The MAJESTIC LINE Small Cruise Review

The Majestic Line

Update July 2024

The Majestic Line was acquired by Craig of Campbeltown recently. As part of the restructuring, the Majestic Line fleet will no longer include the Glen Rosa or Glen Orchy, as the new owners wish to focus on the four larger ships — Glen Massan, Glen Tarsan, Glen Etive and Glen Shiel.

The Majestic Line specializes in small-boat cruises in Argyll, Western Scotland and the Hebridean Isles, using two converted fishing boats and two custom-designed steel-hulled gentleman’s motor yachts. The latter have stabilizers so are used for longer expedition cruise trips to more remote places. A new destination is Orkney, an island chain north of Scotland.

While there is an outlined itinerary for every departure, the exact coastal and island calls and their sequence are dependent on the fickle Scottish weather. As the four ships carry just 11 and 12 passengers only, a cruise is very much a shared experience in close quarters.

If you ever wanted to explore Scotland’s coastline and the highly varied Hebridean Islands without fussing over ferry schedules for your rented car or resorting to a confining bus tour with too many others, here’s your answer, a local firm with a quartet of wee ships.

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Fleet

Glen Massan (built 1975 & 11 passengers) – Hebridean Islands, Caledonian Canal & Loch Ness

Glen Tarsan (b. 1975 & 11 p) – Hebridean Islands, Argyll, Caledonian Canal & Loch Ness

Glen Etive (b. 2016 & 12 p) – Hebridean Islands, Outer Hebridean Islands, Argyll, Skye & Northwest Coast

Glen Shiel (b. 2019 & 12 p) – Hebridean Islands; Skye; Orkney; the Outer Hebridean Islands & St. Kilda; Northwest Coast

Three of Majestic Line’s vessels at the dock. * Photo: Majestic Line

Passenger Profile

Primarily from the United Kingdom, ages 50 and up, with an increasing number of guests from the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Most guests are couples, though the inclusive and intimate nature of the cruises makes them a good choice for single travelers too.

Children under 12 not accepted unless part of a charter.

Majestic Line Prices

$$$ Very pricey

Great Charter Option

All five of the Majestic Line’s vessels are available, and ideal, for full charters, with rates discounted by 10%.

Included Features

On board meals
Good selected wines at dinner
Coffee and tea freely available throughout the day in the saloon as well as a snack basket of biscuits and fresh fruit
Tender excursions for exploring

Itineraries

All six boats offer short-break 3-night and longer 6-night cruises, while Glen Etive and Glen Shiel also do 10-night cruises from Western Scotland to lochs and town landings in Argyll and trips out to the Inner and Outer Hebrides. In all, 19 different itineraries are offered with departures from April to October.

Nearly all embark and disembark in Oban, a port with ScotRail connections to the rest of Britain. Exceptions are one-way trips between Oban and Inverness, via the Caledonian Canal, and the first cruise of the season leaves from Holy Loch, Dunoon, Majestic Line’s base of operations.

The vessels usually anchor by dinnertime in a secluded setting and get underway after breakfast. If the next stop is a bit further on, then the boat may depart before breakfast.

Puffins on Lunga. * Photo: The Majestic Line

Sample Itinerary

The 6-night “Isles of the Clyde and the Southern Hebrides” embarks from Oban in October, sailing south from the Firth of Lorn in North Argyll, past the isles of the Inner Hebridean islands of Jura, Islay and Gigha before rounding the Mull of Kintyre and into the Firth of Clyde.

Then you’re sailing up through the Kilbrannan Sound between Kintyre and the isle of Arran and onto the beautiful Kyles of Bute before arriving at Holy Loch on the Firth of Clyde.

The same cruise operates in reverse in April leaving from the Holy Loch and ending in Oban.

Why Go?

Scotland is beautiful when the weather cooperates and is noted for its dramatic seascape scenery in many different lighting conditions, deep lochs to explore (similar to Norway’s fjords), a multitude of varied islands, castles and proud Scottish clans.

Wildlife is seen in the air, on the sea and on land during walks. Circumnavigate the Isle of Skye, cross Scotland via the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness, or cruise out into the Atlantic to see the world’s largest gannetry hosting 60,000 pairs living and breeding on isolated island of St. Kilda.

