Hebridean Spirit is a small luxury ship (4,200 tons) holding between 80 – 90 guests and 72 crew. From the time you arrive at the airport for your flight pre-cruise you are looked after in the full Hebridean way. A special area is reserved for Hebridean guests at the airport and refreshments served before you board.
Once on board the ship one is made to feel very special, nothing is too much trouble for the staff and every need is catered for. Being a fully inclusive ship there is no signing of tabs, trying to remember your cabin number etc. All port taxes are included in the fare, gratuities, all drinks unless you want a vintage champagne, special brandy etc, routine medical checks, use of the spa and gym, shore excursions.
My husband and I have visited Croatia, Italy, Greece, Libya, Egypt & Cyprus on Hebridean Spirit but we have been several times.
The cabins – well you can’t really call them cabins they are just like luxury hotel rooms, all have a well appointed bathroom with either shower & wc or bath/shower and wc. The bathrooms are a good size with lovely white fluffy towels, flannels, bathrobes and slippers. The towels are changed every day, although the last time we cruised they asked you to put the towels on the floor of the shower if you wanted them changed. We didn’t do that every day but still they were changed. The rooms either have double or single beds which of course is your own choice. The furniture and soft furnishing all looks really good just like an old world country cottage – very cosy. Everything you need is in the room, a tv/dvd, fridge with soft drinks and fresh milk every day. A kettle and teapot to make a proper cup of tea instead of just putting a tea bag into a cup, coffee sachets, suger etc. There is an iron/ironing board, trouser press, shoe horn, tissues in a pretty box. If there is something you need you only have to ask and it is supplied for you. I have never been on another ship where I think the bedroom stewards are spies because every time you left your room and came back something had been replaced or put in for you –amazing!
The main dining room is The Argyll Restaurant and very relaxing it is, just like a Michelin starred restaurant in London. The menu is quite varied and the food is good and very well presented. All the waiters, wine waiters and the Maitre d’ are very attentive, wine is poured again and again until you say, no thank you. Being a small restaurant you can either sit at a table for 2, 4, 6 or 8 and if you are just two and want to dine with friends you just ask in the morning if you can change tables and have a table for however many friends you wish to dine with, the crew are only too happy to help..All single guests are put on table with other singles and an officer always sits at the table in the evening as host. Dining al fresco is an option on the Mizzen Deck. This area has comfortable chairs with cushions, nice wooden tables with umbrellas, there is an undercover area for any guest who doesn’t want to sit in the sun. You can have breakfast or lunch on this deck which is supposed to be self service. The only thing you do is tell the staff what you want everything else is done for you even your plate carried back to your table, I guess it is “staff help self service with a smile”! Even if they see you lift a glass it seems it is a “guest crime” and they come running over to help. There is also afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes, pastries etc around 4pm.
On the occasional evening there might be a special themed dinner served, weather permitting, on the Mizzen deck.
There is no entertainment on board except for a pianist tinkling on the piano pre and post dinner. This is a ship where you meet fellow guests and actually talk and get to know everyone on board. After the first day you feel it is one big party on board, everyone knowing everyone but certainly not being intrusive, if you want to be on your own you can, the choice is yours.
Shore excursions are arranged by the Shore Excursion Manager and every evening she or he will give a short talk before dinner about what is happening the next day and what time it begins, ends etc. If you don’t want to join in then you can just do your own thing and wander around the towns. Hebridean also have guest speakers/guest tour guides on board who are really very interesting and certainly know their stuff!
At the end of the cruise when disembarking you are still looked after right up to getting back to your flight destination, certainly not the holiday is ended, that’s it the end, hurry and get them all off the ship, as I have found with other cruise lines.
Hebridean Spirit as I’m sure Hebridean Princess is, a wonderful relaxing holiday experience with good food, fine wines and being pampered from head to toe; meeting nice fellow passengers and just being part of a very happy family atmosphere from beginning to end. Thoroughly recommended for anyone wanting a really relaxing holiday and especially for single people who wish to meet and make friends with other guests who are in a similar situation.
Jennifer Wellard
Mundy Cruising plc
Office Manager
