Getting ashore
Kirkwall is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Kirkwall, which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
United Kingdom
Kirkwall Cruise Port
Kirkwall is a long port day with regular dockside arrivals and lighter cruise traffic during the warmer months.
Usually docks
Usually quiet
~10h typical visit
Mid-size ships
What to expect in Kirkwall
How much time will you have?
About 10h is typical
Most cruises spend 9h to 10h in Kirkwall, which makes it a relatively long port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Kirkwall get?
This is usually a quieter cruise stop.
Multiple ships overlap on roughly 5% of days, so most dates should feel manageable.
- Typical day: ~2,700 passengers
- Busy day: 3,550+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 5% of days
Check your date
September 2026
Jump
Quieter
Busier
Ships
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Where Kirkwall fits into a cruise
Kirkwall is most commonly visited on British Isles itineraries, often alongside Seydisfjørdur and Invergordon .
Commonly arrives from
Kirkwall
Commonly continues to
When to cruise to Kirkwall
Cruise ships visit during 6 months of the year.
Cruises tend to show up in 6 months, so options are more seasonal.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Visits
0
0
0
2
24
37
17
27
24
0
0
0
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Kirkwall typically carry around 2,668 guests, with Regal Princess, MSC Preziosa, and Costa Favolosa calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 Regal Princess 11 calls
- 2 MSC Preziosa 7 calls
- 3 Costa Favolosa 5 calls
- 4 Seven Seas Voyager 4 calls
- 5 Majestic Princess 3 calls
- 6 MSC Meraviglia 2 calls
Next port calls
Sep 25 Costa Favolosa
Sep 27 MSC Preziosa
Apr 28 MSC Preziosa
May 7 Le Champlain
May 17 Celebrity Eclipse
Cruises that visit Kirkwall
Once the port-day tradeoffs look right for you, here are some good sailings that feature Kirkwall.
MS Sea Spirit
Portsmouth → Tresco → Dunrossness and Fair Isle → Leith
May 9 · 12 nights
Visits Kirkwall on day 10
About average
$7,607 suite · $634/night
MS Sea Spirit
Edinburgh → Leith → Vestmannaeyjar / Heimaey → Longyearbyen
May 20 · 13 nights
Visits Kirkwall on day 4
About average
$8,273 suite · $636/night
Seven Seas Mariner
IJmuiden/Velsen → Newcastle upon Tyne → Grundarfjørdur → Reykjavík
Jun 30 · 14 nights
Visits Kirkwall on day 6
Good value
$11,041 balcony · $789/night
19% below typical · 3-month low
Costa Favolosa
Hamburg → South Queensferry → Kirkwall → Hamburg
Sep 20 · 7 nights
Visits Kirkwall on day 6
About average
$984 oceanview · $141/night
MSC Preziosa
Hamburg → Lerwick → Kirkwall → Hamburg
Jun 7 · 11 nights
Visits Kirkwall on day 10
$1,950 inside · $177/night
Limited price history
MSC Preziosa
Hamburg → Lerwick → Kirkwall → Hamburg
May 16 · 11 nights
Visits Kirkwall on day 10
$1,764 inside · $160/night
Limited price history
Cruise routes that include Kirkwall
These route families show how cruise lines usually package Kirkwall, so you can compare the whole trip instead of judging this stop by itself.
British Isles One-Way via Tresco & Portrush
From $7,607
$7,607
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Arctic Repositioning via Leith, Kirkwall & Seydisfjørdur
From $8,273
$8,273
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Arctic Repositioning via Newcastle upon Tyne, Aberdeen & Måløy
From $11,041
$11,041
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
British Isles Loop via South Queensferry & Invergordon
From $872
$872
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Arctic Loop: Lerwick & Reykjavík
From $1,764
$1,764
·
4 upcoming sailings
·
1 ship
4 upcoming sailings
1 ship
View itinerary →
British Isles Loop via Dublin & Edinburgh
From $2,189
$2,189
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Related ports near Kirkwall
Compare nearby cruise ports with active sailing coverage.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
FAQ about cruises visiting Kirkwall
Short answers for common search intent around the best time to visit, itinerary patterns, and how to compare cruises that include Kirkwall.
What is the best time to visit Kirkwall on a cruise?
The best time to visit Kirkwall depends on both schedule density and live pricing. Use the calendar above to compare exact port-call dates and the featured cruises section to see which sailings currently stand out.
When is Kirkwall busiest for cruise traffic?
Traffic patterns are still building as more schedules get indexed. Jibhop will surface the busiest months as upcoming port-call coverage expands.
Which cruise itineraries usually include Kirkwall?
Common upcoming itinerary families that include Kirkwall include British Isles One-Way via Tresco & Portrush, Arctic Repositioning via Leith, Kirkwall & Seydisfjørdur, and Arctic Repositioning via Newcastle upon Tyne, Aberdeen & Måløy. Open any itinerary card to compare route mix, next departures, and which sailings look strongest on price.
How should I compare cruises that visit Kirkwall?
Start with the best cruises section to see today's strongest pricing signals, then use the port-call calendar to find the exact visit dates that fit your trip. Once you narrow the timing, compare itineraries and ships rather than choosing on this stop alone.
Plan your route
Explore cruises that visit Kirkwall
See itineraries, compare routes, and find the best way to include Kirkwall in your trip.