21 September 2024
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
Marvellous in every way - again! From beginning to end the experience was enjoyable. Emma’s warm and efficient booking; the boarding and welcome by the crew; then the day-by-day delights of the cruise itself… no effort was spared by everyone involved to make this a(nother) superb holiday. The four crew members were full of youthful enthusiasm and merriment. Jake was a friendly, highly competent skipper who sailed us to beautiful places and made every effort to help us have maximum enjoyment: for example, fishing for fresh mackerel for dinner; pointing out opportunities for me to swim; and using the tender to carry us about, both as a group and individually. Will was a very pleasant and knowledgeable wildlife guide, quietly enthusiastic about natural wonders large and small, and drawing attention to and identifying creatures which might otherwise not have been noticed. Trinity was an effective and attentive stewardess, handling everyone’s wishes with tact and charm, and keeping the boat spotless. Minty provided a myriad of delicious dishes for us all, my own vegetarian food never falling below the highest quality. It was lovely to see the four working together to make our trip fun. About the vessel Emma Jane herself, I have nothing but admiration, and am hoping to cruise on her again soon.
Stephanie: 12 May 2025Far-flung islands: Shiants & the Summer Isles