A multi-award-winning Highland cruise company has invested nearly £2m on a bigger vessel to meet burgeoning demand on one of Scotland’s most photographed lochs.
Fort Augustus-based company, Cruise Loch Ness Ltd, launched the 236-seat ‘Voyager of Loch Ness’ for visitors for the first time last week, increasing capacity to over 450 passengers per hour.
The historic investment, supporting 4 new jobs, reflects confidence in the Highland cruise market by the family firm established in 1968 by the late Norman Hugh Mackenzie with a single, 12-seat, ex-lifeboat. It is also testimony to the enduring appeal of Loch Ness’ panoramas, wildlife and the mystery of its monster legend which has mesmerised global visitors for decades.
Owners say ‘Voyager’, will safeguard the future for the company and its 20 employees, cementing existing key contracts with coach operators that cater for high demand.
The vessel joins the ‘Spirit of Loch Ness’ and high-speed RIB, ‘Ness Quest’ in the company’s flotilla at its base on the Caledonian Canal. Sourced from Plymouth, the boat sailed 650 miles to Buckie to be refurbished at the renowned Macduff Shipyard before being delivered to Fort Augustus.
The 6-month £800 000 re-fit includes new bar, tables, leather seating and passenger comforts including state-of-the-art heating and air conditioning systems. It also includes sixteen 20-inch sonar fish finding monitors so passengers can view in real-time the underwater life of the loch, including any ‘mystical’ creatures, should they appear.
Last Winter was the company’s busiest ever and the investment comes as the firm – an FSB UK small business of the year- is awarded 5-star visitor attraction status by ASVA.
“It’s great to see the boat running after 6 months of overseeing and project managing. Tourism is booming in the Highlands at the moment and we were basically running out of capacity,” said Managing Director Ron Mackenzie, who took over from his late founder father, Norman, in 2000.
“The season runs year-round,” added Director and co-owner, Debi Mackenzie.
“We’ve always run a smaller vessel in tandem with a bigger vessel but when the bigger vessel was in for a winter service or inspection work, we were struggling to meet high winter demand.
“Having Voyager safeguards the company’s future. We didn’t want to get to a position where we were having to turn away long-standing tour partners. This gives us the capacity we need, longer-term.”
As part of the near £2m total investment, the company’s smaller former vessel, ‘Legend of Loch Ness’ heads in the opposite direction to Plymouth Sound as a part-makeweight in the purchase.
The new larger boat ‘Voyager’ has double the capacity of its predecessor and will take passengers up and down Loch Ness, passing the loch’s only island, Cherry Island, and Fort Augustus Abbey, on the way.
Since formation, the company has catered for nearly 2m passengers including celebrities such as actors Billy Connolly, Robin Williams and Ewan McGregor.
Despite a fall-off in the Chinese markets after Covid, the offering remains popular with visitors from America, Europe and India as well as domestic travellers.
“I think the reason the interest remains so strong is that it is such a beautiful area. People love the scenery. Obviously, the mystery about the Loch Ness monster continues to be a draw as well but there is so much to see, here,” said Debi.
“When you are out on the loch, there can be something different every time,” agreed Ron.
“You will often see red deer. There is a seal in the loch at the moment. It’s a bit of a Bucket-list for people.”
