The newsletter provides an overview of Hebridean Island Cruises' 2014 season and upcoming plans. It discusses the crew's charity fundraising efforts, including ice bucket challenges that raised over £800. It also announces that the company won the award for Adventure Cruise Line of the Year. Additionally, it previews a new 2015 cruise that will focus on the flavors of Scotland and feature a visit to the Isle of Man.

1. The
HEBRIDEAN
I S S U E E I GHT E EN | W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
TIMES
Inside this issue
Cruising
the Clyde
Wonders of the
Natural World
The Isle
of Ulva
Flavours of
Scotland
By appointment to HM The Queen.
Provision of cruise holidays on Hebridean Princess.
All Leisure Holidays trading as Hebridean Island Cruises.

2. 02 T H E H EBRI D E AN T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
Contents
03 Welcome from the Chief
Operating Officer
Ken Charleson’s Foreword
04 View from the Bridge
by Captain Richard Heaton
05 News from the ship
Charity fundraising
Food and Travel Magazine Award
06 A Fond Farewell
by Christine Broadley, Office Manager
07 Doon the Watter
by Ken Charleson,
Chief Operating Officer
08 On the Move
by Mike Everett, Guest Speaker
09 Competition
Scottish Seabirds Anagram Quiz
Sea-changers
Over £10,000 raised for Marine
Conservation Projects
10 The Isle of Ulva
11 New cruise for 2015
Flavours of Scotland
12 The Elegant Way to cruise the
Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers
by Jonathan Moffatt, Sales
& Marketing Manager
13 What our guests say
14 Ilkley Literature Festival
Mini Kilt Tours e-books
15 Cruising with All Leisure Holidays
A host of holiday opportunities for you
08
09
10
07
12
13
14
04
05
06
11
15

3. Welcome from the
Chief Operating Officer
AS you read this winter edition
of The Hebridean Times,
Hebridean Princess will
have just completed her 2014 cruising
season at Greenock and will be entering
dry dock for her annual visit. During
the winter months many of the crew
are hard at work overhauling the ship’s
engines as well as carrying out repairs
and maintenance work, in order to ensure
everything both front of house and
behind the scenes on board Hebridean
Princess is ready to welcome guests in
March 2015, for her 27th cruising season.
As we look back on the 2014 season, which
saw our successful return to Norway for
the first time since 2009, Captain Heaton
reflects on his personal highlights.
We feature the Firth of Clyde which,
over the last four years, has become a
popular addition to our regular cruising
area, both early and late in the season.
We also hear from Mike Everett, one
of our guest speakers, on what you
might encounter if you join him on The
Wonders of the Natural World cruise
departing from Greenock on 17th March.
We focus on one of our favourite islands,
Ulva, and give you an insight into what
some of our crew have been doing in
their efforts to raise money for charity.
We also thought you might be interested
in what some of your fellow guests had to
say about their Hebridean experience.
Jonathan Moffatt, our Sales & Marketing
Manager, (please note the new job title,
well done to Jonathan who has been
rewarded for all his hard work) focuses on
what will be our 4th season of European
river cruises on the Royal Crown,
featuring the Rhine, Main and Danube.
I hope you enjoy this, the 18th Edition of The
Hebridean Times, and we look forward to
welcoming you on board on either Hebridean
Princess or Royal Crown in 2015, if not both!
Ken Charleson – Chief Operating Officer
“We focus on one of our favourite islands,
Ulva, and give you an insight into what
some of our crew have been doing in
their efforts to raise money for charity. “
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S 03

