Operational News
- NORTH ISLES EXCURSION DAYS - SUNDAY 15TH JUNE09/06/2025 16:58
This Sunday we will have the 2nd of 6 Sunday Excursion days to our Outer North Isles
This excursion takes passengers from Kirkwall, Eday and Stronsay to Papa Westray
The timetable for this excursion is as follows:
-Depart Kirkwall: 08:40
-Arrive Eday: 09:55
-Depart Eday: 10:05
-Arrive Stronsay: 10:40
-Depart Stronsay: 10:50
-Arrive Papa Westray: 12:25
-Depart Papa Westray: 12:35
-Arrive Pierowall: 13:00
-Depart Pierowall: 15:10
-Arrive Papa Westray: 15:35
-Depart Papa Westray: 15:45
-Arrive Stronsay: 17:20
-Depart Stronsay: 17:40
-Arrive Eday: 18:15
-Depart Eday: 18:25
-Arrive Kirkwall: 19:40
All bookings must be made at least 1 hour before departure
- EASTSIDE SAILINGS – THURSDAY 12TH JUNE08/06/2025 09:49
We would like to advise customers that due to the Earl Sigurd being taken out of service for planned maintenance, sailings to Stronsay, Sanday & Eday on Thursday 12th June will now be as follows:
Morning
- Depart Kirkwall – 07:00
- Depart Stronsay – 08:50
- Depart Sanday – 09:35
- Depart Eday – 10:05
- Arrive Kirkwall – 11:20
Afternoon
- Depart Kirkwall – 15:20
- Depart Eday – 16:45
- Depart Sanday – 17:15
- Depart Stronsay – 18:00
- Arrive Kirkwall – 19:40
For the latest updates, head to our social media feeds.
- EARL SIGURD PLANNED MAINTENANCE - THURSDAY 12TH JUNE05/06/2025 16:26
Due to planned maintenance of the engine controls on the Earl Sigurd, we will need to take the vessel out of service on Thursday 12th June.
We will be contacting those passengers already booked for the Eday, Sanday and Stronsay services tomorrow to advise of changes to sailing times on 12th June once these are agreed.
We have locked the sailings for any new bookings, to allow us to schedule new sailing times and rebook those that already have confirmed space, and we will advise when this is complete.
The Nordic Sea foot passenger service to Stronsay, Sanday and Eday remains open for bookings.
- ADDITIONAL FOOT PASSENGER SERVICE – MONDAY 2ND JUNE – SUNDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER21/05/2025 08:28
We would like to advise customers that the Nordic Sea will be providing an additional foot passenger service between Kirkwall and Stronsay, Sanday & Eday from the 2nd June to 28th September.
The timetable for this service can be found here - Orkney Ferries | Timetables and Fares
All passengers wishing to use this service must book and make payment in advance of travel.
- PIEROWALL/PAPA WESTRAY SERVICE - FRIDAY AM SAILINGS20/05/2025 15:30
In response to customer feedback, and to facilitate onward travel from Westray we have replaced the 07:30 departure with a 07:00 and a 08:00 departure on the above route.
The sailing times will be as follows:
- Depart Pierowall 0700
- Arrive Papa Westray 0725
- Depart Papa Westray 0730
- Arrive Pierowall 0755
- Depart Pierowall 0800
- Arrive Papa Westray 0820
- Depart Papa Westray 0825
- Arrive Pierowall 0850
For more information on our timetables, please see Orkney Ferries | Timetables and Fares
- ROUSAY EGILSAY & WYRE SERVICE – LATE EVENING SAILINGS SUMMER 202509/04/2025 11:19
We are pleased to be able to offer three late sailings over the summer period for Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre
These are scheduled for Saturday 14th June, Saturday 12th July and Saturday 9th August.
Sailing times will be as follows:
- Depart Rousay 22:00
- Depart Tingwall 22:35
- Depart Rousay 23:10 – on request
- Depart Wyre 23:20 – on request
- Depart Egilsay 23:40 – on request
- Arrive Rousay 23:55On request sailings must be booked and paid in advance either over the phone or online.
News
- PREBOOKING ADVISEMENT– ALL SERVICES01/04/2025 09:00
We would like to remind customers that it is advisable to book all journeys even if you are travelling as foot passengers without vehicles.
We have recently noticed a large influx of foot passengers on our services. Prebooking avoids disappointment and ensures customers are guaranteed their space onboard.
This is particularly important as we move into our busiest time of year.
- We would like to encourage our passengers to book travel as far in advance as possible -
You can make bookings online - Orkney Ferries, or you can phone any of our offices to make your bookings - Orkney Ferries | Contact Us.
- HOUTON SERVICE – LIMITED CAR PARKING FACILITIES01/04/2025 09:00
We would like to remind customers as we move into our busiest time of year, there are limited car parking facilities at our Houton terminal.
To avoid disappointment, where possible we would like to encourage passengers wishing to travel from Houton as foot passengers to make use of the ample long stay car parking facilities in Kirkwall and to utilise bus services from Kirkwall & Stromness that go directly to the Houton terminal.
- Further information on car parking facilities can be found here - Parking and Car Parks (orkney.gov.uk).
- Further information on the bus timetables can be found here (Service 2 & Service 5) - Bus Services (orkney.gov.uk).
- TELEGRAM SERVICE01/06/2023 08:55
Orkney Ferries offer customers a way to receive disruption and cancellation messages to a smart phone or computer via Telegram.
Telegram is a free and simple messaging app with a focus on speed and security.
You can use Telegram on smartphones, tablets, and even computers. It’s very easy to use and only requires a name and mobile phone number to create an account.
To receive updates from please download the Telegram app from your app store, set up your account and then return to this page and select our unique link, which you can access by clicking here - Orkney Ferries Telegram Channel
Once on the channel you will be messaged with any updates on disruptions or cancellations in real time.