Majestic Line's New Wildlife Explorer

Exclusive Scottish small-ship cruise company The Majestic Line is to launch a new, dedicated ‘Wildlife Explorer’ cruise for 2014. 

This new 6-night cruise is aimed at guests keen to see at first hand the rich variety of animal, bird and marine life that thrives on the pristine Hebridean coastline in the Highlands of Scotland.

The new ‘Around Mull: Wildlife Explorer’ cruise will tour the unspoiled natural beauty of the Isles of Mull, Iona and Treshnish. Anchorages include Loch Spelve on Mull, well-known for its playful otters and white-tailed eagles, where guests can enjoy walking through an ancient oak forest, or exploring on the magical island of Iona, famed for its holy Abbey and white sandy beaches, where the elusive corncrake is often seen and heard. Guests can take a trip by boat tender into Fingal’s Cave on Staffa to see at first hand the incredible rock formations and wildlife there as well as exploring Lunga Island to spot colourful puffin colonies.

This new cruise also features an additional full day land tour of Mull to discover more about the island’s wild inhabitants, flora and fauna. Trips to dramatic Duart Castle, ancient seat of the Clan Maclean with its turbulent history and spectacular setting, and Tobermory, Mull’s vibrant and colourful main town, will ensure guests also experience the wonderful heritage of this very special area of Scotland. The price of a 6-night cruise in 2014 is from £1,880 per person.

More info: visit http://www.themajesticline.co.uk/ or call 01369 707951.

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Three Cruise Lines, Three Round-Britain Cruises!

Here's a great trio of alternatives for the increasingly popular round-Britain cruises that many lines are now offering. They obviously all come with the benefit of no flights involved, and take in some fabulous parts of the United Kingdom. Here's what they say...

Voyages of Discovery

Departing from Portsmouth, discover the history, heritage and tradition of the British Isles. Around the shores of this island nation, discover stunning landscapes that inspired celebrated artists, and those that played starring roles in stirring epics. Set foot in atmospheric castles that hosted legendary figures, and stately homes where literary heroes penned immortal words. Turn the pages on Britain’s Royal story peopled by famous monarchs, and through great abbeys and cherished cathedrals trace the power of the church.

The 14-day National Treasures of the British Isles departs May 4 and costs from £1,939 per person. 

More info: call 0844 334 8389 or visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk.

Swan Hellenic

Travel from Portsmouth to Edinburgh, Scotland’s dynamic capital, and explore this historic city. Visit Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Hopetoun, Scotland’s finest stately home. Sail to the Caithness port of Scrabster to stand on the most northerly point of mainland Britain at Dunnet Head overlooking the Pentland Firth. Follow Bonnie Prince Charlie as he escaped over the sea to Skye and visit Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, built on a rock in an idyllic loch-side setting. Enjoy inspirational scenic cruising as Minerva cruises off the west coast of Scotland, passing islands, glens and bays – including the tiny island of Staffa – en route to Oban, and then on to Liverpool.

This 15-day Treasures of the British Isles cruise departs July 1 and costs from £2,470 per person. 

More info: call 0844 488 0716 or visit www.swanhellenic.com.

Hebridean Island Cruises

A voyage into the unknown - join Hebridean Princess on the annual ‘Surprise’ cruise where the Captain will decide the itinerary. Enjoy the magnificent scenery of Scotland’s west coast and Hebridean islands as the Captain decides on the itinerary day by day. While the itinerary is unknown, the level of comfort and service on board  is assured. The cruise departs from Oban with only 50 guests, fine food and wine with spacious, elegant well-appointed cabins

The 7-night An Island Surprise voyage departs April 1 and costs from £2,660 per person. 
More Info: call 01756 704 700 or visit www.hebridean.co.uk.

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Grab A Last-Minute Saving With Hebridean

Luxury cruise line Hebridean Island Cruises is offering up to 30% off last-minute bookings for this autumn. Guests can save up to £1,720 per person on cruises departing from October 2 to November 6.