4. 04 T H E H EBRI D E AN T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
PEEL HARBOUR
FROM THE BRIDGE
by Captain Richard Heaton
Well it has to be said
that this season really
has flown by and our
winter berth at James Watt Dock
seems like a distant memory.
As I write this there are only a
handful of cruises left this year and
I’d like to share with you some of
my highlights of the year so far...
In May we enjoyed a rare treat indeed,
as four white-tailed sea eagles were
spotted amidst the abundance
of sea birds at the Shiant Isles.
Pushing north to Handa Island we
enjoyed even closer encounters
with puffins and arctic skuas.
We certainly covered some mileage
in June; heading south to Northern
Ireland we ‘shot the rapids’, so to speak,
in Strangford Lough - taking in views
of an incredible feat of engineering
in the form of the world’s first
commercially installed tidal turbine.
Crossing over the Irish Sea, our Manx
friends made us feel welcome, as
always, in the sheltered harbour of Peel
on the Isle of Man. With the weather
on our side our guests enjoyed some
wonderful visits and views of the
island, but all too soon it was time to
leave - a real shame, as having lived on
the island I know only too well that this
little gem has plenty more to offer...who
knows what future itineraries will hold.
(Hebridean Princess is scheduled to
visit the Isle of Man on the
Gaelic Tapestry cruise
commencing 9th June 2015).
Back on the west coast again, we
embarked on our second St Kilda
cruise of the season, venturing out
into the Atlantic. With a pleasant
overnight passage, our early morning
arrival at the stacs was a bit misty,
but very atmospheric, as we cruised
the gannet colonies of Boreray, Stac
Armin and Stac Lee. As the morning
progressed, the sun won through
and made for a fantastic landing at
Village Bay on the main island, Hirta.
Returning through the stacs, we set
course for an alternative route back;
in recent years the charts and buoyage
for the Sound of Harris have been
greatly improved, so with favourable
weather and tidal conditions it seemed
the ideal opportunity to make use of
this passage - certainly a first for me.
Now we come to my favourite of the
year so far...Norway. It has been five
years since Hebridean Princess last
visited the Norwegian Fjords, and
what a fantastic time we had there.
Cruising deep into Sognefjord, fond
memories came flooding back as
CAPTAIN RICHARD HEATON
we berthed alongside some of the
smallest piers, ran mooring lines
across gardens and rigged our
gangway by cafes and bars - much to
the fascination of the local populous
and passing tourists. It always serves
as a reminder when Hebridean
Princess visits these beautiful
secluded places, because at the end
of the day size isn’t everything and it
always brings a wry smile to my face
knowing that we can reach the parts
others cruisers can only dream of!
Returning across the North Sea from
Norway is always a challenge - the
weather and sea conditions can be
kind or equally harsh. This year it was
amazing, so much so that we enjoyed
a guest and crew BBQ out on the boat
deck. So far, 2014 has been mint!
NORTH SEA BBQ View
SOGNDAL

5. Crew News
Charity fundraising
Many of you may have heard
g
DAVID INDGE
CAPTAIN HEATON
CAPTAIN BAILEY
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S 05
of the Ice Bucket Challenge
which took the world by
storm earlier this year. Sometimes
called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,
it involved pouring a bucket of
iced water over someone’s head to
promote awareness of the disease
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
and to encourage donations to
research. It went viral on social
media during July–August 2014. In
the USA many people participated
for the ALS Association, and in the
UK many people participated for the
Motor Neurone Disease Association,
although some individuals opted
to donate the money from their Ice
Bucket Challenges to other charities.
Both of our Hebridean Princess
Captains, and a number of the
ship’s crew, took part in Ice Bucket
Challenges this summer.
Whilst the vessel was in Norway in
August, Captain Richard Heaton
and several crew members took
part in an Ice Bucket Challenge
in order to raise awareness for
Macmillan Cancer Support. It took
place in Fjaerland, Sognjefjord with
the back drop of Supphellebreen
and Boyabreen Glaciers.
Although this event was not openly
advertised to the guests, several did
hear about it and wished to add their
support. They banded together and
raised funds of their own free will,
raising a total of £540 for which
we would like to thank them.
Those taking part were:
Captain Richard Heaton (Master)
Caroline Palmer (First Officer)
David Indge (Chief Purser)
George Little (Sous Chef)
Lance Miller (Chef de Partie)
In a moment of wild enthusiasm,
Captain Trevor Bailey entered into
the world of Ice Bucket Challenges
during the Footloose to the Butt of
Lewis cruise in September, diving
into the sea off the Isle of Lewis,
before being ‘drowned’ in ice by one
of the guests. This challenge raised
just over £300 for the Macmillan
Cancer charity - many thanks to
the guests for their generosity.
Food and Travel Magazine Award
The 2014 Food and Travel
Magazine Reader Awards
were held at The Mandarin
Oriental Hyde Park on September 1st,
honouring the best of the best in the
worlds of food, drink and travel.
Hebridean Island Cruises was
delighted to be awarded winner of the
Adventure Cruise Line of the year and
the award was collected by Sales and
Marketing Manager, Jonathan Moffatt.
The award recognises the dedication
of all crew and staff afloat and ashore,
as well as the loyalty of our guests. Our
thanks go to each and every one of
them, as well as to the readers of Food
and Travel Magazine.
JONATHAN COLLECTS THE AWARD

