Cruises from Helsinki are one of the most convenient ways to travel by ferry from Finland directly to other countries with access to the B altic Sea. Ships and cruise ships depart daily.
Each ship is equipped for a comfortable pastime of passengers. For their convenience, restaurants, bars, shops, play and recreation areas, SPA-salons and much more are always open. Cruises from Helsinki are so versatile that they are perfect for traveling with the whole family, as well as for youth vacations as part of a corporate holiday. The tour can be selected for any purpose.
St. Petersburg - Helsinki
One of the most comfortable ways to get to the capital of Finland from Russia is by ferry. It can be done on board a ship following the route St. Petersburg - Helsinki.
St. Petersburg has its own company that transports passengers by water - St. Peter Line. The ferry called "Princess Anastasia" departs from the shores of the Gulf of Finland every Friday at 17:00 and follows the route St. Petersburg - Helsinki - Stockholm - Tallinn - St. Petersburg.
Wishing to get to Helsinki, you can buy a one-way ticket to the city of interest.
The total round trip time for the ferry is 5 days. Bars, restaurants, a casino, a cinema, a sauna and a swimming pool, as well as Duty Free shops await passengers on board the ferry.
In Helsinki "Princess Anastasia" arrives at 7 am the next day, passengers who do not go further disembark here. And the ferry sails to Tallinn.
Where to go
One of the most popular destinations in Northern Europe is ferry cruises from Helsinki to Norway. Moreover, sailing in this country differs significantly from visits to other territories. They go there to look at the amazing creations of nature - the fjords. Cruises from Helsinki by ferry to Norway pass through narrow sea bays surrounded by rocky shores of bizarre shapes.
In addition to visiting natural attractions, tourists have the opportunity to get acquainted with the culture of the country, its customs and ancient legends. During the cruise from Helsinki, the fjords are explored while on board the liner. And after disembarking, passengers can take a closer look at nature, coniferous forests and beautiful mountains, as well as taste local cuisine.
Some useful tips for those traveling to Norway:
- Cash is best exchanged in advance in Russia. On the spot, the operation takes place at not the most favorable rate. It is best to use a bank card for payment.
- Take advantageFree Wi-Fi is available at Flam Pier.
- To make exploring the fjords and glaciers comfortable, it is best to take a warm hat with you at any time of the year.
- Unusual handmade chocolate is sold in Geiranger - it is made in the shape of a fjord with unusual flavors - whiskey, cheese and others.
- On weekends, neither banks nor shops are open in Norwegian ports, so all purchases must be made in advance. On weekdays, local shops close after 4pm.
- When disembarking in Bergen, you need to take a raincoat or umbrella with you. This area rarely gets sunny, but it rains all the time.
Most often, the cruise program includes not only visiting Norway, but also other northern countries - Sweden and Denmark.
Travel around Scandinavia
Another popular destination is ferry cruises from Helsinki to the Nordic countries. This is a journey that allows you to get acquainted with the culture and customs of local peoples, admire the wonderful views of the harsh but beautiful nature.
A five-day Scandinavian cruise from Helsinki by Viking and Silja Line allows you to visit the main centers of the countries of the northern region.
The cruise program is structured as follows:
- On the first day, boarding takes place on the ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm.
- Upon arrival in the capital of Sweden, passengers go ashore and go on an excursion to the old town of Gamla Stan, where the ancient buildings of the Middle Ages peacefully coexist withmodern boutiques and gallery and exhibition centers. After that, tourists are given free time, which they can devote to walking around the city or independently visiting museums.
- In the evening, travelers move to Oslo, where in the morning they will have an excursion program to see the sights of the capital of Norway (City Hall, central street, Akershus Castle, the Royal Palace and the philosophical Frogner Park), then also free time until 16 hours, when the ferry leaves for Copenhagen.
- Upon arrival in Denmark, tourists go on a sightseeing tour to see the town hall, the monument to the writer Hans Christian Andersen, the zero pillar and the old square. Then passengers are given free time until the evening.
- The next destination is Stockholm again, but without the obligatory programs. Until 16:00, tourists can freely move around the city and explore the sights on their own.
