3 independent reviews for Inner Hebrides wildlife cruise
Reviews for Inner Hebrides wildlife cruise
Elspeth Payne review 11 Oct 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The morning at Tobermory - had a good walk along the coast to the lighthouse then back on the higher path and through the golf course. Then had a wander round and had a good cup of coffee. Saw a seal. The sail from Corpach to Dallens Bay through the narrows at Corran where the sea was lively and the sky dramatic.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Seahorses II is a comfortable and spacious vessel, at least our double, ensuite one, was and the lounge was airy and well laid out. Be prepared for a complete change of itinerary. We visited very little of the original published route, mainly due to the decisions made by the captain to keep in sheltered locations and thus protected from high winds in the region. Don't expect to see wildlife - the name of the cruise is a bit of a misnomer - no effort was made to go to locations where wildlife could potentially be seen. You need to be fit enough to negotiate quite long vertical ladders to transfer between the dinghy and the jetty. It was quite a long drop from the top!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We know marketing was done in the ports we visited but didn't think to ask if the fish served was caught locally. The amount of food waste certainly fed the local wildlife well. We are not sure whether enough was done to offset the amount of marine diesel fuel used in the trip.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I suppose we were disappointed. When the weather was poor or we were sailing to avoid it, there was little to do. Everyone on board got on well and a couple of games of cards took place but apart from that there was a feeling of aimlessness. It was lovely to be cooked for and some of the meals were delicious but some were quite bizarre pairings. There was always far more than we could eat, probably double the amount and we were somewhat distressed by the waste. There was very little wildlife apart from the usual suspects, for example gulls, cormorants. We did see one seal during our Tobermory walk. We asked the Captain about the Nature Reserve mentioned in the itinerary, near Dallens Bay. He had no idea what we were talking about.Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. We really appreciate it.
Marine wildlife can be very elusive and it often takes a lot of patience and time to be able to enjoy wildlife encounters. However our entire cruising area is abundant with seabirds, cetaceans, basking sharks, etc. I am sorry that you were not very lucky this time.
I would like to reassure you regarding our environmental impact and our commitments to sustainable tourism. Following a detailed inspection, we were recently awarded The Green Tourism's Gold Award. We try to use seasonal and locally produced food when possible, which, unfortunately, isn’t always the case, depending on the season and demand. We shall certainly look into the food waste issue you raised, with our crew.
We are pleased that you found your vessel comfortable and hope to see you soon again for another marine adventure amongst some of the extraordinary islands of the Hebrides.
Jeanette Redman review 9 Sep 2021
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Stunning scenery, so peaceful and tranquil, visits to Duart Castle and Tobermory were enjoyable and the weather was fabulous. The crew made the trip, they were so attentive, Will’s amazing food, John’s trips out on the tender, Dougie's quiz nights and tour information and last but not least our fellow ‘adventurers’ , great company, lots and lots of laughs.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Travel light as the cabins are very small, and particularly awkward if you are a tall person.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Tourism to these areas is of course beneficial.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was a first time for us and we did enjoy it. We were however disappointed not to see the wildlife this ‘Wildlife Cruise’ promised, Seals being the only sighting, I was really looking forward to at least seeing puffins up close. A little more information relating to the sleeping quarters would have been useful, we expected compact and basic but everyone was rather taken aback by just how basic and tiny they were. A tall or larger framed person would have difficulties especially in a ‘single’ cabin.Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your comments. We really appreciate that you took the time to write them as we know that they will be very useful to others.
There are good pictures of our vessels and cabins in the photo gallery. I am sorry if you missed this as you would have been able to see a picture of the cabin you were booking for. Our vessels are small cruising ships and the cabins are small but with everything you need in them, particularly the cabins ensuite.
Regarding the wildlife: It is not always there of course and luck comes into this. However it is not possible to see puffins at this time of the year as they leave our waters early to mid- August to return the following year late March. Furthermore, the itinerary you chose doesn't take our guests where puffins could be watched and admired, even at the correct time of the year. Again, I am sorry if you didn't realise this. When asked, we are very careful to mention this to our guests.
We are however very pleased that you enjoyed your trip. Meeting others, crew and guests, and having a good time with them, is an important part of the small ship cruising experience.
Thank you very much again for this review.
Michelle Combs review 28 Sep 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Thanks to Christophe and Kerry for a wonderful time. It was fantasticHoliday Reviews
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