Islands on the Edge - 2021
An exploration of the islands of England, Ireland & Scotland aboard the MS Island Sky
- 28 April 2021
This expedition has been devised to celebrate the stunning scenery of the British Isles from the outlying islands off the English coast to the highlands of Scotland. Every year the popularity of small ship cruising in our own waters grows and this is immensely rewarding as the vast majority of our passengers are from Britain. We have many years of experience in designing trips to the hidden corners of our remotest places and yet, every year we discover something new. Although we set sail with a fixed itinerary it is the unscheduled events that often become the highlight of the journey.
This is a truly unique voyage visiting as it does the remarkable islands on the edge of the British Isles with only one non-island call during our voyage; such is the advantage of having a self-sufficient vessel with the qualities of the MS Island Sky. We will sail from Portsmouth and during our cruise visit both inhabited and uninhabited islands and places of great natural beauty, rich in wildlife and mystical history. We have also included a number of gardens which, given the timing of our cruise will be coming into bloom from the Isles of Scilly to the Hebrides. For keen birders, there are numerous highlights including sailing past the gannetries on the Skellig islands and at St Kilda, as well as discovering the puffins on Lunga.
Each day there will be the opportunity to explore coastal paths, see the resident wildlife, enjoy the wonderful views on offer and appreciate the ancient and Medieval history of the region. Such a voyage is only possible aboard a small ship with the ability to reach these remote ports and, with the use of our Zodiacs, we will be able to explore in small groups, ensuring the solitude we find on these isles is not disturbed.
Useful links & Travel Advice
Please find a selection of useful websites to refer to for information from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, on visa requirements, NHS travel health advice and other useful travel tips.
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What to Expect
Flexibility is the key to an expedition cruise; sometimes the whole day’s schedule may be changed to maximise your experience based on weather or wildlife sightings, something that would not be possible on a large cruise ship. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from our vessel’s logs from our last Hebridean voyages which will provide you with an idea of what to expect should you choose to join one of our adventures in the British Isles.
St Kilda: The early risers were rewarded with fine views of our approach to the archipelago of St Kilda, its tops draped mysteriously in mist. It had been a calm crossing and some dolphins and minke whales had been spotted on route. We breakfasted quickly so as to hear an introduction to the islands by the ranger. Soon after the Zodiacs began shuttling people ashore to the pier, although several options had been offered, many people opted first to join John on a guided historical walk along the village street from the Manse (now the staff quarters which also housed the shop). Many then progressed up The Gap to find Jamie and his party of longer walkers, while Karin had led an energetic walk up the road to the summit ridge and the radar installation. John’s group then dispersed to explore on their own and most of us, of course, found time to visit the shop for postcards and souvenirs. On return to the ship, lunch consisted of a barbecue prepared by the galley staff and many opted to eat outside on the deck with the impressive backdrop of St Kilda’s Village Bay. But we were not finished yet, for the expedition team then filled their Zodiacs with enthusiastic and intrepid passengers, keen to explore the rocky shores and dramatic caves of Dun, seeing seals and seabirds, and of course puffins. This highlight was quickly overshadowed by the final offering – the Captain taking his ship for a circumnavigation of St Kilda, around Dun, under the Lover’s Stone and the Carn Mor boulder field on Hirta to Soay, and then past Glen Bay to view, Conachair, at 1400 feet the highest sheer cliff in Britain. As if on cue, the cloud lifted briefly to reveal its summit before we struck east, across the four mile volcanic caldera 60 metres under us, towards Boreray and the stacs. Approaching Stac Lee (564 ft) the Captain opted to take a wide sweep and circumnavigate this hugely impressive tooth of rock, smothered in 9000 pairs of nesting gannets. The noise – and the smell! – were palpable as we stared up at the sheer face in its cloud of gannets, constantly changing shape and almost close enough to touch. We moved on to the pyramid shape of Stac an Armin – at 644 ft the highest sea stack in Britain, home again to 9000 pairs of gannets, the remaining 40,000 pairs of St Kilda’s largest colony dispersed around the soaring 1260 ft cliffs of Boreray. Dozens of great skuas were patrolling the skies seeking out gannets returning to feed their chick with a crop full of fish.
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Caledonian Sky and MS Hebridean Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world.
Itinerary
Day 1 Portsmouth, England.
Embark the MS Island Sky in the afternoon. Transfers will be provided from Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station at a fixed time. Sail this evening for the Channel Islands.
Day 2 Guernsey & Herm, Channel Islands.
Anchor this morning off Guernsey, the ‘Island of Flowers’. There will be the option of a walking tour of St Peter Port including a visit to Castle Cornet, a 12th century battlement which guards the entrance to St Peter Port Harbour. Alternatively, enjoy a panoramic island drive during which we will see the beautiful coastline and beaches and also visit the Little Chapel, built in 1914 as a miniature version of the famous basilica at Lourdes and covered in fragments of shattered china. Over lunch we sail the short distance to Herm, the smallest inhabited Channel Island and, at just one and a half miles long and half a mile wide, perfect for discovering on foot. You will have free time to explore, perhaps take a stroll over to Shell or Belvoir Beach. Alternatively, join our naturalists on the lookout for wildflowers and birds.
