Latest news with #ships
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Five essential things to know before you board a Majestic Line cruise ship
Named after a fictional cruise company in the Scottish TV series Para Handy, The Majestic Line was set up in 2004 by friends Ken Grant and Andy Thoms. It now operates four small ships around the Inner and Outer Hebrides – two 11-passenger converted fishing boats, Glen Massan and Glen Tarsan, and two purpose-built 12-passenger vessels, Glen Etive and Glen Shiel. The line came to national attention in 2017 when TV presenter Jane McDonald burst into song in Fingal's Cave on the island of Staffa while sailing on Glen Tarsan for her Channel 5 cruise series. As an epidemiologist, Dr Ken Grant worked as a public health consultant in more than 30 countries – a background that helped The Majestic Line become one of the first cruise companies to restart operations in August 2020 following the Covid pandemic. Over the years, he and Andy experimented briefly with smaller boats but returned to the four favourites, all styled like a 1930s gentleman's motor yacht with golden funnels like the ships in Para Handy. In 2024, the pair sold the company to Craig of Campbeltown Limited, which is refurbishing the fleet. As well as general cruises, the ships are also available for private charter. 1. Where does the Majestic Line cruise? The four-strong fleet based in Oban sails between April and October each year. Wood-hulled Glen Massan and Glen Tarsan offer three or six-night cruises within the waters of the Inner Hebrides, from Islay in the south to as far north as Skye. They also head inland via Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal to Inverness. The more modern steel-hulled ships, Glen Etive and Glen Shiel, are fitted with stabilisers so are able to operate three, six and 10-night cruises farther afield to the Outer Hebrides, St Kilda, the north-west mainland coast and even Orkney. Wherever it sails, The Majestic Line is unusual in not having set daily itineraries. Instead, captains assess the weather and sea conditions each morning and adjust their course accordingly. Guests' preferences for a certain port or are also taken into account and the captain will pull into a sheltered bay or harbour when it's time to eat. Highlights might include sailing past picturesque Eilean Donan Castle or visiting small islands such as Rum, Muck and Eigg. One of the closest and most popular destinations is Mull with its colourful capital Tobermory and Duart Castle on the coast. Life on board is laid-back, as are shore excursions. Passengers are dropped by tender boat at a landing or jetty, given a time to return and left to their own devices. Of course, there are plenty of walks, castles and distilleries to enjoy. Wildlife spotters may see dolphins, porpoises, seals, basking sharks, minke whales and orcas, as well as sea birds from puffins and petrels to gannets and guillemots. Passengers keen on fishing can dangle a line off the stern, help collect lobsters from creels or join the crew when they head ashore to collect mussels. 2. Who does Majestic Line appeal to? Passengers are mainly from the UK, followed by the US, Germany and Australia followed by the Canada, France and the Netherlands. This is slow travel at its best with ample time to admire the Scottish scenery. The four crew – a skipper, chef, engineer and steward – all pitch in, so it's not unusual to find the captain serving toast at breakfast. Foodies will enjoy the beautifully prepared meals, snacks and nibbles made from local produce in a small galley and served at a communal table (passenger preferences are noted beforehand). On such small boats, you're never far from your cabin or the sun deck, weather permitting, and the captain welcomes guest visits to the open bridge. With everyone eating together and sharing the small lounge and bar, there's plenty of chance to socialise and make new friends. The dress code is relaxed and there are no casinos, theatres, spas, pools or any entertainment. There's not even a TV in the snug en suite cabins. Children aged 12 and above are welcome on all cruises and youngsters of any age can sail on private charters. 3. The Majestic Line's fleet Glen Massan and Glen Tarsan (11 passengers) Glen Massan, a 1975-built trawler saved from the scrapyard, became the first Majestic Line ship in 2004 and was followed three years later by another converted fishing boat, Glen Tarsan. Both have two cabins with a small opening window on the main deck and four more rooms downstairs with fixed portholes, accommodating a maximum of 11 passengers, either as five doubles and a single or four doubles and two singles. There is a combined lounge/bar/dining room and outdoor areas include a sun deck and whale-watching spot. Books and games are available and a plasma screen in the saloon shows the ship's position or films about local wildlife. Sometimes the crew will put on an episode of Para Handy, the comedy that inspired the line. Though small, these