The ferry to Shetland from mainland Scotland is NorthLink Ferries' overnight sailing from Aberdeen to Lerwick. It leaves in the early evening, some nights calling at Orkney on the way, and gets into Lerwick the next morning. NorthLink says the route is 216 miles by sea, "which makes this the longest internal ferry route in the UK."
Below I've set out what NorthLink itself says about the timetable, the two ships, cabins and pods, fares, cars, pets and check-in, plus a short section on Shetland's own inter-island ferries from the council's pages. Fares and times are the ones on northlinkferries.co.uk when I checked on 13 November 2026.
Aberdeen to Lerwick: the timetable
NorthLink says there are "nightly sailings to Shetland from Aberdeen every evening on board the MV Hrossey and MV Hjaltland." Every night one ship sails north and the other sails south. One goes direct, and the other "stops off every night at Hatston in Orkney" (Hatston is the ferry terminal outside Kirkwall).
The direct sailing leaves Aberdeen at 19:00. On the nights with the Orkney call, the ship leaves earlier, at 17:00, reaches Kirkwall at 23:00, leaves again at 23:45 and gets to Lerwick at the same time as the direct ship, 07:30. Southbound, sailings arrive in Aberdeen at 07:00.
Which nights call at Kirkwall depends on the time of year. This is NorthLink's 2027 timetable (November and December 2026 follow the same pattern as the winter rows):
| Dates (2027) | Direction | Nights via Kirkwall | Direct nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan – 31 Mar, 1 Nov – 31 Dec | Aberdeen to Lerwick | Thu, Sat, Sun (dep 17:00) | Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri (dep 19:00) |
| 2 Jan – 31 Mar, 1 Nov – 31 Dec | Lerwick to Aberdeen | Wed, Fri (dep 17:30) | Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun (dep 19:00) |
| 1 Apr – 31 Oct | Aberdeen to Lerwick | Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun (dep 17:00) | Mon, Wed, Fri (dep 19:00) |
| 1 Apr – 31 Oct | Lerwick to Aberdeen | Mon, Wed, Fri (dep 17:30) | Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun (dep 19:00) |
The ship pages put the whole journey at "approx. 14 hours (Aberdeen to Lerwick)". You can see the route on my Aberdeen – Lerwick page.
Christmas and New Year. NorthLink's 2026 timetable says there will be no sailings in either direction on Thursday 24 December 2026, Friday 25 December 2026, Thursday 31 December 2026 or Friday 1 January 2027.
Dry dock. Each winter the ships go in for maintenance and NorthLink runs "an amended service". The 2027 dates are MV Hjaltland from Monday 1 to Saturday 13 February and MV Hrossey from Monday 1 to Sunday 13 March. If you're travelling then, check the dry dock timetable before you book.
Orkney. If you want Orkney rather than Shetland, the same ships run from Aberdeen to Kirkwall, and NorthLink's MV Hamnavoe crosses from Scrabster to Stromness. See my Aberdeen – Kirkwall and Scrabster – Stromness pages. NorthLink also sells Kirkwall to Lerwick as a route in its own right.
The direct sailing leaves Aberdeen at 19:00.
The ships: MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey
Both ships entered service on 1 October 2002 on the Aberdeen – Kirkwall – Lerwick route. NorthLink says each "has a capacity for 600 passengers and has 650 lane metres (140 cars) for vehicles." The names are Norse: "'Hjaltland' is the old Norse name for Shetland" and "'Hrossey' is the old Norse name for Orkney."
On board each ship there's the Feast Restaurant, a bar, a shop, a cinema, showers and the Vikling's Den play area for children. NorthLink offers free wi-fi on both ships.
Cabins, sleeping pods and lie-flats
You don't have to book a cabin, but NorthLink says "it is not permittable to sleep on the deck or on bench seating on board", so it encourages you to book at least a sleeping pod or reclining seat. Your options are:
- Reclining seats. You can reserve one when you book if you're travelling without other accommodation.
- Sleeping pods. NorthLink describes these as "a very comfortable reclining seat" in a private lounge. You get a blanket, pillow and eye mask, plus a free shower token and towel.
- Lie-flats. New in May 2026. NorthLink says the lounges have "18 electrically powered seats that convert into 180-degree lie flat position", and they're in Pod Lounge 2. You get the same pack and free shower.
