Welcoming Orkney as the newest member of Cruise Europe, the archipelago situated in the Northern Isles of Scotland, off the north coast of Great Britain, is set to make waves in the cruise industry. Comprising ~70 islands, with 20 inhabited, Orkney boasts Kirkwall as its largest settlement and administrative center.
A significant development is underway at Hatston Pier in Kirkwall, where a major extension is planned for the main cruise berth. Once completed, the berth will stretch to an impressive 685 meters (2247 ft) with a water depth of 10 meters (33 ft). Notably, the new berth is designed to offer fuelling capabilities, including provisions for future fuels, and will incorporate shore power infrastructure.
In 2023, Orkney Harbours introduced a comprehensive booking policy for cruise ships at Hatston Pier and the adjacent Kirkwall Bay Anchorage. This policy provides clear guidelines on the size of vessels that can be accommodated at these locations.
Presently, the available quays and anchorages include Kirkwall Hatston (345m length, 10m depth) and Kirkwall Ro-Ro (157m length, 8.5m depth), both offering a free shuttle bus service to Kirkwall center. Kirkwall North (124m length, 5.4m depth) is within walking distance of Kirkwall center, while Stromness North (148m length, 5.4m depth) provides easy access to the center of Stromness. Lyness Wharf (123m length, 9m depth) and Lyness Golden Wharf (190m length, 5m depth) are also available.
Furthermore, Kirkwall Anchorage is 0.5 nautical miles away, and Stromness Anchorage is 1 nautical mile (1.85 km) from the relevant tender quays. Anchorages are also available at some of the Isles.
Orkney has witnessed a steady increase in cruise calls and passenger numbers, with 2019 recording 158 calls and 132,388 passengers. In the current year, these numbers have risen to 205 calls and 205,543 passengers, and for 2024, an impressive 255 calls are currently booked, with an estimated 250,000 passengers expected to visit.