FAQs

This is entirely up to you. You can take advantage of trips ashore or stay onboard and relax. Trips ashore tend to be to small communities, local attractions or for walks and are self-guided.

Without doubt, single travellers enjoy a holiday with us and being part of the group. For cruises onboard Glen Massan, Glen Tarsan, Glen Etive and Glen Shiel we reserve two of our double cabins for single travellers at no supplement on every cruise.

To take one of our cruises, you would have to be able to step in and out of the boat tender and climb three fixed steps to the vessel, with the aid of crew members. Onboard there are stairs leading to the upper decks and cabins. There are also opportunities to go ashore every day and these would require a level of walking agility to enjoy. If unsure, please get in touch, we are happy to advise.

Our cruising area is within sheltered sea lochs and the water tends to be calm. The vessels are very stable. If we do get bad weather, we head for a sheltered mooring. People who are normally seasick say they feel better on our cruises.

Our vessels are converted traditional boats, therefore space is more restricted than in a hotel, but superior for a boat of this size. All cabins on Glen Massan, Glen Tarsan, Glen Etive and Glen Shiel can be either double or twin beds. The bed is UK king-size in width, but normal in length – the bed is divided in two to make the twin beds.

The West Coast of Scotland enjoys a temperate maritime climate without extremes, with south westerly prevailing winds. The weather can be quite localised and can change from sun to rain and back again from hour to hour not just day to day! This type of weather system is of course what makes the landscape so spectacularly beautiful and dramatic. Our guests assure us it is worth putting up with occasional rain to enjoy spells of glorious weather and spectacular scenery. Our itineraries are flexible to get the best from the weather on each day.

Midgies tend to be around in July and August on the West Coast but we never get them on board as they are unable to cross water. So this is one way to enjoy the amazing scenery and hospitality of Scotland without the irritation of midgies. Midgies will also not be found in coastal areas on land when there is a bit of a breeze. Occasionally, midgies can be a problem on coastal walks but a deterrent is usually effective.

There are boat rods and tackle on board and you are welcome to bring your own and fish while the vessel is at anchor. Mackerel is the most common fish caught and your catch can be cooked and served. There is also lobster creels on each boat and you can help the crew set them. We do occasionally get a lobster but crab is more common.

All our cruise routes are rich in wildlife and it varies enormously as to how much is seen. We do not offer guided wildlife walks and our crews are not experts, but they are knowledgeable. Guests may get very close to nesting birds on certain cruises at certain times of the year. Dolphins and porpoises are frequently seen and on the coast, you may glimpse otters and red squirrels. A wide range of bird species are always easily spotted. We carry binoculars on board but recommend you bring your own, if you are keen.

Children aged under 12 are not allowed on board, except when a private charter booking, where children are welcome.

We do not operate a fixed itinerary on any of our cruises. Within each route there is a selection of scenic stopovers and anchorages. These are chosen according to the winds, tides and weather as to which are most suitable on the day. If there is a choice of anchorages available, the Skipper will consult with the guests on board as to which to choose. The final decision on the cruise itinerary lies with the Skipper.

Daily trips ashore are on offer but these are not compulsory. All trips ashore are self-guided; further information and maps can be provided. The crew have local knowledge of the best walks and attractions to visit on each cruise route. Trips ashore tend to last between 1 to 2 hours; any entrance costs for local attractions and activities are at guests’ own expense.

Initial boarding and final disembarking will typically be done by boarding pontoon. Initial boarding and final disembarking might by occasionally be done by boat tender, under special circumstances. Once your cruise is underway, transport to and from your vessel and the shore is mainly by boat tender. Trips in the boat tender usually take a few minutes and a high level of safety is observed. The tender will normally dock alongside jetties, floating pontoons and pier stairs or on a beach area where guests are assisted onto land by the crew. The tender has a door landing platform to allow guests to walk directly from boat to shore wherever possible.

We tend to sail after breakfast and lunch to allow guests to relax and enjoy the scenery. We do not sail at night although the Skipper may occasionally decide to sail before breakfast if necessary, to reach a particular destination in good time.

The vessel is never far from land, therefore there is no doctor or nurse on board. Members of the crew are qualified First Aid Officers and there is a first aid kit on board. Please bring any medicines or pharmaceutical products that you may need during the cruise; there are also pharmacies in many of our ports of call. Arrangements to consult a doctor on land can usually be made at relatively short notice and assistance can be summoned quickly in the event of an emergency. Guests should ensure that, to their knowledge, they are fit to take a holiday during which immediate medical assistance may not be available. Special health conditions which may affect your, or other guest’s, enjoyment of the cruise must be notified to us prior to departure for the safety of all on board.

For your safety, life jackets are provided for each passenger. Their use will be demonstrated during the safety briefing at the start of the cruise. Life jackets must always be worn while on the tender. Life jackets must be worn when requested to do so by the crew.

Storage space is limited so we advise soft bags for your luggage. All cabins have storage under the beds for up to 3 cabin size suitcases. Each piece of luggage should not exceed: 69x75x25cm on Glen Massan; 70x75x29cm on Glen Tarsan; 70x75x34cm on Glen Etive; and 65x78x29cm on Glen Shiel.

Please make sure you bring indoor shoes – we kindly ask that all walking/outdoor shoes are removed when moving around the interior of the vessel. On board, casual dress is very much the order of the day. Some guests prefer to dress for dinner but this is personal choice. Please note there is no iron onboard, and there are no laundry facilities. A warm waterproof jacket is recommended for the outer decks when the boat is sailing. Lightweight waterproof trousers are essential for tender trips and shore trips. Waterproof walking shoes are recommended for trips onshore.

If you need to keep any medication refrigerated, or have any medical devices that will need charging etc, let us know and we will check their compatibility with the ships electrical system. Bring any medicines or pharmaceutical products that you may need during the cruise. Let us know of any special medical conditions e.g. allergies that the crew should be aware of.

Each boat has at least one pair of binoculars for guests to use, but you may wish to bring your own, as there are lots of opportunities to spot birds and other wildlife.

All meals, snacks, soft drinks and house wine with dinner are included in your cruise. There is a fully stocked bar on board offering a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for sale, often sourced from the areas in which we sail. Please note, if you wish to bring your own alcohol on board, this must be arranged in advance and corkage charges will apply. For further information, please contact our sales team.

All our boats are equipped with high-speed WiFi. The boat has access to emergency services at all times via radio.

The currency on board is pounds sterling (£). While on the boat, you will only require currency for your bar bill. A cabin tab is run for the purchase of drinks from the bar which is settled at the end of your cruise by cash or card.

Smoking and vaping is only allowed on the outside aft deck and guests are encouraged to be sensitive to the needs of non-smokers. Smoking and vaping is not allowed in the cabins or in the deck saloon.