The popular small luxury British cruise ship Hebridean Princess, which celebrates 20 years of continued service with Hebridean International Cruises next year will be offering 10 new cruises in 2009.

Founded by a Yorkshire family of keen motor-sailors who often toured the remote Scottish western isles, they saw an opportunity to provide ‘yacht-style’ cruises around the wildly beautiful and inaccessible area. The family acquired the small Scottish ferry Columba, which was then totally refitted and refurbished as Hebridean Princess, making her inaugural voyage on 26 May 1989.

To this day, no other cruise ship follows Hebridean Princess’ itineraries, which over the years have been developed by the Captains, crew and guides. In 2009 the vessel will visit 33 Scottish islands, each with its own geographical and historical character, and will sail amongst many more of the hundreds dotting the west coast waters of Scotland. Hebridean Princess will also be visiting Norway, as well as coming south on her traditional final cruise of the year; the ‘Jewels of English heritage’ cruise along the south coast of England.

The 10 new cruises for Hebridean Princess in 2009 include:

West Coast Explorer – two seven night round-trip cruises from Oban calling at Shieldaig, Gairloch, Plockton, Inverie, Fort William, Skye, Rum and Lismore

• Seasons of the Inner Isles – two seven night round-trip cruises from Oban calling at Craobh Haven, Crinan, Jura, Gigha, Islay, Colonsay, Kerrera, Iona, Ulva and Mull
• Across the Isles to Tiree – two seven night round-trip cruises from Oban calling at Shieldaig, Eigg, Rum, Skye, Muck, Ulva, Iona and Tiree
• Footloose to Harris & the Outer Isles – a seven night round-trip cruise from Oban calling at Iona, Coll, Eigg, Ulva, Mull, Mingulay, Berneray, Barra, Shiant Isles and Harris
• South to the Small Isles – two seven night round-trip cruises from Oban calling at Eigg, Muck, Ulva, Iona, Jura, Colonsay, Harris, Pabbay, Mingulay or Berneray
• Spring in the Sea of the Hebrides – an eight night round-trip cruise from Oban calling at Inverie, Glenmore Bay, Jura, Colonsay, Iona, Tiree, Muck, Eigg or Canna, Skye, Rum, Coll, Barra and Eriskay
• Islands of the Little Minch – seven night round-trip cruise from Oban calling at Iona, Tiree, Skye, Canna, Eigg or Muck, Mull, Mingulay, Berneray or Pabbay, Barra, Eriskay and North Uist
• Odyssey to the Summer Isles – seven night round-trip cruise from Oban calling at Ullapool, Gairloch, Inverie, Eriskay, North Uist, Skye, Muck or Eigg, Summer Isle of Tanera Mor and Isle Martin
• Footloose in the Norwegian Fjords – seven night fly-cruise to/from Bergen calling at Hardangerfjord for Rosendal, Herand, Utne, Ulvik and Kinsarvik, and then Sunndal and Lysøen
• Nordic Outposts – nine night round-trip cruise from Scrabster calling at Kirkwall, Sanday, Stronsay, Westray, Stromness, Unst, Lerwick and Fair Isle