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
What an amazing holiday. It exceeded our expectations. It was our first visit to Scotland and our first cruise. We were thoroughly spoilt. Chris, the skipper navigated his way around the stunning Isles and lochs ensuring we had every opportunity to spot wildlife whilst respecting the correct distance. Maggie, stewardess, nothing was too much trouble. Her attention to detail was excellent especially her creative table napkin sculptures. Carleton produced the most amazing culinary delights. Top quality dishes from such a small galley. Hannah, our wildlife expert. Her enthusiasm and knowledge was superb. She took time to explain things and made sure everyone was able get good sightings especially of the eagles' nests. She clearly loves her subject. And then the flora and fauna- dolphins, whales, seals, and the numerous species of birds including golden and white tailed eagles. A special mention to Emma and Hannah for dealing with and arranging for our luggage to be reunited with us midway through our cruise. Such a memorable holiday and will hopefully return soon.
Ian Griffiths: 11 May 2024Skye, the Small Isles and the Shiants