Lord of the Glens

The 1985-built MV Lord of the Glens cruise ship was constructed in Greece and originally named "MS Victoria" (until September 1999). Between 1999-2000, she was renamed "Victoria 2". Neither the ship nor her voyages are particularly suited for young children. Most passengers are between 45-65 years old, attracted by the refined onboard atmosphere, gourmet dining, cultural enrichment, and the opportunity to dress up for the Captain's Dinner.

History - Construction and Ownership

With a shallow draft (12 ft / 3.7 m), the 50-passenger Lord of the Glens is a yacht-like vessel able to reach destinations inaccessible to larger ships. She comfortably accommodates up to 54 guests (maximum capacity) in 27 staterooms. The experience is comparable to a private yacht voyage, ideal for exploring rarely-seen coastal destinations.

Thanks to her narrow beam (34 ft / 10 m) and the winding nature of her routes, the vessel is equipped with dual propulsion and bow thrusters, allowing precise control from the Navigation Bridge and side-wings. This makes it easy for the Captain to maneuver through tight locks. The entire ship is fully air-conditioned and heated.

Until 2020, Lord of the Glens was owned by the UK-based Magna Carta Steamship Company Ltd. In August 2020, she was purchased by HP Shipping Ltd (also owner of Hebridean Princess) and chartered to Hebridean Island Cruises, an HP Shipping-owned brand headquartered in Skipton, Yorkshire, England.

The vessel is also chartered by Lindblad Expeditions in cooperation with the National Geographic Society (NatGeo), a US-based non-profit institution for science and education.

Decks and Cabins

The Lindblad-chartered Lord of the Glens has 4 passenger decks (3 with cabins) and a total of 27 staterooms. All cabins are outside-facing with windows. There are 4 cabin grades: 2 categories with an opening Picture Window (decks 2-3) and 2 categories with two non-opening Porthole Windows (decks 1-2, "State Cabins").

All staterooms are cozy, well-appointed, and uniform in size (13 m2 / 135 ft2 each). Interiors feature Scottish Highland-inspired artwork and mahogany furnishings. Standard (complimentary) amenities include en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, lighted mirror, hairdryer, bathrobes), flat-screen TV (satellite reception), audio/media system, individually controlled air-conditioning (with heating), lounge area (mirrored dressing table/writing desk with chair), double bed (or 2 single beds), wardrobe, electronic safe (in the closet), intercom (internal phone, onboard use only), and wall-mounted lights.

All cabins, except the 25 on Deck 2 (David Roberts Deck), are fitted with a double bed convertible to twins (2 singles). The Roberts Deck cabins feature a fixed Queen-size double bed, while State Cabins have single beds that cannot be converted to double, as a dressing table is positioned between them.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

The Nat Geo Lord of the Glens has one Main Dining Room with open seating. The restaurant serves international cuisine inspired by the ports of call, with all meals offered in a single seating. Fine china, French crystal, and silver utensils are used in the dining room.

Public areas include the dining room restaurant, observation deck, library, two bar lounges (each with a full-service bar and media equipment), and the Sundeck with outdoor seating, tables, and chairs. The ship’s ambiance resembles a country manor house or private houseboat, with overstuffed furnishings, high-quality wood interiors, mahogany in all staterooms, and teak wood on open decks ("terraces").

Itineraries

Lindblad’s Lord of the Glens program focused on loch and canal cruises in Scotland. The itineraries were one-way, with departures from Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh. Destinations included the Caledonian Canal and Scotland’s western coast.

The table below shows a sample 7-night / 8-day Scotland itinerary (Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh) with ports of call listed in sequence.

Lindblad/Nat Geo fares started at around USD 8740 per cabin.

Since April 2021, under Hebridean Island Cruises, Lord of the Glens has offered 5- to 7-night itineraries between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, including visits to Oban and Loch Ness Lake, connecting Scotland’s east and west coasts.