6. 06 T H E H EBRI D E AN T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
A Fond Farewell
by Christine Broadley, Office Manager
Along with other significant dates, birthdays and anniversaries,
16th March 1992 is firmly etched into my brain – my first day at
Hebridean Island Cruises.
I remember it well.
In those days I didn’t have my
own transport so was relying on
the local bus service to transport
me the short distance out of
town to my new employment.
I had carefully checked out how long
it would take to walk from my home
to the bus station in town; I had the
timetable and worked out which bus
I needed to catch, so I was confident
I would arrive on time – wrong!
What I hadn’t factored into my
calculations was the fact that the
bus might not arrive. It didn’t!
I waited, and waited – “This often
happens” exclaimed my fellow
passengers – no consolation.
My first day with Hebridean
and I was late!!
And now it’s time to ‘hang
up my boots’ as they say
and hand over the reins
to someone else, but I
guess it will take some
time to get ‘Hebridean’ out
of my system – if at all.
“
“
However, I must have been forgiven
because 22 years, 6 months and
17 days later I am still here!
How things have changed in that time;
in the first years I worked for Susan
and Tony Binns, founders of the
company who were inspired to create
Hebridean Princess. Since then, I’ve
seen Managing Directors come and go;
Captains come and go; moved offices
several times. There were challenging
times with the acquisition of Hebridean
Spirit; the number of staff at that time
grew from just nine initially to around
40, but now we’re back to a loyal
From L to R, DAVID SMITH (former Business Development Manager) ALISON BANKS (former
Administration Director) SUSAN BINNS (Founder of the Company) CHRISTINE BROADLEY
(retiring Office Manager) TONY BINNS (Founder of the Company) LISA WHITE (Reservations
Manager) LOUISE PRATT (Sales Consultant) and ANDREW QUARRIE (former Chief Purser)
team of ten, most of whom have been
with the company for many years.
My job has also changed directions
over the years; starting out as
Administration Assistant and
ending up as Office Manager with
responsibility for most things
printed – very much a ‘back of house‘
position but still contributing to
the experience that is Hebridean.
And now it’s time to ‘hang up my
boots’ as they say and hand over the
reins to someone else, but I guess it
will take some time to get ‘Hebridean’
out of my system – if at all.”
On Wednesday 24th September the
staff at the Skipton office surprised
Christine, our longest serving member
of shoreside staff, with a get-together
of personnel past and present,
including founders of the company,
Susan and Tony Binns, and the original
Chief Purser, Andrew Quarrie, when
she was presented with an engraved
Dartington Crystal clock. Reservations
Manager Lisa White baked and
decorated this beautiful chocolate
cake which was enjoyed by all.

7. T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S 07
To many the River Clyde conjures
up visions of the heyday of
ship building; over 25,000
ships have been built on the river
since the founding of Scotts Shipyard
in Greenock in 1712; to others it is
synonymous with the industrial decline
of the second half of the 20th Century.
There is however another river, west of
the city, the one where Victorian workers
escaped the grime of the factories
and the shipyards and boarded the
Clyde Steamers to take them “Doon
the Watter” for their annual holiday.
While the Clyde, and more accurately
the Firth of Clyde, has featured in
Hebridean Princess itineraries from
as early as her first year in 1989, it
was not until 2010 that we started to
feature regular cruises on the Clyde,
mainly in March and November.
The Firth of Clyde is one of the deepest
coastal waterways in the UK, protected
from the Atlantic by the Kintyre
Peninsula, and contains a number of
sea lochs that penetrate deep into the
surrounding land, providing beautiful
scenic cruising areas including Lochs
Fyne, Long, Goil and Striven.
The firth is scattered with over 40
islands and skerries, including nine
main islands; Ailsa Craig, Arran,
Bute, Davaar, Great Cumbrae, Holy
Isle, Inchmarnock, Little Cumbrae
and Sanda. Today however only
four are inhabited - Arran, Bute,
Great Cumbrae and Holy Isle.
The Highland Boundary Fault,
which separates the Lowlands from
the Highlands, runs through the
middle of the Firth of Clyde creating
islands of great contrast, leaving
some islands in the Lowlands and
others in the Highlands, plus the
odd one split between both.
All along the firth there is an
abundance of wildlife to be found;
harbour porpoise, common and
grey seals are frequent visitors and
otters are commonly sighted.
Ailsa Craig, famous for the granite used
to make curling stones, also boasts an
internationally important gannetry.
The gannets, along with many other
seabirds, waders and ducks, either
breed or winter on the shores around
the Firth of Clyde and are often seen.
The Clyde has been an important
seaway since Viking times and, as
such, has been well defended. The
area boasts a number of medieval
castles, many in ruins, but others
still lived in or partially restored.
We visit a number of castles, from
the ruins of Robert the Bruce’s castle
at Tarbert and Robert II’s favourite
residence at Dundonald, to the
extended Kelburn Castle, still the
family home of Lord Glasgow.
Later developments saw elaborate
and elegant country homes built, a
number of which are still family homes
to this day, such as Ardgowan House,
Ardkinglas and Finlaystone House.
These properties are not open to the
general public but the owners allow
special access for Hebridean guests
offering a private tour of their homes,
often led by a member of the family.
Other properties, such as the
flamboyant Mount Stuart House on
Bute, the Duke of Argyll’s Inveraray
Castle and Dumfries House,
saved by the Duke of Rothesay
for the nation, open out of season
especially for Hebridean guests,
offering enlightening private tours.
A number of National Trust for Scotland
properties will also open outwith their
normal season for our guests, including
Brodick Castle, Culzean Castle and
Hill House, all of which offer exclusive
behind the scenes tours when visitors
are not generally made welcome.
The Firth of Clyde offers a fascinating
area to cruise, with scenic lochs,
elegant mountains, abundant
wildlife and an extraordinary history
of human settlement. In true
Hebridean style you get to experience
it in a unique way, far from the
hustle and bustle of the crowds.
Hebridean Princess
is scheduled to
cruise the Clyde
on the following
departures in 2015:
2nd March – Outlook on the Clyde
6th March – Pearls of Argyll and Bute
10th March – Houses and
Castles of the Clyde
17th March – Wonders of
the Natural World
27th October – Voyage to the Clyde
3rd November – Grand
Houses of the Clyde
9th November - Outlook on the Clyde
13th November – Pearls
of Argyll and Bute
Prices from $1,699 per person
based on double occupancy of an
inside cabin.
GREAT CUMBRAE
Doon the Watter
by Ken Charleson, Chief Operating Officer