Day 3 Tresco, Isles of Scilly.
Spend the morning on traffic-free Tresco, walking its idyllic lanes from the beach to the famous sub-tropical Abbey Gardens. Defying the Atlantic weather, this miracle of a garden is home to more than 20,000 species of plants from over 80 countries. Enjoy time to wander at your own pace along the paths, maybe visit the Valhalla collection of ship figureheads from ships wrecked on the islands or relax in the café. Return to the MS Island Sky for lunch on board and this afternoon transfer by local boat to St Agnes.
Day 4 Garnish Island & Bantry, Ireland.
Sail this morning and anchor off the sheltered harbour of Bantry. Local boats will take us to Garnish Island and the beautiful Ilnacullin Gardens where the sheltered position and Gulf Stream is favourable to the growth of ornamental plants, many normally only found in sub-tropical or Mediterranean climates. We return by local boats sailing past “Seal Island”, home to 250 common seals before enjoying lunch on board. This afternoon you may wish to stay on board, enjoy some free time in the small town or join a walk to Bantry House, overlooking Bantry Bay. We will explore the house, one of the finest historic houses in Ireland along with the gardens.
Day 5 Skellig Islands & Valentia Island.
Over breakfast we will arrive off The Skelligs, tiny islands just off the magnificent coast of the Dingle Peninsula. Weather permitting, we will sail around these mystical islands with their early Christian history. Skellig Michael is a World Heritage Site and atop this rugged pyramid, that rises from the sea, are the ruins of a monastery. Meanwhile at Little Skellig the sky can on occasion turn white as some of the 20,000 pairs of breeding gannets leave their roosts. We continue along the famous Kerry (Iveragh) peninsula and anchor at the port of Knightstown on Valentia Island. Spend the afternoon exploring the island, perhaps take a coastal walk, visit the tropical gardens at Glanleam or join an island drive including the Cromwell Point Lighthouse.
Day 6 Tory Island.
After a morning at sea we arrive at Tory Island, located off the northwest coast of Ireland and home to 150 or so Gaelic speakers. It is the most remote inhabited Irish island; although only 14 miles offshore, it feels like many more and island life here is full of traditions. Meet some of the local community in the village hall and enjoy some of their legendary storytelling, music and dance. Tory Island is also famous for its migratory birds; seabirds nest here in large numbers and a puffin colony nests on the northern cliffs. Look out for guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars, storm petrels and Manx shearwaters and we hope to hear the early season calls of the corncrake for which the island is known.
Day 7 Staffa, Iona & Lunga, Scotland.
Awake this morning as we approach and anchor off Staffa, where the perpendicular rock face features an imposing series of black basalt columns, known as the Colonnade, which have been cut by the sea into cathedralesque caverns, most notably Fingal’s Cave. Weather permitting, we will use our Zodiacs to explore closer. We then plan to cruise the short distance to the Isle of Iona which has been occupied for thousands of years and has been a place of pilgrimage and Christian worship for several centuries. It was to this flat, Hebridean island that St Columba fled from Ireland in 563 and established a monastery. Here his followers were responsible for the conversion of much of pagan Scotland and Northern England. No less than 62 Scottish Kings are buried in the Abbey. Visit the Abbey or perhaps walk along the white sandy beaches or go in search of the corncrake amongst the irises. After lunch we cruise northwest to the Treshnish Isles, an archipelago of uninhabited volcanic islets. The island of Lunga is the largest of the Treshnish Isles in Argyll and Bute. Of volcanic origin, Lunga has been described as ‘a green jewel in a peacock sea’ and is a summer nesting-place for hundreds of sea birds. Here we hope to land by Zodiac and explore on foot.
Day 8 Canna & Loch Scavaig.
Awake in the lovely Loch Scavaig on the island of Skye. Just beyond is the freshwater Loch Corruisk with its breathtakingly beautiful view over the Cuillins. This is great walking country and our expedition team will run a series of hikes for all interests. For those who prefer a less energetic morning our Zodiacs will explore the coast looking out for seals. Enjoy lunch on board as we cross over to Canna. Strategically placed between the mountains of Rum and the Outer Hebrides, the island of Canna and its adjoining neighbour Sanday are bound together like some rare text that reveals over 60 million years of Hebridean geology and history. They have an amazingly rich archaeological landscape with remains dating to all periods of settled occupation in Scotland. Canna is run as a single farm and bird sanctuary by the National Trust for Scotland and enjoys the best harbour in the Small Isles, a hornshaped haven. The fertile soil and its diversity of habitats mean that the island has an incredibly rich plant life with 248 native flowering plants recorded. We will see Canna House and wander across grassy basalt plateaus to the 600 foot cliffs on the north shore.
