United Kingdom Port of call
Orkney’s history in Kirkwall’s museums and stone buildings
Confirm whether your ship berths at Hatston or anchors for a Kirkwall tender. The harbour authority treats the berth and tender arrangements separately; save the actual landing and last return.
Option 1
Choose a plan for the stops, food, walking and extra costs. Suggested plans are flexible; use your ship’s all-aboard time to set your return.
Hours and prices checked Oct 6, 2026.
Selected galleries of the Orkney Museum
Selected galleries of the Orkney Museum.
Stops, in order
Your the orkney museum plan
Local tip
Tankerness House is in Kirkwall. The Orkney Museum occupies Tankerness House on Broad Street. Its house name is not an instruction to travel to the separate settlement of Tankerness.
Set a return reminder
Your phone uses its own clock; if it differs from ship time, set the reminder by ship time.
Hours and prices checked Oct 6, 2026.
The Orkney Museum: visitor informationA permitted quiet cathedral interior visit
A permitted quiet cathedral interior visit.
Stops, in order
Your st magnus cathedral plan
Local tip
Use the appropriate entry door. The cathedral identifies the Bishop’s door for wheelchair access. Confirm that route rather than assuming the main entrance answers every access need.
Set a return reminder
Your phone uses its own clock; if it differs from ship time, set the reminder by ship time.
Hours and prices checked Oct 6, 2026.
St Magnus Cathedral: visitor information
An exterior look at the palaces from permitted public approaches
An exterior look at the palaces from permitted public approaches.
Stops, in order
Your bishop’s and earl’s palaces plan
Local tip
Two buildings from different eras. Historic Environment Scotland distinguishes the Norse Bishop’s Palace from the much later Earl’s Palace. Read their different histories from the selected exterior views.
Set a return reminder
Your phone uses its own clock; if it differs from ship time, set the reminder by ship time.
Hours and prices checked Oct 6, 2026.
Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces: visitor informationCount from when you can get off the ship, or ashore by tender, to the all-aboard time, using ship time. Times on these plans are our estimates, with time to spare; they cannot promise a plan fits your sailing.
Short plans need up to 4 hours in total, medium up to 6, long more than 6. A plan with a connection still to confirm has no total.
Select a terminal or place to see its location and open directions.
Open The Orkney Museum in Google Maps
Choose a place for its location, then open Google Maps for directions. Confirm the terminal on your cruise documents; a map result does not establish your ship’s berth or an accessible route.
Confirm the call’s shuttle or other complete town connection from Hatston. A tender landing in town is a different starting point.
Kirkwall (Orkney): passenger arrivalOrkney Islands Council says Mainland public bus services are automatically suspended for the duration of an Amber weather warning. Under a Yellow warning, services are reviewed and may be cancelled at short notice. Check live conditions and Stagecoach updates before a bus outing, then confirm the separate Hatston or tender-landing return. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Orkney Islands Council bus disruption guidanceChoose an optional Kirkwall café after the selected visit. Leave time for service and the actual shuttle or tender return.
Published information checked Oct 6, 2026. Confirm current prices before paying.
Transport
Check the outward and return charge, pickup point, waiting and any shuttle or ferry. Admission does not establish a port transfer.
Kirkwall (Orkney): passenger arrivalAt the stops
Confirm admission, included areas and optional food, drinks, purchases or equipment before paying.
Option 2
Prefer an organized outing in Kirkwall (Orkney)? Browse tours with Viator, then check the exact meeting point, departure, inclusions and cancellation terms before booking.
Tour duration is only part of your time ashore. Allow for getting to the meeting point, early check-in, any transfers outside the tour and your return reserve. Confirm the ship’s clock, all-aboard time and any earlier last tender. These results have not been checked against your sailing.
Search up to one year ahead. Schedules are indicative; confirm available departure times and your group’s final price on Viator.
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Port details
Confirm Hatston or tender. Confirm the call’s shuttle or other complete town connection from Hatston. A tender landing in town is a different starting point.
Kirkwall (Orkney): passenger arrivalOrkney Islands Council bus disruption guidanceOther outings: Plan separately. Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Scapa Flow and a Hoy crossing need separate road or boat connections and a complete return.
Use your actual terminal. Any quoted walk starts at the location named, not automatically at the gangway. Allow for port access, weather and your walking pace.
First steps ashore
Confirm whether your ship berths at Hatston or anchors for a Kirkwall tender. The harbour authority treats the berth and tender arrangements separately; save the actual landing and last return.
Your ship confirms the arrival pier and any tender arrangements for your sailing.
| Location | Area | Passenger detail |
|---|---|---|
| Ship-assigned Hatston berth or Kirkwall tender landing | Ship-assigned Hatston berth or Kirkwall tender landing | Confirm whether your ship berths at Hatston or anchors for a Kirkwall tender. The harbour authority treats the berth and tender arrangements separately; save the actual landing and last return.Kirkwall (Orkney): passenger arrival |
Port hours vary by ship and date in Kirkwall (Orkney). Check your sailing itinerary for scheduled arrival and departure, then the onboard app or daily notice for all-aboard, ship time and any last-tender deadline. Subtract clearance, both transfers and a return buffer before choosing an outing. Scheduled arrival is not your guaranteed time ashore.
