When we planned our latest trip to Scotland, my partner and I decided to spend one of our nights somewhere special.
So, we booked a stay at Fingal, Edinburgh’s luxury floating hotel at Alexandra Dock, Leith.
Fingal is an old Northern Lighthouse Board ship that’s been converted into a luxury hotel. The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust owns it and invested £5 million in making it into a hotel, which opened to the public in 2019.
Our one-night stay in a classic cabin on Fingal cost $430. Here’s what it was like.
Our classic cabin felt spacious.
Fingal has just 22 cabins — and ours really did feel luxurious even though it was the most basic one.
Two porthole windows let in plenty of light and our door led right onto the deck. The king-size bed was nice and plush.
I also loved our luxurious bathroom.
Fluffy robes and slippers were waiting in the bathroom when we arrived.
The moody space had marble accents and shiny green tiles, plus a large walk-in rain shower. It felt pretty big and was fully stocked with luxurious Noble Isle products.
Little details made the room feel complete.
Our room had a large TV, which displayed the ship, time, and date on the home screen. We were also able to stream shows and movies or watch satellite channels on it.
I also liked the room’s mini bar, a small mirrored alcove above the mini-fridge. It was the perfect place to prepare a cocktail.
The onboard fine dining added to the experience.
Dinner at The Lighthouse Restaurant aboard Fingal was the highlight of our stay for me.
The menu changes regularly and has locally sourced ingredients. During our trip, it featured items like smoked salmon and guinea fowl.
We each tried the three-course menu ($63) with wine pairings ($38).
The food was excellent, and I loved that our sommelier took extra time to explain each wine pairing to us.
Those not staying on the ship are also able to make reservations at the restaurant.
The bar was also excellent.
The onboard bar reminded me of ones I’d find on a cruise ship in a nice way.
The space was great and the staff we encountered were friendly. We enjoyed ordering margaritas and relaxing as mixologists prepared cocktails for other guests.
The lounge was one of my favorite parts of the ship.
The lounge area at the end of the restaurant was the perfect place to spend time reading on the comfy leather sofas or gazing out the windows.
Its doors opened onto the deck, and we kept expecting to see the open sea or our next port of call.
The next morning, we enjoyed the breakfast that came with our stay.
Our breakfast on the ship was served tableside.
We could choose from a range of dishes but we went with more traditional platters that included things like haggis, beans, black pudding, and eggs prepared how you like.
It was excellent.
Overall, our Fingal stay lived up to my expectations.
Over $400 a night is quite pricey for a hotel stay, but this feels like so much more.
Since we were on an actual ship, I loved how much Fingal felt like a cruise minus the risk of seasickness.
The rope handrails on the stairs, porthole windows, and a gangway with a red carpet for getting on and off the ship felt especially nautical.
I highly recommend a stay on Fingal if you’re in Edinburgh.
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