Day 9 St Kilda & Stac Lee.
This morning arrive at St Kilda, a remarkable uninhabited archipelago some fifty miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. Dominated by the highest cliffs and sea stacks in Britain, Hirta, St Kilda’s main island was occupied on and off for at least two thousand years, with the last 36 Gaelic speaking inhabitants evacuated at their own request in 1930. Immediately after the evacuation, the island was bought by the Marquess of Bute to protect the island’s thousands of seabirds including puffin and fulmars and in 1957 it was bequeathed to The National Trust for Scotland. St Kilda is one of only two dozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites with dual status reflecting its natural and cultural significance. The local ranger will join us on board before our expedition staff lead guided walks on the island. Later, we will cruise past one of the largest gannetries in the world at Stac Lee. The impressive stacs rise 170 metres from the sea and are home to up to 60,000 breeding pairs of northern gannet.
Day 10 Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides.
Arrive today on the Isle of Lewis. On leaving the island capital of Stornoway, we will head across the island to the beautiful west coast. Described as Scotland’s Stonehenge, the Callanish Standing Stones date from around 3000 BC. There are a total of 32 stones in a circular and avenue design. The stones stand like a petrified forest on the flat top of a peninsula which reaches out into East Loch Roag. We also visit the Dun Carloway Pictish Broch, probably built sometime in the last century BC, it would have served as an occasionally defensible residence for an extended family complete with accommodation for animals at ground floor level. Our final stop is the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village – a reconstructed settlement of traditional black houses which were made using dry stone masonry and have thatched roofs, distinctively weighted down with rocks. Visit the small museum, enjoy a display of a typical crofting activity such as weaving and take in the views of this dramatic site on the wild Atlantic coast. Spend the afternoon at sea as we sail north.
Day 11 Lerwick, Shetland Islands.
From the Shetland capital, we will visit the remarkable archaeological site of Jarlshof. The site was uncovered by a violent storm in the winter of 1896/7, revealing an extraordinary settlement site embracing at least 5000 years of human history. The site contains a remarkable sequence of stone structures – late Neolithic houses, a Bronze-Age village, an Iron-Age broch and wheelhouses, several Norse longhouses, a Medieval farmstead and the 16th century laird’s house. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy a free afternoon to explore this historic port. Perhaps wander through its narrow stone lanes or maybe visit the excellent Shetland Museum, containing artefacts from shipwrecks and the whaling era. Tonight we will enjoy the company of local musicians on board.
Day 12 Fair Isle.
This morning we arrive at the remote island of Fair Isle. Located midway between the Shetland and Orkney islands, the tiny population of sixty or so islanders always extend us a warm welcome. Enjoy a walk across the island searching out the puffin slopes, visit the community hall for a cup of tea or maybe purchase some of the famous knitwear.
Day 13 Aberdeen.
Disembark the MS Island Sky after breakfast. Transfers will be provided to the rail station and Aberdeen Airport at a fixed time.
Dates and Prices
Prices per person based on double occupancy| 28 April to 10 May 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Price | |
| Magellan Deck Standard Suites | £5795 | |
| Columbus Deck Superior Suites | £6095 | |
| Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite | £7395 | |
| Marco Polo Deck Premium Balcony Suite | £7595 | |
| Marco Polo Deck Corner Suite with Balcony | £8595 | |
| Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £8595 | |
| Explorer Deck Island Suite | £9595 | |
| Magellan Deck Standard for sole occupancy | £7295 | |
| Columbus Deck Superior for sole occupancy | £7795 | |
Tour Reference Code: SCISK280421
PRICE INCLUDES: 12 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on a full board basis • Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch & dinner • Shore excursions • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
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Balcony Deckplan
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Caledonian Sky and MS Hebridean Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world.
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Your Dining
Your Dining
It is quite a task to create a dining experience as that found on board our Sky vessels when you are cruising in far-flung corners of the globe, indeed it takes a team of highly talented chefs to deliver fresh, varied dishes no matter where you are at sea. Fortunately, our catering teams are well adapted to the world of small ship cruising where no two days are the same and the menus are often scheduled and tailored around the days’ excursions. With only one sitting and a maximum of just over 100 passengers, the cuisine on board is of a consistent superior quality that befits such vessels. Where possible and when it meets their high standards, our accomplished chefs will obtain local produce in markets. Such purchases enhance the well-stocked larders and enable the chefs on board to exhibit their culinary skills and bring a local touch to the varied menus, emphasising the international expertise of the chefs on board. Afternoon tea and pre-dinner canapés take place every day in either the comfort of the Lounge or out on the Lido Deck when the weather is favourable. Tea and coffee are also available 24 hours a day. Special diets can be catered for with sufficient notice.