Iona. * Photo: The Majestic Line

When to Go?

With Scotland’s reputation for unpredictable and constantly varying weather, there is no best time. Be prepared for chilly and windy conditions at any time of the year as well as long days of sunlight in May and into August.

Sustainability Initiatives

At every chance, The Majestic Line sources ingredients for meals from local sources, working closely with local communities with respect to culture and wilderness.

The Majestic Line is a WiSe accredited operator and all crews are trained in minimizing disturbance to wildlife. The Majestic Line also supports the work of the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust reporting all cetacean sightings.

Activities & Entertainment

On board, activities are board games, puzzles, and videos or relaxing and reading from the library selections. Traditional shore excursions do not exist. With maps and guidance from the crew, passengers go ashore independently to visit towns and take walks.

The tender takes passengers ashore to land on a beach or to a dock with sightseeing aids for creating short walks or longer hikes of one to two hours. Occasionally a one-way hike starts with a drop-off at the start and a pickup in an altogether different spot. Passengers may also fish, mostly for mackerel, or help lower and raise the lobster pots, and most likely the catch will be crabs.

At times, the wheelhouse is open to visitors, and the crew is happy to share knowledge of navigation and geography. You might even have a hand at the wheel. — Ted Scull

Dining

Communal table seats all. Typical meal times are: breakfast 8-9am; lunch 1pm; afternoon tea at 4pm; and dinner 7:30pm. Wine is included with dinner.

Main courses feature local fish and shellfish (crabs and sometime lobsters), beef, lamb and venison all sourced locally. With so few to cook for, meals are a craft and a treat. An outside table may also be available when the weather is conducive. All dietary requirements can be catered for.

The West coast of Scotland is famed for its shellfish, so it’s little surprise that each cruise features delicious seafood, from mussels to langoustines, scallops and oysters. Venison and beef also appear on menus, locally sourced from the hills of Argyll. And the nightly cheese board is always a highlight with its local Scottish cheeses and preserves.

Dining saloon on GLEN TARSAN. * Photo: Majestic Line

Ships

Glen Massan

Glen Tarsan

The original Majestic Line boats, these two wooden-hulled, former fishing vessels were converted by the line into bespoke cruise ships. Each has three decks (no elevator).

The deck saloon is the main gathering place for meals, relaxing moments with views and sometimes programs on the large-screen TV.

Drinks, including a wide choice of malt whiskies, can be served al fresco on the sheltered aft deck, which is accessed from the Saloon. If weather allows, meals can be served here, too.

A library stocks books on local attractions and games. Passengers are welcome to chat with the skipper and crew in the wheelhouse. The top deck is ideal for warming in the sun and watching wildlife.

Cabins

The vessels are small hence the cabins are compact with either twin or double-bed configurations. Two singles are available on every cruise with no supplement. All cabins are outside and feature en suite showers, toilets and washbasins.

Glen Etive

Glen Shiel

Majestic Line’s first purpose-built, steel-hulled cruise ships, Glen Etive and Glen Shiel each have three decks (with no elevator).

The Glen Shiel * Photo: The Majestic Line

Cabins

Glen Etive and Glen Shiel have larger cabins than Glen Massan and Glen Tarsan.

All cabins are outside and feature en suite showers, toilets and washbasins.

Cabin on Glen Etive. * Photo: Majestic Line

Cabin on GLEN ETIVE. * Photo: The Majestic Line

Special Notes

Glen Etive and Glen Shiel (2019) have stabilizers and are used for longer trips that might encounter some choppy seas such as to the Outer Hebrides and to remote St. Kilda truly out in the Atlantic.

Along the Same Lines

Hebridean Island Cruises‘ 49-passenger Hebridean Princess also cruises in Scotland’s Western Isles, as does Lord of the Glen, recently purchased by Hebridean Island Cruises from the Magna Carta Steamship Company.

Also check out the small pair operating for Hebrides Cruises; as well as Argyll Cruising and St Hilda Sea Adventures, a pair of wonderful companies with charming vessels cruising Scotland.

RELATED: Want to learn more about all of the Scottish cruise options out there? Read our “9 Small Ship Scottish Cruise Lines You Should Know About” by Robin McKelvie & Ted Scull.