In 2017 we introduced our new luxury vessel, which had a very successful season and she is already almost booked out for 2018. Over the winter, a few essentials were addressed, including operational upgrades such as new stabilisers to provide the best cruising experience possible for our guests. The ship was then painted blue to match our brand colours and her sister ship Elizabeth-G. All along, we knew that we would rename our new ship and tradition demands that a ship should have a feminine name which is often a close relative of the owners family. So what better name to choose than for our own daughter who has been instrumental in building Hebrides Cruises to the success it now is.
Emma Jane will arrive in Oban on April 3rd, ready for the new season and splendid in her new colour. She will be officially named at a special ceremony on Sunday 22 April. Ships are renamed all the time, but as all seafarers know, there is a vital formula to go through to ensure continued good fortune on the seas. As part of the ceremony a special speech will be made to Neptune before the usual procedure of naming the boat. The boat will then be blessed by a minister, in this case Donald Kirsop, Uncle of Emma.
Sunday 22 April will also be our Open Day from 2pm onwards on the pontoons at Oban. All are welcome to come and find out if small ship wildlife cruising (with an extra bit of luxury!) is for them!
We enjoyed the cruise enormously thanks to an amazing crew. We feel so lucky to have experienced the stunning scenery in this beautiful part of Scotland. Good food is an essential element of any holiday for us and each meal was imaginative and simply delicious! We would recommend Hebrides Cruises without hesitation. Emma was extremely helpful and answered all queries. She described the cruises so well and made them sound unmissable. We were delighted to meet her in person when we disembarked at the end of the cruise.
John and Gill Swindin: 14 September 2019Skye and the Small Isles: Hebridean horizons