More thoughts on Noble Caledonia

[tomculb]

My wife and I just returned from a fantastic 10 day cruise aboard Noble Caledonia’s Island Sky, exploring the northern and western islands of Scotland. Like Host Jazzbeau, we cruised on one of the Australis ships in southern Patagonia, about four years ago, and after that great experience we swore we would never cruise on a large ship again. This was our first cruise since Patagonia, and our first with NC.  We can’t wait to cruise with them again.  

 

Jazzbeau has written so informatively and extensively about NC’s two ships, I hesitate to try to add anything new, but here are some random thoughts.

 

The expedition leaders (10 of them) were outstanding. Mostly gray-hairs like ourselves, they were all very well educated, physically fit and informative world travelers.  They ate and otherwise mingled with the passengers, enthusiastically sharing their experience and knowledge.  They were a delight to discover new places with.

 

The shore excursions were varied and well-chosen, with a good mix of history, culture and wildlife, many in places that would be hard to get to other than by ship.  How many Scots have ever been to Fair Isle, Papa Westray (locally known as Papay), or St. Kilda?

 

While we were not the only Americans aboard, we were among a small minority, with the vast majority of the passengers being British, most of those English. One Brit kindly informed me that she was Welch, not English, and that we should be sure to include Wales in our future travel plans. Another was from Guernsey, which I guess is neither England nor Wales. A complicated nation that UK is. There were also at least two couples from Australia. I think at least half had cruised with NC before. In any event, all were very friendly, well traveled, very interesting, and great fun to meet and get to know. 

 

The age demographic surprised me, as the average age appeared to be at least 70, and only a handful appeared to be under 60. Most were quite fit, making the sometimes tricky transfer between ship and Zodiac raft with ease and unphased by the longer and more hilly walks and hikes. A few needed and got some extra assistance and were told when a particular activity may not be a good idea for them.  

 

Both the dining room and the lido deck were open seating, which was very conducive to meeting new friends or reacquainting with almost new ones.  There were tables for 2 (dining room only), 4, 6 or 8. Sometimes it was fun to sit at a large unoccupied table and see who chose to dine with us. All very friendly.

 

The lido deck was surprisingly protected from the Scottish weather, and once we discovered how comfortable it was, we ended up eating a majority of our meals there.  Thank you heat lamps.

 

As far as I could tell the only extras we could pay for were cocktails, premium wines and laundry. Absolutely everything else was included, including all shore excursions and associated admission fees. Wine and beer flowed freely at lunch and dinner. I’m sure many passengers had nothing extra to pay for when they left the ship.

 

At the end of the trip we were asked to fill out a survey . . . on mine, I refrained from answering any of the questions and simply wrote “Don’t change a thing.”

[Host Jazzbeau]

Thanks for this great review!

 

Which itinerary did you do?  I am currently planning one of Noble's Scottish Islands cruises, leaning toward Scottish Island Odyssey.  Our cruises weren't billed as 'expedition cruises' – so I'm glad to read your description of the activity level [and that active old codgers like me were able to cope!]

 

You mention premium wines – I wasn't aware that they had anything onboard other than the wines that are poured at dinner [which were fine by me].  I did buy the occasional cocktail – although there was usually at least one night when they were free ["on Tim"] and we sent out laundry.

[tomculb]

Thanks Jazzbeau.  We did the Scottish Island Odyssey cruise and were delighted that's the one we chose. 

 

Very possible I'm wrong about the premium wines.  We were at the same table with another couple twice, and each time they asked for and got something that wasn't otherwise being served.  I assumed they paid for it, but maybe not. 

 

Have you done any expedition cruises with NC that you would recommend?  Obviously that is the kind of cruise we prefer. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

6 hours ago, tomculb said:

Thanks Jazzbeau.  We did the Scottish Island Odyssey cruise and were delighted that's the one we chose. 

 

Very possible I'm wrong about the premium wines.  We were at the same table with another couple twice, and each time they asked for and got something that wasn't otherwise being served.  I assumed they paid for it, but maybe not. 

 

Have you done any expedition cruises with NC that you would recommend?  Obviously that is the kind of cruise we prefer. 

 

Thanks for ratifying my feeling that the Scottish Island Odyssey is the best of their Scottish island itineraries.

 

About the wines.  Many times I would reject the night's pour and ask for something else – always included.  In Sicily I pointed out that they didn't have any Marsala wine onboard – they bought some immediately and served it to me (for free) throughout the cruise.  When DW mentioned to the waiter that they didn't have any coffee ice cream, they made a special batch for her – and only served it to others when she gave permission!  That's the kind of personal service that makes me love NC and think that their prices represent good value.

 

We haven't done any NC expedition cruises yet.  I suggest you go to their website and look at the Travel Post section – especially posts from Pam Le Noury and the Cruise Director's Corner by Neil Horrocks.  Also other areas include posts about NC expedition cruises.

[tomculb]

Jazzbeau, thanks for your post.

 

Our Scotland cruise had no air included since the entire trip was within the UK.  I’m assuming with your previous NC cruises, and traveling from the US (Washington state in our case), you may have both opted  in and opted out of the included air to and from London. I’m wondering what your experience may have been in doing that . . . Was included air a cattle car experience or better than that? If you declined air, was the reduction in fare reasonable? Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

 

Also, thanks for pointing out the Travel Post section of the NC website.  Somehow I missed that entirely.  And finally, your experience with the wine and ice cream sounds so typical of the service we experienced aboard.  Their mantra seems to be “Find a way to say ‘yes’ if you possibly can.”

[Host Jazzbeau]

For our 2021 mediterranean cruises with Noble we flew to LHR and stayed at the Sofitel.  But that was still Covid times.  Those trips started with the entire group getting tested at the hotel and then trooped directly over to the terminal to a private lounge to wait for the charter flight to the ship – Noble kept us all in a bubble until we arrived onboard ship, which was very comforting at that time.  It was also unusual because the flights were charters and therefore included food and beverage service – passengers who had sailed Noble before said that BA flights generally do not include any food.  So between the airport lounge and the food onboard it was a much nicer experience than would happen now.

 

For our 2022 Baltic cruise we wanted to spend time in the pre- and post-cruise cities so we flew on our own to Copenhagen and home from Stockholm.  We received a 200 GBP credit per person for not taking their flights from London [which is more than ITA Matrix shows for the retail price on those flights next July]  Those flights would have been BA coach without food service.

 

One other point on cost:  after your first trip on Noble you get a 5% discount and the deposit is only 5%.  [We actually got it when we made our second booking even though the first trip hadn't happened yet.]  That's the whole loyalty programme, but it's nice to get the benefit so soon.