Orkney Ferries introduces new booking system

A new Orkney Ferries booking system means a number of changes are in place for passengers.   

The Bookit system enables customers to change or amend bookings and request refunds online. It also enables customers to cancel their bookings online. The functionality to amend a booking is in the final stages of development and will be available very soon.  

It is hoped that the new set up – which will request payment at the time of booking – will reduce the current situation where speculative bookings being made and not cancelled, resulting in many folk not turning up and long standby lists.   

The new system means the Orkney Ferries Concessionary Smart Card will no longer work and therefore new entitlement cards will need to be issued to residents for use from 1st April 2025.  Vouchers have been issued to Concessionary card holders with remaining entitlement for the period up to 31 March 2025.    

Service Manager (Ferry Operations) Eddie Barclay said there has been a period of transition since July where both the current and new booking systems have been in place in a bid to ease customers into the new arrangement.   

“On behalf of Orkney Ferries crew and office staff, I would like to thank passengers for their ongoing patience as the new system beds in – we recognise that it may not be plain sailing, but we are trying our very best to deal with any hiccups as they arise.   

“We hope the end result will do away with the historical issue of no shows and long standby lists which have been difficult to manage operationally for our vessel crews and shore staff and frustrating for travellers who were, at times, unable to get a confirmed booking.”   

Customers are encouraged to register with Orkney Ferries online via our website www.orkneyferries.com which will make booking easier. Customers will have to register, even if they held an online account before as this is a new system.  

People travelling with Orkney Ferries can cancel up to an hour before their booked journey for a full refund.   

Chair of the board of Orkney Ferries, Councillor Mellissa Thomson, said: “I welcome these changes which should mean more customers getting confirmed bookings on dates that they wish to travel rather than being placed on a standby list and only knowing at the last minute if they can travel or not.    

“People are accustomed to paying for a service when booking and, in turn, this will mean less onboard transactions for crew and a better all-round customer experience.” 

We have compiled a list of FAQs to try and help with any questions folk may have.  

You can read them here:  https://www.orkneyferries.co.uk/info/faqs