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VisitShetland, Market Cross, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0LU, UK
Welcome to Shetland
By Cruise Ship
Shetland is a popular cruise ship destination, with visits throughout the islands all year. Popular ports of visit include Lerwick, Fair Isle and Scalloway.
Map showing Shetland, at the centre of the North Atlantic cruising routes.
One of the busiest hubs, Lerwick Harbour welcomes up to 25,000 cruise passengers to Shetland a year. It has long been a port-of-call for cruise ships which have arrived in record numbers over the last decade. With nearly 50 ships in a single season, Lerwick is one of Scotland's top cruise ship destinations.
It is ideally located as a midway port on cruises between Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Norway and the Scottish mainland and Europe.
Cruise ships up to 205 metres in length can berth alongside at the Port. Larger ships anchor in Bressay Sound, with passengers just five minutes by launch from a floating pontoon in a sheltered dock close to the town centre. The small 1.7 metre tidal range facilitates transfer.
Harbour view
In 2006 the Lerwick Port Authority installed a much larger pontoon system for tenders from the largest cruise ships that are at anchor in the sheltered harbour. This improved the speed of transfer and provides a safe dedicated area for assembly of cruise passengers. On days not used by cruise ships tenders, the new pontoon is available to expand berthing for yachts that already enjoy modern pontoon berthing equipped with integral water and electricity points across the street from the town centre.
In addition, Lerwick Port Authority supports an initiative launched in 2004 by VisitShetland whose representatives go on board each cruise ship to provide a 'meet and greet' welcome and information to passengers. This successful project was extended in 2005 and 2006 and will continue in 2007 to include a welcome in the Town Centre by local guides in costume, together with musicians playing tradition music on the quayside on arrival of tenders ferrying passengers ashore and coaches transporting passengers from ships berthed at the Port's Holmsgarth facility which is approximately 1Km from the Town Centre.
Around 460 yachts a year call at Lerwick with many of the crews exploring Shetland's 900 miles of coastline, while long-established events bring yachts from numerous clubs, including Norway and Holland.
Useful Information:
Lerwick Port Authority provides a list of all the scheduled cruise ships visits for the year here: LPA Cruise Ship List (PDF document)
Advertising Feature
2009 Wildlife Holidays In Shetland
Shetland offers the best wildlife-watching in Scotland - FACT.
Over a million breeding seabirds, the highest density of Otters in Europe, regular sightings of Killer Whales and superb displays of rare sub-arctic flora. Our award-winning holidays offer everything from fully guided wildlife weeks and long weekends, dedicated birdwatching holidays plus photographic, walking and insight holidays.
Visit our extensive website www.shetlandwildlife.co.uk or call Shetland Wildlife on 01950 422483 for a choice of over 30 holidays!
Feature
2008 Photo Competition
VisitShetland are pleased to announce their fourth annual photographic competition, open to local and visiting amateur photographers. The competition seeks entries which capture the imagination and the role that the Shetland landscape plays in our cultural identity.
Feature
Shetland Food Directory
From lamb to seafood, Shetland's produce is considered a benchmark for quality. A new website, The Shetland Food Directory, lists sources of fine Shetland food and drink and some of the wonderful places to eat out in Shetland.
Feature
Buy Shetland Knitwear
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Choose from our wide range of Shetland knitwear including Fair Isle tank tops, cushion covers and bags. Also a range of rugs made with 100% pure Shetland wool.
Feature
Swan Trips 2008
Enjoy a trip on the Swan this summer and experience the world of a resilient vessel restored to glory. Join a crew who love the sea, and be part of a learning experience!
News
Treasure Returns to Shetland
Shetland Museum and Archives welcomes St Ninian’s Isle Treasure for three month loan...
News
Loganair Revive Norway Connection
Scottish airline Loganair is filling the gap left by Faroese shipping company Smyril Line when it severed Shetland's link with its Norwegian neighbours last year.