- Cabins. NorthLink says "All cabins have en-suite facilities (including a shower, sink, toilet, soap, shower gel, towels and a hairdryer) and a television." There are inside and outside (sea view) cabins with 2, 3 or 4 berths, plus Premium and Executive cabins, accessible cabins and pet-friendly cabins. Some inside 2-berth cabins have bunks rather than twin beds.
Premium and Executive cabins include access to the Magnus Lounge, with drinks vouchers and a continental breakfast. Anyone else can buy entry to the lounge. If you're not in a cabin, you can buy a shower token for £3 and hire a towel for £2 with a £5 deposit.
NorthLink's booking advice says that even with the extra cabins it has added, "there are still sailings between Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick where we are fully booked", so book cabins early. If you're worried about seasickness, it suggests taking a berth because "the cabin decks (Deck 5) generally experience less motion than the public areas on Deck 6."
Fares: what the Aberdeen to Lerwick ferry costs
NorthLink publishes single fares for low, mid and peak seasons. These are its 2027 Aberdeen to Lerwick fares:
| Single fare, 2027 | Low | Mid | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (16 and over) | £29.50 | £38.00 | £46.00 |
| Child (5–15) | £14.75 | £18.65 | £22.40 |
| Infant (0–4) | Free | Free | Free |
| Car (under 6m) | £120.00 | £153.00 | £161.00 |
| Motorcycle | £31.50 | £35.50 | £38.50 |
| Bicycle | Free | Free | Free |
| Reclining seat | £3.50 | £3.50 | £3.50 |
| Sleeping pod | £18.00 | £18.00 | £18.00 |
| Lie-flat | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 |
| Inner 2-berth cabin | £80.00 | £98.00 | £118.00 |
| Outer 2-berth cabin | £102.00 | £143.00 | £157.00 |
| Premium outer 2-berth cabin | £140.00 | £180.00 | £195.00 |
In 2027 the seasons are: low, 7 January to 23 March and 1 November to 17 December; mid, 1 to 6 January, 24 March to 14 June, 1 September to 31 October and 18 to 31 December; peak, 15 June to 31 August.
If you're travelling this side of Christmas, it's the 2026 low season, when NorthLink's 2026 table shows an adult single at £29.00 and a car at £117.00.
Three rules from NorthLink's fares page matter when you add things up: "A return fare is double the price of a single fare. The driver is not included in the price of vehicles. Cabin prices are per room, not per person." Senior citizens aged 60 and over, people in full-time education and passengers with a disability get "a 10% discount on passenger and vehicle fares."
Kids Go Free. NorthLink's offer lets up to two children travel free on the direct Aberdeen–Lerwick sailings (not the ones calling at Kirkwall) when the booking includes a car and a cabin. NorthLink says it's "open for travel all year round".
Residents of Shetland and Orkney have separate islander fares.
Taking a car, motorbike or bike
NorthLink takes cars (including electric and hybrid), motorhomes, vans, caravans and other towed vehicles, motorbikes and bicycles. It says "electric and hybrid cars and ebikes cannot be charged on board." Bikes go free but you need to add one to your booking. At Aberdeen and Lerwick you check in at the vehicle entrance and wheel it on over the stern ramp.
For safety reasons there's no access to the car decks during the sailing, so take what you need for the night with you. If you'd rather not drive on and off, NorthLink runs a valet service at Aberdeen and Lerwick: it loads your car while you board on foot, and leaves it locked in the terminal car park when you arrive. Valet parking is £26.00 in its 2027 fare table.
On busy sailings you may be sent to the lower car deck, which NorthLink says has no lift access. Let it know in advance if that would be a problem.
Travelling with a dog or other pet
Only support dogs are allowed in the ships' indoor public areas. On MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey you have three choices:
- A pet-friendly cabin. These have vinyl floors, a water bowl on request and a dog treat. On top of the cabin price there's "a £15 supplement for each pet". NorthLink lists one premium outside 2-berth, two outside 2-berth, three inside 4-berth and two inside 2-berth pet-friendly cabins on these ships, so book early. Only one animal can be booked online; you pay for any others at the port.
