27 April 2019
What a wonderful experience we had on this most enjoyable cruise. Everything was so well organised from the initial contact and information give by Emma, the greeting by the crew, and throughout the six night cruise, we could not have been better looked after. Every aspect of the week was meticulously organised and we could not have asked for more. Although on some days the light wasn't perfect for photography - my main interest - the skipper, Chris, anticipated the best day to visit what was perhaps the highlight of the week, an afternoon on Lunga, where we saw sea birds by the thousands and especially puffins. This and all the other visits ashore, were greatly enhanced by Alexa, our wildlife guide who made the week so much more enjoyable and a great learning experience. Having a slight walking disability, I was particularly grateful for the additional attention and assistance I had, . On board, we were looked after exceptionally well by Mags, our wonderful chef who made certain we were well fed - the food was perfect every day - and by Craig, the bosun who kept everything running smoothly from the catering aspect to the everyday day tasks around the vessel. There were eight guests on board and we all had the same complaint, 6 nights went by far too quickly.
Derek and Sue Prescott
We were so pleased with the charter booking from the initial emails inquiring about dates available to the last minute questions and timely responses as we prepared to head to Scotland. Emma is professional, kind, and prompt in responding by email. We appreciate good customer service and yours is excellent. Since this was our second cruise with Skipper James and the Emma Jane, we knew what to expect about anchorages and visiting the islands. However, this cruise exceeded any expectations we had. We enjoyed returning to some islands we had previously visited and seeing new places. We continue to be overwhelmed by our visit to St. Kilda (thank you, Skipper James!) and seeing the many, many species and numbers of birds throughout the cruise that were not around in these numbers in September 2017. James knows much about all aspects of the Hebrides; if he doesn’t know an answer, he says that he doesn’t know. I like that. Will was knowledgeable about cetaceans, birds, plants, and extremely helpful to those of us who decided to take some of the walks that included narrow and muddy trails with steep inclines. He was available to offer a hand or arm to steady us as we hiked up and down the hills. Anchoring in protected areas overnight is an extraordinary experience—the quiet, the skies, the gentle rocking of the vessel. All ten of us on this charter live on bodies of water—bays, lakes, ocean. Anchoring in coves next to small villages or near an unpopulated island is special. The cruise was extra special. We were made to feel welcomed back and our friends from New Hampshire were thrilled with their experiences seeing the Hebrides and the wildlife, scenery, remoteness, and the comfort of the Emma Jane.
Angela & David Hiley: 8 June 2019Private Charter 10 Nights