The cruise ship that the late UK monarch, Queen Elizabeth II chartered twice in Scottish waters, Hebridean Princess departed Dun Laoghaire last night on its final Irish cruise, with a pilot cutter from Dublin Port , writes Jehan Ashmore . As seen above in Dun Laoghaire, the cutter, DPC Tolka, having crossed Dublin Bay, is alongside the cruise ship which is standard practise as for reasons outlined further below. The high-end luxury Hebridean Princess has just 48 guests who are taking the ‘Treasures of the Celtic Coast’, a 10 night fly-cruise which is heading back to its homeport of Oban, in west Scotland.
(Afloat will have more to follow). With such a small passenger capacity, there is a large crew of 38 offering what the operator, Hebridean Island Cruises, describes as an unrivalled comfort with the refined service of a floating country house. Accommodation is in 28 spacious cabins that are all individually decorated with tasteful interiors and are a world apart to the former 600 passenger ferry’s cabins located under the 50 capacity car-deck.
This function no longer exists following its major rebuild conversion in 1989 into a cruise ship. The ship built in 1964 was originally a MacBrayne (later CalMac) ferry and Royal Mail Ship, initially as RMS, then as MV Columba, was based out of Oban, serving the western isles for 25 years. In its current role, Hebridean Princess has been Scottish-based ever since, with cruises also throughout the UK, the near continent, and Irela.