CalMac

Calmac comes in for a lot of criticism but it's generally unfair.
I am a regular traveller and have been ferried by Calmac for almost 5 decades so I've seen it all.
Calmac does the best with what it's got and the staff are quite simply excellent (No, I don't work for Calmac and never have – and I don't have friends or relatives working for them).
Unfortunately there are a lot of tourists who think that if the boat is cancelled due to the weather, it's Calmac to blame, or if it's cancelled due to exceptionally low tides, Calmac should have ordered the tide NOT to ebb.
For such people, why don't you just stay home.

We had to cancel our ferry to Arran at the last minute as our accommodation fell through, least said about that the best, phoned Calmac & spoke to a really nice helpful lady called Gemma who sorted out the cancellation & refund for us there & then, cannot praise their service enough, will use them again.

Why does calmac staff make up there own rules and they haven't got a clue how to work with the public.

Skye to Mallaig, sorry unable to buy ticket before hand, just arrive and see if they can squeeze you on….. Yes it was possible and then while crossing the captain turned the ferry so we could see the dolphins playing in the wake 馃榾馃榾馃榾 Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. So glad on motorbike so had to be on deck.

Once again let down by the service of calmac…
Been waiting for over an hour for lochranza ferry with no mention of what is happening..
Very disappointed.

We have travelled with Calmac Ferries for many years on a yearly basis fro Oban to Craignure. I have to say that the staff have always been extremely helpful and very pleaseant indeed. Even during this present climate they are second to none with their service. I spoke to one of the team today his name was Youen and nothing was too much trouble and by 13:00 today my questions had been answered and dealt with above and beyond. Many thanks Guys and many thanks for all your hard work, keep safe.

very good i recommended them to anyone

Able to book footpassenger tickets online, straightforward and cycle is free. Contacted CalMac by FB messenger to confirm which routes are turn up only and that it's possible to amend others, depending upon availability. Easy, uncomplicated. Hopscotch tickets cannot be booked online without a car, so foot passengers just need to book each leg as a separate sailing. Individual sailings total costs are the same price as the hopscotch amalgamation anyway, so not penalised.

Hi

I came today Approx 1.30pm . In Largs was going to go to Millport and the staff wouldn鈥檛 take cash from my wife . Absolutely raging馃槨. I thought it was Against the law to refuse legal tender notes. After ringing them and speaking to a female staff I was told that before travelling it鈥檚 my responsibility to check these things out. This is a absolute disgrace馃槨, what happens to people who do not have a credit card or a debit card are they also going to be penalised by this. It鈥檚 ruined our day and my two kids day today.
Guys if they and others refuse cash avoid them all costs.

With the current travel advice constantly changing, I have to thank all the CalMac staff I have encountered, especially Margaret in the Gourock Ferry Terminal Office, Alister in Lochboisdale and Kayleigh in the Mallaig Office, for their on-going support, updates and friendly communication during what must be an extremely busy and difficult time. Your high level of customer service has been greatly appreciated.

Amazing Ferry Service, almost like a free half day cruise… really cosy, nice food and staff!! will be definitely using them again

Due to the covid 19 virus I wanted to reschedule the crossing to \\mull to next year. Calmac will not re-schedule anything after October.I do understand that this Covid 19 is a problem that is out of their hands, but it is also out of every bodies hands.
Yet I have been able to reschedule 6 touring sites later than October and most are rescheduled well into next year. Why is it Calmac are unable to keep up with companies though out the rest of the world .
Just not good enough Calmac ferries, get yourself sorted.

Incredibly helpful staff, both on shore and at sea, always polite and willing to help, very lucky to have CalMac serving these islands..Particular mention to Loch Seaforth Crew along with staff in both Stornoway and Ullapool 馃憤

This rating is based on the ferry not being fit for purpose rather than the staff as every person I had to deal with when stuck on Arran for an additional 2 nights were great. On an additional note anyone who has annual travel insurance check your policies as I was covered under mine and insurance paid out enough to cover extra nights.

