HEBRIDEAN Island Cruises

Hebridean Island Cruises

Based in Great Britain, the independently-owned British cruise line operates two small ships, the HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS, a lovely floating country house hotel that has had no equal for three decades in atmosphere or price, and the recently rebuilt 38-passenger LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS, a smaller and less formal ship, with 2022 its first season. A third, LORD OF THE GLENS, is under charter to Lindblad Expeditions from June to September. A short review appears below.

HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS is largely based in Scotland, with the most frequent base port being Oban, for the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Western Isles, occasional cruises that calls at Northern Ireland’s ports, Ireland, and the Isle of Man, and in a recent summer, cruises headed through the Irish Sea to Irish and Welsh ports, Channel Islands, South of England, and northern French ports. The ship has had an exceptionally long season for this part of the world, beginning as early as late February and continuing well in November.

The newly-added LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS is based in Scotland for calm water itineraries along the protected west coast and inland waters that include the Caledonian Canal and connected lochs cutting across the country to Inverness, located on the east coast facing the North Sea.

This line should not be confused with the pair of 10-passenger yachts operated by Hebrides Cruises.

The 50-pax Hebridean Princess. * Photo: Hebridean Island Cruises

Addendum: Hebridean River Cruises charters the intimate 70-passenger ROYAL CROWN to ply the Belgian and Dutch waterways in the spring and later in the season cruise the Danube between Passau, Germany and Bucharest, Romania. Fares include transfers between Britain and the riverboat, shore excursions, wines and spirits, internet and WiFi, and gratuities. See the website for additional details.

Cocktail hour on the after deck anchored off Ireland. * Photo: Ted Scull

Subscribe to our monthly small ship cruise email

Subscribe to QuirkyCruise.com for monthly curated newsletters highlighting our top small cruise ship reviews, round-ups & offers!

Ships, Year Delivered & Passengers

HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS (Built 1964 as COLUMBA and rebuilt into a cruise ship in 1989 & 50 passengers). LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS, a heavily rebuilt and upgraded former ferry (2019) to operate as an alternative option that plies mostly protected waters.

Passenger Profile

Mainly British aged 50+ with many repeat passengers and occasionally Americans and other Europeans, Australians.

Passenger Decks

HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS 5 and no elevator

LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS 4 and no elevator

Price

$$$ Very pricey, yet lots of included features, and for LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS less so.

Itineraries:

Note: Please consider these specific itineraries as examples of what the ship has offered in the past with some applying to future sailings as well. The line’s website will have specific details on the dates being searched.

Cruises operate from late February to late November. For the HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS to include lots of itineraries amongst Scotland’s Inner and Outer Hebrides, and depending on the year to Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Ireland, South of England, the Channel Islands, French and Belgian coastal ports, and via the Shetlands and Orkney thence across the North Sea to Norway’s coast and fjords. In any one season, no cruise is repeated. Here are sample itineraries and for exact details, check the line’s website for all the wonderful options.

LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS, from late April to mid-September, sails mostly in more protected waters between Mull and Skye and the inland loch and the Caledonian Canal route from the West Coast to the East Coast.

Eilean Donan, Scotland * Photo: Hebridean Island Cruises

For the HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS:

Secret Gardens of the Western Seaboard (7 nights) round trip from Oban, Scotland visiting Plockton, Loch Ewe, Ullapool, Skye, Mull, and Ft. William.

St. Kilda and Islands on the Edge (7 nights) from Oban, Scotland to Colonsay, Tiree, St. Kilda (the most western isle), Lewis (Callanish Stones), Shiant Islands, Eigg, and return to Oban.

Pearls of the Irish Sea (7 nights) from Oban, Scotland to Islay, Bangor, Isle of Man, Cockermouth, Larne, Jura, and return to Oban.
Sea Lochs of the Lower Clyde (6 nights) from Greenock (near the mouth of the Clyde) to Rothesay, Troon, Port Ryan, Holy Isle, Holy Loch and a return to Greenock.
Two cruises, marked as Spring Surprise and Autumn Surprise, are seven-night Hebridean itineraries decided upon by the captain. They leave from and arrive back at Oban and are popular with repeat passengers who like the ship so much that they don’t mind where she goes. Footloose indicates a focus on walking and hiking outings.
Occasionally, Norway may be offered, with a North Sea crossing to and from little- and well-known fjords and inlets and island between Bergen and Stavanger and a pair of cruises based at Bergen.

For the LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS:

Most cruises last 5 or 7 nights and ply a route that may include the Isle of Skye and Mull, ports in the vicinity, and the Caledonian Canal and its connecting lochs across Scotland to Inverness.

St. Kilda is a famous birding island in the far Western Isles.

St. Kilda is a famous birding island in the far out Western Isles.* Photo: Ted Scull.

Special interest cruises include: hiking (marked Footloose), golf, gardens, wildlife and nature, world and highland heritage, architecture, art, classical music, Scottish food and drink; bicycles available. Look for designations.

Generally, the vessels either dock or anchor at night and travel during breakfast or lunch to the next location. Occasional overnight sails take place when the itinerary stretches south to and from English Channel ports or across the North Sea to the Norwegian fjords.

Included Features

All drinks; tips; shore excursions; bicycles; speed boat rides; fishing trips; Internet; transfers between airports and railway stations; free parking.