In keeping with the informal atmosphere on board, when dining you are able to choose your seating arrangements at your leisure. Whether that be joining a table of four to six other passengers outside on the Lido Deck in the evening’s sunshine or whether you prefer to enjoy meals in the à la carte restaurant. For those travelling alone, our onboard friendly restaurant staff will take care to ensure you are seated with other like-minded travellers. In the main elegant dining room, breakfast is served buffet-style, with certain items cooked to order on request. Lunch and dinner are à la carte with an excellent choice of dishes, with the menu reflecting the daily catch or local delicacies. To enhance your dining experience even further a selection of wines are included with both meals and there is also a comprehensive wine list with a wide selection of new and old world wines from which to choose.
The onboard catering and restaurant staff are experienced at sea and enthuse a passion for superb service. Whether it be ensuring you have an outdoor blanket as you enjoy the crisp sea breeze on the Lido Deck or sharing their knowledge of the characteristics of the days’ wine selections, you will experience a service on board like no other. You may also enjoy sumptuous barbeques on deck whilst at times, the chef will make your dish to order at special pasta or stir fry stations.
Click on image above to view a sample menu.
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Cabin Plans
Cabin Plan
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Ship Directory
Ship Directory
Please find below further details pertaining to the vessel or click on the booklet to download.
We are delighted you have chosen the MS Island Sky for your upcoming voyage. The 118-passenger, all-suite vessel is one of the finest small ships in the world and benefits from unusually spacious accommodation, public areas and outside decks.
You will find the atmosphere on board akin to a private yacht or country hotel with a little music in the lounge or bar after dinner, talks from our onboard team and informative port briefings from your Cruise Director or Expedition Leader. After a day of exploration ashore, you will return to the comfort and peace of a well-run and exceedingly comfortable ship.
Along with the Captain and officers and the Noble Caledonia team, our crew of 70 are dedicated to offering you the best possible experience during your time on board.
We hope this information booklet answers any questions you may have pertaining to the vessel and wish you a pleasant voyage.
VESSEL TECHNICAL DETAILS
Passengers: 118
Length: 90.60 metres
Width: 15.30 metres
Registered: Bahamas
Crew/Staff: 70
Year built: 1992
Language: English
Gross Tonnage: 4200 tonnesADAPTORS
Adaptors for hairdryers, mobile phones etc. can be obtained from Reception. These should be returned to Reception at the end of the cruise and are the property of the MS Island Sky.
AIR-CONDITIONING
The entire ship is air-conditioned. All cabins feature individual temperature controls. In order to keep the air-conditioning system working efficiently, please keep doors closed when in use.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The ship uses a public address system to advise guests of all important information and activities during the cruise. Announcements can be heard throughout the public areas of the ship and in all cabins.
CABINS
On board there are 59 exceptionally spacious and well designed cabins. All feature a sitting area, en-suite bathroom with marble topped vanity unit and walk-in shower, spacious wardrobe and dressing table.
Cabins on Explorer (Deck 6) and Erikson (Deck 5) have private balconies.
Cabins on Marco Polo Deck (Deck 4) have tinted sliding doors for enhanced views and quick access to the deck if any wildlife is spotted.
All cabins have the following facilities:
• Dressing gowns and slippers
• TV
• Electrical outlet
• Hairdryer
• Heating and air-conditioning (individually controlled)
• Mini bar & fridge – upon request it can be filled with soft drinks and beer for purchase. The mini bar is stocked on arrival and replenished daily. A price list can be found in the cabin.
• Safe
• Molton Brown toiletries: hand soap, shower gel, shampoo, hair conditioner and body lotion
• Telephone
Each cabin has two twin beds that can be reconfigured to form a double bed upon request. Please advise the Reservation Department or the Reception if you want a double bed. Cabins are serviced each morning by your cabin attendant and again in the evening when the beds are turned down. Please note that on MS Island Sky, all cabins have a shower but none have baths.
COMMUNICATIONS
Telephone
If you wish to contact the ship, please call +1 954 67266785. This is a US number so calls will be charged at an international rate. There is a phone in your cabin which has access to an outside line. Outgoing call costs will be advised on board. You can make cabin to cabin calls free of charge. The ship can be contacted by email at rec@is.salenship.com. Please indicate the passenger name and cabin number in the subject field.
Satellite Internet & Wi-Fi
Connectivity is now an important feature in our lives and we do our best to bring this service to you on board. There are facilities in the Library to access the Internet and Noble Caledonia also offers complimentary satellite Wi-Fi access on board. Wi-Fi is available in the public areas and passenger cabins. You will need to bring your own device to connect in these areas. Wi-Fi cards, with your unique log in and instructions, are available at Reception. The service provided on board uses direct satellite technology and has a certain amount of bandwidth available. The same level of connectivity and speed that we enjoy at home through cable or fibre-optic based infrastructures cannot be expected on board.
