Fingal – Scotland’s Luxury Floating Hotel

Since Fingal’s official launch in the beginning of 2019, I have been longing to stay at this unique hotel.

Fingal, a former Northern lighthouse board ship is a new £5million development by The Royal Yacht Britannia’s trading company: Royal Yacht Enterprises. Set in the historic Port of Leith this beautiful ship has been meticulously transformed into Scotland’s first luxurious floating boutique hotel. I was delighted to have been invited to stay on board, so let me share my Blublazerguy review with you!

As you walk towards this impressive nautical marvel you are struck by its sleek design. Its slick black exterior with contrasting red stripe and gold writing gives you a sense of what to expect on board. A red carpet leads you into its small reception area where you are greeted by the most friendliest of staff. It is here where you first get to experience the uniqueness of this hotel. Its bespoke glass cylindrical lift, that is one of only five in the world, transports you towards your luxury cabin.

Fingal’s 23 luxury cabins are each named after Stevenson lighthouses, inspired by Fingal’s rich maritime heritage. There are numerous cabin types to choose from; classic & luxury, classic & luxury duplex and their impressive Skerryvore Suite with its exceptional private deck.

I stayed in one of their luxury cabins named Hyskeir.

What first struck me about the room was the attention to detail with regards to their interior design. Locally made tartan bed throws, leather clad wardrobes and bathrooms with bespoke brass detailing are all cleverly connected to Fingal’s journey from land and sea. Each bed is backed by a gorgeous custom leather headboard embossed with nautical maps showing the location of the Scottish lighthouse from which each cabin takes its name. The bed was extremely comfortable and I must admit I had one of the best sleeps I’ve had in a while in any hotel.

To make it even more special you are provided with tea, coffee and water throughout your stay and I loved the mini fridge and bar filled with local goods. I especially loved that each of the cabins have direct access to the deck, allowing you to head outside and explore every beautiful detail of this ship unprecedented design.

The lighthouse bar offers a luxury yet relaxed restaurant vibe with sumptuous leather seating and floor to ceiling windows. It’s a great place to unwind at night and enjoy some light food and one of their many delicious cocktails. The rippled ceiling is a fantastic addition as its reflective and metallic design provides a touch of decadence and emulates the waves that once lapped against this majestic ship.

It is here where breakfast is served in the morning, providing you with a fully cooked breakfast or a continental style buffet. I recommend their home-made granola which is simply delicious, followed by their traditional Scottish breakfast.

The restaurant is connected to a spacious outdoor deck which provides a great place to sit and admire the quayside setting. I definitely feel that this aspect will be a great hit in the summer.

As you wander around Fingal you will find art, photography and tiny details that link to its past. A unique area of the ship that I loved is its engine room where you can walk along its glossy red floor. The surrounding glass walls allows you to peer into its depths and discover the engines built in 1963 by Blythswood Shipbuilding Company in Glasgow.

Another impressive area is Fingal’s spectacular ballroom which can house up to 80 guests. This space took me by surprise as I opened the small entrance door acting like some kind of Tardis. It opens up into a beautiful space with sweeping staircases and the area is flooded with natural light by the skylight above.

I was pleasantly surprised by my stay on Fingal and didn’t want to leave. It’s unique and luxurious design provided a fantastic escape and I almost didn’t feel like I was in Edinburgh at all. I was also extremely impressed by its friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable staff who made my stay extra special. There are an abundance of fantastic hotels in Edinburgh to choose from but I am sure nothing will compare to the unforgettable experience of Fingal.

Stay on board Fingal from £300 per night based on two people sharing, including VAT and a full Scottish breakfast.

Check out my IGTV video for a little tour of my stay.

For bookings, call +44 (0)131 3575000 or visit www.fingal.co.uk

Blu Blazer Guy Rating :

Location – 3/5
Customer Service – 5/5
Rooms – 5/5
Cleanliness – 5/5
Food/Drink – 4.5/5