Destination: Skellige in The Witcher 3: How to Get to Skellige, the Pirate Attack and Your 1,000 Crowns Back
Witcher 3 Destination: Skellige: which captain takes you, the pirate attack, Steingrim on the beach, and how to get your 1,000 crowns back from the wreck.
In this article (0 sections)
Updated October 2026. Destination: Skellige is the third lead from Imperial Audience: Yennefer went to the islands, and you're supposed to join her. Getting there is the hard part. You need a captain willing to sail, 1,000 crowns, and a ship that survives a pirate attack (it doesn't). The good news: the money is not really gone. Most players never go back for it.
Quick answer
Find a ship: at the Novigrad docks, Captain Liglad sends you to Captain Wolverstone in the Golden Sturgeon. He takes you for 1,000 crowns.
The crossing: pirates attack, the ship sinks, and Geralt washes up on Ard Skellig.
Get your money back: go south from the beach to the wreck of the Atropos. Wolverstone's body still has your 1,000 crowns.
Next: meet Yennefer at King Bran's funeral at Kaer Trolde harbor. That leads into The King is Dead, Long Live the King.
Before You Sail
The quest starts automatically after Imperial Audience, but most players go after Velen and Novigrad. Suggested level is around 16, and the pirates on the ship hit hard. You also need 1,000 crowns. Skellige side quests you picked up on the mainland (for example Black Pearl and Following the Thread) can only be continued after this quest. For an overview of the islands, see our Skellige region guide.
Short on money? Sell loot, or exchange your florens and orens at Vimme Vivaldi's bank in Novigrad. The bank can also lend you a little. Gwent winnings in Velen help too.
Destination: Skellige Walkthrough
1. Find a Ship at the Novigrad Docks
Three ships are marked on your map:
| Ship | What happens |
|---|---|
| The female captain's ship | She refuses to take you. |
| The ship with no captain | Talk to the crew; the marker disappears. |
| Captain Liglad (with the spyglass) | He refuses too, but tells you to find Captain Wolverstone of the Atropos at the Golden Sturgeon. |
2. Hire Captain Wolverstone
You find Wolverstone at the Golden Sturgeon, already drunk. He agrees to sail for 1,000 crowns. Paying him gives you a bit of XP. Before leaving he asks if you're ready and has "one for the road".
3. Fight the Pirates
Geralt falls asleep in his cabin and wakes up to Skellige pirates on deck. Fight alongside the crew until most of them are dead. At a low level the pirates can kill you in one or two hits, so keep Quen up, dodge a lot and let the crew do some of the work (our combat tips help here). Then a mast falls on Geralt and the ship runs aground.
4. Wake Up on Ard Skellig
Hours later, Geralt washes up on a beach with what's left of the crew. A local named Steingrim tries to rob his "corpse". When you mention Yennefer, it's clear he doesn't like her. You can:
| Choice | Result |
|---|---|
| Fight him in a fistfight | No reward if you win. At low level he can knock you out in one hit, so it can take a while. |
| Say Yennefer grows on people once you know her | No fight. |
Either way, Steingrim points you to Kaer Trolde and leaves.
5. The Wreck: Get Your 1,000 Crowns Back
Before you head to Kaer Trolde, go south along the beach to the wreck of the Atropos. Wolverstone didn't make it, and his body behind the wreck still has the 1,000 crowns you paid him. Take them back. The crates nearby hold loot and sometimes crafting diagrams. There's also a Place of Power half under water behind the landing spot.
6. King Bran's Funeral at Kaer Trolde
Follow the road to Kaer Trolde harbor. King Bran is being given a funeral, and Yennefer is in the crowd. You can flirt with her a little (it matters later if you're heading for her romance, see our romance guide). She asks what you think about going to the wake: you have to go either way. Then tell her what you know about Ciri, or ask what she found out on the islands.
Crach an Craite, jarl of Kaer Trolde, comes over and insists you join the feast. That ends the quest.
Rewards and What's Next
| Quest | Reward | Leads to |
|---|---|---|
| Destination: Skellige | XP, the whole Skellige map, and your 1,000 crowns back from the wreck | The King is Dead, Long Live the King (the wake at Kaer Trolde) |
Skellige also has its own Gwent cards. Most of the Monsters deck is sold only on the islands, see our Gwent cards guide. The fight for Bran's throne continues in King's Gambit, and the islands' contracts are in Skellige's Most Wanted.
Video: Destination: Skellige
Frequently Asked Questions
QHow do I get to Skellige in The Witcher 3?
Go to the Novigrad docks. Captain Liglad sends you to Captain Wolverstone at the Golden Sturgeon, who takes you for 1,000 crowns.
QCan I get the 1,000 crowns back?
Yes. After the shipwreck, walk south from the beach to the wreck of the Atropos. Wolverstone's body still carries your 1,000 crowns.
QWhat if I don't have 1,000 crowns?
Sell loot, exchange coins at Vimme Vivaldi's bank in Novigrad, or win some Gwent games in Velen.
QShould I fight Steingrim?
There's no reward for winning. Saying that Yennefer grows on people skips the fight.
QWhat level should I be for Destination: Skellige?
Around level 16. The pirates on the ship are dangerous at lower levels.
QWhat quest comes after Destination: Skellige?
The King is Dead, Long Live the King, which starts with the wake at Kaer Trolde.
Before this: Imperial Audience. More: all Witcher 3 quests.
Sources: in-game quest text and journal; steps and choices checked against the Witcher Wiki and Fextralife pages for Destination: Skellige. Screenshots: gameplay frames from YouTube walkthroughs.
Kai Mercer covers game news, free games, release calendars and guides for xGamerss.
More from Kai Mercer →
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!
Sign in or create an account to earn karma — or comment as a guest.