However, for the first time in almost 30 years our vessels are not taking guests to see these amazing nesting bird colonies in the remotest parts of the west coast of Scotland. So our Skipper James Fairbairns decided to produce this short film from our cruises to some of the best “seabird cities” that we visit, including Lunga in the Treshnish Isles, Sanday in the Small Isles, the Shiant Isles, in the middle of the wild north Minch and the evocative and dramatic St Kilda archipelago.
Our vessels and crews are expert at getting close to sheer cliffs from the sea to experience an unforgettable wildlife spectacle. Huge numbers of nesting seabirds occupy every spare inch of rock and grassy slope while thousands more wheel overhead and flock over the sea in search of fish to feed their young. As always there is a specialist wildlife expert on board and onshore to ensure our guests get the most out of these amazing close encounters while ensuring they do not create any disturbance.
These outstanding seabird colonies really are wonders of the natural world. Once we are able to cruise again we invite you to join us and experience the magic!
Dear Emma! On behalf of the tour group who used the Emma Jane as a private charter from August 4th to August 14th, 2023 from Oban for 10 days, I would like to write you a few lines. All 10 fellow travelers agree that the trip is one of the most beautiful experiences of our lives. These include the highly interesting destinations such as St Kilda, Mingulay and Canna, which were headed for. This includes the ship Emma Jane, which we really liked with its facilities such as the hot tube, the observation deck and the common rooms. However, we found the crew of the Emma Jane to be particularly positive. The captain performed his duties in an exemplary manner. A daily highlight was the daily joint evening meeting with him. Our marine biologist gave us a competent explanation of the animal world we had experienced. In addition, he was a very pleasant companion on our group's excursions. The steward was not only extremely polite, but always made sure that we lacked nothing. It was often his inquiries as to whether we weren't missing something that made the day even more pleasant. If perhaps one or the other guest had doubts about the quality and taste of the Scottish cuisine before the trip, these concerns were quickly obsolete. The daily meal was an absolute highlight of each day. The performance of the chef cannot be overestimated. As the person who initiated the trip in Berlin, who is a lifetime member of Historic Scotland and a lifetime member of the National Trust, I am very glad that the other traveling companions thanked me several times for taking the initiative for the trip together have. I hereby pass on my thanks to Hebrides Cruises and the crew of the Emma Jane.
Andreas Statzkowski: 4 August 2023Private Charter 10 Nights