NorthLink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries sails to Scotland’s Northern Isles: the overnight Aberdeen–Lerwick (Shetland) service, which calls at Kirkwall in Orkney on some nights, and the Scrabster–Stromness crossing to Orkney on MV Hamnavoe (about 1 hour 30 minutes).
NorthLink Ferries Routes
| Route | Crossing Time | Vehicles | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen → Lerwick (Shetland) | 12h 30m – 14h 30m | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
| Scrabster → Stromness (Orkney) | 1h 30m | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
| Aberdeen → Kirkwall (Orkney) | 6h | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
| Kirkwall (Orkney) → Lerwick (Shetland) | 7h 45m | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
NorthLink Ferries sailing patterns
- Aberdeen → Lerwick (Shetland)
One overnight sailing every evening. The direct sailing leaves Aberdeen at 19:00. On sailings that call at Kirkwall (Orkney) it leaves at 17:00. Both arrive in Lerwick at 07:30.
1 April–31 October 2026: northbound sailings call at Kirkwall on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. 1 November–31 December 2026: they call on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. There are no sailings on 24, 25 and 31 December 2026 or 1 January 2027.
Source: NorthLink Ferries timetable page (2026), checked 2026-11-04
- Aberdeen → Kirkwall (Orkney)
1 April – 31 October 2026: departs Aberdeen 17:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, arriving Kirkwall 23:00
1 November – 31 December 2026: Kirkwall calls northbound on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays only. No sailings 24–25 and 31 December or 1 January.
Source: NorthLink Ferries 2026 timetable page, checked 2026-09-29
- Kirkwall (Orkney) → Lerwick (Shetland)
1 November – 31 December 2026: departs Kirkwall 23:45 on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, arriving Lerwick 07:30
NorthLink’s winter timetable for 1 November – 31 December 2026; the ship sails Aberdeen–Lerwick direct on the other nights. Extra festive calls are listed for 22 and 29 December.
Source: NorthLink Ferries 2026 timetable page, checked 2026-11-04
Vessels on these routes: MV Hjaltland, MV Hrossey, MV Hamnavoe
NorthLink Ferries Network Map
4 routes on FerryConnect; 4 carry vehicles; 1 with overnight sailings.
Ports NorthLink Ferries Sails From
Onboard Passenger Amenities
🚗 Vehicle Regulations
NorthLink carries cars and other vehicles on its Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick and Scrabster–Stromness services, as well as foot passengers.
🐕 Pet & Animal Travel Policy
Only assistance and support dogs may use the ships’ internal public areas. Other pets travel in pet-friendly cabins (a £15 supplement per pet), in kennels off the car deck (book in advance) or, on MV Hamnavoe, in the dog lounge (reserve a free place). Pets must be on a lead and not left unattended on the outside deck.
The overnight ferry to Shetland
NorthLink sails from Aberdeen to Lerwick every evening and arrives at 07:30. The direct sailing leaves Aberdeen at 19:00; on nights that call at Kirkwall in Orkney it leaves at 17:00. Between 1 April and 31 October 2026 the Kirkwall calls are on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Dogs on NorthLink
Pets cannot use the internal public areas (assistance and support dogs excepted). Choose a pet-friendly cabin, with vinyl flooring, a water bowl and a dog treat, for a £15 supplement per pet; a heated kennel off the car deck, booked in advance; or, on MV Hamnavoe (Scrabster–Stromness), the dog lounge on Deck 6, where you can reserve a free place. Foot passengers using the kennels report to reception on Deck 5 and are escorted down.
NorthLink Ferries FAQs
Can I take my dog on the ferry to Shetland?
Yes. On NorthLink’s Aberdeen–Lerwick ships dogs travel in a pet-friendly cabin (£15 supplement per pet) or a kennel off the car deck, booked in advance. Only assistance and support dogs can use the internal public areas.
What time does the Aberdeen to Lerwick ferry leave?
At 19:00 on direct sailings and 17:00 on sailings that call at Kirkwall, arriving in Lerwick at 07:30.
Checked 2026-10-02 against: NorthLink: travelling with pets · NorthLink: timetable · NorthLink: routes, times and prices. Policies change; confirm with the operator before booking.