- A kennel. Kennels are "Located off the car deck" and are heated and ventilated, with water provided. A small kennel is £10.15 and a large one £13.45 in the 2027 fares. Bring bowls and a blanket.
- Your vehicle. Pets can stay in a suitably ventilated car, but on these two ships access to the car deck and kennels is restricted and you must be accompanied by crew, who "may not always be available."
There's no dog lounge on the Aberdeen–Lerwick ships. You can walk your dog on the outside deck, reached by the aft staircase rather than through the passenger areas.
Check-in and arrival
NorthLink's check-in rules for Aberdeen and Lerwick:
- Check-in opens 120 minutes before departure.
- Car drivers are recommended to check in at least an hour before.
- "Check-in closes 30 minutes prior to departure at all ports." NorthLink says you won't be allowed to board after that.
Foot passengers check their bags in at the terminal, where they go on a secure trailer and are taken on board. You can't get at them during the voyage, so keep what you need with you. Once you're on board, NorthLink says you can't go ashore again before sailing: "this is a Marine Law requirement".
The Aberdeen terminal is at Jamieson's Quay, opposite Union Square shopping centre. The Lerwick terminal is on Holmsgarth Road, "1 mile from the town centre", and NorthLink says the walk takes around 20 minutes. There's a bus stop outside.
In the morning, foot passengers can stay on board until 08:30 at Lerwick and 08:00 at Aberdeen, so there's time for breakfast. Drivers have to take their car off when called, but they can park in a breakfast parking area and go back on board.
Food and drink on board
On both ships you can eat in the Feast Restaurant, in the Magnus Lounge or at the Midships bar. NorthLink's menu, "Prices valid from 27th October 2026", lists fish and chips at £13.99 and a full cooked breakfast at £10.99. A child's full cooked breakfast is free with an adult's.
The bar is open "from 17:00 to 00:00 (indirect sailings) and from 18:00 to 23:00 (direct sailings)". Entry to the Magnus Lounge costs £20.00 for an adult single from Aberdeen or Lerwick, and includes tea, coffee, soft drinks, two drinks vouchers and a continental breakfast in the morning.
Getting around Shetland: the inter-island ferries
Once you're in Lerwick, Shetland Islands Council runs the ferries to the other islands. Its fare table runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. An adult return from Mainland to Bressay, Whalsay, Yell, Papa Stour or Skerries (or from Yell to Unst or Fetlar) is £2.80. A vehicle up to 5.50m is £16.50 return, and vehicle fares include the driver.
The council says "fares are only payable onboard our ferries", but you can book in advance to make sure there's space. Bookings for Unst, Fetlar, Yell, Whalsay and Bressay can be made online. Papa Stour, Skerries and Fair Isle have to go through the council's booking offices. For everything else in the region, see my Scotland ferry routes page.
Questions about the ferry to Shetland
How long is the ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick?
It's an overnight crossing. The direct sailing leaves Aberdeen at 19:00 and arrives in Lerwick at 07:30 the next morning. Sailings that call at Kirkwall leave at 17:00 and arrive at the same time. NorthLink's ship pages put the journey at "approx. 14 hours".
Do I need a cabin on the Shetland ferry?
No, but NorthLink says you're not allowed to sleep on the deck or on bench seating. If you don't want a cabin, book a reclining seat (£3.50), a sleeping pod (£18.00) or a lie-flat (£30.00).
How much is the ferry to Shetland with a car?
In NorthLink's 2027 fares, a car under 6m costs £120.00 single in low season and £161.00 in peak, and the driver pays a passenger fare on top. A return is double the single fare.
Does the Shetland ferry stop in Orkney?
Some nights it does. The sailing calls at Hatston, outside Kirkwall, on certain nights of the week. Northbound in winter that's Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and in April to October it's also Tuesday.
Can I take my dog on the ferry to Shetland?
Yes. You can book a pet-friendly cabin (£15 extra per pet), put your dog in a kennel off the car deck, or leave it in your vehicle. Only support dogs are allowed in the indoor public areas.
Is there a ferry to Shetland on Christmas Day?
No. NorthLink says there are no Aberdeen–Lerwick sailings in either direction on 24, 25 and 31 December 2026 or 1 January 2027.
