7 August 2023
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
The whole experience was amazing from start to finish, and that’s even though we never managed to reach the Outer Hebrides, like we'd been hoping (too much wind/swell in the Minch, thanks to hurricane remnants from across the Atlantic, so the Captain advised we turn back to Skye). We chartered the Emma Jane for 8 days, and there were three generations of us from 11 to 65 (including two kids). Most amazing was Chef Louis, who did the impossible, and served food to suit us all, despite our varied and complicated dietary issues. (Very, very tasty food too.) He was ably assisted by Jenny, our Steward, who kept everything running smoothly. And now everyone misses having their breakfast toast served to them in a Harris Tweed toast cosy. The scenery and wildlife were just as amazing, ably interpreted by our naturalist guide Lynsey. We had several pods of dolphins come surf the bow wave, much to everyone’s delight. As well as eagles and many other bird and mammal sightings, as well as rainbows, castles, perfect beachcombing beaches, and so much more. Lynsey led our rambles ashore, with options for the less energetic among us to still enjoy a stroll while those with younger knees tackled the hills. James, our captain, did a fine job of avoiding the worst of the swells, and he consulted with us each step of the way, so even though we were disappointed not to get to Lewis/Harris, we knew it was for the best. James and Lynsey also made for excellent hosts at dinner. This trip was to celebrate our 30th anniversary, and James managed to surprise us by having his daughter pipe in our cake while we were docked in Tobermory, in fine Scottish style. I’ll keep overusing the word “amazing” as it’s the only word which just about manages to capture the experience. Highly recommended. If you are thinking about doing a Hebrides cruise, do it, and do it with these people. You will not be disappointed. Thank you James, Lynsey, Jenny, and Louis; you made our trip extraordinary.
Barry Twycross: 15 August 2024Private Charter 8 Nights