In a world of mega cruise-liners, some of them carrying in the region of 4,000 passengers, we sometimes tend to fall into the trap of believing that bigger is necessarily better. Those of us who have cruised on board the Hebridean Princess know better: we realise that smaller can mean more intimate, more luxurious, better service and destinations where bigger cruise ships can never go because of their size. Her 30 cabins are luxurious and well appointed and the service is always impeccable.

When the 50 passengers on board the Princess recently sailed under the Tower Bridge on their way to London, it was a nostalgic event. It was the final day of a cruise around the United Kingdom. The weather during August was disappointing for most of the time, but fortunately on this day the skies cleared and the passengers had a clear view of the bridge.

A few days earlier the Princess sailed into Aberdeen harbour, which has, by the way, enjoyed a bumper cruise season. This was the first time the ship visited this port and she was also the last cruise liner for the year to dock here. Before this particular visit, Aberdeen had also hosted Europa, Le Diamant and MS Silver Cloud on inaugural visits.

Most of the passengers and many of the 38 crew members were on deck as the ship sailed into the port.

After departing from Aberdeen, the Princess brought a brief visit to Dundee before leaving for East Neuk. From there it was on to Fife and Leith.