Itineraries available include:

• The Small Isles and Skye: a seven-night cruise from £3,410 per person – a saving of £1,140pp. Cruise departs from Oban on October 9 and calls at Eigg and Canna, Skye, Uig and Portree, Plockton, Inverie, Rum and Muck and finishes in Oban.
• Gems of The Inner Isles: a seven-night cruise from £2,750 per person – a saving of up to £1,190pp. Cruise departs from Oban on October 16 and calls at Rum, Shieldaig, Portree, Inverie, Eigg and Glenmore, Tobermory and Craignure before calling back at Oban.
• Lochs And Isles: a seven-night cruise from £2,295 per person – a saving of £765 per person. Cruise departs from Oban on October 30 and calls at Rum and Eigg, Inverie, Plockton, Kerrera, Lismore, Fort William and Ballachulish, before finishing in Oban.

Prices for all cruises include transfers between Glasgow and the ship or free car parking in Oban, all meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, shore excursions and gratuities, plus all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Hurtigruten Features New, One Off Departure From Greenwich



This brand new itinerary will for the first time, start from Greenwich and takes in some of the very best of the UK. After sailing down the Thames, MS Fram visits Portsmouth and then the Isles of Scilly with its miles of white sandy beaches. Cobh and Dublin are called at in Ireland before heading to Douglas on the Isle of Man, Iona and Staffa in the Hebrides, Portree on the Isle of Skye, Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands, Leith (Edinburgh) and finally across the North Sea to Hamburg. This 12-day itinerary departing 1 May 2013 costs from £2498pp including full board. Based on two sharing.

For more information follow this link to The Cruise Line. The UK’s leading cruise specialists.

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Sample An Orkney Summer

Join Hebridean Island Cruises' small luxury cruise ship Hebridean Princess this summer and discover the charm of Orkney's Nordic heritage in sumptuous style from just £5,550 per person.

The nine-night 'North to Orkney' cruise sails on June 27 and explores the island's prehistoric sites, including Cape Wrath and the Castle and Garden of Mey. Special guest speaker and archaeology expert Dr Coleen Batey will also be on board to give an insight into the iconic buildings and Orkney's largest chambered tomb, Maes Howe.

The voyage departs from Oban and calls at Gairloch, Loch Eriboll, Scrabster, Kirkwall, Stronsay and Papa Westray, Westray and Stromness, Stromness, Helmsdale and Invergordon. 

Alternatively, guests on the nine-night 'Home From The North' cruise  departing July 15 can pay a visit to Orkney's legendary cathedral, St Magnus, which has dominated the Kirkwall skyline for over 875 years. Prices start from £3,700 per person.

'Home From The North' departs from Invergordon and calls at Helmsdale, Kirkwall, Skara Brae, Scrabster and Loch Eriboll, Stornoway, Skye, Rum, Glenmore and Oban.

Prices include all meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, shore excursions and gratuities and all relevant cruise taxes/fees (based on two people sharing a castle grade cabin).

For booking details, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury adventure specialists. 

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Monsters and Malts

By guest blogger Steve Newman

There's something rather swish about booking the entire ship for a cruise. You can take your friends and family, celebrate a special occasion or anniversary, plan your own route and excursions or just leave all that to the cruise line.

Based in south-west Scotland, the Majestic Line's two boats sail the waters of Argyll and the Inner Hebrides. With only six en suite cabins for 11 guests, they offer three and six-night itineraries and, with all meals being taken around a single table, you certainly get that family feeling.

As you might expect, the food is sourced locally and includes fish, shellfish, beef and venison whilst, after the meal, there is a comprehensive selection of single Malts to choose from as you watch the red deer come down to the shore or the seals and otters swimming lazily by in the last rays of the evening sun.

The crew of four, including the chef, ensure the very highest levels of service and the smaller size of the vessels mean you can get in really close at night to anchor in some secluded bay or inlet where the only sound is the corncrakes calling or the lapping of the waves.

Of course, you don't HAVE to book the entire ship - you can just take the normal cruises visiting place such as Mull, Skye or Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal. Whether or not you'll see the Monster in Loch Ness rather depends on your whisky intake, but either way you'll be very happy!

More information at www.themajesticline.co.uk

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