Lerwick, Shetland

Firstly- what do you mean by Northern Shetland?- The Northern Mainland or the North Isles of Yell, Fetlar and Unst. I would strongly discourage the latter due to having two ferry crossings. If you mean the North Mainland that is a far bigger area than it looks on a map.
The North Isles each need at least a day to themselves
What do you hope to see?- Scenery, beaches, cliiffs/lighthouses, the old Scatsa military base, wartime air crash sites, etc?
Secondly I assume you are on the Celebrity Eclipse, not the Le Laperouse. If so you will be anchored off and tendered ashore. They will tender their own excursion passengers first then others- either by allocated ticket or first come first served. That means you can't be certain what time you will be ashore. My own rule of thumb is 3 hours, so 10am in your case. But it has taken me 5 hours to get ashore, especially in bad sea conditions.
Thus it is impossible to arrange a specific pick up time for your tour.
Worst case is that the weather leads them to cancel the call, or have to leave early when you are miles away.

If you do a google search for Private Guided tours Shetland, it brings up lots of choice and ideas... Just some include:

https://www.shetlandtourismassociation.org/members/shetland-minibus-tours

https://www.shetlandguidedtours.com/

https://www.shetlandtourguide.co.uk/

https://discovershetland.net/

You will need to contact them and find out if they are free on that day. They may already be fully booked .

Another alternative would be to hire a car but again you may find others on the cruise have had the same idea and all available cars are already booked up.

Here is one more link for tours of Shetland. While I was in Shetland in 2023 and am returning for 11 nights in July I've done multi-day tours so don't have personal experience with the kind of day tours you are asking about.

Here's another link for tour guides as well as the ones Wasleys gave you.
https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/trips/land

I'll add that if you are not able to find someone who still has vacancies, there is plenty to see right in Lerwick for a day visit from your cruise. The Shetland Museum is excellent and right down on the water.

https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/history/museums-visitor-centres/shetland-museum-and-archives

If you are up for a walk, the Clickamin Broch is about a mile from the Esplanade area and is a great example of layers of archeology from the late Bronze Age forward.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broch_of_Clickimin

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RxRmHjQCCnrFwbGV8

BTW, I've been following a couple of Lerwick businesses on FB. I'm planning to pick up some "Puffin Poo" from Island Larder for my great nephews, hahaha.

https://www.facebook.com/shetlandfudge

This place has awesome looking sweets and other food, too, hahaha.

https://www.facebook.com/peerieshopcafe

You can also walk to the lodberrie that they used for the exterior shots of Jimmy Perez' house on the TV series Shetland - years 1-7.

https://shetlandwooladventures.com/lodberries/
https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/shetland-tv/lerwick

Based on everyone's helpful advice and comments, it's probably best to spend the day exploring Lerwick. The cruise ship is the Celebrity Eclipse, and I was referring to the northern part of the Shetland Mainland, but it seems that there would not be enough time to visit that area. I hope there will be another opportunity to visit the Shetland Islands.

In appreciation,
Karyn

Two things you could do on the service bus are
1- to take the hourly service bus #4 to Scalloway, the ancient capital of Shetland or Zetland. It leaves from the Viking Bus Station, but also from the Esplanade (where the tenders drop you).
2- to take the afternoon bus #21 to Hillswick (in the top northwest of the Mainland) for the round trip. 1410 from the Bus Station, back at 1632. You are very unlikely to make the morning bus at 0900.
It also picks up at the Esplanade.

You could also take the #23 to Toft (the ferry terminal for the North isles) via Sullom Voe Oil Terminal at 1100 or 1240 to see a different part of the North Mainland.
The #9 to Walls at 0900 (probably not achievable) or 1220 are other possibilities.
Both also pick up at the Esplanade.

There are details of a walk around Lerwick here which includes Clickimin Broch and Fort Charlotte, which are both worth seeing. Click on profile for some pictures of the walk and there is a helpful map too. .

As well as the bus ideas from isn31c, you could also take the short ferry ride to Bressay. It's a frequent service and only takes a few minutes for the crossing.

@Wasleys - your walk link was one of the first things I bookmarked when I started my Lerwick itinerary a few months ago! It looks excellent on a nice day.

BTW, if you need any supplies, there is a Tesco Superstore just near the entrance to Clickamin Broch.

I'll also be visiting Shetland (for a week, this July) and greatly appreciate the details shared here by isn31c, wasleys, and Pam (Pam, hope we cross paths when we are both there this summer - maybe over a snack at the Cake Fridge? ;).

@wasleys - Your link to the walkhighlands website is awesome, thank you - my feet are getting sore just browsing it and finding inspiration.

I've got a few specific questions which I'll be posting in a separate thread. Thanks to all who are kind enough to share the info.

"Pam, hope we cross paths when we are both there this summer - maybe over a snack at the Cake Fridge? ;)."

Hahaha...I hadn't seen The Cake Fridge but I have been closely following the FB pages for the Peerie Shop Cafe and the Island Larder (for tablet candy for me and Puffin Poo for the great nephews, hahaha!)

Thanks for this! I'm on the same cruise. See you in Lerwick :)

I found this and, as a fan of the TV show, this is my planned walking itinerary for Lerwick: https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/shetland-tv/lerwick

There isn't just one cake fridge on Shetland (the one featured on TV) but several scattered around.
Also on the subject of food another thing to look out for are the legendary Sunday teas in the Village halls.
I've never managed to fit one into my schedule, which is always packed.

Another thing to look out for (which isn't my thing at all) is the wild saunas- called 'Haar Sauna' at Bigton and Delting.
On the walk given little attention is given to Bressay- which really deserves a day of its own. The current ferry terminal is not original- that is at Mail, close to the (former) Parish Church.