8. 08 T H E H EBRI D E AN T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
On the Move
by Mike Everett, Guest Speaker
Wonders of the Natural World
Just after the middle of March,
Hebridean Princess begins a
journey that will, in effect, take
her out of winter quarters and on to
her base for the spring and summer
season. The timing is particularly apt;
at around the same time, the huge
turnover in bird populations that we
call “migration” will be getting under
way too. It likewise involves changes
of scene and different routines.
It is possible that we might encounter
one or two front-runners from the
hundreds of thousands of small
birds that will already be moving
out of Africa towards Scotland, but
where migrants are concerned we
will essentially be looking at birds
preparing to go the other way - from
winter in Argyll back to breeding
grounds far to the north, in many
cases in the brief but benign Arctic
summer. When we visit Islay, we should
be in plenty of time to see some
of the thousands of wild geese for
which Western Scotland is famous
in winter. These are Greenland
White-fronted Geese and the much
more numerous Barnacle Geese, also
from Greenland. The RSPB Reserve we
visit is an internationally important
refuge for these birds, and one that
is a working farm also specially
managed with their needs in mind.
Seabirds too will be much to the
fore during this trip. Many of them
will be migrants returning to breed
in Scotland, in their case having
wintered at sea, sometimes a long
way from home. We will not be all that
far, in Gannet terms at least, from
their huge and important colony on
Ailsa Craig. Gannets are common,
big and obvious, but we will probably
have to work a bit harder to sort out
Guillemots and Razorbills out on the
open sea - and perhaps a few Puffins
too. Black Guillemots are a lot easier
to see. They are common in the waters
we will be cruising, usually close
inshore and frequently inside harbours
themselves. And whenever we are in a
harbour, the big gulls there will merit
a close look; in western Scotland in
winter, there is always a chance of
finding either Glaucous or Iceland
Gulls, both visitors from the Arctic.
Close inshore, there will be Eiders
and Shags, and also Black-throated
and Great Northern Divers to look
for. These last two have a particular
liking for the area around Gigha,
and in fact the Sound of Gigha is
one of the most important wintering
areas in Britain for both of them.
The Great Northern is actually a very
scarce winter migrant to Britain, with
the total population not much in
excess of 300 individuals. The five-year
average count for the Sound of
Gigha stands at 88, but it is distorted
somewhat by the fact that in one
winter over 200 were counted there!
This is just a taster for what we ought
to see. Any guest speaker whose job
is also to show birds to people knows
better than to guarantee anything, but
we should see lots of birds, plus seals
and, with luck, perhaps an otter or two
as well. There ARE Golden Eagles in a
few places we will be visiting, and one
of Scotland’s rarest birds, the Chough,
is found on Islay: no promises, but
we will be keeping our eyes open...
Wonders of the
Natural World
departs from Greenock on
17th March 2015 for seven nights.
Prices from $5,499 per person
based on double occupancy of
an outside cabin with portholes.
GANNET BY JOHN NOORANI
PUFFINS

