25 September 2024
Our second trip with Hebrides Cruises. After last year's cruise to St Kilda we wrote that Hebrides Cruises had exceeded our expectations. So, of course, this time our expectations were higher. Despite this, we were delighted that our expectations were exceeded again! A great crew who looked after us perfectly, who found us an abundance of "beasties" to admire, who produced great meals, and who arranged an itinerary that largely avoided the bad weather we could often see across the water. We couldn't have asked for more.
Hans and Angela
25 September 2024
We were so spoilt on the Lucy Mary. We were supremely looked after by a very knowledgeable and experienced skipper with an immaculate boat and such a good crew. We saw so much wildlife, ranging from lots of white tailed eagles, golden eagles, dolphins, seals, blue fin tuna, Minke whales and so much more. The service on board was of the highest standard with a chef who should have been working in a Michelin star restaurant, but perhaps she was! They say that quality is all in the details - and on board the Lucy Mary every tiny detail was considered and was correct. I would love to go back next year, but they are apparently fully booked. Roll on 2026!
Tom Moore
21 September 2024
Everything was excellent including the weather. Our particular request to climb An Sgurr was given priority! Really could not have asked for more from all of the crew whose exemplary efforts and contributions went beyond first class.
Peter Astle
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
21 September 2024
Emma, my daughter and l spent the above on the Elizabeth G. from September 21st, and it was the most magical and marvellous time . We enjoyed every minute and this was due to in large part part to the magnificent crew. With thanks to you and the organisation for arranging all this. Best Wishes from us both Daphne Lovelace.
Daphne Lovelace
21 September 2024
This was such a magical adventure. I can't praise the crew highly enough, with the attention to detail, caring approach, thoughtfulness and professionalism all making our trip so easy, relaxing, happy and fun. I travelled with my elderly mother who benefited from a helpful hand navigating some of the wobblier walking moments and was thrilled at the generous approach towards topping up her wine glass. The kindness and thought put into celebrating her birthday was hugely appreciated. Like me, she came away having enjoyed fabulous scenery, majestic views (we were so fortunate with the weather), amazing animal encounters, excellent food, cleanliness throughout and generous hospitality, but it was the sheer friendliness and kindness of the crew that made the holiday so perfect. I brought with me various food intolerances and not once did I feel that I was getting second-best, indeed quite the opposite with my own freshly-baked cake each day and a very understanding approach from the fabulous Izzy and Craig. Hannah provided expert wildlife guidance and was so welcoming, knowledgeable, kind and engaging. We could make informed decisions about the walks and she was always available and wonderfully enthusiastic, providing a helpful recap each evening that also helped bring our fellow guests together. Chris was a very welcoming skipper and we benefited from his expertise (changing routes to avoid choppy water / bad weather) and particularly appreciated his summary each evening of where we'd been and cruising plans for the next day. Craig was the most perfect steward/bosun in making us feel so very welcome and at home, with laughter plenty and every guest detail noted and remembered. Izzy cooked the most incredible meals and we were sated and amazed each day, with delicious and inventive food and great thoughtfulness regarding dietary needs. Huge congratulations and thanks to all the team for making our holiday so very special. In summary, our cruise was incredibly special and very magical. We can't praise the team enough and found all elements to work so well together, from the amazing food to the friendliness and professionalism, with such a stunning backdrop and a very well understood and researched itinerary. Pausing the boat to enjoy dolphins, view white-tailed eagles and hunt for the elusive Minke whale really did put guests first, most importantly in balance with nature too. A holiday we will never forget and certainly one that we would repeat.
Rebecca Lovelace
21 September 2024
The whole experience was exceptional from beginning to end. We were very comfortable in our cabin. The scenery was stunning and our wildlife guide did her best to make sure we didn't miss any potential sightings. Her local knowledge meant we learned loads about both wildlife and each place we visited. The food provided was plentiful and of amazing variety and quality and we felt nothing was too much trouble for the whole crew who seemed determined to make our time on Elizabeth G the best it could be. The personal touches were particularly appreciated! Thank you Chris, Craig, Hannah and Izzy for making our time on board unforgettable.
Jennet McLeod
31 August 2024
We had a wonderful week, what a terrific way to see more of our beautiful country. We are so pleased we decided to cruise with Hebrides Cruises. With Rob’s expert knowledge, we were delighted to be able to visit all of the small isles with the added bonus of the Cairns of Coll, Coll and Tobermory. Great to have Bella to guide our walks which were well pitched at our abilities. Les’s mobility is a bit restricted but with Rob and Bella’s help, and he felt very safe in transferring to and from the tender, which was very much appreciated. This allowed him to go ashore with confidence. Everything we could have hoped for – comfortable cabin, extremely well appointed public areasand plenty of outdoor space to enjoy the scenery. The hospitality of all the crew was exceptional, making for a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere from the minute we stepped on board. Nicole’s food was excellent, a great and delicious variety of meals which made every meal time a pleasure. And terrific cakes! Abbie as steward seemed to be everywhere at once – serving food, looking after the bar, servicing the rooms and working on deck with Bella. With Rob and Bella, all in all a great team.
Karen Ness
4 May 2024
Every aspect of the cruise was wonderful. We explored and walked on most of the small islands. We saw many mammals both big and small and George our wildlife guide was extremely knowledgeable. All of the crew were friendly and Carlton's cooking was excellent. The whole cruise was well organised and well paced and we will be recommending the cruise to friends and family. A very memorable trip.
Naz and Jacqui Ghigi
4 May 2024
Fantastic week exploring. Didn't quite know what to expect.. but it exceeded our expectations. The crew were all extremely hospitable and made us very welcome. The food provided by Carlton the chef was like going to a great restaurant every night. None of us had done anything like this before and we all came away blown away by it. We had the cabins with single beds at the front of Elizabeth G and given we are tall people it suited us better that the double bed cabins would have. Thanks to Alasdair, George, Craig and Carlton for giving us such a special week and Emma for making the booking process easy. We will be back Stuart
Stuart Mosley
The cruise area is an amazing hub for wildlife with the opportunity for close encounters with many rare species on land and at sea, while journey times to intriguingly different anchorages and locations are short. The area is extremely scenic, taking in the “Small Isles” of Rum, Eigg, Canna and Muck, and the magnificent sea lochs of Loch Spelve on the Isle of Mull and remote Loch Sunart and Kentra Bay on Ardnamurchan. Along the rocky coastlines both golden and sea eagles are often seen circling overhead while an otter might be spotted amongst the seaweed on the shoreline. At sea, there is a chance of orca, and humpback whale, while minke whale, dolphins and porpoise are spotted from the ship on almost every cruise. In late summer and autumn, the shoals of mackerel attract cetaceans and sea birds in large numbers, making it a great time to be at sea, spotting dolphins, porpoises and minke whales. At the same time, Manx shearwaters can be seen in huge rafts on the surface of the sea, while bird populations such as gannets and eagles are at their highest, with the young most visible before they depart to find their own territory. Seals, otters and red deer are around all season but with the addition of the sounds of the annual red deer rut in progress in the autumn months. On shore, there are excellent island and loch-side guided walking opportunities, with expert local knowledge on hand from the crew and to top it all, delicious food from your gourmet chef on your return.
As I didn’t book the cruise myself, I was unaware that there were going to be only eight other passengers but this was my idea of the perfect trip! A small group which turned out to be excellent company, a capable and friendly crew, and excellent food in a stunning location. I would love to go again - soon!
Sharon Flower: 22 September 2018