Our Charter for Responsible & Sustainable Tourism

Protecting the wild beauty of the Hebrides for generations to come.

As the pioneers of wildlife cruising in the UK, we feel a deep responsibility to the ecosystems we explore. At Hebrides Cruises, we are committed to delivering a world class experience while leaving the smallest possible footprint on our pristine coastlines. We invite you to join us in this mission.

Travelling with a Greener Footprint

Getting to the Highlands is part of the adventure. To help reduce the carbon cost of your journey:

Embrace the Rails: Oban is excellently served by scenic train and bus links from Scotland’s major cities. Arriving by rail is the perfect, stress-free start to a sea voyage.
Charge & Park: If you are driving, our parking partners at MacQueens offer electric charging points. Once in Oban, we encourage you to explore our vibrant town on foot or by bicycle before boarding.

Supporting Island Life & Culture

The heart of the Hebrides lies in its people.

Shop Locally: From Oban’s seafood to island knitwear and whiskies, choosing local products directly supports the fragile economies of the communities we visit.
Respect the Heritage: We encourage guests to visit the castles, chapels, and heritage centres that keep the spirit of the Isles alive. Your visits help fund the preservation of these historic sites.

Conscious Cruising: Our Onboard Commitments

We have invested heavily in our fleet to ensure your comfort doesn't come at a cost to the environment.

Our Initiative	The Environmental Impact
Efficient Navigation	Our Skippers run engines at 65% capacity to significantly reduce fuel consumption.
Silent Nights	We use ultra efficient generators and battery power, meaning no generators run at night reducing emissions and noise pollution.
Water Stewardship	Our vessels use low flow showers (6lpm) and high efficiency pumps to conserve our precious freshwater supplies.
Seabed Protection	Using advanced GPS plotting, we return to the same proven anchorages to avoid disturbing the seabed and marine habitats.

How You Can Help On Board

Reduce & Reuse: Say no to single-use plastics. We provide Hebrides Cruises water bottles for you to refill, and we ask that you only request fresh towels when truly needed to save on water and energy.
Respect the Wild: Our Wildlife Guides lead the way in "Leave No Trace" tourism. Please stay on marked footpaths to protect delicate machair grasslands and always follow our strict no-littering policy.
Mindful Waste: Please use the designated recycling bins on board and ashore. We even lift our tenders out of the water when not in use to reduce drag and save fuel.

Supporting Green Tourism

We are proud members of the Green Tourism community. When booking your pre or post cruise accommodation, we encourage you to look for the Green Tourism badge to support fellow businesses committed to the planet.

"We don't just want to show you the Hebrides; we want to ensure they remain just as wild and beautiful for the next generation."