9. Scottish Seabirds
Anagram Quiz
07 WIDE AGILE ATHLETE
08 CUE KIDDER
09 ACORN MORT
10 ARM FLU
11 BULK CALL DECK BAG
12 HANG RENT ON RENT
Your Generosity has now raised over
£10,000 for Marine Conservation Projects
Hebridean Islands Cruises’ partnership
with marine conservation charity
Sea-Changers is now in its third year.
Many guests have chosen to add a
small donation to their booking, as
a way of giving something back to
protect the beautiful seas, shores
and marine wildlife that form such a
fundamental part of the experience
when cruising on board Hebridean
Princess. The total raised now exceeds
£10,000. Every penny donated goes
to fund vital marine conservation
projects, including: direct clean-up
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S 09
activities; species protection
work; conservation research or
education and awareness-raising.
The charity’s activities have increased
in 2014 as a direct result of your
generosity. Sea-Changers has recently
supported important work in and
around the Garnock Valley and Irvine,
to make this part of Scotland an even
better place for marine wildlife. The
RSPB received funds to run wildlife
workshops at Irvine Harbour and
to conduct a community clean-up
around the nearby estuary to
improve this inter-tidal habitat for the
wintering and breeding shore birds.
This is just one example of recent
activities, in part made possible by
the generosity of Hebridean Island
Cruises’ guests. To find out more
about Sea-Changers’ work, visit
www.sea-changers.org.uk
Competition
The anagrams below are the names of 12 Scottish seabirds, many of
which could be spotted from a cruise on Hebridean Princess. Unscramble
the letters and email your answers, along with your name, address and
postcode to louise.pratt@hebridean.co.uk by 31st December 2014.
One winner will be randomly selected from the correct entries and will receive
a copy of the RSPB Guide to Scottish Birds and a pair of RSPB binoculars.
01 TASK ARGUE
02 MARX WHERE SATAN
03 IT WEAK KIT
04 CENTRIC ART
05 LETTER ROMPS
06 MOCK GULLIBLE AT
Please note email addresses may be used for marketing purposes.
If you would prefer not to receive email communications from
Hebridean Island Cruises, please state this in your entry.
Many eagle eyed readers (pardon the
pun!) correctly identified the location
of the ship in the picture competition
in the last issue and the answer is
shown below. The lucky winners were
Mr Simon Greenly of Southampton,
Mrs Heather Smith of Kyle and
Mr David Stewart of Ulverston, all of
whom received a lovely cotton polo
shirt with a Hebridean Princess logo.
Answer to the picture
competition from Issue 17:
The location of Hebridean
Princess was Kyleakin with Castle
Maol in the background.

10. 10 T H E H EBRI D E AN T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
The Isle of Ulva
Lying just off Mull’s west coast,
bound by Loch Tuath to the
north and by Loch Na Keal to the
south, is the privately owned island
of Ulva. Measuring, at its greatest
extent, five miles from east to west
and two and a half miles from north to
south, Ulva is now home to a thriving
population of 16 people, most of
whom are engaged in sheep and cattle
farming, fish and oyster farming or
tourism. There are no tarmac roads,
no hustle and bustle of modern life,
however what the island does have is
a stunning nature and an extremely
peaceful and almost forgotten way
of life. The current proprietors, the
Howard family, are dedicated to
creating a balance between the
needs of the community and the
preservation of one of Scotland’s
most unique and beautiful islands.
Ulva’s history dates back thousands
of years and it’s name probably comes
from the Old Norse for ‘Wolf Isle’,
revealing a history of settlement by
the Vikings in around 800. However,
the Vikings were not Ulva’s first
residents; standing stones on the
island date back to around 1500
BC and Livingstone’s cave, a raised
sea cave on the south side of the
island, has revealed traces of human
occupation dating back 7,000 years.
Ulva was traditionally the property
of the Clan MacQuarrie. Lachlan
MacQuarrie, last chief to live on
the island, claimed that his clan had
possessed the island since the 9th
century. The most famous member of
the clan, General Lachlan MacQuarrie,
was born here in 1762 and went on
to become Governor of New South
Wales. His mausoleum at Gruline on
Mull is described as the last resting
place of ‘The Father of Australia.’
On 16th October 1773, Lachlan
MacQuarrie’s father, also called
Lachlan, was visited by James Boswell
and Samuel Johnson. Boswell wrote
“M’Quarrie’s house was mean; but
we were agreeably surprised with the
appearance of the master, whom we
found to be intelligent, polite and
much a man of the world. Though
his clan is not numerous, he is a very
ancient chief, and has a burial place
at Icolmkill. He told us his family had
possessed Ulva for 900 years; but I was
distressed to learn that it was soon to
be sold for the payment of his debts.”
The island was sold by the MacQuarries
in 1777. The new laird, Francis William
Clark, undertook large scale and rapid
clearance of the resident population
to make way for grazing. The ruthless
new owner deported over two-thirds
of the population in just 4 years,
turning families out of their cottages
without warning by setting fire to the
thatch! This, together with potato
famines, saw Ulva’s population
decline from over 600 in the 1840’s
to just over 50 residents by 1881.
Today Ulva’s woodlands, shoresand
shores and
open moors make it an ideal place for
bird watching and wildlife is plentiful.
The animals and plants you see will
depend on the season, but red deer,
mountain hares and the occasional
sea otter might be spotted at any time
of year. 123 different species of birds
have been recorded on the island.
A restored thatched cottage, known as
Sheila’s Cottage, near the ferry landing,
houses Ulva’s Heritage Centre. Once
the home of Sheila MacFadyen, here
you can learn about life on the island
from the Stone Age to the present
day, and the famous visitors to Ulva,
including Boswell and Johnson, as
well as Sir Walter Scott and Beatrix
Potter. The grandparents of the
famous explorer David Livingstone
also lived here and you can walk up
to the ruins of their croft house.
Ulva had it’s own Parliamentary Church,
one of five churches on Mull and Iona
designed by Thomas Telford and built
in 1828 to his standard T-plan design.
A visit to Ulva is not complete without
sampling the delicious home cooked
food and home made cakes at the
Boathouse tearoom which specialises
in locally available ingredients,
including the island’s own oysters.
Hebridean Princess
is scheduled to
visit the Isle of Ulva
on the following
cruises in 2015:
24th March
Seasons of the Inner Isles
31st March
Easter in the Hebrides
7th April
Footloose in the Inner Isles
30th June
Classical Music Sojourn
4th September
Hebridean Sampler
Prices from $3,299 per person
based on double occupancy of an
inside cabin.
THE BOATHOUSE

