I am wondering if the sea would be very rough between Northern Scotland and Iceland ? Aberdeen to Lerwick, Shetland ferry SteveMarsh 49.8K subscribers 597K views 3 years ago #SteveMarsh. These ships call in at Orkney frequently, arriving in the late evening before sailing on to Aberdeen or Lerwick. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. more. Although fares might be lower during the shoulder seasons, keep in mind that the itinerary might be subject to last-minute changes and you could experience more ship movement. Currently there is just the 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Northlink Ferries. The ferry service is an overnight crossing, leaving Aberdeen at 7pm (or 5pm) and arriving in Lerwick at 7:30am. 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 1 Mar 2023. 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. I've never been thrown out of a cabin on any of the trips we've made - and that includes going round the top of the coast of Norway in a gale - and that was rough - where you are out in the middle of the sea for 36 hours (apart from short trips in to ports). A 10% concessionary discount on passenger and vehicles fares is available to senior citizens (aged 60 years and over), to adults aged 16 or over in full-time education and to disabled passengers. When the boat sails, theres always an announcement by the Captain about safety etc - and he'll say what the conditions are going to be like. The "Fair Isle" shipping forecast area is expected to experience very rough or high seas, with winds touching storm force at times. I can't agree with previous posts that this overnight run is 'truly horrendous' - it really does depend on perceptions, how good a sailor you are, whether you are prepared to take 'precautions' (ie, get a cabin and take anti-seasickness medication if you are inclined to sea-sickness)- and the weather of course. Two attempts were made to dock at Aberdeen Harbour but. I had trouble even opening the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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. Seemingly the clip abs is referring to is NOT one of the Shetland ferries, but P&Os Pacific Sun (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? NorthLink expects to make more announcements tomorrow. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now. There are only a limited number of cabins on the ship and they do book up quickly. Consequently more expensive from airports further South in the country. Wanted to feel solid ground under your feet, but it tossed anyway. (The Summer Timetable will operate from Monday. Get up close with outfits, original instruments and even John Lennon's spectacles. The forecast contains details of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts . 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. The ferry travels from Aberdeen to Kirkwall (and then from Kirkwall to Lerwick) on a Tuesday (not in winter), Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night. The 90 minute crossing takes place up to three times a day. Glad you enjoyed your visit at what can be a very variable time of the year weather-wise. Filio Tei, Download the Direct Ferries app or manage your booking online through My Account, Visit our customer service page to find useful information on travelling by ferry, our FAQs, and how to contact us for help with your booking, Be the first to hear about the best ferry offers, The quickest way to make & manage your booking. Large cruise ships do have effective stabilizers. Relax on the 12-13 hour journey in the comfort of a cabin, sleeping pod or reclining chair and make use of facilities, like the restaurant, bar and cinema. Open the email and follow the instructions to reset your password.If you don't get any email, please check your spam folder. With some of the worlds oldest architecture and magnificent archaeological sites, rich culture, festivals, breath-taking coastlines and fascinating wildlife - Scotlands Northern Isles are the perfect destination for you to discover. Culswick Circular Walk, West Mainland of Shetland, Jarlshof to Sumburgh Head & Grutness Circular, Hillswick - Heylor, North Roe and Isbister, Mid Yell - North Yell (Gutcher, Cullivoe and Gloup), Walls - Culswick, Westerwick and Easter Skeld, Perez trail: Scalloway, Trondra and Burra. 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-53584920', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Flights with FlyBe are anywhere between 150 and 200 return pp from Inverness to Lerwick. Please note: Please be aware of any bike racks / roof racks that might affect the overall height of the vehicle. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Re: ferry crossing from Aberdeen to Lerwick. Bikers of all ages whiz by in the second-most bike-friendly city in the world, so be careful when crossing the streets. Bookings for Unst, Fetlar, Yell, Whalsay . Gale warnings are issued as required throughout the day (for winds of Gale Force 8 or more). I would have kept to the Mediterranean. Homeward sailing early evening from Lerwick to Kirkwall and after a few days on Orkney we took the Pentland Firth sailing from St margaret Hope to Gills bay. Ferry to Shetland in very rough seas. Plenty to see on both and they're quite different. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt. NorthLink Ferries also sail from Scrabster on the north coast of Scotland to Stromness in Orkney. Compare Northlink Ferries timetables and prices now with all alternative ferry operators before booking your ferry ticket. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-53636986', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car at Orkney airport and hiring or using tours in Shetland). No trip to these islands is complete without seeing their famous Shetland ponies, which can be found grazing or roaming the hills. In 1472 the Scots annexed both Shetland and Orkney. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Both routes were a little bit bumpy. The ferry was almost empty, as expected, very clean and they had sanitiser for the public, which I found very assuring. 01595 745804. ferrybooking@shetland.gov.uk. https://grouptours.northlinkferries.co.uk. Can anybody relate their experience please, as to how rough this overnight sea crossing might be? I've done the trip on the Norrna in April and may. original CCTV footage. The ferry sails from Lerwick to Kirkwall (and then from Kirkwall to Aberdeen) on a Monday (not in winter), Wednesday, and Friday night. Legend has it that giants strode over the sea to Scotland using the columns. 90 helpful votes. Here are some port highlights you are likely to come across on a North Sea cruise. I'll close by saying that as an islander (and an average sailor), I often chose to take the boat rather than fly - and I'm glad I did last night because (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Direct Ferries Limited has its registered address at Direct Ferries Ltd, 2-3 Three Rivers Business Centre, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP10 0BF, United Kingdom. Nature-lovers will adore the wildlife found on the Shetland Islands, located between mainland Scotland and Norway in the North Atlantic. Are you an Islander?Do you have a NorthLink ID? Where do you go when the weather is so bad that you can't even leave the cabin? 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? Following the English coastline north from Southampton, you'll reach Scotland's major cities, lovely islands and fascinating ports of call along the coasts of the U.K. and Ireland. The day we spent on Orkney before our night sailing to Shetland was incredibly windy. Past month; Russia uses the ruble, but if you don't have time to exchange currency and still want to purchase some Russian dolls, there are shops by the cruise terminal that accept foreign currency or credit cards. But, don't let that discourage you from exploring one of the largest city in Scandinavia. 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. 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. The ship sailed within view of Scotlands north coast, then crossed to the Faroe Islands, and from there to Iceland. You'll Love an Iceland Cruise, How to Get Over Jet Lag Before Your Cruise, if you want to embark on non-ship affiliated outings. 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 1 Mar 2023 Embark in Amsterdam. As well as the assorted proprietary medicines, chewing crystallised ginger is supposed to be good for sea sickness. 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. The trip in May the sea was calm. They're a pretty good deal that way cause you don't need a lot of miles and I believe most of them are exempt from APD too. The ferry travels from Aberdeen to Kirkwall (and then from Kirkwall to Lerwick) on a Tuesday (not in winter), Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos This also gives you a chance to explore at your leisure, relax and fight jet lag before your ocean voyage. Alfa, you clearly agree with Wendy. A 10% concessionary discount on passenger and vehicles fares is available to senior citizens (aged 60 years and over), to adults aged 16 or over in full-time education and to disabled passengers. If you are just looking to relax, head to the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa for a wonderful Icelandic escape against a stunning backdrop. They take cruisers to the British Isles, Norwegian fjords, Scandinavian highlights and some even go as far as Russia. To be honest, 4 days is not long at all, especially if you want to visit some of the north isles - Yell, Unst, Fetlar or other islands for that matter Do you have any particular interests? In addition to the MV Hamnavoe you can sail to Orkney from Aberdeen via the MV Hrossey and MV Hjaltland. The boat seems to roll, and so at worst you slip down the bed a bit! I had only experience from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. 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. Both crossings were fine although it was a little choppy coming back between Lerwick and Kirkwall but we were in our cabin by then almost asleep so it wasn't an issue. The waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas shown on the map. April was a very bad storm. We took a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? While the bar has been closed onboard both the Hrossey, NorthLink are warning of delays on sailings as a result of the windy weather. If you select an itinerary that mainly travels from the North Sea to the Baltic countries, you have the option of traveling during the shoulder months of May and September. It shows live wind speeds around the planet (quite fascinating, really). I've crossed when it has been rough and the boat has been pretty stable. For those with accessibility requirements, there are cabins, lifts, toilets, and wheelchair access in public areas. The sea connects with the English Channel in the south, the Norwegian Sea in the north and acts as a gateway to the Shetland and Faroe Islands. The Northlink Ferries vessel was being rolled violently in a severe gale. Think positive - the sea may be like a millpond for you My wife and I have just done this crossing. 