The Hebridean Spirit is a small cruise ship from Hebridean International Cruises, built in Italy in 1991 as the Renaissance VI. At 4,200 tons she has since 1991 carried British officers and a Ukrainian crew of 72 and up to 96 passengers in considerable comfort on international voyages. Her running mate, Hebridean Princess, on the other hand, has cruised mostly around the U.K.
Hebridean Island (now International) Cruises got its start in 1988 with the purchase of a small Scottish ferry to be beautifully made over into the Hebridean Princess. In an expansion move that almost cost the company bankruptcy, it bought the Renaissance VI and spent millions changing her innards and exterior profile to be a large country-house-hotel version of the little sister. Then 9-11 came along and finances went pear-shaped. Having recovered, and under new owners, the company now appears to have smooth sailing.
Most passengers are British and way up there in income as this is an expensive ship on which to cruise, especially with all the pampering service. A few Americans find their way to the Hebridean Spirit, but there are many other small ships with similar itineraries to choose from, albeit not with the British country-house-hotel lifestyle that one encounters here. Gratuities are included.
The ship's cruises of widely varying length focus in the summer and early fall on the Mediterranean and Black Sea, where the ship is based in several different ports. Passengers fly to meet the ship. Then she sails transatlantic to cruise through the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and down the West Coast of South America, including calls at the Galapagos. Other years, she sails east of Suez into the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and to East Africa on extended voyages. Some guided shore excursions are included and enrichment lectures are provided.
While the vessel retains some of the original Renaissance VI layout, a lot has also been altered, including reducing the passenger capacity from 115 to 81, partly as the result of adding new public rooms and converting some cabins to singles. The topmost Panorama Deck houses new public rooms, including an observation lounge, a small Look Lounge (smoking room), and a travel library, with screened open deck forward. A wraparound promenade allows for circular walks. A stern marina is used for launching the tenders, and passengers can borrow bicycles and helmets for independent touring ashore. A multi-room spa and a small shop are onboard.
The port-holed and paneled restaurant, aft on the lowest passenger deck, can seat all passengers at one open sitting, and the food is topnotch British and Continental. There are well-spaced tables for two and on up to eight. Morning bouillon and afternoon tea are de rigueur. The advertised dress code is more relaxed than the way passengers usually turn up at dinner, which it a 180-degree switch from the norm. The Skye Lounge had a complete and very successful make over from a dark low-ceiling room into a more welcoming one with a very British imitation stone fireplace (akin to the Hebridean Princess) and a bar. An outdoor bar and brasserie aft by the pool is the gathering place in warm weather for breakfast and lunch and for special cocktail parties. Chairs and tables are teak.
The 50 individually decorated cabins are all outsides named after Scottish clans, glens, isles and castles. These comprise 31 doubles and 19 singles, all with sitting areas, TVs with DVD players, minibars with mineral water, soft drinks and fresh milk replenished daily, walk-in closets, irons and ironing boards, trouser presses, safes, hair dryers, and baths with heated towel rails. Doubles range from 211 to 275 sq ft, and the Glens, six doubles and two singles, have private balconies. The two suites measure 366 sq ft. but are without balconies.
The Hebridean Spirit has taken the country-house-hotel atmosphere of the Hebridean Princess to new destinations well beyond Britain and Norway. Anglophiles with money to burn will love her.
