I took the ferry (Hjaltland) mid-June up to Kirkwall after wanting to travel on it for many a year and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

I didn't bother with a cabin for the return journey as I didn't think it was cost effective so booked a 'pod' seat for £18 (compared to £100 for an unshared cabin) and did manage to get sleep even though I probably saw every hour during the night as it was daylight proper from around 3am although wasn't really dark at all from when we left around midnight.

I had my car with me as I couldn't get a hire car (I booked up with relatively short notice) and thought it quite steep hence too another reason for the pod seat/bed rather than going for a cabin.

I thought the supper options were very good and very reasonably priced given you are a captive audience, I didn't buy the meal option as I didn't want a 3 course meal. I too had the burger and it was some size and thought it quite tasty. I didn't take breakfast (had that... well coffee! when I went to work after coming off the ferry in Aberdeen) but does look value for money judging by the picture you took.

Your photos look great, it was a very cloudy/foggy night when I sailed so much so you couldn't see the harbour entrance when coming out the deep water channel!