Our suggestion: choose one of the three activities below, confirm current entry and both connections, and use your ship’s actual all-aboard or last-tender deadline.
Take your ship card or wearable, the identification specified in the ship’s port briefing, any tour ticket and a way to pay. Save your terminal name, return deadline and ship’s emergency contact offline. Ask whether your original passport is required for this visit; do not assume a phone photo replaces required identification. British pounds (GBP). Confirm the quoted currency, entry and both transport charges before paying. Optional purchases are separate.
Sources checked Oct 6, 2026
Royal Caribbean: shore-excursion documents and planningCarnival: identification when reboardingU.S. Department of State: cruise travel planningPounds sterling: currency informationWait for the ship’s announcement that passengers may go ashore. Follow its gangway, shuttle or tender instructions and any ticketing order. Keep your ship identification ready when leaving and returning. Allow for terminal access checks, queues and security screening before reboarding; tender passengers also need to meet the last return boat.
Sources checked Sep 24, 2026
Carnival: identification when reboardingRoyal Caribbean Group: boarding and port-call screeningA walkable location is not a safety assessment. We have not completed a route-specific security review around Kirkwall (Orkney)’s terminals. Before leaving, check current local or government advice and the ship’s port briefing; ask about your intended route and use recognized transport for unfamiliar areas.
Sources checked Sep 24, 2026
U.S. Department of State: cruise travel planningBritish pounds (GBP). Confirm the quoted currency, entry and both transport charges before paying. Optional purchases are separate.
Currency checked Oct 5, 2026
Pounds sterling: currency informationSkara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Scapa Flow and a Hoy crossing need separate road or boat connections and a complete return.
Explore a selected period of Orkney’s history in Tankerness House. Keep the museum visit in Kirkwall rather than adding Scapa Flow’s separate museum.
The Orkney Museum: visitor informationVisit the open cathedral interior, focusing on the building and memorials. Tower tours, concerts and worship are separate scheduled activities.
St Magnus Cathedral: visitor informationLook at the palace exteriors and the Earl’s Palace façade from open public approaches. This plan does not require interior admission, which must be checked separately.
Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces: visitor informationThe port, beaches and places to explore
87 itineraries in the catalog
Confirm Hatston or tender. Confirm the call’s shuttle or other complete town connection from Hatston. A tender landing in town is a different starting point.
Kirkwall (Orkney): passenger arrivalOrkney Islands Council bus disruption guidanceSources checked Oct 6, 2026
Confirm whether your ship berths at Hatston or anchors for a Kirkwall tender. The harbour authority treats the berth and tender arrangements separately; save the actual landing and last return. Check the terminal comparison above for the different arrival areas.
Kirkwall (Orkney): passenger arrivalSources checked Oct 6, 2026
Other outings: Plan separately. Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Scapa Flow and a Hoy crossing need separate road or boat connections and a complete return.
Our suggestion: choose one of the three activities below, confirm current entry and both connections, and use your ship’s actual all-aboard or last-tender deadline.
Local connections. Confirm the call’s shuttle or other complete town connection from Hatston. A tender landing in town is a different starting point. Weather warnings can suspend island buses. Orkney Islands Council says Mainland public bus services are automatically suspended for the duration of an Amber weather warning. Under a Yellow warning, services are reviewed and may be cancelled at short notice. Check live conditions and Stagecoach updates before a bus outing, then confirm the separate Hatston or tender-landing return. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Kirkwall (Orkney): passenger arrivalOrkney Islands Council bus disruption guidanceSources checked Oct 6, 2026
Take your ship card or wearable, the identification specified in the ship’s port briefing, any tour ticket and a way to pay. Save your terminal name, return deadline and ship’s emergency contact offline. Ask whether your original passport is required for this visit; do not assume a phone photo replaces required identification. British pounds (GBP). Confirm the quoted currency, entry and both transport charges before paying. Optional purchases are separate.
Royal Caribbean: shore-excursion documents and planningCarnival: identification when reboardingU.S. Department of State: cruise travel planningPounds sterling: currency informationSources checked Oct 6, 2026
Port hours vary by ship and date in Kirkwall (Orkney). Check your sailing itinerary for scheduled arrival and departure, then the onboard app or daily notice for all-aboard, ship time and any last-tender deadline. Subtract clearance, both transfers and a return buffer before choosing an outing. Scheduled arrival is not your guaranteed time ashore.
Wait for the ship’s announcement that passengers may go ashore. Follow its gangway, shuttle or tender instructions and any ticketing order. Keep your ship identification ready when leaving and returning. Allow for terminal access checks, queues and security screening before reboarding; tender passengers also need to meet the last return boat.
Carnival: identification when reboardingRoyal Caribbean Group: boarding and port-call screeningSources checked Sep 24, 2026
Local guide checked Oct 6, 2026. New practical guidance carries its own source dates. Published prices, hours and terminal use can change. Our outing suggestions are editorial advice, not cruise-line schedules or return guarantees. Cruise-line links illustrate their own policies; your line’s instructions govern your sailing.
