Skye, the Small Isles and the Shiants 8-nights

10 May 2025

It was 8 lovely days in May, and my husband and I enjoyed it very much. Of course the sunny dry weather was very lucky for us. The food was excellent, well-prepared and right-sized portions and service was lovely. Our science officer was very skilled and helpful leading hikes/walks, spotting animals/birds, and identifying flowers. 

Roberta Medford

10 May 2025

This was the perfect cruise - the crew and fellow passengers were a joy to be with . From Iain’s expert navigation of the Elizabeth G and getting us to the Shiants plus the other wonderful anchorages, Craig’s professional attention to our every need, Beccas wild life knowledge and Sallys talent in providing a never ending supply of delicious food . Add to this 8 days of glorious Scottish weather what more could we want . A big Thankyou to you all. We will be back again next year .

fiona Woods

13 July 2024

Far exceeded any of our expectations. Lynsey was spectacular. Charlie kept us well fed and Jazmin tended to all our needs. Rob helped us plan a great treck. Will definitely be returning and telling all the US of how great our trip was!

Kristina Rua

13 July 2024

A dream of a Hebridean Cruise! A huge Thank you! to Rob who took us to the most beautiful safe, sheltered & secluded anchorages each night, allowing us to relive tearful family memories on our favourite island haunts, and to discover new amazing places we could only get to on the Emma Jane! An exhilarating trip to the Shiants with thousands of puffins, and all wildlife spotting and island walks were led expertly by our naturalist guide Lynsey. And to top all of the that, we would always return to delicious feasts prepared by Charlie, and beautifully clean cabins, prepared with kindness by Jasmine. Thank you to you all, we will most definitely return with our family!

Claire & David Steel

13 May 2024

This was our second cruise on the Lucy Mary, so we had high expectations from last time, which were all fulfilled. Abbie was once again our steward, while skipper Lewis, Chef Jeya and Wildlife Guide Linsey were new to us. Our weather was exceptional, with Lewis keeping us well away from any bad stuff. We also achieved our top bucket list item of dolphin bow wave riding, with around 20 dolphins swimming with us on one day and then around 6 on a later day - stupendous. Our fellow travellers were all lovely people, which is such an important factor in these small cruise ships, and it was a nice touch for Lewis and Linsey to join us for our evening meals. Jeya’s food was consistently superb, and Abbie made sure we were always well looked after. Always impressive was the ability of the crew to turn their hand to pretty much any task, which meant that occasional glitches were dealt with smoothly and without fuss. Lynsey in particular was visibly always on the go, cleaning the decks while we breakfasted, guiding us on board and onshore, and helping brief and debrief us at the end of each day. Having such an experienced wildlife guide at your elbow at all times is what really differentiates this cruise from the competition. The whole experience felt like we were very much involved in agreeing or amending the itinerary for the following day, rather than simply being a passenger. We are already booked for a 10 day cruise next year.

John and Aileen MacLean

13 May 2024

Absolutely fabulous. We had some glorious weather. Food was amazing. I will never forget being surrounded by minke whales, playful dolphins and thousands of seabirds including puffins at The Shiants. Our guide Lynsey was so knowledgeable. The skipper Lewis found some wonderful places to anchor and I was able to get quite a few swims in. Our steward Abbie was very attentive and creative especially with the table settings every evening. Cabin was comfy. Here’s to next time

Cath Booton

13 May 2024

This trip exceeded our expectations because of the islands we visited and the landings we made. We have been trying to visit The Shiants for a year or so and we were delighted that we made it this time. Overall a fantastic trip with great weather. The crew were exceptional both individually and as a team. Lewis as skipper always had our comfort and best interests at heart and clearly explained what he was doing and why when plans had to be tweaked. Jaya’s menus were creative and full of surprises, we ate very well. Abbie looked after us very well from that first cup of tea in the morning through to last orders. Lynsey, who we’ve met on a previous trip, was as good as we remembered. Her knowledge and experience was so helpful in helping us to appreciate and understand what we were seeing. Finally, a great group of fellow passengers who we will happily travel with again. Thank you all for a great trip. Charmaine & John L

John Lomas

13 May 2024

I was longing to be aboard “Lucy Mary” again ever since stepping off her at the end of my cruise last September; I had felt surely it couldn’t be as good again - but it was. During the entire trip the 4 crew members worked extremely hard to make sure we had a thoroughly enjoyable time, with enthusiasm, professionalism and friendliness. It was great having Abbie as our charming and efficient steward again: I must mention her inventive table decorations, a beautiful highlight of every dinner time. The other three crew were new to me but outstanding. Jaya created mouth-watering meals and treats, with a zesty approach to the food, and indeed to life in general, which was very appealing. Lynsey as wildlife guide was supremely good, sharing her remarkable knowledge of the area and its wildlife so that we saw, heard and learned about many places, animals, birds and plants which would have gone unnoticed or unidentified had she not been there. All of the wonders we saw would, of course, have been unreachable without Lewis the skipper, who did his utmost to take us to all the places we were hoping to visit - with great success. The glorious weather, coupled with Lewis’s skilful handling of the boat and his careful route planning in conjunction with Lynsey and ourselves, gave us opportunities for reaching stunning destinations. There was plenty of time to savour all the experiences, whether on land by tender trips ashore or at sea by Lewis’s willingness to slow or stop for us to observe dolphins, whales, seals, seabirds. A crew working together for the best possible outcome and an amiable group of fellow passengers, travelling on a delightful boat in an area so rich in natural beauty, gave me another unforgettable cruise. Thanks wholeheartedly and see you next year!

Stephanie

11 May 2024

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

13 May 2023

Dear Emma, this was my second excursion with Hebrides Cruises. I echo people’s descriptions of all you do so well. 
I would add how much I enjoyed the after dinner conversations: what we saw lists, maps of where we had been, and where we would be tomorrow. 
The captain, Alasdair, told us stories of growing up in the Hebrides and made the history come alive for me. I learned so much from everyone’s stories!
One other plus, the crew made sure we were anchored in a calm spot each night. Slept well! Best, Bobbie Hobbs 

Bobbie Hobbs