NorthLink Ferries passenger testimonials 2011

"Having recently travelled with NorthLink from Scrabster to Stromness and then on to Kirkwall before returning to Aberdeen, I would like to congratulate you on providing a service second to none on clean modern ferries. My wife and myself found each and every member of staff very friendly, efficient and polite which is a credit to your recruitment policies and training programmes. 

We have travelled on ferries around the world, from Alaska to New Zealand and can honestly say that none compare to the quality and service that you provide.  We will certainly recommend NorthLink Ferries to friends etc. Once again, many thanks for making our journeys such a pleasant experience."  

"We recently sailed to Shetland from Aberdeen with NorthLink Ferries. We had twin berth outer cabins. We would like to say how much we enjoyed the experience. The boat was clean and comfortable, the staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was excellent.

We would like to thank NorthLink Ferries for providing an excellent service, indeed, the voyage out and back provided an extra enjoyable element to our holiday in Shetland."

"I have just recently done two return journeys across the Pentland Firth on the Hamnavoe and just wanted to write and express my appreciation of your wonderful service. I really appreciate the comfort on your vessels. The vessel was spotless. I also think that you have the temperature just right. The boat is very airy which is important for a comfortable journey. I have been on ships which are stuffy and have felt unwell but never on NorthLink Ferries. My husband and I always say that the best sleep we ever have is on the Aberdeen ferries.

The restaurant service on all vessels are excellent. The chef's special on one of my recent trips was lamb curry and it was absolutely beautiful. The serving staff are always welcoming and polite and keep the restaurant immaculate, clearing tables regularly and always with a smile.

I am awaiting family from south this week. Thank you for the Friends and family deal which makes Orkney that bit more accessible and possible for family to visit. I trust that they will also have an enjoyable crossing on your vessel. I should be most obliged if you would pass on my thanks for the excellent service to all concerned."

"I want you to know that as someone who has used many different telephone systems for booking travel and buying goods, I have yet to find one which is as consistently helpful as NorthLink's.

Your policy of allowing amendments without charging is in stark contrast to almost everyone else in the travel trade. Not only do you not charge but your staff are uniformly patient when I do need to make changes – even when I cancel a booking altogether. Further, your staff are always patient if I take a bit of time to consider options, or to find my National Travel token.

I have spoken to many others who share my views on this, but I doubt if many of them actually get around to saying so. Is there a travel trade award scheme for telephone booking services? If so I think your service should be put forward!"

"I would just like to say what a pleasure it has been to make a booking with you.

It makes such a change to get through so quickly to a real, helpful, efficient person who can answer all my questions in a friendly way and where nothing seems a problem."

"I made a booking by telephone - the person who helped me with my booking was excellent. He was very pleasant and friendly, efficient and knew what he was talking about.It was a pleasure to speak with him.

I usually contact companies when I have a complaint and thought it only fair to contact you to say that the service was excellent."

"My husband and I travelled to Shetland for the Folk Festival with NorthLink Ferries.  All of the staff we dealt with from booking staff to ferry staff were helpful and polite.  Our cabin was clean and comfortable and the food in the cafeteria was good and reasonably priced.

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and look forward to travelling with you in the future."

"I have to say whenever I have had dealings with the staff at NorthLink ferries, I always feel I have been given good old fashioned service, clear prices and flexability without the excuse to take more money of the customer. 

As part of your amazing customer service, can you please ensure the weather is calm for both legs of the journey? Thanks again! Please pass this on to your head office in the hope this fantastic level of service is allowed to continue."

"My wife and I recently travelled to the Shetlands from Aberdeen and returned from Lerwick on MV Hrossey. We feel duty bound to let you know that we were both very impressed with every aspect of the two sailings. The crew were very helpful and friendly, the cabin was very clean and comfortable and the food was very good.

Well done to everyone involved, we could not fault you. As we have already booked our accommodation for next year we are looking forward to sailing with you again."

"Myself and my husband recently crossed from Aberdeen to Lerwick return, and we would like to thank your company for the fantastic service we received.  Everyone we had to deal with was very helpful and extremely professional, they were a credit to your company. 

On our return journey we ate in the a la carte restaurant and we were very impressed by the service and the food, any 5 star hotel would have been very proud to have served the food we had.

We are hoping to visit Shetland again next year and we have no hesitation to travel with NorthLink again."

"We travelled on the Hrossey from Lerwick on Saturday night. The Captain informed on departure that we'd be steaming out the North entrance, going around the back of Bressay, and passing the cliffs of Noss.

First time I've been around the back of Bressay for many years, and then the ferry slowed right down when passing the Noss cliffs. The spectacle was excellent, thousands of nesting birds, and every outside space on the ferry was packed with passengers – plus the ferry was packed with tourists.

Hats off to Northlink and the Captain, turned a nice crossing into a very memorable one, and was an excellent opportunity to showcase some of Shetlands unique attractions to visiting tourists."

"We dined in the A La Carte Restaurant onboard MV Hjaltland;  we had an absolutely delicious meal and wanted to convey our appreciation not only of the excellent quality of the food but also how attentive the waiter was.

We hope that this praise could be fed back to the waiter and to the chef, who incidentally, cooked my husband's steak to perfection."

"I phoned up about 4 weeks ago to say I had lost a washbag with jewellery in on the ferry from Orkney- one of you sent it back to me. I just want to thank you so much.

Although the jewellery was not precious, it was to me, and I found everyone I talked to in your organisation so helpful and personal. It is so great as a member of the public to phone up an office and have a conversation where I felt the person really wanted to help me get my stuff back."

"We wanted to write and thank you very much for your excellent service. Monday 25 th July we were on the extra day crossing that left Lerwick at 9am. 

All the Northlink staff did such a good job, not many passengers realised that the ferry had been turned around in such a short space of time from arrival in Lerwick,  or that the same would be happening in Aberdeen. 

The ferry was immaculate and remained that way throughout the journey.  All members of staff were cheerful even though they must have been shattered.  A lot of hard work went into the catering having to provide breakfast, lunch and tea.  Many passengers ate at all 3 sittings.

Northlink must be very proud to have such hardworking dedicated staff. Many thanks once again."

"We sailed from Scrabster to Stromness last week for a short break on Orkney. As a fairly regular user of another ferry company in England, I have to say your service offers a far nicer experience.

Your ship is far more spacious, comfortable and clean. The staff from the man on the gate at Scrabster onwards, seemed glad to see us and wanted to offer top class service.

I am glad to say we did not stay long enough on Orkney and the islands and look forward to using your service again in the near future."