PORT OF REGISTRY: Glasgow

LAUNCHED: July 2001

COMPANY DESCRIPTION: The holding company of Hebridean International Cruises is Hebridean Cruises, PLC. Hebridean acquired IML Holdings, the parent company of HIC, in March 1998.

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Mike Deegan

MARKETING & SALES DIRECTOR: Ken Charleson

CAPTAIN: Captain Brian Larcombe

CHIEF PURSERS: Peter Buckley, Anthony Stevens

CHEF DE CUISINE: Kenny Naylor

CREW: The ship's complement consists of around 70 crew including a tour manager, guide, musician and spa therapist

ACCOMMODATION:
49 bedrooms named after Scottish islands, castles, clans and glens. Each of the rooms provide an elegant surrounding much in the style of a large private yacht.

The two premier suites, the St Columba and St Oran, comprise a large separate dayroom, a spacious bedroom and a luxuriously equipped marble bathroom.

CABIN FEATURES:
Bedrooms are large and each has a sitting area, some with sofas and most with Italian burr maple furniture. Half of the cabins have walk-in closets while the remainder have huge wardrobes and generous drawer space. All bedrooms are equipped with television (with satellite, terrestrial and video channels) and DVD players. The mini-refrigerator is stocked daily and replenished with milk and mineral water. Each room also features a tea and coffee maker and the usual hairdryers, trouser presses, irons and private safes.

TRAVELLING ALONE:
Guests travelling alone are encouraged to meet and dine with others if they wish and are customarily placed at tables with up to six others hosted by a senior officer.

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT:
The principle element of a holiday on board Hebridean Spirit is relaxation and recreational facilities on board are deliberately kept low-key and discreet. Facilities include:

• A well-stocked library, which also contains magazines and DVDs, as well as various board games, such as chess, scrabble, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit and occasional games of Bridge.
• A plunge pool on the Mizzen Deck
• A beauty spa, created for Hebridean by spa designers E'SPA, with treatment room, hair salon, fitness and steam rooms
• Feather-light bicycles available for shore visits
• Evening entertainment features the ship's musician, who travels with the ship piping her departure from each port. Occasional roulette evenings raise money for favourite charities.

HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT SPA:
Designed by E'SPA, one of the world's leading spa consultants, the Spa offers a range of therapeutic treatments including aromatherapy, body, scalp and deep back massages, facials and other specialist beauty treatments. The therapists are specially trained and a wide range of Elemis products are used.

In the salon, hairdressing, manicures and pedicures are available.

The gym is fitted with cardio-vascular exercise machinery and free weights. Large sliding doors open up onto the teak decking at the stern of the ship. Guests may enjoy a session in the steam room with its dappled light filtered through the base of the ship's plunge pool.

DINING:
A brigade of chefs devise menus, making extensive use of local produce purchased at the ship's ports of call. The highlights of the week's cruise are the two black-tie dinners. Given advance notice, Hebridean can accommodate most dietary requirements and will make every effort to provide guests with their favourite wines, aperitifs or digestifs if they are not already stocked in the ship's bar.

The ship offers single-sitting dining in the elegant Argyll Restaurant. Breakfast and lunch can also be taken outside in the Mizzen Deck Brasserie, weather permitting.

PUBLIC ROOMS:

• The Argyll Restaurant - located on Castle Deck, superb food is served in sophisticated surroundings
• The Skye Lounge - massive stone fireplace, deep-pile carpets, plenty of sofas and deep armchairs
• The Skye Bar - located in one corner of the Skye Lounge and the hub of the ship's social life
• The Panorama Lounge - large French doors lead out onto a vast sundeck with an observation platform over the Bridge
• The Look-Out Lounge - comfortable room situated aft of the Panorama Lounge with large picture windows for smokers
• The Travel Library - also aft of the Panorama Lounge with leather chairs, writing facilities, and a wide selection of travel books, guidebooks and maps. The on-board tour manager is available in the evenings to advise guests on shore visits
• The Mizzen Deck - sheltered sun deck with a heated plunge pool set into the teak deck. The Mizzen Deck Brasserie serves breakfasts and lunches, drinks, tea and coffee

SHORE VISITS:
As a small vessel of just 300 ft, Hebridean Spirit can visit isolated coves and secluded channels inaccessible to larger cruise ships.

