Many of our guests are from Australia as part of a major trip around Scotland, the UK or Europe. Our Scottish cruises are the perfect way to see several islands of the Hebrides while taking a break from constant travelling. We were delighted to welcome Autralian guests mother and daughter Hilary and Tania on board Emma Jane and provide them with an individual bespoke cruise experience. Our overseas guests really appreciate our guided shore trips, providing a great insight into the communities, history and nature of the Hebrides. It is very easy to reach our departure point in Oban from Edinburgh or Glasgow,please just get in touch with Emma if you need travel advice. Hilary and Tania were wonderful guests and we really do hope they can come on board again in the future. Their guest companions on board all sent in pictures which are seen in the gallery below. Here is what Tania said about their cruise to Skye and the Small Isles:
"My Mum and I have just been on this wonderful Skye and Small Isles cruise – it was so amazing- the mix of outdoor adventure- heading to shore in a zodiac, walks on the islands, amazing sunsets, wildlife spotting- and yes we did see puffins, Minke whales and dolphins, to name just some- and lots of bird life. But also a life of luxury on Emma Jane- there seemed to be so much space- 3 viewing decks, a large luxurious lounge area, just max 10 passengers, and 4 amazing staff. James- our Skipper – who always managed to find a beautiful and still mooring for the night – and has a great eye for spotting sea creatures, Emma our bosun- worked so hard looking after us all and the boat, Caroline our amazing gourmet chef, and Chris our wildlife and photography expert. The crew were fantastic- we are planning on another cruise as soon as we get a chance to revisit Scotland. My Mum is elderly but adventurous and was fine on this cruise and so well looked after. So if you read this – and are thinking of a trip like this- just book it now- you won’t regret it!"
From Tania and Hilary in Australia.
We have nothing but the highest praise for the whole experience. From the whales, dolphin and porpoise sightings while enroute, to the flora and fauna we saw while ashore in the most spectacular locations, this was a most thrilling trip. I will add that the experience was undoubtedly enhanced by the crew, with James ensuring that we had the optimum cruising conditions and Indy being a font of knowledge way beyond his years while explaining what we saw. I cannot say enough about the hospitality on board. From James to Abbie, Sam to Indy the crew were so welcoming. From the moment Abbie offered us a welcoming drink on first boarding to the Carrot cake and Prosecco on the beach in Muck, we felt that we were well taken care of throughout. Indeed, the quality and variety of the food meant that we looked forward to every meal. I must say a particular thanks for the surprise chocolate cake arranged to help us celebrate our 42nd Wedding Anniversary. This was a lovely thought and much appreciated! The was nothing that the crew could have done to make this a better experience. We were sad when the trip came to an end and felt that we had one of the best experiences with a caring crew, and companiable fellow cruisers. All in all, a most memorable and enjoyable week. I would only have two words to say to anyone thinking of booking with Hebrides Cruises: “Do it”.
Duncan Pescod: 7 August 2023Skye and the Small Isles: Hebridean horizons