11. New cruise for 2015
Flavours of Scotland
2015 is the year of Food and
honey and cheese, as well as
Drink in Scotland, a chance
sampling the culinary offerings
to showcase the nation’s
of the renowned Kinloch Lodge,
outstanding natural larder
Torridon Hotel and Three
and quality produce.
Chimneys restaurant. The cruise
is rounded off with a Champagne
During Scotland’s last Year
reception at Duart Castle,
of Food & Drink in 2010,
hosted by Sir Lachlan Maclean,
the International Culinary
Chieftain of the Clan Maclean.
Tourism Association described
Scotland as one of the most
Owing to the unprecedented
‘unique, memorable and
interest in our newly introduced
interesting places’ for food
Flavours of Scotland cruise,
and drink on the planet.
departing on 13th October 2015,
we have now added a second
In order to celebrate this
departure commencing 14th
landmark year, we have
April. We are extremely grateful
introduced a new cruise for 2015
to Lady Clare MacDonald, owner
exploring the fantastic local
of Kinloch Lodge Hotel, who will
produce of the Highlands and
provide a cookery demonstration
Islands, including whisky, oysters,
during the April cruise.
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S 11
Travel Plan – 7 nights
Dunvegan
Dunvegan
Castle
CANNA
SKYE
RUM
Shieldaig
Torridon Hotel
Armadale
Kinloch Lodge
Tuesday 14th April
Embarkation in Oban.
Wednesday 15th April
Morning; Laphroaig Distillery
from Port Ellen, Isle of Islay.
Afternoon; Colonsay Oysters
and Honey, Isle of Colonsay.
Thursday 16th April
Morning; Iona Abbey.
Afternoon; Cruise the west coast
of Mull and the Small Isles.
Friday 17th April
Morning; Kinloch Lodge
from Armadale, Isle of Skye.
Afternoon; Kyle of Lochalsh.
Saturday 18th April
Morning; Cruise under the
Skye Bridge to Shieldaig
for walks ashore.
Afternoon; The Torridon
Hotel from Shieldaig.
Sunday 19th April
Morning; Dunvegan Castle
and Three Chimneys
Restaurant, Loch Dunvegan.
Afternoon; Cruise
the Small Isles.
Monday 20th April
Morning; Isle of Mull
Cheese from Tobermory.
Afternoon; Champagne
reception at Duart Castle
from Craignure, Isle of Mull.
Tuesday 21st April
Disembarkation in Oban.
Prices per person
Cabins Was Save Now
Buie; Scavaig; Scresort SOLD OUT
Islay; Jura; Mull; Sleat SOLD OUT
Canna; Eigg; Rum SOLD OUT
Harport; Torridon $5,499 $550 $4,949
Lews $7,699 $770 $6,929
Kinloch; Torosay $8,699 $870 $7,829
Danna SOLD OUT
Colonsay $10,899 $1,090 $9,809
Barra $10,899 $1,090 $9,809
Bute $12,499 $1,250 $11,249
Arran SOLD OUT
OBAN
JURA
ISLAY
Craignure
IONA Duart Castle
Iona Abbey
COLONSAY
Colonsay Oysters
and Honey
EIGG
MUCK
MULL
COLL
Port Ellen
Laphroaig
Distillery
Tobermory
Isle of Mull Cheese
Three Chimneys
Restaurant

