Shetland Ferry from Aberdeen: 2026 Orkney Guide

Last updated: 4 November 2026

The Shetland ferry is NorthLink’s overnight sailing from Aberdeen to Lerwick, running every night of the year and calling at Kirkwall in Orkney four nights a week. You board in the early evening and wake up in Shetland at 07:30. For Orkney alone, shorter crossings over the Pentland Firth from Caithness take 70 to 90 minutes.

Quick answer

Aberdeen to Lerwick: nightly, about 12h30 direct or 14h30 via Kirkwall.
Ships: MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey, each carrying up to 600 passengers and 125 cars.
2026 adult fares from £29 one way to Lerwick; cabins and pods cost extra.
Orkney short hops: Scrabster–Stromness (90 min) or Gills Bay–St Margaret’s Hope (about 1h10).
The John O’Groats summer foot ferry no longer runs. Its last season was 2023.

NorthLink routes and ships in 2026

Serco NorthLink Ferries runs the Northern Isles lifeline contract for the Scottish Government. It operates four passenger routes: Aberdeen–Lerwick, Aberdeen–Kirkwall, Kirkwall–Lerwick and Scrabster–Stromness.

The two overnight ships, MV Hjaltland e MV Hrossey, were built in Finland and entered service in 2002. They are 125 metres long. MV Hamnavoe (2003) covers the Pentland Firth route from Scrabster. Her course passes the Old Man of Hoy sea stack on the way into Stromness.

Infographic of 2026 ferry routes to Orkney and Shetland — Main ferry routes to the Northern Isles with indicative 2026 fares.

2026 timetable from Aberdeen

Northbound ships leave Aberdeen at 17:00 on nights that call at Kirkwall and at 19:00 on direct nights. Every sailing reaches Lerwick at 07:30. Southbound, ships reach Aberdeen at 07:00.

Direction	Days via Kirkwall	Partenza	Arrival
Aberdeen → Lerwick	Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun	17:00 (Kirkwall 23:00–23:45)	Lerwick 07:30
Aberdeen → Lerwick	Mon, Wed, Fri (direct)	19:00	Lerwick 07:30
Lerwick → Aberdeen	Mon, Wed, Fri	17:30 (Kirkwall 23:00–23:45)	Aberdeen 07:00
Lerwick → Aberdeen	Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun (direct)	19:00	Aberdeen 07:00

Some winter sailings change between 2 January and 31 March and from 1 November to 30 December. A dry-dock timetable also applies in early 2027. Always check the current timetable.

Ferry at sea off the coast of northern Scotland — The Aberdeen to Lerwick crossing is the longest domestic ferry route in the UK.

Watch: the overnight ferry to Shetland

Fares, cabins and pods

NorthLink prices by season. Low season runs 7 January to 23 March and 1 November to 17 December. Peak runs 15 June to 31 August. The table shows 2026 visitor fares (low / mid / high).

Item (one way)	Low	Mid	High
Adult, Aberdeen–Lerwick	£29.00	£37.00	£44.50
Adult, Aberdeen–Kirkwall	£27.50	£35.00	£42.00
Adult, Kirkwall–Lerwick	£18.55	£21.80	£26.50
Adult, Scrabster–Stromness	£22.10	£23.95	£26.00
Inner 2-berth cabin, Aberdeen–Lerwick	£78	£96	£115
Outer 2-berth cabin, Aberdeen–Lerwick	£99	£139	£153
Premium outer 2-berth, Aberdeen–Lerwick	£136	£176	£190
Car under 6m, Aberdeen–Lerwick	£117	£149	£157

Cabin prices are per cabin, not per person, on top of the passenger fare. A reclining sleeping pod costs £18. NorthLink has also added 18 electric lie-flat seats in Pod Lounge 2 on Hjaltland and Hrossey, at £30 per person. Inner 4-berth cabins suit families. All fares are indicative and change; book cabins early for summer and festival dates.

Freight ships Hildasay and Helliar

NorthLink also runs two freight ro-ro ships, MV Hildasay e MV Helliar, built in Spain and in service since 2010 and 2011. Each has 12 passenger places. These are working cargo ships, not the normal visitor service. They have stood in on the Scrabster–Stromness route when Hamnavoe was out of service. If you want a true freighter experience, ask NorthLink directly whether a berth is available. Do not count on it for a holiday.