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. Lots of comments on the clip to that effect. The forecast contains details of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts containing wind direction and force, sea state, weather and visibility. Please update details and try again or contact customer service for further support to retreive new credentials. Aside from the weather, something peculiar happens where two or more different currents converge in the North sea somewhere off the north eastern cape and it's extremely uncomfortable. Find the best deals by comparing ferry companies. View 2023 timetables | View 2023 fares | View the 2023 NorthLink Ferries guide | Orkney Nature Festival Cruise. When we arrived in Iceland I took the flight home instead. BBC NEWS CHANNEL . This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. 77 reviews. Well, we can get 'blips' weather-wise, but generally the sea conditions are fine then. Please update details and try again or contact customer service for further support to retreive new credentials. Get answers to your questions about Shetland Islands. Yes, if the weathers poor then it can be pretty uncomfortable, but if the forecast is too bad, then the boat won't sail anyway. Alternatively, has anyone left their (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Free shipping for many products! We have previously flown to Shetland several times but this trip was so much more of an experience. The price is 175 each. Would be grateful for any advice. Ferries depart all year round, seven nights a week in both directions on the Aberdeen-Lerwick route, with three calls a week at Kirkwall, Orkney, en route. Cruise ships offer travelers a unique opportunity to experience the cultural capital of Russia on ship-run shore excursions. Ferry Timetable - Useful Information Winter Ferry Timetable The Winter Ferry Timetable will operate from 3rd October 2022 to 30th April 2023. Be prepared with plenty of motion-sickness remedies. Bring your passport ashore. Gliding between steep mountainsides past cascading waterfalls from the comfort of your stateroom balcony is an absolute dream. I pay for my own travel and produce my own videos. in the summer of 2019 , I am considering taking a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Home is Shetland, so I've had the joys of Northlink on many trips. Northlink also have a connection between Orkney and Shetland, but I haven't had the pleasure yet so can't advise. Other cruise ports include Bergen, Stavanger (known for Pulpit Rock, popularized by Tom Cruise in "Mission Impossible"), Alesund (where you can cruise to Hjorundfjord) and Flam (for a lovely train ride in the heart of the Aurlandsfjord). Which is exactly the most northerly pub in the Shetlands. BBC News Updated every minute of every day. Suggestions - the Aberdeen ferry serves both Orkney and Shetland. Bordered by Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain, the North Sea is a shallow, marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean and sees quite of bit of cruise traffic. The passenger injured his ribs and the crewman received a head injury. Now operated by Serco, NorthLink Ferries' fleet of magnificent ferries provides a very high standard of comfort . Yes, it can be very rough - north west Scotland, the Orkneys and Shetland Islands are notoriously windy. Especially when you may have been blissfully asleep up to that point. We had a dog with us so wouldn't have considered the sailing from Aberdeen anyway. The Met Office initiates warnings and prepares routine forecasts for dissemination on behalf of the MCA. Cruising the North Atlantic can be rough, with the ship enduring sustained motion, despite stabilizers. The weather was very cold and windy, and yes, there was pretty sustained motion for the voyage. North Sea to Norwegian fjords: Cruise lines sail from Southampton or Bergen, Norway, for the mystical Norwegian fjords. 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. If you depart from Southampton, expect to travel the North and Irish seas, with stops in destinations such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Liverpool, Guernsey and Normandy before returning to Southampton. I've likened it to being the human equivalent of a pea in a whistle ! Enjoy a journey like no other before arriving at your destination feeling refreshed and ready to begin your Orkney and Shetland island adventure. If you have any doubt - ask one of the staff what its going to be like - they will know, they do it all year round! On trips to the British Isles and most of Europe, you might need pounds, euros, or even dollars in some cases. The ship's captain may vary the route slightly to account for local conditions. Bring layers. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Caution: The internet is not part of the Maritime Safety Information system and should never be relied upon as the only means to obtain the latest forecast and warning information. Shetland Islands. Now operated by Serco, NorthLink Ferries fleet of magnificent ferries provides a very high standard of comfort while meeting and exceeding all the latest safety requirements. This journey spends little time on the North Sea before crossing the often windy English Channel to visit France and Southern Europe. Dont eat fatty food, have a pint , take a sleeping pill and go to bed early. Never again. 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