13 May 2024
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
The cruise far exceeded our expectations as did the weather! James was an excellent captain and we felt safe in his capable hands navigating through some sometimes very challenging channels. Guide Lynsey's enthusiasm was infectious and informative and there were many wildlife highlights both at sea and on land. Undoubtedly getting up close to the pod of Killer Whales was the ultimate highlight. Chef Jaya produced some wonderful meals and Bea did an excellent job serving us at the dining table and cleaning our cabins. The boat was much more roomy than we expected and our cabin was very cosy. The viewing areas were brilliant and there was plenty of space for both passengers and crew to enjoy. We will be back!
Alasdair and Sue Northrop: 10 June 2023St Kilda and the isles of the Outer Hebrides