As you traverse the seas and ports, the ship’s antennae have to re-establish connection with the transmission satellites. Signal may also be blocked by mountains, buildings or even local radio frequency regulations. Remote locations out of satellite range, weather on earth or in space can also affect signal strength. Please also bear in mind that the network is shared by everyone on board so congestion can be anticipated which will slow down speeds especially at peak times. The bandwidth available to the ship means that connectivity is best served using text-based communications and simple social media. Some applications which involve downloading large files may not be available on board.
Here are some tips for using satellite Wi-Fi on board:
• Avoid peak times such as the return to the ship after an excursion.
• Always log off the system when not in use to free up bandwidth space for other passengers.
• Work offline.
• Download any apps you need before leaving home.
• Turn off or disable background app data services and updates – apps that sync in the background can quickly eat up data without your knowledge.
• Disable push notifications as these use a lot of data.
• Remember to bring any charging or data cables required
• Your Network provider may offer a cruise package but be careful, once the land signal is lost, this will transfer to the satellite signal which will incur greater costs.
• Cruise Terminals ashore often have good land based internet to supplement your connectivity.
• Put your phone on Airplane Mode when not in use to avoid roaming charges from your Network Provider.
• Be careful not to access private accounts such as bank accounts on public Wi-Fi systems.
DAILY PROGRAMME
A Daily Programme, detailing the following day’s arrangements as well as any specific information about the day’s activities is produced on board and delivered to your cabin daily.
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
If you have any dietary requirements such as vegetarian, low salt, gluten free and low cholesterol, please notify the Reservations Department. We regret that not all dietary requirements can be guaranteed. If you have any specific or special foods that you require we recommend that you take some with you although we will endeavour to accommodate your needs. Once on board, please speak to the Chef or the Maitre D’ at dinner on your first night on board to reconfirm your needs.
DINING AND DRINKING
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the Restaurant. During good weather, early riser’s coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner may also be served on The Lido Deck. Afternoon tea is served in The Club or in The Lounge depending on activities. Complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits are available self-service 24 hours a day in The Club. House wine, beer and soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner. MS Island Sky operates an open seating policy which greatly enhances the convivial atmosphere on board. The Restaurant has table configurations of 8, 6, 4 and some 2’s. Room service is not available on board. As we operate an open seating policy, we regret that reservations cannot be made. Please note that passengers are not permitted to consume their own supplies of alcohol on board. Water is safe to drink on board and is treated with chlorine. An eco-friendly, reusable water bottle is available in the cabin for your use throughout the cruise.
DISABLED FACILITIES
There is a lift, but the ship does not have facilities for disabled or wheelchair dependent passengers. Additionally, most shore excursions involve some walking and some excursions are walking tours only. There is no chair lift on board and access to the ship is by gangway.
DISEMBARKATION
Your Cruise Director / Expedition Leader will provide you with detailed disembarkation information prior to the end of your cruise. This will include transfer information (where applicable). If you should have any specific queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Cruise Director / Expedition Leader as soon as possible after embarkation.
DRESS CODE
The dress code on board is defined as casual. During the day, comfortable and casual attire is appropriate. The evenings are smart casual. Jackets and ties are not required. However, we kindly ask you to refrain from wearing shorts during evening meals in the Restaurant. You may wish to wear something a little dressier for the Welcome and Farewell Dinners, for example, a jacket and tie for gentlemen and a dress for ladies. No “black tie” is necessary. It is recommended to wear footwear at all times whilst on board.
ELECTRICITY
Voltage is 110v/60Hz (American standard) and a 220v razor socket. This is only suitable for low voltage electrical appliances, e.g. mobile phone or camera charger. We recommend that you bring a two-pin American adaptor for the 110v plug. Please note that the use of personal hairdryers, clothing irons, coffee makers, curling tongs, etc. in the cabins is strictly forbidden as they may damage the ship’s electrical system. If you require electrical medical equipment, please notify the Reservation Department as soon as possible.
GOING ASHORE
Wait in public areas or in your suite until an announcement is made with instructions to disembark. Sailing times for each port are listed in the Daily Programme. Please note sailing times and ensure that you return back to the vessel at least 30 minutes prior to departure. In some ports a passport or port landing card must be carried when going ashore. This will be announced over the PA System if required. If the ship is in a remote area and you hear a continuous blast of the ship’s horn then please return immediately to the landing site. When leaving the ship at any time while in port always ensure you have checked IN/OUT at the gangway.
HAIR & BEAUTY SALON
MS Island Sky has a hairdresser providing haircuts and hairstyling. Some beauty treatments and massage are also available. Appointments for hair styling can be made on board at the Reception Desk. Fees for all treatments are available at Reception and will be charged to your onboard account. Each cabin is equipped with a hairdryer which can be found in the right hand top drawer of the dresser.
HEALTH & HYGIENE
In order to maintain health standards you will find hand sanitizers at key positions around the ship particularly at the entrance to restaurants and near the gangway. We kindly ask you to use these regularly.