two older wooden-hulled ships are preferred by some Majestic Line loyalists. Bookings still spike whenever Channel 5 repeats the Jane McDonald episode when she sailed on Glen Tarsan. Sails to: Inner Hebrides, Caledonian Canal Glen Etive and Glen Shiel (12 passengers) In 2016, The Majestic Line acquired its first purpose-built ship, Glen Etive, from a yard on the isle of Bute, followed three years later by Glen Shiel, another steel-hulled vessel. The sister ships have seven cabins, one on the main deck and six below, taking up to 12 passengers as five doubles and two singles, or six doubles and one empty cabin. In contrast to Glen Massan and Glen Tarsan, the dining room and lounge were separated and the ships were fitted with stabilisers for longer voyages in the open sea. Glen Etive's lower deck has more of a hotel feel, with cabins off a corridor running the length of the vessel, while Glen Shiel is more like a country house, with two stairways down to the lower cabins. The small bar offers a selection of gins, whiskies, beers and soft drinks. Both ships have outside seating, viewing areas and a sun deck. Sails to: Inner Hebrides, Outer Hebrides, St Kilda, the north-west mainland coast and Orkney scheme The Majestic Line is not currently operating a loyalty scheme. 5. Access for guests with disabilities Due to the size and nature of the four ships, accessibility is limited, especially because of narrow corridors and the stairs between decks, as well as steps down to the tender boats which are used to go ashore. People who need to walk with a stick are advised to book a main-deck cabin. Some passengers have used fold-away wheelchairs on shore.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Russia's Ust-Luga Port Orders Vessel Checks After Mystery Blasts
Ust-Luga, Russia's largest port in the Baltic Sea, is insisting that ships' hulls are inspected before the vessels are allowed to enter the facility, a sign of how a string of mystery blasts involving tankers that went to Russia are affecting the nation's commodity trade. The decision to start vetting vessels' below-surface parts was taken earlier this month, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the matter isn't public. Ust-Luga is also insisting that arriving vessels must have Russian protection and indemnity insurance cover against risks including spills and collisions.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
P.E.I. ferry fire in 2022 prompts national investigation by safety board
CHARLOTTETOWN — Canada's transportation safety board has launched a national investigation into fires aboard ships and the responses to them. The independent agency announced the investigation in its report released today on a fire that broke out aboard a ferry as it approached a terminal in Prince Edward Island in July 2022. The fire on the MV Holiday Island started in the engine room after a repair to its fuel injection system failed. The agency says there was confusion over who was responsible for the ferry's safety. It recommends that Transport Canada provide better guidance to reduce the risk of vessels operating without minimum safety requirements. The board says its national investigation will consider how to improve systemic safety gaps related to ship fires. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025. The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Travel Weekly
11-07-2025
- Travel Weekly
National Geographic-Lindblad officially names Galapagos ships
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions on Thursday held a naming ceremony for its two newest Galapagos-based expedition ships, the National Geographic Delfina and the National Geographic Gemini. The ships were previously known as the Celebrity Xploration and the Celebrity Xpedition; National Geographic-Lindblad purchased them from Celebrity Cruises last summer. The two ships entered service for National Geographic-Lindblad in February and March. The company's Galapagos fleet also includes the 98-passenger National Geographic Endeavour II and the 48-passenger National Geographic Islander II. The ceremony included leaders of the cruise line, staff and their family members as well as local dignitaries and community members from the Galapagos, the company said. The 48-passenger Gemini has 28 staterooms, and the 16-passenger, catamaran-style Delfina has only eight, making it the most intimate sailing experience in the fleet, Ana Esteves, senior vice president of hotel operations, said during a webinar. "Sixteen guests means that you can bring your best friends," she said. "You can have two families chartering this ship."
Times of Oman
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Times of Oman
RNOV Shabab Oman II docks in Dunkirk port
Dunkirk: The Royal Navy of Oman vessel 'Shabab Oman II' docked on Thursday in the port of Dunkirk, France, after completing the first stage of the long sailing ship races for 2025, with the participation of 46 sailing ships from various countries of the world.
