Smyril Line / Norröna

[ArabiaTerra]

^^^ Who cares, as long as it was below the waterline. ^^^

[TeeAyBee]

^^^ Who cares, as long as it was below the waterline. ^^^

 

Ah the old pound of flesh closest to the heart! I

[da norseman]

norrona might call to shetland

http://www.shetlandmarine.com/2009/05%20Oil%20&%20Shipping/no_cash_back_from_faroe.htm

[david]

That's not quite what it says.

 

Council convener Sandy Cluness said he could fully understand why the Faroese government had to step in to safeguard the Faroese lifeline, and added he was hopeful that in the future circumstances might become right again for the Norröna to call at Lerwick.

 

Sandy Cluness has been saying that since she stopped calling in Lerwick.

 

I think we should just admit it's a lost investment and move on. Forcing Smyril to come into Lerwick is only going to cause Smyril even more potential financial trouble. We don't want to be responsible for Faroe losing their lifeline service.

 

Smyril have even stopped calling in Bergen. That's how bad things are for them.

[Dagfinn]

I think Lerwick should be a part of the Faroe-Denmark route in the future. Faroe-Shetland-Denmark-Shetland-Faroe.

 

Sorry about Norway, but let's face it, Norway only has 5 mio. people; Germany has 80+ mio. people.

The German tourists who travel to Iceland with the Norrøna (from Denmark), stay in Faroe for 2 days on their way to Iceland. And they all love Faroe.

 

No doubt, Shetland could be an interesting destination for these German tourists (and there are lots of them) in the future; it's only a question of marketing.

[Para Handy]

No doubt, Shetland could be an interesting destination for these German tourists (and there are lots of them) in the future; it's only a question of marketing.

 

That was the Germans intention in 1940s but we wanted to sink there ships then as well how history repeats it self

[islandhopper]

No doubt, Shetland could be an interesting destination for these German tourists (and there are lots of them) in the future; it's only a question of marketing.

Sorry, Dagfinn, this option was scuttled in an unknown loch ... years ago ... by all involved in that business: Smyril Line, NorthLink and - sorry to say so - VisitShetland.

 

I've used the old fashioned way "achter rom", that's the route to Scotland via Faeroes and Shetland for years. That was in the bygone days of "Norönna I" and P&O ... but now for at least 10 years there was no promo for that route and in fact, no acceptable condition since the introduction of the new Smyril boat and NorthLink stepping into the business.

 

If I would have had a Scandinavian passport and bank account - Norwegian, Swedish or Danish - I would have been entitled to buy an "Orkneyjarbilljeter" or a "Scotlandetbilljetter" (a combined Smyril-NorthLink-Ticket allowing stop overs in Shetland or the Faeroe Islands). As a German, a Dutch, a French, a Polish or whatsoever I was not entitled to do so and had to pay up to 40 % more than any Scandinavian.

 

Sorry, that's the way you kick yourself out of the business ...

 

Despite that:

If you are a bit flexible when planning your tour today the "normal" tourist would opt for the following: Thanks to the international activities of flybe you can reach Shetland/Sumburgh from Hamburg within less than 6 hrs for about £121 single ... provided you can book your holidays 3 months or more in advance - 1€ or less for the leg from Hamburg to a suitable British airport with connecting LoganAir flights to Sumburgh at about £120 ...

 

In principal, very well known facts to all German tourists visiting Scotland ... but how many are travelling Shetland ??? How many do know about Shetland ??? - you should have in mind: the last adverts telling a German tourist about Shetland in a newspaper were paid by P&O ...

 

Well, today it was a great day for Shetland: We could read in some media that you are a bit short of salt and that your Orcadian neighbours will send some 400 tons to clear your roads ... no breaking news, not on the front page ... more some kind of varia & curiosa ...

[EM]

That was the Germans intention in 1940s but we wanted to sink there ships then as well how history repeats it self

Eh? What on earth are you trying to say? Presumably an attempt at a joke, but I certainly don't get the drift.

[deardron]

It's been a few years since Norrøna stopped calling at Shetland. Has this change had the negative effect on Shetland's tourism industry as people were foreseeing when Smyril Line took this infamous decision, or it hasn't been that bad?

[Njugle]

This is a very good question deardron. I think the real answer would be in the demographics of visitor origins.

 

The past two years in Shetland have seen good numbers of tourists, many from the UK as a result of nature documentary promotion of Shetland on BBC TV, and there have still been Scandinavians. The interesting thing would be to compare like with like, ie Scandinavian and Vest Nordic visitor numbers before and after, as overall visitor numbers may not reflect the loss of the service due to the BBC anomaly

 

It is bizarre to watch her steam by, so close to Flugga.

[shetlander]

From my own experience as a self catering accommodation provider outwith the town, it has had no impact and brought us no business when it was on the go. Perhaps strangely, we have never had any Scandanavian visitors in all the time that we have been letting out the house. I accept that my peerie enterprise is run as a sideline though and the experience of other tourist related businesses in Lerwick that rely more heavily on tourists for their survival may well be entirely different. For us at least, the summer seasons seem to be getting busier year on year.

[Mutton]

It is bizarre to watch her steam by, so close to Flugga.

 

Is she trying to say, 'hi Shetland, we're still thinking of you, please lower your harbour dues'?

 

It is such a shame that Smyril cannot come to some sort of agreement over harbour dues with the Lerwick Port Authority or find some room in their timetable. Particularly when our location is obviously not the issue!