12. 12 T H E H EBRI D E AN T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
Vistas and
Vineyards
of the Rhine
3rd to 10th July 2015
Basel to Nuremberg
with guest speaker
Dr Arabella Woodrow MW
The Rhine Valley is
renowned for some of the
finest wines throughout
Europe and this cruise will
introduce you to some of
the many varieties available
including Alsace, Neckar
and Franconian wines.
From $4,620 per person
Danube
Symphony
10th to
17th July 2015
Nuremberg to Budapest
with guest speaker
James Naughtie
Explore the romantic
Danube whilst enjoying a
variety of musical recitals,
including the Regensburg
Domspatzen and the
Vienna Philharmonic
string quartet, staged in
some of the most acoustic
locations in the area.
From $5,115 per person
Treasures
of the
Danube
22nd to
29th August 2015
Budapest to Nuremberg with
guest speaker Eric Knowles
Relish some of Europe’s
most eclectic centres
on this Danube cruise
encompassing the
architectural and artistic
gems of Budapest,
Bratislava, Vienna and more.
From $5,115 per person
Discovering
the Rhine
29th August to
5th September 2015
Nuremberg to Amsterdam with
guest speaker Major General
Peter Williams, CMG, OBE
Explore the military past
of the Rhine on this cruise
sailing from Germany to
the Netherlands as we take
in Cologne Cathedral, the
Arnhem Airborne Museum
and the magnificent splendour
of the Rhine Gorge.
From $4,620 per person
The Elegant Way
TO CRUISE THE RHINE, MAIN AND DANUBE RIVERS
by Jonathan Moffatt, Sales & Marketing Manager
2015 Hebridean River Cruises Calendar
OFFER
SAVE
10 %
ON THE FARES
SHOWN
15
A river cruise is
an elegant and
relaxing way to
discover Europe from a
different perspective and,
as Hebridean River Cruises
approaches it’s fourth year
of operation, it has gained
an enviable reputation for
offering exceptionally well
planned and genuinely
all-inclusive itineraries
on the rivers of Europe.
The 2015 Hebridean River
Cruises programme takes
us to the Rhine, Main and
Danube rivers, where we
are transported to the heart
of iconic cities, including
Strasbourg, Cologne,
Vienna and Budapest.
Enchanting towns such
as Bamberg, Melk and
Regensburg enhance our
voyages of exploration
along these magnificent
waterways of Europe.
Each of our meticulously
planned itineraries is
uncovered from on
board the delightful river
cruiser Royal Crown.
Accommodating just 85
like-minded guests, a
house party atmosphere
will prevail and, to ensure
that our guests enjoy their
river cruise to the full, our
own Chief Pursers from on
board the revered Hebridean
Princess accompany each
itinerary to oversee the
delivery of discreet service.
Unlike most other
cruises, a Hebridean river
cruise includes all shore
visits, accompanied by
Hebridean’s Host, Cruise
Director and Tour Manager
and after a morning or
afternoon ashore the
warm welcome of Royal
Crown awaits your return.
Comfortable sofas adorn
the panoramic lounge,
the social hub of the ship,
where guests enjoy a
glass of Champagne and
mingle before dinner, as
Hebridean’s musician gently
plays the baby grand piano.
Royal Crown’s restaurant
delivers a mix of British
and European cuisine and
the Head Chef has worked
closely with Hebridean
River Cruises to produce the
highest standard of menu
choices, utilising some
of the finest and freshest
ingredients available.

13. What our guests say
We are always striving for excellence, and ensuring that guests have a five star
holiday experience in every way is central to the ethos of Hebridean Island Cruises.
That is why your opinion matters to us and we welcome your feedback.
Our After Cruise Questionnaires are a good indicator of guest satisfaction
and we love to receive your comments and feedback. In the 2014 season on
Hebridean Princess guests indicated that:
I just want to say that the Captain and
crew were excellent and have made
my holiday an unforgettable and truly
wonderful experience. Thank you.
Mrs S, Windsor
Everything is done to perfection, in
great style. The cuisine surprises with
outstanding quality and variety.
Dr & Mrs R, Switzerland
I always think that the Hebridean
experience could get no better!
But thanks to the crew including
the Guides and Officers, I
enjoy each one even more!
Mrs C, Harrogate
You cannot improve on perfection!
Mrs T, Cheltenham
The vessel reflects the
peacefulness, charm and service
of days long since gone.
Captain W, Hull
This was simply an exceptional
experience in all ways. What stood
out was the helpfulness, charm and
attentiveness of every member of
staff, which was beyond five stars.
Mr P, Cranleigh
99.8%
97.9%
99.1%
enjoyed their holiday
on Hebridean Princess
would consider cruising on
Hebridean Princess again
would recommend
Hebridean Princess to others
It just keeps getting better!
Mrs M, Taunton
Utterly captivating. The staff are
superb, the food excellent and
we thoroughly enjoyed all the
shore visits. We have had our first
experience of Hebridean Princess, it
won’t be our last! Many, many thanks.
Mr & Mrs P, Christchurch
Our experience of the Hebridean
Princess was the best holiday we
have ever experienced. Words are
not enough to describe our time
on board and the arrangements
prior to our arrival. Thank you!
Mr & Mrs C, Sleaford
Pure luxury! We were pampered and
cosseted by the staff, crew and officers
from start to finish. All the passengers
were friendly and I just can’t find
one complaint about anything. It
was a marvellous seven days.
Mrs S, Axbridge
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S 13
What’s included
Meals
All meals and snacks on board and
ashore as shown in the itineraries.
Beverages
Selected wines of the day, plus
all other house wines and spirits,
including Champagne by the
glass, soft drinks and beers, tea,
coffee and other hot drinks.
Scotch whisky selection
Hand-picked whiskies, shipped
from Hebridean Princess
including our own blend!
Shore visits
Entrance fees and transport
to and from shore visits.
Gratuities - no tipping
All gratuities.