Orkney via the Pentland Firth

If Orkney is your only goal, the short crossings from Caithness save a night at sea.

Scrabster–Stromness (NorthLink, Hamnavoe): 90 minutes, two or three sailings each way a day. Scrabster is near Thurso, which has a rail station.
Gills Bay–St Margaret’s Hope (Pentland Ferries): about 1 hour 10 minutes, around three sailings a day. It is often the cheapest way to take a car. Online agents quote car fares from about £100 one way.
John O’Groats–Burwick: this seasonal foot-passenger ferry has stopped. 2023 was its last summer, and the boat was sold in 2025. Older guides still list it.

Infographic showing steps to reach Shetland by train and ferry — From London to Lerwick without flying.

Getting to Aberdeen by train

LNER runs about three direct trains a day on weekdays from London King’s Cross to Aberdeen. The 396-mile trip averages around 7 hours 10 minutes. The ferry terminal is in the harbour, a short walk from Aberdeen station. A morning train from London makes the evening sailing, giving you a rail-and-sea journey to Shetland with no flight.

Coastal scenery in the Northern Isles — Arriving by sea is the classic way to reach Orkney and Shetland.

Watch: a NorthLink round trip to Lerwick

Best time to go

Season	Why go	Watch out for
January–March	Up Helly Aa in Lerwick (last Tuesday of January: 26 January 2027). Rural fire festivals run until March. Low fares.	Winter storms, timetable changes, sell-out cabins on festival nights
April–May	Seabirds return, puffins from late spring, mid-season fares	Cold winds at sea
June–August	Long light evenings, calmer seas, events	Peak fares; cabins and car space book up
September–October	Quieter islands, autumn light, often fair weather	Stronger gales start in late autumn

Consigli

Book a cabin as early as you can. They sell out first, especially around Up Helly Aa and in July.
Choose a Kirkwall-calling night for a late-evening stop in Orkney on the way north.
Split the trip: Aberdeen to Lerwick, then Lerwick to Kirkwall, and home via Stromness and Scrabster.
Bring seasickness remedies in winter. The North Sea and Pentland Firth can be rough.
If a sailing is cancelled for weather, NorthLink usually rebooks you on the next one. Leave slack in your plans.
Check the festive and dry-dock timetables before booking December to March travel.

Domande frequenti

How long is the Shetland ferry from Aberdeen?

About 12 hours 30 minutes on direct nights (19:00 to 07:30) and about 14 hours 30 minutes on nights that call at Kirkwall (17:00 to 07:30).

Which ships run to Shetland?

NorthLink’s MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey run the overnight Aberdeen–Kirkwall–Lerwick route. Each carries up to 600 passengers and 125 cars.

How much does the ferry to Shetland cost in 2026?

Indicative 2026 adult fares from Aberdeen to Lerwick are £29 (low), £37 (mid) and £44.50 (high) one way. Cabins, pods and vehicles cost extra.

Do I need a cabin on the overnight ferry?

No. You can use the lounges, book a reclining pod for £18 or a lie-flat seat for £30. Most travellers find a cabin gives the best sleep.

What is the shortest ferry to Orkney?

Pentland Ferries’ Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. NorthLink’s Scrabster to Stromness takes 90 minutes.

Is the John O’Groats ferry to Orkney still running?

No. John O’Groats Ferries ran its last summer season in 2023 and its boat, Pentland Venture, was sold in 2025.

Want a longer voyage at sea?

If the overnight Shetland ferry has given you a taste for life on board, a freighter voyage takes it further. Tell us where you want to go.

Richiedi un preventivo per il viaggio →

Sources: NorthLink Ferries 2026 timetables and visitor fares; NorthLink route and onboard pages; Pentland Ferries route data via aferry; John O’Groat Journal (2023 and 2025); LNER route page; Up Helly Aa details. Checked November 2026.

About
Latest Posts

Seguimi

Steve Joury

Consulente di viaggio Cargo at Cargoholidays

Appassionato di viaggi lenti e di mare. Steve conosce la maggior parte delle rotte di navigazione e le procedure per scoprire il nostro bellissimo mondo dal mare su una nave container. Ha partecipato a molti viaggi, da 7 giorni di viaggio in cargo a 140 giorni a bordo.