Why Go?

For if you crave an authentic upscale Scottish country hotel atmosphere and would like it to move about seeking the most wondrous and obscure locales in the northern British Isles, this is your conveyance, and it is limited to 50 like-minded souls. Additional cruises, depending on the year, head south to Ireland, Wales, Channel Islands, South of England, Channel Islands and French coastal ports and coastal Norway.

Most amazingly, the HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS was created from a hard-working, well-engineered ferry that plied the Western Isles for a quarter century before being transformed into something quite different, yet retaining much of its traditional profile. Ted slept aboard her in one of the tiny below deck cabins as a ferry and returned for two wonderful cruise voyages in island-studded Scotland and coastal Ireland.

For the newly added LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS, a small but no less comfortable vessel with a handsome and less plush interiors. The ship was originally built as a Turkish ferry and then converted to its present stylish layout in 2022.

Some cruises specialize in hiking. * Photo: Hebridean Island Cruises

When to Go?

The weather in the British Isles is notoriously fickle, so you take your chances. You won’t find a cozier ship to retreat into on a foul day.

Cabins

HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS – All accommodations are individually decorated in beautiful colors and fabrics and are named after Scottish isles, castles, lochs and sounds, with wildly varying layouts. Many are roomy for a small ship, and those without windows have portholes, while six are inside without natural light. Beds may be king-size or twins, double or single. Two cabins have private balconies and ten are singles.

LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS – 15 deluxe cabins, mostly twin bedded and windows. 4 cabins with narrow balconies, and 1 suite located forward with windows port and starboard but not over the bow.

Above: Cabin: Isle of Danna. * Photo: Hebridean Island Cruises

Renovated cabin – Isle of Bute – use of Scottish plaids and Harris tweed

HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS Amenities include a dressing table, ample storage space, fridge stocked with soft drinks, milk, coffee/tea making facilities, TV, personal safe, hairdryer, trouser press, iron and ironing board, bathrobes and slippers.

HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS – In the forward-facing Tiree Lounge, the ship excels in that special small country hotel feeling with a brick and timber fireplace, comfy sofas and chairs and a cozy bar in one corner. The snug library draws readers to its tartan upholstered and leather seating, and two sides lounges — the Look-Out and wicker-furnished Conservatory are venues for morning coffee and afternoon tea.

In fine weather, passengers gather on the open afterdeck for pre-dinner cocktail receptions with hot hors d’oeuvres. On the topmost Boat Deck, windbreaks protect partitioned sections furnished with sun loungers and chairs.

LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS – Beautiful, paneled panorama lounge on the top deck above the bridge, and bar with atrium. Teak armchair.

A cozy light-filled lounge. * Photo: Hebridean Island Cruises

Dining

HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS – The restaurant operates like a hotel dining room with tables for two or up to eight for those traveling together. Single passengers sit at an officer’s table. Presentation and service from a European staff are tops with the menu thoroughly British such as a Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding and sliced duckling, while Scottish specialties may be highland game, sautéed and smoked salmon, and fresh oysters.

You might wish to, or not, sample haggis, a concoction of calf or lamb hearts, lungs and liver with onion, suet and seasonings and kedgeree made from rice and smoked fish. Dinner sees men in jackets and ties with women in equivalent attire; some are formal nights.

LORD OF THE HIGHLANDS – Dining room offers open seating at two- and four-person tables, a couple with six arranged alongside both port and starboard windows. Meals are served at 7:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 7:00 PM. Menus similar while the LORD’s breakfast offers a buffet as well as ordered from a menu.

Evening attire for the LORD will see some gentlemen wearing a jacket and then perhaps a bit dressier for the welcome and gala dinner but never a black tie or suit as aboard HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS. Usually, at dinner, an officer will host a table, and the places are not reserved.

Restaurant. * Photo: Hebridean Island Cruises

Activities & Entertainment

Shore trips (included) visit near and remote islands, castles, stately homes, and gardens, fishing villages and for walks of varying difficulty on rugged islands. The ship is also equipped bicycles for touring and fishing tackle, so you can try your luck.

In Scotland and Ireland, be prepared for Scottish mists and uncertain weather. Entertainment aboard is geared toward individual musicians with a specialty lecturer that varies according to the specific itineraries.

Activities: How about enjoying a read on the top deck. * Photo: Ted Scull

Staying aboard and enjoying a read on the top deck. * Photo: Ted Scull

Special Notes

LORD OF THE GLENS is chartered to Lindblad June to September. This four-deck ship was built in 1985 and completely rebuilt in 2000 to take 54 passengers on 4 decks Teak). Most cabins have windows and two have twin portholes. Beds can be twins or doubles. There are two paneled lounges, one with a bar and the other a library. Terraces facing fore and aft. Seating for meals is open.

Children under the age of nine not accepted. With a high rate of British repeaters, Anglophilia helps, sometimes a lot.

Along the Same Lines

Equally small and less pricey ships of Hebridean Cruises and The Majestic Line.

Contact

Hebridean Island Cruises, Kintail House, Carleton New Road, Skipton, Yorkshire BD23 2DE, www.hebridean.co.uk; from the US 011 44 (0)756 704 704, UK 01756 704 704; Also, contact a US rep. at 877-600-2648.

— TWS