Olsen predominantly serve the U.K. market. 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. The website will also give you details of some of the small local tour companies which operate here. 90 helpful votes. In June it'll be virtually light all night, so you could find yourself outside admiring the views as the boat sails close by Fair Isle. Northlink Ferries have plenty of routes between mainland Scotland and the North Isles available for booking throughout the entire year. 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. Glad you enjoyed your visit at what can be a very variable time of the year weather-wise. Thank you, staff were also very helpful. 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. Forecast issued: We are in our md 60s and will be driving from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? HI! The 90 minute crossing takes place up to three times a day. Bring layers. Spend a few hours at The Beatles Story, the largest exhibit in the world dedicated to the four famous lads from Liverpool. 77 reviews. High winds aren't constant, and happen less in summer, but 30-40 kph is common enough to barely be noticed, and over 100 kph happens a few times a year. If you were interested in visiting both island groups then perhaps travelling from Aberdeen to Lerwick, then Lerwick to Hatston, and finally Stromness to Scrabster, may be a great way to see everything! If you have any problems retrieving your ID, please check your Junk Mail and then contact us. We left Aberdeen last Saturday and returned yesterday. According to the crew on of those storms they only have once or twice each season. The lumpy bit you experienced between Lerwick and Kirkwall was probably the infamous 'roost' between Sumburgh and Fair Isle. 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. A passenger and crewman on a ferry to Shetland are taken to hospital after being hurt in rough seas. Ferry Timetable - Useful Information Winter Ferry Timetable The Winter Ferry Timetable will operate from 3rd October 2022 to 30th April 2023. Alternatively, you may use. . Good to hear from you Cazinatutu. If you're taking a ferry over to Shetland for Up Helly Aa, make sure you do it on Sunday night before the festival. Every August, the world-famous Military Tattoo takes place against the glorious backdrop of Edinburgh Castle with performances by the British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands. Open the email and follow the instructions to reset your password.If you don't get any email, please check your spam folder. Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is among its famous fjords and undoubtedly its best. Your journey with NorthLink Ferries will be the start of your . Just the gentle ocean rocking. If you are looking to collaborate on any type of project, Id love to hear from you - email me your ideas and hopefully we can work together in the future.#SteveMarsh Norr na 12,000 GRT and a capacity for 1,050 passengers and 300 cars, and . Alfa, you clearly agree with Wendy. The crossing can get rough as it takes you into open sea. Seemingly the clip abs is referring to is NOT one of the Shetland ferries, but P&Os Pacific Sun (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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-91777542', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise ship that will go from the UK and then visit Northern Scotland and then Iceland ( Vopanfjorour) . Support your business with world-leading science and technology. That said, you are talking bout June, when the weather might be better, but there's still a fair risk of high winds. Be prepared with plenty of motion-sickness remedies. What we nob need t o know is whether the 5 nights/4 days in Shetland is sufficient for the major sights. Stay close to Reykjavik to explore attractions such as Hallgrimskirkja Church and The Pearl tour the Golden Circle, with stops at Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Falls and the Strokkur geyser. Directferries.co.uk provides an impartial ferry comparison service allowing you to view numerous ferry company timetables and fares in one quick and easy search. Edinburgh, Scotland. This journey spends little time on the North Sea before crossing the often windy English Channel to visit France and Southern Europe. 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. 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? This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I think we were probably fortunate with the weather for our sailings. 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. 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. Worst crossings I have done were force 10. Bring your passport ashore. Book your cabin early - quite expensive I know, but worth it for peace of mind. Copenhagen, Denmark. This ferry sails up to 6 times a day with the journey only taking 90 minutes and is the only ferry that sails past the iconic Old Man of Hoy. AND ONLY one other guy there. 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. These ships call in at Orkney frequently, arriving in the late evening before sailing on to Aberdeen or Lerwick. Cruise ships offer travelers a unique opportunity to experience the cultural capital of Russia on ship-run shore excursions. In addition to the MV Hamnavoe you can sail to Orkney from Aberdeen via the MV Hrossey and MV Hjaltland. 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. The ferry was almost empty, as expected, very clean and they had sanitiser for the public, which I found very assuring. This website uses cookies to help us process your bookings as well as customise and improve your experience. 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. Past month; https://grouptours.northlinkferries.co.uk. Liverpool, England. April was a very bad storm. Its directly over the road from Union Square Shopping Centre, a five-minute walk from the bus and train stations as well as a ten-minute walk from Union Street. 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. Shetland Islands, Scotland. 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. The latest breakthroughs, research and news from the Met Office. 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. We would perhaps like to include the Shetlands in our trip (from Australia) but have heard that ONE of the ferry crossings is very rough, and makes travellers extremely sea-sick - I am guessing that it could be this one, across the North Sea. 