14. 14 T H E H EBRI D E AN T I M E S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
Ilkley Literature Festival
For the fifth consecutive year
Hebridean Island Cruises was
proud to sponsor two events
at the Ilkley Literature Festival. Now
in its fifth decade the festival is the
fourth largest in the country and
features over 200 events which are
attended by over 26,000 people.
On Saturday 11th October we were
delighted to meet James Naughtie
and introduce him to some of our
guests prior to his talk about his
debut political thriller, The Madness
of July. James has had a number
of previous associations with the
company and will be accompanying
our Danube Symphony cruise as
guest speaker on 10th July next year.
We were delighted to sponsor the
ever popular Sheila Hancock on
Wednesday 15th October when
we were thrilled to be joined by
so many guests old and new.
Sheila reflected on her life, her writing
and her new novel, Miss Carter’s
War, and has signed a copy of her
book which will be available in the
library on board for all to enjoy.
SHEILA HANCOCK WITH
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
KEN CHARLESON
JAMES NAUGHTIE CHATS TO
SOME OF OUR GUESTS
“ “
Thank you for the
Mini Kilt Tours e-books
by Andrea Middleton, Hebridean Princess guide
As a guide for Hebridean Island
Cruises I hear guests saying “I wish
the holiday was longer.” So the
idea to put together an ebook was
hatched... The result is ‘Glasgow
to Oban via Inveraray and Loch
Awe’ a Self-Drive Touring Guide.
Guests travelling by car can
enhance their journey to the ship,
starting the holiday earlier.
The advantage of driving is the
freedom it gives, you can stop
wherever and whenever you want,
enjoying all that Argyll has to offer.
This ebook will give you ideas and
show you places you have not seen
or thought of stopping to see.
Directions are given on each
page so following the route is
easy. Unlike other guide books
it’s not just historical content but
local folklore and legend as well
to help bring the area to life.
invitation to the Ilkley
Literature Festival to listen
to Sheila Hancock. Both
of us enjoyed the evening
very much, including the
drinks and canapés.
Mr & Mrs M
“
They are easy to download to your
Kindle or Kindle app. Just log on to
Amazon, search for Mini Kilt Tours
and the series of ebooks are there
for you to download. They cost
around $8 per ebook. This is one
in a series of Self-Drive Touring
Guides. Don’t wait, buy and enjoy.
Look forward to seeing you on board.
Just to say thank you for the
complimentary tickets to the
Ilkley Literature Festival - we
enjoyed the evening immensely.
I hope your sponsorship
of events such as this is
rewarded and continued.
Mr H “

15. Cruising with
ALL LEISURE HOLIDAYS
Hebridean
Island Cruises
Highlands and Islands of
Scotland, England, Northern
Ireland, Wales & Eire, The
Channel Islands, The Isles
of Scilly, Northern France.
To book or request a
brochure call:
877.600.2648
www.hebrideancruises.com
Voyages of Discovery
April 2015 – May 2016
Small ship discovery cruises
in Northern Europe, the
Mediterranean, the Far East, the
Indian Ocean and South Africa.
To request a brochure call:
844.726.6960
www.voyagesofdiscovery.com
Swan Hellenic
January 2015 – April 2016
Worldwide small ship
discovery cruises.
To request a brochure call:
866.923.9182
www.swanhellenic.us
Contact your travel agent or call us at
877.600.2648
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F H E B R I D E A N I S L A N D C R U I S E S 15
S
Ja
W
d
T
8
Hebridean
River Cruises
A
collection of relaxing
cruises through the heart
of Europe on the Rhine,
Main and Danube rivers.
To book or request a
brochure call:
877.600.2648
www.hebrideancruises.com
HR
c
o
M
T
S
C
o
1800 S.E. 10th Avenue, Suite 205
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
www.hebrideancruises.com
Find us on:
www.facebook.com/hebrideancruises.americas
www.twitter.com/HebCruisesNA

16. For Information or to request brochures
1800 SE 10th Avenue, Suite 205
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Contact your Travel Professional or Hebridean Islands Cruises
855.866.8615 or visit www.hebrideancruises.com
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: *Promotion valid only for residents of North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Fares are per
person in U.S. dollars and based on double occupancy. All advertised fares are capacity controlled, subject to availability, and may be with-drawn
or modified at any time, without notice. Government fees and taxes, service fees and fuel charges (if applicable) are included. Every
effort has been made to ensure accuracy of this information. We reserve the right to correct errors and to change any fares, fees, and sur-charges
at any time. Booking terms and conditions apply.
For full Terms and Conditions visit www.hebrideancruises.com or call (855) 866-8615. © Hebridean Island Cruises 2014, a trading name
of All Leisure Holidays Ltd. Ship’s registry: Scotland.