27 April 2024
From the first contact to the final farewell, this couldn't have been a better experience. This particular cruise was perfect for me as a novice cruiser who suffers from sea-sickness! I'm now a convert.... six days was enough for my first trip but I'd be delighted to go for longer with Hebrides Cruises now. We were very lucky with the weather - only a day and a half of rain - and the sea was calm. The staff on land and the crew on board looked after us so well. The wildlife guide had an exceptional wealth of knowledge, the bosun could turn his hand to anything from origami napkins to cleaning the anchor chain, the cook should offer master classes in haute cuisine in a tiny galley and the skipper took decisions based on the conditions so that we had the best chance of seeing wildlife. All were professional and considerate, and relaxed. While the space on board is 'compact', it is a charming vessel with everything provided. I can't recommend this cruise highly enough!
Milly Goddard
This must be one of the most relaxing holidays I have ever been on. A lifelong ambition was fulfilled be visiting Staffa and seeing Fingal's Cave and it was every bit as spectacular as I had hoped. Not only did we walk down the route to it to look into it but, thanks to Chris judging the tide to be right, he was able to get us right inside it. Iona and its abbey were impressive too of course and being able to land on Lunga in the Treshnish Islands and see the seabird colonies - puffins galore - was equally marvellous. The sail round Mull was an eye-opener too, seeing lochs from the sea rather than from the land. They were wonderful locations to spend the nights. And the weather was glorious. The wildlife was in abundance too with lots of seabirds and seals and good sightings of cetaceans. Bottle-nosed dolphins were the first up to bow-wave and we also had 4 or 5 Minke whales fishing and a few porpoises, but the most spectacular were over 100 Common Dolphins which came leaping from all directions to accompany us for over an hour. The hospitality on board was as friendly as ever on a Hebrides Cruises's trip thanks to Chris, Craig, Zoe and Sian with her delicious meals. Add to that very compatible fellow-travellers and no WiFi (so no gloomy news) and this was a holiday to be long treasured in the memory.
Helen Mainwood: 23 April 2022Idyllic Islands: Mull, Iona, Staffa & the Treshnish Isles