LAUNDRY SERVICE
A laundry service is available on board. Laundry bags and a price list can be found in the wardrobe in your cabin. Please complete the laundry list and leave it together with the bag of itmes to be laundered on your bed. Your laundered items will be returned within 24 hours. There are no public launderette or ironing facilities on board. In the interest of safety we ask that you do not use an electric iron in your suite. An ironing service is available at reasonable cost. Dry cleaning facilities are not available on board. In the interest of the environment, towels will not be automatically changed every day. We ask that you put used towels on the bathroom floor if you wish them to be changed for fresh towels. Towels left hanging on the towel rack will not be changed.
LIFT
All passenger decks can be reached by lift. Please do not use the lift in the case of a fire or an emergency.
LOST PROPERTY
Before you disembark the ship, please check your cabin to ensure you do not leave anything behind. On board the ship, any liquids, cosmetics, paper(s) and perishable items left behind will be disposed of immediately. Any books left on board the ship will be incorporated into the ship’s library or donated to charity. Other items left behind on the ship will be kept on board for 1 month or 2 cruises (whichever is the longer period), and after this time, any unclaimed items will be given to a local charity at the next main port the ship visits. If you discover you have left any items behind, please contact Noble Caledonia within 21 days of disembarking. If we are able to recover your item(s) we will contact you to arrange delivery or collection, and any costs incurred will be at your own expense.
MAIL
Although reception staff are happy to post letters on your behalf, they may not be able to do so straightaway or at the port of call at which you make such a request. Some postal services are unreliable and many letters or postcards that you ask to be delivered on your behalf may be delayed or even lost en route. Under no circumstances can we be held liable for such occurrences.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
Medical services are available 24 hours a day. There is a Doctor on board and crew members are trained in first aid. Cabin visits by the ship’s Doctor are available. Please note that all consultations and services are charged for. To arrange an appointment with the ship’s Doctor please contact Reception by dialing 9/301* or in an emergency 500. It takes some people longer to find their sea legs. Sea sickness tablets are available from Reception, and should be taken at least one hour prior to departure.
MINI BAR
For your convenience a mini bar facility has been set up in your suite on a chargeable basis. Items consumed during the cruise will be charged to your onboard account. Your Steward/ess will restock your mini bar on a daily basis and replenish consumed items. The mini bar price list is placed in the cabinet of your mini bar. The final statement will be delivered to your cabin in the early morning of your disembarkation.
NEWS
News channels are available on your cabin TV and in addition daily news bulletins can be found at Reception and in The Library.
NOBLE CALEDONIA TEAM
Throughout your cruise you will be accompanied by your Noble Caledonia team who will be happy to assist you with any queries or requests you may have.
ONBOARD ACCOUNT
All passengers will have their own “ship account” which allows you to sign a receipt for any expenses and then settle your bill at the Reception Desk at the end of the cruise. You will need to register your card at Reception shortly after sailing. If you are sharing a suite with a friend and would like separate bills, please inform Reception. Prices on board are shown in British Pounds. All final accounts will be presented in British Pounds.
Your ship’s account can be paid by:
• Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express).
• Cash (British Pounds, Euros or US Dollars).
• Travellers’ Cheques (British Pounds, US Dollars or Euros). Debit Cards and pre-paid credit card may not automatically be accepted. Please let us know in advance if you plan to use one.
PASSPORTS
All Passports are collected by the Purser upon embarkation. Passports are necessary to facilitate immigration formalities at each port of call and are returned at the end of the cruise.
PUBLIC AREAS
The Club – Located on Deck 4 aft, The Club features the main bar and a 24 hour tea and coffee station. A quiet place to meet friends or relax during the day. In the evening our onboard resident pianist plays before and after dinner.
The Library – Located on Deck 4 aft. In The Library you can find a well stocked selection of reference books pertaining to the destinations. Fiction books, games and playing cards are also available for your pleasure. Novels brought on board may be exchanged with other books in the paperback library. Should you wish to donate any books which you may have brought with you, we will be happy to add these for the pleasure of future guests. Reference books may not be removed from the ship. In addition, a selection of DVDs are available to play on your cabin TV. Please take the empty DVD box to Reception to collect the DVD disk. Please return all borrowed materials as soon as you have finished using them.
The Lounge – Located on Deck 3 aft. Daily Briefings by the Cruise Director or Expedition Leader are given in The Lounge which is fitted with multiple screens and presentation equipment. Informative talks from the Guest Speaker or expedition team are also given here.
Observation Deck – On the Explorer Deck, Deck 6, there is an area for sun loungers which is ideal for sunbathing as well as a forward facing observation platform.
Promenade Deck – MS Island Sky has a walk around Promenade Deck, on Deck 4. We kindly ask for your consideration to those guests whose cabins are located on and beneath the Promenade Deck. Please use the deck for walking / jogging between 8.30 am and 9.00 pm.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Your comments are important to us therefore before your cruise ends, you will receive a questionnaire. We are always looking for ways to improve your holiday experience and appreciate the time you take to complete the questionnaire. Kindly hand your completed questionnaire in at Reception.