Worst ferry service ever been stuck on the isle of bute for 3 days in a row as crossing has been completly canceled staff are verry disrrspectfull and just bombard you with exuses and abuse then get offended when you vent your frustration back at them. While western ferrys are operational always on they say the reason service is cancelled for the whole day is high winds and so on ther is no wind what so ever not even a breze its just excusess after excusess calmac need scraped completly can only take so much of ther nonsence

Unreliable service to Brodick/Ardrossan. Stuck on the island for 3 days after the 80% of sailings cancelled due to a technical issue. Ferries are not fit for purpose, they only sail when the conditions are good and you could do the journey in a rowing boat.

This is a company managed by Clowns. Its performance is such that if it was a private rail franchise there would be a public clamour for it to be taken in to public ownership. The only problem is that it is owned and controlled by Government monkeys and they are unwilling or unable to influence CalMac for the better. Island communities are being strangled and no one seems to care.

Awful service, Ardrossan to Brodick service is very unreliable

I returned with a group of friends on the 11.05 this morning from Brodick. Having travelled from Blackwaterfoot, amidst some horrendous weather, we were certain that the ferry would be cancelled, however to our amazement and delight we were informed it would go ahead as planned. It was certainly a choppy sea, and, like most of our fellow passengers, we were somewhat apprehensive about getting berthed at Ardrossan.
The point of my review, is, we were made to feel totally at ease, with updates from the captain and his crew, and then on approach to Ardrossan pier, the captain handled the vessel with total professionalism and undeniable skill, ensuring that we berthed safely and securely. With this in mind, I would like you to convey our appreciation to the captain and his crew for his demonstration of skill and dedication, hence a well deserved applause by the entire group of passengers onboard.
Kind Regards
Donaldf

Yet again calmac shows it鈥檚 humanity. After huge problems at Glasgow Central got to Wemyss Bay at 5.45 and boat still loading cars and lorries. Not passengers though – we were left to wait for the next boat. There was plenty of time as the boat was there for at leat 10 minutes. Public service? An absolute disgrace.

The dogs on the Loch Seaforth are taking over deck five.
Some of the staff walk past and tell the owners to move to the pet areas others just walk past and say nothing.
Dogs need a clear area like the was on the Isle of Lewis ferry. Very badly designed ferry.

We have just returned home after travelling the whole of the Outer Hebrides. We found this a lot easier than we originally thought with our two dogs thanks to the excellent service with Calmac. On one occasion we needed to alter our time of departure after booking. The staff at Calmac were so helpful and pleasant. The staff which were getting our cars off and on the ferries ran this like clockwork. We were also impressed with the standards onboard and the quality of food and decent prices on the larger ferries too.
Thank you Calmac for helping make our holiday a pleasant experience.

I have to Comment on the Crew on the M.V Loch Seaforth on the Western Isles Run..Following a recent Tragedy I had to Travel Urgently..Staff were Compassionate and Caring throughout. Norrie and Ann in Particular went above and beyond what would be the norm.

Myself & my Friend took the Ferry to Lismore yesterday to scatter my Dads ashes opposite Gannavan Sands.
Admittedly I went on the wrong boat originally, so I was really on edge when I knew I had made the mistake.
However, we had a lovely couple of hours in Oban, lunch & a good walkabout
Then we picked up the ferry around 2ish & the lovely Paul talked us thru the situation & how they would help me do this truly emotional situation.

As an added bonus we got to Lismore & unfortunately we were then behind time, possibly due to my wishes.
So we had to return immediately, but again the lovely Paul offered us a cup of tea &&&&& a choccy biscuit
Wonderful.
Im not gonna lie, he couldn't control the current but he really looked after us
THANKYOU Paul Murphy xx

VERY DISAPPOINTED! Travelled with this boat before but this will be the first trip travelling with my brother in a wheelchair. We were not told be any member of the crew that the lift would be out of use for the whole journey so we are now stuck on the top deck with NO disabled toilet and the male toilets are extremely narrow and have a steep step to get into them. I would love to know how my brother is meant to use his catheter with no privacy. Makes those who are already less fortunate feel singled out and helpless. Contacted the information desk but they had no sympathy and were very unhelpful. Will not be using again. If you are disabled I would not recommend this.