The Orkney Nature Festival Cruise on MV Hamnavoe took place on Sunday 12th May 2024, between 13:15 to 16:15 and saw 400 passengers board the ship to circumnavigate the island of Hoy.
In previous years, the cruise has marked the end of the Orkney Nature Festival. However, in 2024, the cruise was used to kick off the festival and promote the other great Orkney Nature Festival events. Running for the first time since 2019, it was a great day out with a fantastic atmosphere onboard, and passengers were treated to a delicious buffet, tastings of Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin, a wildlife and history commentary, and some spectacular sights.
The Hamnavoe sailed clockwise around Hoy, taking in Graemsay, Cava, Fara, Flotta, Switha, Cantick Head, The Berry, Little Rackwick, The Old Man of Hoy and St John’s Head. There was even time to enjoy a brief stop in Rackwick bay! Plenty of seabirds flew past the ferry, and a minke whale was briefly spotted.
Keep scrolling down for photos of the day – and thank you to everyone who joined and made the cruise so special!
In September 2024, Serco NorthLink Ferries celebrated seafarers for Merchant Navy Day and supported one of our wonderful colleagues as well as the RNLI Lerwick Lifeboat with fundraising efforts. Click to find out more about what we got up to this month.
It has been another busy month at NorthLink Ferries as the summer season comes to an end. This month, we hosted some special events, welcomed some special guests onboard and supported one of our employees who is raising money for charity.
Serco NorthLink Ferries' customers were spellbound by Orkney’s own fiddle-led folk band FARA as the band illuminated St Magnus Cathedral during a free concert on Friday evening.