Frequently Asked Questions: Bars and Restaurants

Are there licensed bars and what facilities are provided on board the NorthLink ships?

On Hamnavoe there are two bars providing alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, tea and coffee and snacks.

On Hjaltland and Hrossey there are two bars. A full range of keg and bottled beers, wines and spirits including Orkney and Shetland products is available.

What dining facilities are provided?

On all three vessels there is a self-service restaurant serving meals and snacks during each voyage. On ‘Hjaltland’ and ‘Hrossey’ there is also an a la carte restaurant offering a fine dining experience. These are 30-seat restaurants, so it is advisable to book a table at time of reservation or upon arrival onboard. These restaurants will periodically feature Orkney and Shetland specialities.

Are your restaurant facilities subject to the same food hygiene laws as ashore?

The rules for food hygiene aboard ship are similar to restaurants ashore and are enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. We operate our own stringent risk assessments and inspection procedures. Currently there is no requirement for ship owners to allow local Environmental Health Officers to come aboard. However NorthLink have approached the relevant departments and have invited them to come aboard at any time to carry out inspections.

Can I get something to eat and drink throughout the night on your Aberdeen - Orkney - Shetland routes?

One of the bars will remain open through the night, until the restaurants open for breakfast. Hot and cold drinks as well as snacks and sandwiches will be available.

Can I have breakfast before disembarking?

The self service restaurant opens at 6am for Aberdeen arrivals and 6:30am for Lerwick arrivals, and there is an announcement at this time. Last orders are at 9am and passengers may remain on the vessels until 9:30am if they wish. Car drivers will have to remove their vehicles when called, but may return for breakfast via the passenger walkway upon production of their boarding card.

What are the names of the restaurants and bars, and what do they mean?

M.V. HJALTLAND

Filska Bar

Filska is high spirited fun, a fitting theme for our forward bar

Shoormal Restaurant

This is the high water mark, or water’s edge and is the name of the self-service restaurant.

Lönabrack Restaurant and Lounge

Lönabrack is the swell and surge of the sea, and is the name of our à la carte restaurant and lounge.

M.V. HROSSEY

Skyran Bar

Skyran is brightly colourful and is the cheerful setting for the forward bar.

Braebrough Restaurant

Part of a headland that is over time being eroded turning it gradually into a rock stack or brough.

Ladeberry Restaurant and Lounge

A flat shelf of rock protruding out into the sea from a headland, making an opportunistic landing place for small boats. (Compare this Orkney word with the Shetlandic Lodberrie – house built out into the sea, providing landing place for boats, courtyard, store and dwelling and often associated with smuggling).

M.V. HAMNAVOE

Brinkie’s Bar, the Hawkfall Lounge and the Breckness Restaurant all reflect locations from the novels of George McKay Brown, the famous author from Stromness.

I have heard there are ‘Club Lounges’, what are they and is there a charge for using them?

There is no charge for using the Lönebrack and Ladeberry Lounges, though they are primarily for passengers who have booked a restaurant table, for pre- and after-dinner drinks. However, at times when the restaurant is quiet the lounge may be used by any passengers as a general quiet area. There is no use of mobile phones or smoking allowed. Use of the lounge is controlled by the head waiter/hotel director.

Are there designated smoking areas?

From Saturday, 4th September, 2004, Smoking onboard is restricted to designated outer deck areas.

Provision has been made for smokers on the aft decks of all vessels, with shelter for use in bad weather.

On the Hjaltland and Hrossey, smoking will be allowed in the following designated areas:

1. Deck 6 Portside outside viewing area – Midships
2. Deck 6 Starboard outside viewing area – Midships
3. Deck 6 Aft outside viewing area at rear of Self Service Restaurant including the two covered sections Port and Starboard
4. Deck 7 Aft outside viewing area above Self Service Restaurant

There is no smoking in any cabin.

Read our "Smoke-Free" policy press release.

What television facilities are there?

The ships are equipped with state of the art gyroscopic satellite dishes that stay on-station throughout the voyage. At various locations throughout the vessels there are large screen televisions, which will be individually tuned to various channels (for example the one bar will show football or other sports whilst another bar may have a general entertainment channel.) Some side lounges have televisions and passengers may request a channel change from any crew member. There are also areas without television, designated as quiet areas.

Will there be live entertainment?

During the summer period there will be, from time to time, live entertainment. We are keen to promote both Orkney and Shetland and this will be reflected in our choices. Also, when there are special events on the islands (Folk or Jazz festivals etc) we will incorporate this into our entertainment themes.

Occasionally we will feature special events, such as local craft exhibitions or product promotions by our food and beverage suppliers.