In the past two decades, cruise tourism has become increasingly popular among avid travelers. After all, in one trip you can see several countries at once. And unlike bus tours, the journey will take place in the comfort of a cruise ship. You will not move from hotel to hotel, but your hotel will float with you.
What's the hotel! Modern cruise ships are real resorts. On board they have everything for a good rest: swimming pools, restaurants and bars, gyms, cinemas, shops and much more.
It should be noted that tourists traveling by sea are spared the need to go through lengthy migration procedures at the borders of the countries they cross. And a Scandinavian cruise doesn't even require you to leave your homeland to board a ship. After all, you can go on an exciting journey directly from St. Petersburg. And return there, restedand full of positive impressions.
Scandinavia cruise: pros and cons
The main advantage of traveling by sea is comfort. We will talk about cabin classes on cruise ships and ferries below. But even the most budget-friendly accommodation on board comes with a private bathroom, air conditioning, and the like.
The advantage of cruises is that you can plan your own trip. After all, they are different both in the duration of the flight and in the coverage of countries. There are some cruises where the sea travel takes up quite a bit of the time and the focus is on sightseeing tours at the mooring ports (and even inland bus trips).
You can choose a flight only to neighboring Finland. But there is also the opportunity to cruise around the Scandinavian countries, stop by Denmark and even Iceland, and visit the B altic republics on the way back.
And the downside of such a tour can only be called capricious weather. You are unlikely to be able to splash in the B altic and North Seas.
When to travel
In principle, navigation in these water areas is performed year-round. But cruises in Scandinavia have their high and low seasons. The most enjoyable trip promises to be in the summer months. You can enjoy the white nights, when the harsh but beautiful northern nature looks mysterious and charming. Favorable for travelIt will also be May because of the long daylight hours. In September, you can also go on a cruise. This is followed by a decline in demand for this direction. But in the pre-Christmas period (in Europe and around the world the holiday falls on December 25), cruises again become very popular. After all, there is nothing more interesting than to celebrate the New Year on board a sea liner.
Amenities on board
As in any hotel, the decks of a cruise ship are filled with cabins of different categories. The most budget option is the rooms in the middle. For obvious reasons, they are devoid of windows. Budget cabins at the sides have round windows located at the very water line. They cost more, although all other amenities are the same. On the upper decks there are rooms of a higher class. Depending on the class of the liner, they have junior suites, suites and even suites. Those who like to travel in comfort are provided with apartments with a private balcony, minibar and extended room service.
From St. Petersburg you can go on ferry cruises around Scandinavia. How does this type of vessel differ from a conventional liner? Only with greater speed and the fact that you can buy a ticket from one point to another, and not for the entire tour. As a rule, ferries have a deck for such passengers with seating. But in terms of luxury and comfort, the types of ships do not differ.
What are Scandinavian cruises from St. Petersburg
Sea travel is generally divided into two types: by capitals and ports; and natural beauties. Based on this and the routecruises will be different. In the first case, travelers will be able to get acquainted with the culture, architecture and history of such cities as Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Turku. There are cruises that are not limited to Scandinavia alone. On board such ships you can visit Riga and Tallinn, Aarhus and Copenhagen (Denmark), Glasgow and Edinburgh (Scotland), as well as Reykjavik (Iceland).
The program of those cruises on the B altic and North Seas, where nature is at the forefront, includes a trip through the fjords of Norway, calling on the island of Gotland, the Frisian and Aland archipelagos.
Prices
Scandinavia cruise is an excellent value for money service. Of course, a sea trip will cost you more than a bus tour. But the comfort is worth it. The price of a cruise largely depends on its duration, coverage of the territory, and the number of stops in the port. An important role in the budget of the trip is played by the class of the chosen cabin. Meals (three meals a day plus snacks) are included in the price of the tour. Also animation and entertainment programs are included in the price. The shortest duration of cruises is two days. From Helsinki to Tallinn you can go for 70 € per person, the tour of St. Petersburg - Aland Islands - St. Petersburg will cost one hundred euros per person. An eleven-day tour already costs around $1,600.
Reviews
What do travelers say about a Scandinavian cruise? Reviews of such voyages are the most enthusiastic. Even if people just moved from one point to anotheron board the cruise ferry, they speak very favorably of the journey. The food on board is wonderful and plentiful. In addition, an entertainment program is constantly functioning, in which all passengers of the vessel can take part, regardless of the cabin class. Some ships have a whole deck of duty-free stores on board with a selection of products, like in a hypermarket. Bars, restaurants, nightclubs, discos, gyms, saunas, swimming pools - it's hard to list all the amenities. Traveling on such liners can be compared to staying in a resort hotel.
