Take the ferry to Shetland and Orkney NorthLink Ferries sail daily from Aberdeen to Shetland and from Shetland to Aberdeen, sailing every evening and arriving the following morning. No trip to these islands is complete without seeing their famous Shetland ponies, which can be found grazing or roaming the hills. As with most European and U.K.-based cruise trips, flight times from the States are long, so allow yourself an extra day or two in your embarkation city. The music started late and continued late. Have you see the videos on YouTube? Even though it is a large ship and has stabilizers you will feel it is rocking a bit. When you reach Thurso, follow the signposts through the town to the ferry at Scrabster. We are still reluctant to do the boat from Kirkwall to Lerwick, and we are now thinking of taking the ferry from Gills Bay to Orkney but flying between Orkney and Shetland (leaving the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The ferry sails from Lerwick to Kirkwall (and then from Kirkwall to Aberdeen) on a Monday (not in winter), Wednesday, and Friday night. If its a good evening - and mid-summer - then the run up can be glorious, you can stand on an outside deck, watch the coastline or seabirds - and if you choose an Aberdeen Lerwick sailing that comes through Orkney - then you get some great views of the islands as the boat sails into Kirkwall. The crossing operates up to 7 times each week with sailing durations from around 12 hours 30 minutes. Standing on the deck, heading into the 'sooth mooth' of Lerwick Harbour, you can taste the salty sea air on your lips, the freshness of the air on your skin, and you know you've arrived in Shetland. To reach Scrabster the A9 is the road to take. I would have kept to the Mediterranean. original CCTV footage. Compare Northlink Ferries timetables and prices now with all alternative ferry operators before booking your ferry ticket. In addition to the MV Hamnavoe you can sail to Orkney from Aberdeen via the MV Hrossey and MV Hjaltland. North Sea to the British Isles: A typical British Isles cruise lasts anywhere from 12 to 14 nights, and begins in either Southampton or Amsterdam. I think these beautiful islands at the most northerly edge of our Kingdom deserve a little effort to reach. The ferry sails from Lerwick to Kirkwall (and then from Kirkwall to Aberdeen) on a Monday (not in winter), Wednesday, and Friday night. Book you sailing and cabins as soon as you have dates. Book your cabin early - quite expensive I know, but worth it for peace of mind. If you're taking a ferry over to Shetland for Up Helly Aa, make sure you do it on Sunday night before the festival. But, don't let that discourage you from exploring one of the largest city in Scandinavia. Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is among its famous fjords and undoubtedly its best. more. Vikings sailed the North Sea to head westward to pursue better lands and leave their mark. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Your journey begins as you set sail with NorthLink Ferries. Gloandbob - your question is very timely, because I am fresh 'off the boat' in Lerwick this morning, having come home on the direct run up from Aberdeen last night. For those with accessibility requirements, there are cabins, lifts, toilets, and wheelchair access in public areas. A yellow "be aware" wind warning has been issued by the Met Office for Orkney and Shetland with gusts of up to 65mph possible. Northlink also have a connection between Orkney and Shetland, but I haven't had the pleasure yet so can't advise. Liverpool, England. Don't miss Tivoli Gardens, where you can stroll through its grounds and get in touch with your inner child by riding its retro rides and modern roller coasters. Departing Aberdeen at 1700 they stop in Hatston at 2300, before continuing northwards to Shetland again at 2345. Southbound, via the English Channel await the wonders of France and Spain. If you are getting off the ship in Russia, bring your passport with you. NorthLink Ferries connects Scotland with the Isles of Orkney and Shetland, operating 363 days per year and providing the lifeline service to the Northern Isles, with islanders and visitors all using the service. With a charming medieval Old Town and a Georgian New Town (jointly considered a UNESCO World Heritage site), Scotland's capital city is a blend of the ancient and the modern. The trip in May the sea was calm. This website uses cookies to help us process your bookings as well as customise and improve your experience. While some ships travel toward the glacier-carved fjords of Norway or the British Isles, others venture east to St. Petersburg, Russia. This famous seastack is usually the first landmark visitors can tick off their bucket list. just to add the you tube video posted i dont think is shetland aberdeen boat as bar is differant and everything is bolted down and yes if you feel queezy lie down. Gloves and hats might be needed if you are visiting Eastern European countries in the shoulder season. The secret is to get some stugoron from a pharmacy, I also hear doctors prescribe this in a patch form. To help you plan your North Sea voyage, we've put together details on the best time to take a cruise, how to prepare for bad weather and highlights along the more popular routes. Birds, natural history generally, walking, archaeology, local history/culture, music etc etc?? We have previously flown to Shetland several times but this trip was so much more of an experience. Every night, one ship travels from Aberdeen to the Lerwick while the other ship sails from Lerwick to Aberdeen. The "Fair Isle" shipping forecast area is expected to experience very rough or high seas, with winds touching storm force at times. Travel back in time in the gilded palaces and onion-domed churches. Cost for the latter would clearly be more expensive but not that much in the overall scheme of things. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-91790591', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise ship from Britain to Iceland in early autumn of 2016. NorthLink expects to make more announcements tomorrow. Norr na 12,000 GRT and a capacity for 1,050 passengers and 300 cars, and . Cruises usually have an overnight stay, so you can take in as many of the city's attractions as possible, from The State Hermitage Museum (the second-largest art museum after Paris' Louvre), Catherine Palace and Peterhof Palace and Gardens to the impressively restored Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and St. Isaac's Cathedral. "; Northlink's Shetland ferries were damaged in heavy seas last month, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites, How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire, Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit, BBC News Updated every minute of every day, Tourists flock to 'Jesus's tomb' in Kashmir. Come a day or two early to explore the "Venice of the North.". Seemingly the clip abs is referring to is NOT one of the Shetland ferries, but P&Os Pacific Sun (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Whatever you do, delete the Aberdeen to Shetland sailing from your thoughts, it's truly horrendous. I stepped off this ferry yesterday, having had a return trip Aberdeen - Orkney - Shetland on a 10 day cycling tour of The shetlands. Orkney to Thurso we feel we can manage., but the mainland to Shetland and between the two might not be to our liking. A spectacular bit of bad (but unfair) PR? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-53586205', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Flights are definately expensive, but then again any time I've looked into it the ferry fares are pretty pricey too. Alternatively, you may use. The price is 175 each. And we were. Seemingly the clip abs is referring to is NOT one of the Shetland ferries, but P&O's Pacific Sun cruise liner caught in a big storm off new Zealand 2010. The 600-mile-long, 360-mile-wide North Sea features many geological features, with dramatic fjords, inlets and cliffs along the Scottish and Norwegian coastlines, and tidal flood plains and sandy beaches dominating the southern coasts. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Top 10 Seasonal Cruises for British Cruisers, First Cruise to the Norwegian Fjords: Lessons Learned, First Cruise to the Baltic and Northern Europe: Lessons Learned, Like Alaska? It is a perfectly walkable city if you choose to take a self-guided tour. Enter your e-mail address and forename and an e-mail, with your NorthLink Ferries ID and a link to reset your password, will be sent to you. I had only experience from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Travelers from Southampton embark on the North Sea toward the Baltic with stops in Belgium, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Riga, Tallinn, St. Petersburg (with an overnight stay), Helsinki and Stockholm before returning to the initial port of call. The best time for a North Sea cruise is at the height of summer, during the months of July and August, for calmer waters and fantastic, sunny weather. Support your business with world-leading science and technology. The ship's captain may vary the route slightly to account for local conditions. Is the crossing to Shetland rough? The Aberdeen terminal is conveniently located at Jamiesons Quay, in the heart of the city. Can anybody relate their experience please, as to how rough this overnight sea crossing might be? High Faeroes 1042 slow-moving and declining 1035 by midday tomorrow. The sea was a millpond and we had a glorious sunset - it felt more like a cruise than a ferry! Belongings were thrown off shelves but we never ended up on the floor. Heading eastward delivers you to the bustling cities and charming towns of Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia. Cruises in the months of September and October have occasionally encountered weather-related issues resulting in missed ports and diversions. Yes, it can be very rough - north west Scotland, the Orkneys and Shetland Islands are notoriously windy. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. If you have any problems retrieving your ID, please check your Junk Mail and then contact us. If youre looking for more information on the islands then please visit the Your Holiday page. You can also obtain an individual visa ahead of the cruise if you want to embark on non-ship affiliated outings. https://grouptours.northlinkferries.co.uk. Bring layers. Weather has proven to be a major problem for Northlink this winter. If you are going to hire a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Your sea voyage with Northlink will be a safe, luxurious, and enjoyable experience, with the frequency of services and sailing times carefully prepared for your convenience to make travel to the northern isles more simple and enjoyable than ever before. The ferry, with 87 passengers, was due to dock in Aberdeen at 7am on Monday but arrived at the city's harbour several hours behind schedule. April was a very bad storm. Learn how these ambitious young men conquered the planet with their iconic music. Bookings for Unst, Fetlar, Yell, Whalsay . For full details, prices and booking visit the Northlink Ferries website. NorthLink Ferries connects Scotland with the Isles of Orkney and Shetland, operating 363 days per year and providing the lifeline service to the Northern Isles, with islanders and visitors all using the service. and a crewman on a ferry from Aberdeen to Shetland have been taken to hospital after being thrown against bulkheads in rough seas. Itineraries are typically 12 to15 days long (with a few overnights) to accommodate the many wonderful cities and ports of calls in Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Germany and Russia. Shetland Island Ferry - Northlink Aberdeen to Lerwick - YouTube 0:00 / 8:41 Shetland Island Ferry - Northlink Aberdeen to Lerwick Josh Goes Slow 2.74K subscribers Subscribe 14K views 1. The UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant's Causeway, considered the eighth natural wonder of the world, is a must-visit attraction near Belfast. I used to be very ill but two tablets sorts me out. HI! The main ports of call on the North Sea are launching pads for amazing journeys. It was several days I couldn't eat anything. Go in the summer months for a smoother sailing experience in the Atlantic Ocean; you'll even be blessed with the midnight sun during visits to Norway's famed coastline. Need to take into account costs of leaving your car at the airport or taxis to Dyce, as this is twenty pound each way from town. The crossing can get rough as it takes you into open sea. Aberdeen to Lerwick, Shetland ferry - YouTube 0:00 / 13:05 Stormy sailing on the Northlink! Northlink Ferries. The shipping forecast is issued four times a day at 2300, 0500, 1100, 1700 UTC and covers a period of 24 hours from 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC respectively. The Northlink Ferries vessel was being rolled violently in a severe gale. We preferred the Northlink Scrabster to Stromness sailing over the Pentland firth.Although it is slightly longer and more expensive it was so much more comfortable. Take a magical mystery tour through the birthplace of The Beatles. Currently there is just the 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Northlink Ferries. There are several ways to travel to Orkney and Shetland with NorthLink Ferries. AND ONLY one other guy there. Open tickets are valid for up to 12 months from booking date (see ticket conditions). . The provided details are not correct. Please note: Please be aware of any bike racks / roof racks that might affect the overall height of the vehicle. The 2 berth shared male cabins were full, so I booked a 4 berth shared instead. Some cruise lines run Military Tattoo-themed cruises just for the occasion. This is the only ferry crossing to take you past the breathtaking Old Man of Hoy. The 90 minute crossing takes place up to three times a day. Norwegian fjords. Although cruises often set sail during the shoulder months (May, June and September), you are likely to encounter a rougher sea, colder temperatures and rain. I am wondering if the sea would be very rough between Northern Scotland and Iceland ? This is my first ever posting - thanks for any advice! To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. I posted this on the Greenland forum for the same poster: https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-9.45,52.97,427/loc=-12.213,60.953. 10 years ago. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-32177818', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car at Aberdeen airport and flown across (not much difference in price) and if so, were you able to hire a car for the day on Shetland, or is there some other means of getting around? There's no place quite like it. The first sailing of the day is from Stromness to Scrabster and the final sailing is from Scrabster to Stromness at 19:00. . There can be a rough patch where the ferry crosses approaches to the tidal race that becomes the Pentland Firth. Many cruises leave from England's Southampton port for the British Isles or the Norwegian fjords; another popular embarkation port is Amsterdam, with cruises visiting the nations along the Baltic Sea. Bikers of all ages whiz by in the second-most bike-friendly city in the world, so be careful when crossing the streets. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. The passenger injured his ribs and the crewman received a head injury. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-91798875', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland in the windy stakes. With regular sailings for passengers and cars from Scrabster and Aberdeen, travelling to the Orkney and Shetland Islands from the Scottish Mainland is more convenient than ever before. 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So be careful when crossing the streets after being thrown against bulkheads in rough seas same! Of call on the islands then please visit the Northlink Ferries your passport with.! New posts due to inactivity its famous fjords and undoubtedly its best 90 minute crossing takes up! Faeroes 1042 slow-moving and declining 1035 by midday tomorrow the route slightly to account for local conditions the!