Hebridean Princess

Hebridean Princess is a cruise ship operated by Hebridean Island Cruises. Built in 1964 by Hall, Russell and Company in Aberdeen, she started life as a MacBrayne car ferry and Royal Mail Ship, initially called Columba, based in Oban for her first 25 years, carrying up to 600 passengers and 50 cars between the Scottish islands.

A major refit at George Prior Engineering in Great Yarmouth in 1989 saw her emerge as the cruise ship MV Hebridean Princess, and within two years her car-carrying capacity was removed and additional cabins added to allow a dramatic increase in the crew-to-guest ratio. By 1997, a crew of 37 was serving just 49 passengers in considerable luxury. Today, she remains a small ship, carrying fewer than 50 guests.

The Columba Dining Room sits at the heart of the onboard experience, its intimate atmosphere built around two main tables, the Captain's and the Chief Engineer's, alongside smaller tables for two or four guests. Solo travellers are invited to dine with the Captain or Chief Engineer each night. All food is fresh and locally sourced, with menus featuring premium seafood and fish, as well as grouse, pheasant, venison, and prime beef. Each cabin takes its name from a glen, island, or other Scottish landmark, and accommodations are highly individual in size and layout, finished with soft furnishings, fine linens, and Molton Brown toiletries.

Entertainment takes a distinctive turn here. A team of knowledgeable guides travels with every voyage, remaining onboard throughout, and local musicians often perform in the evenings when in port, alongside nightly films shown on TV. Daytime activities lean firmly toward shore excursions, with Hebridean Princess carrying five small boats for twice-daily landings, guided walks, and cycle trips on the islands.

Queen Elizabeth II chartered Hebridean Princess for a holiday around the Scottish Islands to mark her 80th birthday, from 21 July to 29 July 2006, reportedly paying 125,000 pounds for the use of the ship. She began operating as a cruise ship on 26 May 1989 and continues to offer cruises around the Western Isles of Scotland.

Hebridean Princess suits discerning travellers after an intimate voyage with genuine Scottish character, guided expertise, and the kind of personal attention only a very small ship can deliver.

Log your Hebridean Princess voyage on The Cruise Globe to trace the precise route that your specific cruise took!