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. I wonder if you made it Shetlands in August. Please update details and try again or contact customer service for further support to retreive new credentials. 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. Bring a jacket, raincoat and warm clothing for shore excursions. The forecast contains details of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts . 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. 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. Amsterdam is a major international hub with connections to many U.S. airports, so getting there should be easy. If you do hire a car, Bolts car hire is a good choice, they will meet you at the plane and you just leave the car at the airport in your return. In answer to the rough sea crossing. Get up close with outfits, original instruments and even John Lennon's spectacles. The ferry travels from Aberdeen to Kirkwall (and then from Kirkwall to Lerwick) on a Tuesday (not in winter), Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night. 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. No trip to these islands is complete without seeing their famous Shetland ponies, which can be found grazing or roaming the hills. Leave time at night to catch the city's world-famous Mariinsky Ballet. Save. 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. The ferry travels from Aberdeen to Kirkwall (and then from Kirkwall to Lerwick) on a Tuesday (not in winter), Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night. Consequently more expensive from airports further South in the country. Even though it is a large ship and has stabilizers you will feel it is rocking a bit. The cultural capital of Russia offers abundant opportunities to immerse yourself in its fascinating history. Go to http://www.shetland.org for some ideas of whats available here if you come back here and let us know, I'm sure you'll get some suggestions for an itinerary which will give you a really good taste of Shetland and encourage you to return for a longer visit. This also gives you a chance to explore at your leisure, relax and fight jet lag before your ocean voyage. The waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas shown on the map. Both have been taken to hospital in Lerwick. Think positive - the sea may be like a millpond for you My wife and I have just done this crossing. 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. 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. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. If you have any problems retrieving your ID, please check your Junk Mail and then contact us. Weather has proven to be a major problem for Northlink this winter. The Aberdeen terminal is conveniently located at Jamiesons Quay, in the heart of the city. Who we are, what we do and organisational news. Take a lovely canal cruise or visit the charming countryside at Zaanse Schans for authentic Dutch culture and beautiful windmills over fields. There can be a rough patch where the ferry crosses approaches to the tidal race that becomes the Pentland Firth. 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 1 Mar 2023 The Shetland Museum & Archives in Lerwick hosts exhibits relating to the original Shetlanders. 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. original CCTV footage. On our return being daylight we had reserved seats and we also had a very enjoyable meal in the restaurant. The crossing operates up to 7 times each week with sailing durations from around 12 hours 30 minutes. Walking is not high on our agenda - myself aged 59 with 2 hip replacements last year. A spectacular bit of bad (but unfair) PR? 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. Heading eastward delivers you to the bustling cities and charming towns of Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia. Please note: Please be aware of any bike racks / roof racks that might affect the overall height of the vehicle. Consider a combination of the two. 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. Hopefully the weather for flying in June should not be to bad, and if booked fairly soon, looks like the overall cost is some 200 cheaper assuming we would need a cabin both ways on the inter island ferry. Iceland. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 17:25 (UTC) on Wed 1 Mar 2023. Are you an Islander?Do you have a NorthLink ID? Not one to normally feel sea sick, I was in for a rough sailing, but how was it?Donate to future trip reports: https://paypal.me/stevemarshyoutube?locale.x=en_GBHi, Im Steve. I've done the trip on the Norrna in April and may. 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. Learn how these ambitious young men conquered the planet with their iconic music. Most cruises start in Amsterdam, with little time on the North Sea, and head to the countries bordering the Baltic Sea. Norwegian fjords. Bookings for Unst, Fetlar, Yell, Whalsay . Afaik flybe fly to Orkney and Shetland from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen as well as Inverness, so it might be worth checking prices from all these airports and structuring your trip to fly from whichever is cheapest (and where you can get the best deal for parking your car?). I've crossed when it has been rough and the boat has been pretty stable. Open the email and follow the instructions to reset your password.If you don't get any email, please check your spam folder. rod Stewart sailing 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. 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. Although the boat is large and stable, this is an ocean crossing and at times it can be rough; do not be too alarmed if you are handed a disclaimer on boarding stating that you are travelling at your own risk! If you have any questions about my journeys or travel advice in general, please drop me a comment - I do my best to respond to every single one. 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. While some ships travel toward the glacier-carved fjords of Norway or the British Isles, others venture east to St. Petersburg, Russia. 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. Shetland measures about 70 miles from Sumburgh Head in the south to Muckle Flugga off the coast of Unst in the north. 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. 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