[Rasmie]

If the run was viable they would do it. otherwise we'd have to bribe them to come in. maybe offer them £5m as a sweetener

[Kavi Ugl]

Well, I'll tell you what, the roads are empty of Scandinavian/European vehicles.

 

When the Norrona was calling here the roads were full of "dipped headlight" cars and motorbikes during the summer but now there's not one to be seen.

 

There's no doubt it's a big loss to the Shetland economy and my friends in Faroe who knew the original directors of Smyril Line told me that they'd said Lerwick Harbour was the dearest port out of all the ports she called at.

 

We are in all ways poorer for not having a Scandinavian sea link.

 

[ll]

From 2012 sailing schedule:

 

Cruise to the North Atlantic islands

 

8-Tage-Seereise/HP with the Faroe Islands, Orkney and Shetland Islands

Norröna

your cruise price

1165 , - €

 

 

The Norröna on 5 May 2012 to a unique round-trip run. Experience the natural paradise in the North Atlantic: The inhabited by descendants of Norwegian Vikings Faeroe Islands, consisting of 70 islands of Orkney and Shetland islands existing with its rare bird colonies. As different as the three island groups in many respects may be, it brings but its location in the sea and a harsh climate, the people and the landscape shapes: high cliffs and bird colonies in contrast to the lush green hills, narrow roads and small villages, ubiquitous to the sea, determined that since time immemorial people's lives. In the vast nature of the Arctic Ocean, the waves, the roaring waterfalls and the cries of birds are ever present. No two days are alike - are constantly changing clouds and light impressions. Air and water here are so pure as little else in the world and the rich nature of the islands offer the visitor an unforgettable experience.

Services

 

Taxi service from / to your doorstep

 

Transfers from the central Zustiegsort booked departure and return motorway service station Allertal (motorway service station Brunautal)

 

Ride in air-conditioned Non smoking-distance coach with toilet, reclining seats, footrests

 

Cruise with the Norröna the Smyril Line: Hirtshals - Torshavn / Faroe Islands - Kirkwall / Orkney Islands - Lerwick / Shetland Islands - Torshavn - Hirtshals

 

7 nights accommodation with breakfast and dinner (usually a Scandinavian buffet) on the ferry Norröna in an outside stateroom, all cabins with shower / WC

 

Welcome cocktail

 

Sightseeing / output in Torshavn, Kirkwall and Lerwick

 

2 x round trip to the Faroe Islands

 

Cruise on the Orkneys

 

Cruise on the Shetlands

 

all road user charges

 

WERNER-TOURS-Travel Management

 

 

 

Any entry and inspection fees are not included in the tour price. Valid ID required. The departure time for the booked Zustiegsort is on the travel documents. Arrival and departure times subject to change!

 

Itinerary

1st Day: Arrival - Hirtshals

Taxi service from door to Zustiegsort booked. Transfer to the central departure point from where you start in the early morning towards Hirtshals in Denmark. Around 13:00 on the clock arrival and embarkation on the ferry Norröna. Welcome drink. The Norröna takes off at 15:00 clock. Dinner and overnight on board. 2nd Day: days at sea after a hearty breakfast you can explore your ship. Ability to use the many facilities on board. Dinner and overnight on board. 3rd Tag: Torshavn / Faroe Islands early risers can witness interesting entry in Torshavn in the morning at 5:00 clock. After breakfast an extensive tour of the island is on the program that guides you through the main islands Streymoy and Eysturoy way up to Klaksvik. At 19:00 clock Norröna will then sail for the Orkney Islands. Dinner and overnight on board. 4th Tag: Kirkwall / Orkney There is still enough time for a delicious breakfast before Norröna around 10:00 clock in the port of Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands, enters. Then begins the trip that takes you across the main island of Mainland and brings you close beside the attractions in Kirkwall and Stromness also Skara Brae. At 20:00 clock set sail towards Shetland Islands. Dinner and overnight on board. 5th Day: Lerwick / Shetland The entrance to the Sound to Lerwick to 07:00 clock is a very beautiful sight that should not be missed. After breakfast, an excursion to the southern tip is at Sumburgh Head on the program. You get an impression of the legendary home of the Shetland ponies and see the unique prehistoric excavations. Then follows a short stroll through Lerwick before Norröna clock at 20:00 with a course on the Faroe Islands again puts to sea. Dinner and overnight on board. 6th Tag: Seydisfjördur - Torshavn breakfast. Arrival in Torshavn clock at 11:00. Today you go to Kirkjuböur, the old culture of the Faroe Islands. There you see the over 900 year old homestead Roykstovan, which is still inhabited. The St. Olaf's church from 1111 is the oldest existing church in the islands. After the return is still some free time in Torshavn. The ship takes off at 21:00 clock. Dinner and overnight on board. 7th Tag: Torshavn - day at sea breakfast. A day of rest and relaxation. The boarding facilities are at your disposal Norröna, sun deck and conservatory invite. Let's events for a wonderful trip and look forward to the dinner, because for the last evening aboard the kitchen has come up with something special. Dinner and overnight on board. 8th Tag: Hirtshals - Return breakfast. Around 09:00 clock arrival in Denmark. Then the return trip to the central point of departure with arrival in the afternoon and transfer to booked Zustiegsort. Then taxi service to your front door.