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Booking Advice

A warm Shetland welcome

We have gathered here some of our ‘insider’ tips to help ensure you get the best when travelling to Orkney and Shetland with NorthLink Ferries.

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How to Book with NorthLink Ferries

Booking a sailing to Orkney and Shetland couldn’t be easier. Use the NorthLink Ferries website or app, phone or book in any NorthLink office or port. We hope this film will help you begin your island adventure with NorthLink Ferries!

Do you need a cabin?

Advantages of a cabin

Cabins on board NorthLink ships are modern, clean, spacious and fully equipped with a toilet, shower, and television. Though cabins are not always necessary, it is nice to have somewhere private to lie down, especially on longer journeys. Pet-friendly cabins are also ideal spaces to share with your furry friend.

Aberdeen – Kirkwall – Lerwick

For overnight journeys from Aberdeen to Lerwick, Lerwick to Aberdeen, Kirkwall to Aberdeen and Kirkwall to Lerwick we recommend booking, a cabin, sleeping pod or reclining seat. Sailings from Aberdeen to Kirkwall and Lerwick to Kirkwall depart in the early evening, and arrive at 23:00 so a cabin is not essential.

Scrabster to Stromness

The Scrabster to Stromness journey is only 1½ hours long and operates during daytime and cabins are not available. However, passengers travelling on the first Stromness to Scrabster crossing in the morning, can book a cabin to stay in the evening before sailing, on a bed and breakfast basis. Find out more below.

Executive 2-berth Outside Cabin
Executive 2-berth Outside cabin photo © Copyright Stephen Mercer Productions

Book in advance.

Secure cabin and vehicle space on the sailing that you want by booking early. If you have booked in advance your check-in will be much quicker.

You can book online 24 hours a day, using your credit or debit card or PayPal.

Alternatively, you can call 0800 111 4422 (free from UK landlines and mobiles) to talk to knowledgeable and friendly operators based in Orkney, Shetland, Aberdeen and Caithness.

Cabins – Book your cabin, pod or seat in good time.

Though extra cabins were added to our ships some years ago, there are still sailings between Aberdeen,  Kirkwall and Lerwick where we are fully booked. Book cabins in advance to avoid disappointment. Alternatively, why not try our sleeping pods?

You can also book an overnight cabin for the first Stromness-Scrabster sailing of the day: ask about our B&B offer.

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Double check your onward travel connections.

Check timetables and leave time for planned onward connections whether by coach, train or air.

Pay attention to advertised check-in times.

Whether foot passenger or car driver, customers presenting themselves after the published check-in closure time cannot expect to be allowed to travel.

Have your booking reference number with you at check-in – it helps us to board the ships more quickly and helps you to avoid unnecessary queues.

Taking vehicles.

If you require special assistance or have restricted mobility please let us know in advance. We will do what we can to ease access to the lifts from the vehicle deck or make alternative arrangements for putting your car on board if you would prefer to board over the walkways.

On busy sailings you may be directed to park on the lower car deck. Again, those with mobility restrictions should be aware that there is no lift access from the lower deck and you should let us know if this will create difficulty for you.

Commercial vehicles and towing

Please let us know the nature of the tow and the overall length of vehicle including tow. Towed horseboxes or livestock trailers must be identified and booked in advance.

Vans, pick-ups or towed trailers used for business or carrying goods for commercial purposes must be declared in advance and should travel at commercial rates.

MV Hamnavoe sailing past Hoy
MV Hamnavoe sailing past Hoy photo © Copyright Nick McCaffrey

Sailing information.

We offer up-to-date information on all scheduled sailings on our operational news page online at www.northlinkferries.co.uk and over the phone on 0800 111 4422 (free from UK landlines and mobiles), where you should select option one, followed by the option for the route/departure that you are interested in.

This is particularly important during the winter months where adverse weather can affect sailing times. If you give us email and phone contact details then we can keep you informed of any changes to your scheduled sailing. Where a mobile number is given with your booking, you will be alerted to any changes to your sailing by SMS.

Take out appropriate travel insurance.

There are lots of travel policies offering good value for money for cover for many of the basic risks of travel, including disruption to sailing schedules, knock-on costs of extended delays or cancellations and loss or damage to baggage.

MV Hjaltland - on the back deck
MV Hjaltland – on the back deck photo © Copyright Stephen Mercer Productions

Worried about travel sickness?

We know this is a worry for some passengers. We would generally recommend that you avoid heavy meals or alcohol immediately prior to or during the crossing, and that you try to find a place towards the middle of the ship to reduce the motion as far as possible.

Take a berth if you can, the cabin decks (Deck 5) generally experience less motion than the public areas on Deck 6.

Consider trying travel sickness tablets, they certainly work for some but, as with any medication, you should follow the guidance carefully and seek proper medical advice as appropriate.

Behaviour.

Please note that if you appear under the influence of alcohol (or drugs) you’ll simply not be allowed on the ship.

Header image: A warm Shetland welcome photo © Copyright Stephen Mercer Productions