Hatston Pier
Orkney’s main cruise ship berth; shore excursion coaches park on the pier and a free shuttle runs to Kirkwall Travel Centre.
Kirkwall, Orkney
Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, is the UK's most popular cruise destination, with more than 100 ships a year berthing at Hatston Pier, about 4 km from the town centre. More about Kirkwall →
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Ship schedule by month
October 2026 · from today · all times local (United Kingdom Time)
No more ships are scheduled in Kirkwall this month
Try another month.
Cruise Ships in Kirkwall
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (United Kingdom Time)
Today · Fri 23 OctNo ships
0 people in port
No cruise ships today
Next 7 days
- Fri23 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Sat24 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Sun25 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Mon26 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Tue27 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Wed28 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Thu29 Oct–No ships0 ships
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Kirkwall day.
Planning a day in Kirkwall?
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Where is the Kirkwall cruise port?
Hatston Pier, Orkney’s main cruise berth, is on the north-west edge of Kirkwall, about 4 km (2.5 miles) from the Kirkwall Travel Centre. Kirkwall Pier and the harbour tender landing are in the town centre.
Terminal
Getting to the Kirkwall cruise port
Kirkwall Airport (KOI) → Hatston Pier, Kirkwall
8.3 km · ~12 min by car
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
TransportTypical priceJourneyGood to know
Taxi from Kirkwall Airport
Variesper vehicle
Varies
Metered; no fixed fare.
Bus 4 Kirkwall Airport – Kirkwall Travel Centre, then the free cruise shuttle to Hatston
GBP 2per person
Varies
Approximate fare. Adult single up to about £2 under the Orkney bus fare cap. The cruise shuttle from the Travel Centre to Hatston is free on cruise days.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Driving to the port
Free Orkney Islands Council shuttle between Hatston Pier and Kirkwall Travel Centre (about 7 minutes) from 08:30 on cruise days; the last shuttle leaves town 60 minutes before departure (18:00 for sailings after 19:00). Walking takes 40–60 minutes.
Kirkwall Cruise Terminals
2 terminals
Kirkwall Pier / harbour tender landing
Town-centre pier and tender landing for smaller ships and anchored vessels.
Parking at the Kirkwall cruise port
Port of call: cruise-passenger parking isn't needed.
Where to Stay Before Your Cruise
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Kirkwall town centre
GBP 70–154 / night
Harbourfront hotels near the cathedral and Travel Centre.
Typical hotel
GBP 70–154 / night
Port ~6 minAirport ~7 min
Small-town hotels within walking distance of the shuttle stop.
Hotels here
- Ayre Hotel & Apartments
- Albert Hotel
- Kirkwall Hotel
Eating in Kirkwall
- Casual lunch per person
- GBP 10–40
- per person
- Restaurant dinner per person
- GBP 10–40
- per person
Prices are approximate, in GBP. Breakfast up to about £20.
Where to eat
Kirkwall town centre
Shops and eating places along the main streets around St Magnus Cathedral.
Destination
About Kirkwall
Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, is the UK's most popular cruise destination, with more than 100 ships a year berthing at Hatston Pier, about 4 km from the town centre. Smaller ships may berth at Kirkwall Pier or anchor in the bay and tender passengers straight into the harbour. A free council shuttle runs from Hatston to the Kirkwall Travel Centre, two minutes from the shops and the 12th-century St Magnus Cathedral.
Beyond town lie the Neolithic World Heritage sites of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe, plus the Italian Chapel and Churchill Barriers. Kirkwall Airport is about 12 minutes from Hatston Pier by car.
- Time zone
- United Kingdom Time
- Currency
- GBP
Things to Do in Kirkwall
St Magnus Cathedral
13th-century cathedral dominating the Kirkwall skyline.
Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces
Ruined palaces beside the cathedral in central Kirkwall.
Skara Brae
Neolithic village, part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site (27 km from Kirkwall).
Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness
Neolithic stone circles about 18–19 km from Kirkwall.