SAFE
There is a safe in every suite located in the closet. The safe can be programmed with your own code, instructions can be found inside the closet door and cabin staff will be available to assist upon embarkation.. We recommend that you leave money and other valuables in the safe. Kindly remember to remove all items from the safe before disembarking the ship at the end of your cruise.
SAFETY DRILL & SAFETY
International Maritime Law requires a lifeboat safety drill to take place prior to sailing. All guests must attend this compulsory and important exercise. Please listen for the announcements. During the drill, all ships services will be suspended. Your assigned lifeboat station, location of your life jacket and the signal for lifeboat and fire drills are clearly explained on the emergency card posted on the back of your suite’s door. Life jackets are located in your suite. During the safety drill you will be shown how to wear the life jacket.
It is essential that you take certain safety precautions while on board:
• Walk, never run and be especially careful on wet and slippery decks.
• Ladies are advised to wear low heeled shoes especially on deck.
• Footwear should be worn at all times.
• Hold on to the handrails in passageways and stairways.
SHIP’S ID CARD
These personal ID cards with essential information are issued to each guest during embarkation. Please ensure you remember to check in and out at the gangway with the crew member on duty in order to ensure that you are on board prior to sailing.
SMOKING POLICY
The MS Island Sky offers a smoke-free cruise environment. Smoking is not permitted inside the ship, including the balcony areas. Smoking is only permitted in the designated area outside on Deck 4 aft. Please never throw any cigarette ends overboard – the breeze could carry the smouldering end back on board and start a fire. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
TELEPHONE CALLS
Calls to other cabins can be made free of charge by dialing the cabin number. Lift the handset and dial the cabin number. If you wish to make an outside call, please check at Reception to purchase a prepaid telephone card and instructions. Costs are available from Reception and charges are automatically billed to your onboard account.
TELEVISION
All suites are equipped with a flat screen television with a built-in DVD player which can also play CD’s. There will be a selection of channels available including news and documentaries. DVD’s are available to borrow from The Library, please take the empty DVD box to Reception to collect the DVD disk. DVDs are configured to Region 2.
TOILETRIES
Molton Brown shampoo, conditioner, hand soap and shower gel are provided in your bathroom. If you have forgotten anything ie. toothpaste, please ask Reception, who have a selection of items available for purchase.
VISITORS
For the safety and security of all passengers no visitors are allowed on board the ship.
VISITING THE BRIDGE
At times Bridge visits may be possible. If visiting the Bridge, please note this is a working area and access may sometimes be restricted.
WAKE UP CALL
Wake up calls can be requested through the Reception Desk.WATER
Previously the MS Island Sky used 54,000 bottles of water a year. In order to reduce the damage caused to the environment by waste plastic, we replaced plastic bottled water where possible with eco-friendly, reusable water bottles and water carafes. These are for your use during the cruise and we kindly ask you to leave them in your cabin at the end of the cruise. The bottles and carafes can be filled from the tap – the tap water is safe to drink – or from the water station in The Club. Alternatively your cabin steward can refill your carafe daily. Should you prefer to use plastic bottled water then please just let your cabin steward know.
ZODIAC OR LOCAL BOATS TO TENDER ASHORE
Some destinations may require the use of the ship’s Zodiacs or local tender boats to go ashore. Guests will be advised where and when to meet the Zodiac or local tender boat to go ashore. Please ensure that your hands are free at all times and accept the assistance given by the crew on board the MS Island Sky when boarding tenders / Zodiacs. A Zodiac safety briefing will be given.
Please note: These details should be used as a guideline only. Information is subject to change.
V.5 March 2020
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Deck plans
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Balcony Deckplan
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Balcony Deckplan
Video Library
What to Expect
Flexibility is the key to an expedition cruise; sometimes the whole day’s schedule may be changed to maximise your experience based on weather or wildlife sightings, something that would not be possible on a large cruise ship. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from our vessel’s logs from our last Hebridean voyages which will provide you with an idea of what to expect should you choose to join one of our adventures in the British Isles.
