We had been recommended to try the Hebridean Princess by some friends who had been half a dozen times. She is a small ship which carries 50 passengers and around 40 crew. All the cruises are all inclusive one can enjoy the best of everything at no extra cost. We chose a cruise entitled Secrets of the Western Isles which called at Colonsay, Iona, Mull, Staffa (Fingals Cave), Muck, Barra, Eriskay, Skye, Rum and finally Tobermory. The trips ashore were excellent, we were well chaperoned by the excellent staff and guide from the ship who brought champagne picnics etc ashore. At Fingals Cave the footpath was more than a little daunting but we all made it ably assisted by the wonderful staff.

On board the meals were beyond compare, the chef and his team looked after us royally, he knew how to do that, as after the Queen chartered the ship she invited him to go to Buckingham Palace to cook for her for a week, not many chefs have that on their CV!

I particularly enjoyed having a decanter of Malt Whisky in the cabin which was refilled every time it looked low. Read more