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Advice and Information

Useful things to know before embarking on one of our cruises:

Safety Children What to Wear

What to Bring Medical Conditions Wheelchair Access

Safety

The safety of passengers is the highest priority for our Skippers.

You will receive a safety briefing before each voyage begins and while on board you must at all times comply with safety instructions from your Skipper.

If you are a passenger on Orca 1 you will be issued with a full-body flotation suit (pictured) which you wear over your normal clothing.

Children

Children are always fascinated and excited by cruises on our boats.

Orca 1 is fitted with special jockey seats which allow an adult and child to sit together. However, it is essential that all passengers are able to firmly grip the boat's hand-holds and for this reason we do not recommend Orca 1 for younger children.

Aboard the M.V. Kerry, life jackets are available for all passengers, including children.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. If you are uncertain about which of our boats is most suitable for your family then please ask. We will be delighted to advise.

What to Wear

On Orca 1 your flotation suit (above) provides most of the protection you need. However, we do recommend gloves, even on summer cruises, and some passengers bring a warm hat (one which won't blow off!). Always wear flat-heeled shoes. For added comfort on Orca 1 we provide a face visor to protect against wind and spray.

No special clothing is required for voyages on the M.V. Kerry. However, temperatures at sea are always lower than on land and we normally advise passengers to bring one or two extra layers of clothing, even on a warm day.

The Kerry carries waterproof ponchos for use in wet weather and she is fitted with an overhead canopy and retractable side panels for greater protection and comfort.

What to Bring

Only the essentials which you will need on the trip. These might include a camera (recommended) and sunscreen during the summer (UV levels at sea can be very high).

We provide all passengers with marine binoculars.

We do not normally offer refreshments and you might want to carry a snack or soft drink on longer trips – please do not bring alchoholic drinks on board.

Medical Conditions

The ride on Orca 1 can sometimes be bumpy. The boat is designed to plane across the water and, in a swell, this means that we sometimes impact forcefully with the waves.

For this reason Orca 1 is unsuitable for anyone with a lower back or other condition which could be aggravated by jarring of the body; and for anyone who cannot maintain a firm grip on the boat's hand-holds.

For the same reason we do not recommend a cruise on Orca 1 for women during pregnancy.

Inshore cruises on the Kerry offer a smoother ride. If you are not sure whether one of our cruises is right for you, then please ask. We will be happy to advise.

Wheelchair Access

We regret that we cannot accommodate wheelchairs on out boats.

However, for passengers with limited mobility there is suitable parking close to the pontoon at Gairloch Harbour where our boats are moored, and the pontoon itself is accessible by wheelchair.

We can provide assistance with boarding and disembarking our boats. Please ask. We will be delighted to discuss your requirements.