St Kilda: The early risers were rewarded with fine views of our approach to the archipelago of St Kilda, its tops draped mysteriously in mist. It had been a calm crossing and some dolphins and minke whales had been spotted on route. We breakfasted quickly so as to hear an introduction to the islands by the ranger. Soon after the Zodiacs began shuttling people ashore to the pier, although several options had been offered, many people opted first to join John on a guided historical walk along the village street from the Manse (now the staff quarters which also housed the shop). Many then progressed up The Gap to find Jamie and his party of longer walkers, while Karin had led an energetic walk up the road to the summit ridge and the radar installation. John’s group then dispersed to explore on their own and most of us, of course, found time to visit the shop for postcards and souvenirs. On return to the ship, lunch consisted of a barbecue prepared by the galley staff and many opted to eat outside on the deck with the impressive backdrop of St Kilda’s Village Bay. But we were not finished yet, for the expedition team then filled their Zodiacs with enthusiastic and intrepid passengers, keen to explore the rocky shores and dramatic caves of Dun, seeing seals and seabirds, and of course puffins. This highlight was quickly overshadowed by the final offering – the Captain taking his ship for a circumnavigation of St Kilda, around Dun, under the Lover’s Stone and the Carn Mor boulder field on Hirta to Soay, and then past Glen Bay to view, Conachair, at 1400 feet the highest sheer cliff in Britain. As if on cue, the cloud lifted briefly to reveal its summit before we struck east, across the four mile volcanic caldera 60 metres under us, towards Boreray and the stacs. Approaching Stac Lee (564 ft) the Captain opted to take a wide sweep and circumnavigate this hugely impressive tooth of rock, smothered in 9000 pairs of nesting gannets. The noise – and the smell! – were palpable as we stared up at the sheer face in its cloud of gannets, constantly changing shape and almost close enough to touch. We moved on to the pyramid shape of Stac an Armin – at 644 ft the highest sea stack in Britain, home again to 9000 pairs of gannets, the remaining 40,000 pairs of St Kilda’s largest colony dispersed around the soaring 1260 ft cliffs of Boreray. Dozens of great skuas were patrolling the skies seeking out gannets returning to feed their chick with a crop full of fish.
Travelling with You
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Craig Ward
Craig Ward is a marine professional; a dive instructor, zoologist and ship’s captain who holds a BSc from James Cook University, Cairns.
For more than twenty years he has been involved in marine research and education throughout the Indo-Pacific, particularly the Northern Great Barrier Reef, the Kimberley, south-east Asia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
He became a wildlife keeper working with many native Australian species including crocodiles, snakes and cassowaries and wrote a number of public education presentations on topics such as wetlands, reptiles, jellyfish and conservation. In 2015 Craig published his first book ‘The Wet Tropics’, followed by The Kimberley- endemic frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals in 2017.
Based in tropical northern Australia, Craig is actively involved in conservation research and runs an expedition service and luxury travel company. He spends much of the year travelling to remote parts of the world in search of rare animals with like-minded people who share his passion for nature and travel, and he goes out to sea as often as he can.Craig Ward will be on the following tour dates: 28 April to 10 May 2021 -
Pierre Malan
Pierre is an all round naturalist who trained as an oceanographer and marine biologist and has more than forty years of experience in the field. He lives in Hout Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa. He is a former Naval Officer who holds certificates of competence in sail and power. He worked at the Sea Fisheries Research Institute in Cape Town for more than thirty years, specialising in the acoustic stock assessment of small pelagic fish and krill.
He participated in numerous research cruises in the South-East Atlantic Ocean, the South-West Indian Ocean, the Pacific and Southern Ocean, often as chief scientist. Since 2001 he has worked as a fisheries consultant specialising in combatting illegal fishing, working mainly in Southern and East Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean, as well as doing research cruises in the Antarctic, the Eastern Tropical Pacific and North Pacific. During this time he lectured at several Universities in South Africa as well as teaching at the Fisheries Development Centre in Mbegani, Tanzania. In 2005 he started working in the expedition cruising industry as a lecturer, zodiac driver, and later as assistant expedition leader.
He has worked on board ships in the Antarctic, the Western Indian Ocean, South and Central America, the Canary and Azores Islands, Great Britain, Norway and Spitsbergen. In addition to marine biology and oceanography he is a competent all-round naturalist and photographer as well as having an interest in history and in traditional boats and working boats around the world. During 2008 he was technical adviser and presenter for a TV documentary series on the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic.
Pierre Malan will be on the following tour dates: 28 April to 10 May 2021 -
Rebecca Hodgkiss
Becky is a conservation biologist who was born in the UK but spent her childhood on the move. She grew up in the USA, Norway, Indonesia and Singapore; this exposure to different cultures and wildlife instilled in her a love of travel, exploring and nature. After graduating with an MSc in Animal Behaviour, she returned to SE Asia to work as a Field Biologist in Malaysia. Becky then moved to Seychelles and spent four years coordinating projects on sea turtles, giant tortoises, seabirds and endemic passerines, and was part of a team who set up a lemon shark tagging project. As Conservation Manager for a private island reserve, she was responsible for monitoring populations of terns, tropicbirds and the Seychelles magpie robin (once one of the rarest birds in the world!). Her most recent posting was on the RSPB’s Little Tern Recovery Project on the Norfolk coast. She is a PADI/SSI Divemaster and keen amateur wildlife photographer and holds a ringing permit with the South African Bird Ringing Unit. Her multi-national upbringing has given her itchy feet for life, and what better way to satisfy this urge to explore the world, whilst sharing her passion for wildlife and conservation, than on expedition cruises!
Rebecca Hodgkiss will be on the following tour dates: 28 April to 10 May 2021
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Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000