Kirkwall Cruise Port Guide
United Kingdom · in-depth port guide, sources shown throughout
Across United Kingdom — laws, safety & health
National rules and risks that apply anywhere in United Kingdom — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.
Laws that catch visitors out
- Drink-driving is a serious offence: driving over the limit can mean 6 months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine and a driving ban of at least 1 year.
Drones
Drones are regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). To fly a drone weighing from 250g up to 25kg you need both a Flyer ID (a free online test) and an Operator ID (registration, labelled on the drone); a drone from 100g to under 250g with a camera still needs an Operator ID. Never fly higher than 120m (400ft) and follow the Drone and Model Aircraft Code. Register with the CAA before flying.
via UK Civil Aviation Authority — Drone and Model Aircraft Code · 28 Jun 2026
Health hazards
Tap water is safe to drink throughout the UK (use the kitchen cold tap), so there is no need for bottled water. The main outdoor risk is tick bites in long grass and woodland, which can occasionally transmit Lyme disease; the NHS advises covering exposed skin and using insect repellent in such areas and removing any attached tick promptly with fine-tipped tweezers.
via NHS — Lyme disease / drinking water guidance · 28 Jun 2026
Relayed from GOV.UK — drink-driving penalties · checked 24 Jun 2026
Traffic drives on the left. Look right first when you cross the road.
Docking & terminals in Kirkwall
Ships may berth at Hatston Pier or Kirkwall Pier, or anchor in Kirkwall Bay with tenders providing transport.
- Hatston Pier — 4km (2.5 miles) (Complimentary shuttle bus to Kirkwall Travel Centre; 7-minute journey.)
- Kirkwall Pier (Passengers disembark right in the heart of town, close to shopping areas and restaurants.)
- At anchor in Kirkwall Bay (tender) (Tenders run into Kirkwall Harbour, where the authority says you "disembark right in the heart of the town, only a short walking distance from local shopping areas and restaurants". It states no distance figure for this, so none is given.)
Mobility & step-free access
Getting around between the pier and town:
- Bus — Serves residential areas and includes Scapa beach.
- Taxi — Should be booked well in advance.
Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.
Heading back at the end of the day: Kirkwall has three different arrival modes and they are not interchangeable: Hatston Pier is about 4km (2.5 miles) out and depends on the free shuttle, while Kirkwall Pier and the tender landing both put you in the town centre. Note which one you came from — walking back in from Hatston takes 40 minutes to an hour, and the last shuttle leaves 60 minutes before the ship sails.
Cruise lines don’t always tell you which pier you’re on, and it’s easy to forget once you’re ashore. As you leave the ship, note or photograph your pier’s name — then give your taxi that exact pier (or your ship’s name) for the trip back.
Your exact pier is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship’s daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.
Getting around & must-sees in Kirkwall
Getting around
Visitors can explore Kirkwall on foot, use local buses, or book taxis in advance.
- Walk
- Bus — Serves residential areas and includes Scapa beach.
- Taxi — Should be booked well in advance.
Must-see sights
- St Magnus Cathedral — Begun in 1137 and dedicated to Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney.
- Bishop's and Earl's Palaces
Getting back to the pier
- Bus — Wait at Kirkwall Travel Centre or a safe point and hail the driver.
Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.
Local know-hows in Kirkwall
Money
- Currency
- Pound sterling (£)
- Cards
- Card and contactless payment are accepted almost everywhere in Britain; cash in pounds sterling is also fine for small purchases.
- ATMs
- Cash machines (ATMs) are widely available in the city centre; cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere.
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in Britain the way it is in some countries — staff must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage — but it is polite for good service. In restaurants a 10–15% tip is usual if a service charge has not already been added; for taxis it is normal to round up to the nearest pound or add 10–15%.
Practicalities
- Language
- English is the everyday language.
- Tap water
- Tap water here comes from the public water supply, which in Scotland is run by Scottish Water. Scottish Water says it is "required to meet strict health based standards laid down in The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014" and that it "regularly test[s] the water quality at our treatment works and at customers’ taps to ensure it meets the standards required". Quality is independently regulated by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQR), a separate body, which says it "exists to ensure that drinking water in Scotland is safe to drink".
- Plugs
- The UK, including Scotland, uses the Type G three-rectangular-pin plug (fused); mains supply is AC 230V (220/240V), 50Hz. Bring an adaptor for non-UK equipment.
Key facts to know before you step off — confirm anything time-sensitive locally.
Port busyness in Kirkwall
Moderately busy
Kirkwall can feel crowded due to limited pier space and reliance on tenders.
Peak pattern: Busiest when multiple ships call, leading to shuttle bus demand.
- Limited pier capacity
- Tender transport required
- Central location
This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.
What we’ve checked in Kirkwall — and when
We last checked the facts on this page on 7 Aug 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.
- Docking & getting ashore
- Verified by The Excursion Edit · 7 Aug 2026
- Getting around
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 7 Aug 2026
- How busy it gets
- Verified by The Excursion Edit · 7 Aug 2026
- Travel advisories
- FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically