18 September 2023
Well! Where does one start to describe such a phenomenal adventure. As a couple of old folk, well into their eighties, with one of us disabled and only recently diagnosed with dementia. You may wonder what on earth were we doing, taking on a small vessel wild life cruise into the seas around the Hebrides. An act of Faith, maybe. Fear not! This is no ordinary “cruise company”. Read on, this is something else. From the very onset, when first contacting Emma, (and before realising we had a dementia situation) , we were treated with immense respect, given prompt very sincere answers to all our queries and immediately realised we were dealing with a very genuine company and warm people. We could do this! So it proved to be. All the guidance and joining information was detailed, accurate and very helpful. On arrival at North Pier, Oban, prior to boarding, we were met by the most friendly of people who promptly took our luggage and conveyed it to our boat, LucyMary. And there she was! The most handsome of vessels, gleaming and awaiting her guests, whilst laid alongside the pontoons. We felt like royalty. At the foot of the companionway stood owner Rob, waiting to greet his guests. No, not captain, skipper, or the like, simply Rob. The head of what was for the duration, a close knit group of guests and crew who blended together seamlessly into one very happy family the whole trip. The crew of four were simply brilliant. Starting with Rob, of course. Then in no particular order - Indie, our extraordinary and knowledgeable naturalist and wild life expert. Abbie, delightful, ever accommodating stewardess, who looked after everyone with continuous attention. Serving meals, making drinks, tidying cabins, fetching and carrying. Then , the chef! Perry. Wow, what he produced in the galley was exquisite. But, it didn’t stop there. All of the crew joined in where appropriate with any other duties too. Launching the tender for trips ashore, putting fenders in position prior to berthing alongside, ensuring the cables were correctly placed on the quayside and boat. All very professional, with few words of command. A “well run ship”indeed. Very impressive. So we set sail. Lucy Mary smoothly glided away from the jetty. This was our boat now for six glorious nights. Go where you like on the boat, said Rob. On the Flying Bridge, the Wheelhouse, numerous seating and lookout areas, up in the Bow. Fabulous! No sooner were we out of the harbour, when the ever vigilant naturalist Indie was pointing out something interesting. He has a very keen eye, at times you would think he had an in built radar system, such was his skill at spotting even distant specks which invariably turned out, at closer quarters, to be precisely what he said. Gannets, Shag, Gulls of various types, Grey heron, Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles, Otters, Red deer. Porpoise, etc. he was constantly on the alert for anything of interest. Rob and Indie, frequently had their heads together, plotting and planning the most interesting and potentially rewarding locations in which wildlife could be seen, all the time noting the sea and wind conditions for a comfortable trip, culminating in an interesting and calm harbour in which to moor up or drop anchor overnight. Then, as evening approached, everyone was contemplating Dinner. What surprise would Perry conjure up tonight? His magic in the galley was a delight. And so we eventually turned in. To our very cosy, heated, well equipped cabin, en-suite and well endowed with storage space. Next morning, everyone was at breakfast by 8am. Eagerly awaiting Rob’s latest info on weather conditions and any changes to the plan for the day. Throughout our entire trip, the consideration, thoughtfulness and attention given to everyone on board was exemplary. Nothing was too much trouble. As for the two older folk, they had the most fabulous time and were very well looked after all the time. This was really a stand out trip for us, amongst several special experiences abroad over the years. Our profound thanks again to an outstanding crew, wonderful fellow guests and by no means forgetting Emma, on shore, for her valued contribution. God Bless and “Carry on sailing, the HebridesCruises way” A remarkable maritime family. Mike and Margaret
Mike & Margaret Knighton
From the very first contact in early 2018, Emma was so helpful and even showed me around Emma Jane when I was holidaying in the area in May 2018. As a private charter it was so easy to book the whole cruise and with a group of keen fellow cruisers the procedure was straightforward. Any information required was always quickly dealt with by Emma. There was plenty of room inside for both dining and seating for discussing our days and planning ahead .The outside space for wildlife viewing was wonderful, the high viewing area above the bridge was perfect for whales and birds, the bow area for dolphins who enjoyed our company on several occasions. Even the Hot Tub was enjoyed by eight of the nine cruisers. Three perfect and varied meals per day produced by our culinary expert chef were an important part of the whole experience. The boat was always spotless thanks to our bosun. We saw Whales , Dolphins. Seals. Eagles and sea birds by the thousand. We had four wonderful knowledgable crew, good weather, great food, good friends, amazing scenery and a sun tan!! For goodness sake get on and book before they are sold out!
Peter Newell: 20 June 2019Private Charter 10 Nights