6 May 2023
Our trip on Emma Jane, with James and Chris at the helm, was the highlight of our 50th Wedding Anniversary celebrations. We were greeted by name on arrival, which straight away made us feel welcome. The scenery was fantastic. Will was always on the lookout, we saw dolphins off Muck, minke whales off the northern coast of Skye, white tailed eagles in the sky, and got up close to puffins and razorbills on the Shiants. Not forgetting the spectacular geology, flora and fauna of the islands. The food prepared by Jaya and served by Beatrice was outstanding; we could not have asked for better. They even made a celebration cake for us. Trips ashore each day and guided walks were tailored to individuals capability. Chris, James and Will were only too willing to share their local knowledge and expertise. Having driven the West Coast roads of Scotland last year and previously visited the Isles of Mull and Skye, our trip gave us the opportunity to view the West Coast from a different angle. Thanks to all the crew, we felt safe and well cared for at all times Thanks also to our fellow guests for their good company.
Chris & Kate Brown
Chris went out of his way to avoid the threatened weather, with the happy result that the weather was much better than expected at this time of year. The team also arranged the itinerary to make sure that, where a guest had specific requests, these were accommodated (and without having a negative impact on the other guests). They tried very hard to show us as many species of wildlife as possible and to introduce us to areas and their history that we might not have been aware of. The guided walks were much more interesting than going on our own and the crew took great care in getting us all on and off shore, with radios for safety when we decided to split up. The presence of Hannah, in particular, made all the difference. Her knowledge of the local wildlife was exceptional and it was very interesting to hear about the islands and communities that we visited. She (and Chris) kept a look-out to make sure that anything of interest was highlighted to us on the voyage and her end of day wrap up reminded us of what we’d seen. Craig looked after us very well and seemed to be everywhere – he was certainly very hard working. I think that he cleaned the cabins as well – he definitely did a good job there. Along with Hannah, the meals that Izzy cooked were the best thing about the cruise for me. On a previous cruise (with another small company), the quality and service of the food (and the garrulous chef) spoiled the cruise for me. I was a little worried about this when I joined this cruise, but needn’t have been. Izzy was a great cook, providing a nice variety of well-cooked meals. Serving sizes were appropriate for the daily menus and we did not go hungry (or leave the table feeling too full). I looked forward to seeing what the next meal would be and also very much enjoyed her cakes. The whole team looked after us very well, but weren’t too obtrusive, allowing us to have quiet moments and to talk amongst ourselves.
Jo Boait: 21 September 2024The Small Isles and sea lochs: Wildlife havens