28 August 2017
We really enjoyed our cruise and were made to feel very welcome on board by a very friendly and knowledgeable crew. The scenery was fantastic, and we enjoyed exploring the islands on foot with our great wildlife guide Lynsey. The anchorages and route were carefully planned by Rob the skipper to take account of the weather and wildlife reports. We were fortunate to see large numbers of dolphins, a few Minke whales, seals and white-tailed eagles, together with countless seabirds. The food was plentiful and absolutely delicious, prepared by Tony, the chef - it was just as well we went walking every day! Craig the bosun was extremely helpful and nothing was too much trouble for any of the crew. There was a good library of books on board. I would certainly recommend Hebrides cruises to anyone who is interested in wildlife, walking, and good food!
Caroline and Meyrick Quincey
This was our second cruise on the Lucy Mary, so we had high expectations from last time, which were all fulfilled. Abbie was once again our steward, while skipper Lewis, Chef Jeya and Wildlife Guide Linsey were new to us. Our weather was exceptional, with Lewis keeping us well away from any bad stuff. We also achieved our top bucket list item of dolphin bow wave riding, with around 20 dolphins swimming with us on one day and then around 6 on a later day - stupendous. Our fellow travellers were all lovely people, which is such an important factor in these small cruise ships, and it was a nice touch for Lewis and Linsey to join us for our evening meals. Jeya’s food was consistently superb, and Abbie made sure we were always well looked after. Always impressive was the ability of the crew to turn their hand to pretty much any task, which meant that occasional glitches were dealt with smoothly and without fuss. Lynsey in particular was visibly always on the go, cleaning the decks while we breakfasted, guiding us on board and onshore, and helping brief and debrief us at the end of each day. Having such an experienced wildlife guide at your elbow at all times is what really differentiates this cruise from the competition. The whole experience felt like we were very much involved in agreeing or amending the itinerary for the following day, rather than simply being a passenger. We are already booked for a 10 day cruise next year.
John and Aileen MacLean: 13 May 2024Skye, the Small Isles and the Shiants