym provides exercise facilities.
Cabins and Staterooms
For such an intimate ship, the cabins are surprisingly spacious and again resemble luxury country house bedrooms. From the largest to the smallest, every cabin is invitingly furnished and offers every comfort. There is a good ratio of single cabins to double, and singles carry no extra supplement.
The double and single rooms are all elegantly furnished. They are mostly named after a Scottish island, such as Isle of Iona, or Isle of Staffa, which are two of the double cabins situated on the Promenade Deck, with large picture windows. Even the single rooms are spacious and charming, and most have beautiful en-suite facilities, thick towels and luxury toiletries. Bathrobes and slippers are also provided.
The largest room is the Isle of Arran Suite, on the port side of the Princess Deck. There is a large sitting room, a spacious bedroom and a marble-tiled bathroom with bath and shower. The smallest cabins, Gott Bay and Kiloran Bay, are two single rooms on the Hebridean Deck, which have a ventilation system instead of porthole or windows. Fitted with a washbasin, these are the only cabins with a fully equipped bathroom and additional toilet close by, rather than en-suite.
Dining on the Hebridean Princess
Dining is a pleasurable experience on the Hebridean Princess. The spacious dining room contains large circular tables, with more intimate tables for two along the length of the windows. The larger tables allow officers to join guests and they are particularly good at making sure all unaccompanied passengers are well looked after. Weather permitting, there may be an occasional informal barbeque on deck.
The freshest local ingredients are carefully prepared and offer a taste of the best in Scottish cuisine. Fresh bread rolls and good wines are included. The ship anchors whenever possible at dinner time in the evenings, so that passengers might enjoy the fabulous scenery through the plentiful picture windows.
There is at least one Gala Dinner on any cruise, two if it is longer than a week, when guests get the chance to dress up in their more formal finery. As befits a ship which mainly cruises around the Scottish islands, there is normally a farewell dinner which celebrates Robert Burns’ famous ‘Address to a Haggis’.
Shore Excursions and Guides
All privately escorted shore excursions from the Hebridean Princess are included in the cost of the cruise and most of them are guided by a knowledgeable professional. The guides also give interesting talks on their particular subject onboard the ship.
The ship has its own water craft, sea sports equipment and bicycles for guests to use ashore. They are happy to arrange speedboat rides and fishing trips on request, at no extra cost. One unique feature they offer is the Footloose Walking Tours, where guests who choose this option can walk across wild and remote landscapes, accompanied by knowledgeable guides.
Although a luxury product, the Hebridean Princess is very friendly and welcoming. Everything is included in the initial price, which also means no tipping is allowed, and there is free Wi-Fi and email access.
For a unique way to travel around some of the most stunning Scottish scenery and islands from Oban on the west coast, a cruise on the Hebridean Princess would be hard to beat. As an added attraction, some of the new programme will include cruises to Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea.
Further details are available from good travel agents or from Hebridean Princess.
Rosemary Gemmell - Professional freelance writer of published short stories and articles in the UK, US and online. Author of historical romance and ...
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