From Portland to HMS Belfast, London · Mediterranean · 7 nights
We know of no ship quite like this one; a tiny little gem, dedicated to Scotland and all things Scottish, this Princess is fit for a queen!
A single ship with just 48 guests and in operation for only nine
months of the year – hardly viable in the modern day, you would
think – and when you step aboard you will also feel as if you have
been swept into a bygone age, when kindness was key. A one word
descriptor? Charm, perhaps. But that only begins to cover what is
special about Hebridean Princess.
The windswept Isle of Portland is connected to the mainland by Chesil Beach, which curves west for 18 miles along the Dorset coast. The island is famous as the home of Portland stone and is rich in bird life, while just next door is the resort town of Weymouth, with its pretty Georgian harbour.
Caen was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, and the beautiful Abbaye aux Hommes is his last resting place, though only a thigh bone remains. Caen was heavily damaged during the Second World War, and there are several D-Day sites nearby; learn more at the city's excellent Memorial Museum.
Situated on the southern bank of the Seine estuary, Honfleur was once one of France’s most important ports. It was also a favourite location of Monet and the Impressionists, and art lovers may well recognise the elegant Renaissance architecture of the old harbour, the Vieux Bassin.
Boulogne is France’s biggest fishing port, so this is a great place for a seafood lunch, and the waterfront Nausicáa is one of the world’s largest aquariums. There are also some interesting historic buildings within the 13th-century walls of the Haute-Ville, perched on a hill overlooking the rest of the town.
White Cliffs Country is a fascinating region, one packed with history and natural beauty. We think there is no sight like that of the stunning cliffs rising from the sea, topped by the fortifications of Dover Castle, and surrounded by lush green countryside.
