3 August 2019
I am recently returned from an amazing 10 days on Elizabeth G. We were fortunate to achieve the goal of St Kilda early on and an evocative visit to the Village was followed by a cruise around the truly awesome sea stacks and Boreray. The rest of the trip followed on with a variety of peaceful anchorages and well led shore visits. The wildlife didn't let us down with sightings of eagles, dolphins, the St Kilda wren, a whale and too many seabirds to list. We couldn't have been better looked after better by skipper Chris, guide Nigel, bosun Amy and chef Iain who made a lovely team. My thanks too to Emma for all the admin beforehand and to my fellow guests for their excellent company. I would highly recommend a voyage with Hebrides Cruises.
Jan Hazell
1 July 2019
What a wonderful time we had aboard the Emma Jane sailing as far out as St Kilda. Sitting on cliff tops with busy puffins diving into their burrows, sighting other seabirds such as fulmars, guillemots, arctic terns and skuas as well as seeing seals and minke whales. Fantastic islands with few or no people on them. Terrific getaway from the busy world. The food was great, the company was great and the crew were wonderful. I can't recommend anything more highly. The Outer Hebrides are magic.
Marilyn and Adrian Bishop
1 July 2019
Outstanding! James and the crew always showed great consideration for the guests’ preferences and whilst at all times maintaining great diligence to ensure everyone’s safety, even adapted daily plans to fit in with the guests’ preferences. Each anchorage was well chosen and sheltered and he also made sure that whenever possible, meals were served at anchor. The crew were both willing to share their knowledge and benefit from that of the guests. They were also inclusive and accommodating. Onshore trips were magical, even when subjected to the vagaries of the weather! The food was of Michelin Star quality throughout the cruise and Caroline took so much care to provide alternatives for guests who required gluten and cow-free diets - she rose to this challenge wonderfully every day. Pauline’s table decorations and attention to detail were fabulous and down-to-earth common-sense approach ensured that everything ran smoothly. . Lynsey was lovely and very conscientious in pointing out wildlife as she spotted it, also acting promptly on the sightings of others. Just do it - but do it now or you’ll miss out because they’ll be fully booked!
Dave & Gill Glemens
1 July 2019
Booking experience with Hebrides Cruises was very good. We were given lots of information about the cruise and phoned Emma several times with queries which she answered. Our Skipper James and guide Lynsey were tuned in to the aspirations of the group and ensured we got to see as much as possible given the weather conditions. Stopping at the Shiants was an absolute bonus. The anchorages were all very good and the scenery was stunning. Wildlife was wonderful everywhere we went. The walks were great and crew were informative and knowledgeable. We cannot think of anything that had been overlooked. It was all well thought out to give us a good cruise and holiday combined with a wonderful wildlife experience. Don't hesitate, Hebrides Cruises are very professional . We could not have been in better hands and look forward to another cruise in the not to distant future!
Christine Rose
24 June 2019
Rob, Craig, Mags & Nigel - We strongly appreciate your skills, your knowledge and your attentive care throughout this beautiful trip! This trip far surpassed our high expectations! Thank you!
Mr & Mrs McKim
24 June 2019
To Rob, Craig, Mags & Nigel - Thank you for a wonderful trip, taking us to new places as well as old favourites. Thank you for guiding us through a plethera of wildlife and keeping us out of trouble on land. Thank you for wonderful food from start to finish - we look forward to googling your website for some of the receipes. Thank you for being our bathroom fairy, 'showering us' with attention and a rather special bar service. Our very best wishes - We had a great time :)
Alan Lester
24 June 2019
We’re just back from a superb 10-night cruise aboard Elizabeth G. It’s our latest trip with Rob and his crew. With en-suite cabins now it’s even more of a luxury trip. Not that we spent much time in the cabin - instead we were generally found on the top observation deck, watching shearwaters dance across the waves, fulmars shoot past effortlessly, gannets flying in squadron-formation and panicky puffins duck beneath our wake. We’re enticed down for two reasons: bow-riding dolphins, when we hang over the bow sharing the excitement and energy of this spectacle with our fellow guests, and food: Mags was our cook preparing fabulous meals with local ingredients, including scallops hand-dived by our skipper, Rob. It was at dinner each evening that Rob would discuss the next day’s itinerary, balancing our wishes with the weather and his incredible knowledge of the most picturesque anchorages. Each day saw us exploring a new island with the help of Nigel our wildlife guide, taken ashore by Rob and Bosun Craig in the tender. And we even got to St Kilda. St Kilda is a unique place with a magical atmosphere; an atmosphere that lingers in part because of its remoteness. Rob found the weather window to allow a 2-night stay and it was here, on our trip round the stacs, that guests and crew came together on the front deck to gaze in awe at the thousands of seabirds around us. As we disembarked, a little sadly, in Oban on our last day I couldn’t help wonder how soon we’ll get the urge to return...
Catrin Lester
24 June 2019
Excellent on all fronts – a real home from home. Enjoyed all the excursions, very much. Tailored to all abilities, weather and interests where Rob briefed us after dinner about the following day’s itinerary and tucked us into places we would not be able to reach by Ferry or car. He also made significant effort to provide the opportunity to spend optimal time on St. Kilda considering the weather window. Mags was a wonderful Chef catering with consideration to likes/dislikes/allergies. The food was wonderful especially as it was mostly locally sourced. We loved the cheese boards and also a fantastic Birthday Cake for Nick!! Craig – never stopped smiling and nothing was too much trouble. Nigel was enthusiastic and happy to pass on his knowledge and camera skills, plus he knew where to find the wildlife and flora for us to practice these. He was a great guide and we all enjoyed his after diner talks. Rob – looked after us and as a local had some marvelous stories and in-depth knowledge of all the areas we visited. He was empathetic to the needs of all the guests. The other passengers on our trip were great and also happy to share their knowledge of the wildlife/flora. We also appreciated the reference books and much friendly discussion ensued around the daily sightings. It was a trip of a lifetime that lived up to our expectations - It had to be the Elizabeth G for us!
Nick Turton
15 June 2019
Thank you to everyone at Hebrides Cruises for a fabulous trip - everything went even better than we could have expected: two days on St Kilda was beyond what we could have expected and we all enjoyed every moment of the cruise. Everything was planned beautifully, so that we did not repeat the landings we had in our first cruise, but extended our experiences to other islands. Thank you to all of you for a great voyage.
Judy Skelton
3 June 2019
Very efficient booking & administration with excellent service & hospitality. All the crew were very friendly & willing to help at any time. The food was excellent, top-class cuisine. Alexa- our wildlife guide- was brilliant & very friendly & knowledgeable.
Amanda Dauncey
This invigorating sea journey travels through the isles of the Inner Hebrides to reach the rarely-visited remote and beautiful island landscape of the Outer Hebrides. A 10-day itinerary provides the best possible chance of a suitable weather window to allow a visit to the far-flung Archipelago of islands and stacs that make up St Kilda. There is always excitement and anticipation as St Kilda comes into view, anchoring in Village Bay before going ashore on Hirta to explore the poignant history of the abandoned village. Dolphins, Minke whales and basking sharks often accompany the vessel enroute to St Kilda and in Village Bay itself. Cruising close to the stacs for incredible views of thousands of sea birds is an unforgettable experience; St Kilda is home to over 200 bird species
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