Free ferry tickets for visitors to Northern Isles
Peter Johnson
Northlink Ferries are giving away 3000 foot passenger tickets to the Northern Isles as part of a Visit Scotland promotion that is underway next month.
The tickets, among 8000 for ferry trips throughout Scotland, can be won in random weekly ballots to be held on 12th, 19th and 26th March, and will be valid for five months from 15th April.
The free ticket bonanza is part of the Brilliant Island Moments promotion which follows on from last year’s “highly successful” Big April Adventures. There will also be a series of TV ads and a 24 page pull out in tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) Daily Record promoting Scotland’s “beautiful islands”.
The central belt radio station Real Radio will also be broadcasting a one-hour programme on Shetland, Mull and Iona from 12pm to 1pm tomorrow. There will also be articles in other national papers.
Visit Shetland manager Steve Mathieson said: “This is a major campaign for us and obviously Scotland’s islands are going to benefit. It will help people get to places like Shetland.
“It’s basically pushing for Scots to see more of what’s on their doorstep. It gives people that incentive and opportunity to see a place like Shetland that maybe they were not intending to visit.”
Visit Scotland has teamed up with NorthLink and Hebrides ferry company CalMac to provide the 8,000 free ferry tickets and as part of the Year of Homecoming Scotland 2014 celebrations. There will be 1500 pairs of tickets for Northlink routes.
Entering the draw is simple: simply select a ferry provider from the drop down box, select your point of departure and destination and enter. Winners will be drawn at random through the three weekly ballots this month. Winners will receive a pair of adult tickets to the island of their choice within 14 days of closing date.
Entrants who don’t win on one week, can register again the next week to be in with another chance.
Tickets are valid for outbound travel (to Orkney or Shetland from Aberdeen) from 15th April until 31st October 2014 (excluding Easter weekend and dates in July and August 2014). Tickets are valid for one month from outbound date of travel, open return.
Colin Hunter
Wonderful! That’ll be 3000 journeys the people of Orkney and Shetland won’t be able to make on their already overcrowded “lifeline” service. It’s already difficult enough getting a booking during the holiday times. And where will these people be staying once they get here, seeing everything is chock full of Oil workers? I have friends who have already had to cancel their annual trip home because they can’t find suitable accommodation for the family.
Jim Harris
3,000 tickets over the span of a 6 month promotion… that comes to about 16 extra foot passengers per day spread across all North Link ferry lines.
I hope the boats don’t sink.
Wayne Conroy
It’s OK Colin, they could stay at Clickimin camp site! Oh… Wait…
Paul Rodgers
Would love to win these for my girlfriend to surprise her as she has family living in Aith.
Anne Mackenzie
I came home to Scotland when I was 18, and 45 years later I’m still here with the intention of staying!
A wonderful wonderful country and people.
ina marshall
My husband is 78 this year and he has always dreamed of visiting the islands but hasn’t for one resson or another. It would be wonderful to receive free ssiling tickets to the islands.
ina marshall
Just over 77 years ago my husband Bill Marshall was born in the Haugh of Urr in Dumfries and Galloway. He would love to visit the beautiful islands of Scotland and this year if homecoming would be an ideal year to do so.
Bill Smale
Somebody must be doing very nicely out of this contract if they can afford to give away free tickets as well as painting large historically inaccurate figures on the ships. It was interesting to hear the British Museum scotching the myth of the horned helmet in the press coverage of their new Viking exhibition – they blame Wagner! A pity Serco Northlink didn’t check their facts!