A fleet of tenders, supervised by a senior officer, ferry guests safely to and from the vessel. A tour manager and guest speaker accompany all shore excursions, with the guide on hand during meal times at one of the singles' tables.

INCLUDED WITHIN THE TARIFF:

Privately hired aircraft departing from London Stansted Airport for our programme within the Mediterranean, the Baltic and Scandinavia, Portugal and France, and subsequent transfers between the airport and the ship. (This excludes travel to the airport in the UK). Our winter programme includes scheduled flights.

• All wines from the Sommelier's Selection, and house spirits and beers from the ship's bars and restaurants
• Entrance fees to all sites and other attractions listed in the itineraries
• All meals, snacks, picnics and barbeques on board and ashore which form part of the cruise itinerary
• Use of the ship's tenders, small boats, any watersports equipment on board, and the ship's feather-light bicycles
• Tea, coffee and unlimited soft drinks from the ship's bars, restaurant and cabin minibars, and fresh fruit throughout the day
• Use of the gym, steam room and relaxation room
• Airport taxes, pier and harbour dues
• All gratuities. The Company operates a 'no-tipping' policy

ADDITIONAL CHARGES:

• Wines and spirits from the Connoisseur's Selection on board
• Certain treatments taken in the ship's Health Spa and Hair Salon, eg. hairdressing, facials, manicures and pedicures
• Any travel arrangements made for individual travel to or from Hebridean Spirit or during the course of the cruise on shore visits
• Any items purchased from the Shop on board
• Access to the Internet and personal e-mails using the ship's terminals in the Panorama Lounge, any personal telephone calls, faxes or telexes
• Any medical charges levied by the Doctor on board or by Doctors ashore

MEDICAL FACILITIES ON BOARD:
A doctor on board is able to deal with minor emergencies. With no resident nurse, the ship is unable to accommodate guests who have medical conditions, which require routine medical assistance or supervision.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES:
An ecumenical service is held on board on Sundays when the vessel is at sea. The ship's crew will make every effort to identify the times and denominations of local services when guests are able to go ashore.

CURRENCY ON BOARD:
Pounds sterling.

DRESS:
During the day, dress is casual. It is recommended that guests bring with them non-slip shoes for use on deck and when going ashore, and walking boots for some itineraries.

In the evenings, when dinner is served in the restaurant, it is recommended that men wear a lightweight jacket or long-sleeved shirt and trousers, and women, a light dress or trousers.

There are two gala evenings on the seven-night cruises, when the senior officers dress formally and many men prefer to wear dinner jackets, tuxedos or kilts, although lounge suits are acceptable.

SMOKING:
Smoking is permitted on the Look-Out Lounge off the Panorama Lounge and on the outside decks.

CHILDREN:
There are no facilities on board for children under the age of nine.

NIGHT SAILING:
Few of the cruises, other than where it is unavoidable, involve overnight sailing. Most sailing takes place during the period from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. to take advantage of the spectacular scenery.

SOLE USE:
Hebridean Spirit is available for private charter and interested parties should contact Ken Charleson, Marketing and Sales Director or alternatively, his secretary, Kaye Slater, at Hebridean International Cruises.

AFFILIATIONS:
Hebridean Spirit is a member of the Passenger Shipping Association, a British body representing the cruise ship and ferry industry. Also members of PSARA's exclusive collection, Pride of Britain and Connoisseurs Scotland.

-ends-

Media Contact:
Mel Cutcliffe
 Indigo PRCo Ltd
 Direct Tel: +44 (0) 20 7259 1147
Mobile: +44 (0)7961 300067

Email: media@indigoprco.com
Web: www.indigoprco.com