Stornoway

Caledonian MacBrayne are a Scottish ferry company that transport passengers and vehicles from mainland Scotland to all the outlying islands off the Scottish Atlantic seaboard. I have been a customer of this company for over forty years, ever since I was just a wee slip of a lad in the 1950s, as I have family on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

In those distant days the ferries were not drive on/off as they are today, and cars had to be quite literally winched from the pier by cradle, and onto the open deck of the ship. Stabilisers to keep the vessel from wallowing around like a drunken whale in bad weather were practically unheard of, and I spent many a unforgettable journey either in the toilets, or heaving my guts up over the side of the ship, as I have always been prone to suffering from that hellish malady called sea sickness.

I used this ferry company for the first time since the early 1990s during our family holiday in Scotland in 2001, and was very pleasantly surprised both by the level of user friendliness and the general service they offer their customers.
First off was their online booking service, which is available at www. calmac.co.uk.
The site was uncluttered and simple to navigate and use, with all their timetables, descriptions of their vessels, and listings of all the crossings and prices.
Once I had made our booking, I received a confirmation by email within minutes, to say that our tickets would be posted out to us by return of post.
This didnt suit, as we were leaving Ireland the following day, so I emailed them back to ask if they would hold our tickets at our port of departure, Uig on the Isle of Skye. I received a very friendly reply within minutes to tell me that this was no problem, and that my credit card would not be debited until I picked up our tickets on the day of sailing. On our arrival in Uig, I simply quoted our booking reference, and the transaction was completed with the minimum of fuss and bother. If only all other Internet transactions were as smooth and trouble free! A big thumbs up to CalMac from the mad cabbie.

The outward journey was to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris, on a modern ship called the M.V. Hebrides. Although the ferry was very busy with summer visitors, there was comfortable seating available for all. You could choose from their TV lounge with a couple of large wide screen televisions, the Reclining lounge (self explanatory), or take a table in their self service cafeteria area or lounge bar.
The cafeteria area was basic but clean, and the food was standard fare, but reasonably priced, hot and very tasty. (Especially the chips!) As well as this, you were not hassled to leave as soon as you had eaten your meal, but could spend the whole journey here if you so desired.
The toilets were clean, with soap and toilet paper, (which is always an advantage) and there was also a childrens playroom for the kiddies.
There is also a small shop where you can buy newspapers, sweets, and souvenirs. (It has to be said, of the usual tacky variety)
If the day is fine you can take a wander round the deck, where further seating is available, with a small observation lounge at the front of the ship. (I used this to have a fly fag, as the rest of the vessel is a no smoking area.)

Our return journey was supposed to be on the same route, but on arrival we changed our itinerary, and decided to spend the remainder of our holiday on the Isles. So it was back to the CalMac office at the pier in Stornoway to change our tickets. We opted to return on the Stornoway to Ulapool route, and despite returning on a second occasion to change our sailing date (yet again) we were treated with politeness and courtesy by the staff, who all went out of their way to be helpful.

The ferry from Stornoway is the M.V. Isle of Lewis, which is slightly larger than her sister ship the M.V. Hebrides, and one of the most recent additions to the CalMac fleet, coming into service in 1995. Incidentally, both vessels were built in Scotland at the Ferguson Shipbuilders yard in Port Glasgow, and not by some Japanese or Continental shipyard. This vessel had all the facilities mentioned above, and if anything was even more comfortable than the M.V. Hebrides.
Both ships are fully equipped for disabled or elderly and infirm passengers, with lifts from the car deck, but I passed on this and used the stairs, despite having just celebrated my fiftieth birthday! (Life in the old dog yet)

Prices for the crossings were reasonable, with our original fare only costing £101 (Sterling) for a car, two adults and a child. This was for a five-day return, and when we opted to stay longer and return by the longer route, we had to pay an extra £48. But at roughly £150 return in total, we were not unhappy with the price. If you are travelling as a foot passenger with no vehicle, then the prices are a real bargain.

All in all, a VERY impressive service, and this Scottish ferry company get a strong recommendation from the mad cabbie.