Cruises continue despite choppy water for company

CRUISES are to continue on a luxury ship which sails to the Northern and Western isles and was once hired by the Queen, despite the collapse of its parent company.

North Yorkshire-based Hebridean International Cruises has appointed Colin Dempster and Fiona Taylor of Ernst & Young as joint administrators for the business.

The firm has already sold one vessel, the Hebridean Spirit, for a reported $7 million. An offer to provide refunds to passengers booked on it has been reversed.

But it said yesterday that cruises on the Hebridean Princess, which sails to the Western Isles and Orkney and Shetland, as well as to the Norwegian fjords, will continue.

A statement said: "The administrators recognise the value of the Princess business and have taken steps to secure funding to continue its sailing schedule as planned. The Princess is therefore continuing to trade whilst we pursue a sale of the business as a going concern.

"Consequently, Hebridean Princess cruises are not being cancelled. The companies will continue to take booking enquiries."