- Then the ferry leaves again for Helsinki to complete the program.
The price of tickets, depending on the class and comfort of the cabin, can range from 90 to 830 euros.
In this case, additional charges will be paid:
- fuel surcharge - 35 euros per person;
- visa - about 70 euros;
- he alth insurance - 5 euros;
- excursions not included in the price of the cruise ticket;
- meals on board the ferry are more profitable to book in advance in packages - the price will be from 176 euros per adult.
Typically cruise from Helsinki to Denmark, Sweden and Norwayare purchased in a single tour.
New Year on board
There are several different options for sea travel that allow you to celebrate the New Year in an unusual place.
For example, New Year cruises from Helsinki on ferries are offered by Viking Line, Silja Line and others.
Viking Line's "Grace" ferry makes a 4-day sea voyage. Departure December 30th. The cruise program is built as follows:
- At 15:00, passengers take the ferry to Stockholm via Turku.
- At 6 am the ship arrives in Stockholm, there is a sightseeing tour, a trip to the museum island. Then tourists are placed in a hotel, where, if desired, for an additional fee, you can enjoy a New Year's dinner.
- The next morning after breakfast, passengers tourists can go to the ancient city of Uppsala, then at 18 o'clock they depart for the terminal. The ferry departs at 20:00.
- After that, the tourist group sails to Helsinki by ferry.
Silja Line's Tallink vessel offers a 2-day New Year cruise on the Helsinki - Tallinn - Helsinki route.
The ferry departs from the point of departure at 18:00 on December 31st. On board you can dine in a buffet format, all meals are for an additional fee. The restaurant serves both international and traditional Finnish dishes. All drinks are included in the price of dinner.
Then passengers will enjoy a festive show program. Plus, there will be several nightclubs, bars andrestaurants.
New Year's Eve takes place on board the ferry.
On the 2nd day, passengers will have an additional paid breakfast and free time in Tallinn from 8 am, they will go back to Helsinki at 13 pm. Arrival at 4pm.
Cruise from Helsinki to Germany
At any time of the year on the ships of the company Finnlines you can sail across the B altic to the town of Travemünde, which is located on the territory of Germany. Most often, such trips are made by tourists intending to travel around Europe. After all, this city is only an hour from Hamburg and three hours from Berlin. For such purposes, a one-way ticket is suitable.
Sea tours to Germany without disembarking are much less popular, but even in this case, tourists will be able to fully relax - there are many amenities and entertainment on board the ship for comfortable sailing and enjoying the views of the open B altic Sea.
Travel time to Germany is about 29 hours. Ships from Helsinki leave every day at 17:00. Arrival time at the port of Travemünde is 21:30. In the opposite direction, the ship sails at 3 am, and arrives in Helsinki at 9 am the next day.
Three identical ships sail on the route Finland - Germany - Finnlady, Finnstar and Finnmaid. Each ferry has 11 decks with Duty Free shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, a gym and a sauna. Live music is played in the bar on summer evenings. The theme of the buffet changes every week in the restaurant. And the dishes can becompletely diverse - from simple berries to Asian cuisine.
It is noteworthy that meals will cost less for those who book the package online before the trip, the payment for meals on board will be slightly higher. For example, the cost of two dinners and lunch for an adult will be 72 euros if booked in advance, and if paid directly at the restaurant - 89 euros.
Pets are also allowed on ships bound for Germany.
Sailing Europe
Cruises from Helsinki to Europe are another popular travel destination. There are several multi-day programs that allow you to choose the right one and see the desired European cities.
One of these is a cruise from Helsinki on a Pullmantur Cruises liner, which sets off on an 8-day trip to the capitals of Europe. The route is built in such a way that during the voyage it is possible to visit several large cities - St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Tallinn and Rostock. The maximum fare for an all-inclusive cruise will cost 1,300 euros. The price includes meals and any drinks, accommodation, as well as the opportunity to use all the services available on board. But excursions and visas in the ports where the ship calls must be paid separately.
The Monarch cruise ship departs every Saturday at 21:00 from Helsinki. The vessel is of medium size and one of its advantages is the ratio of passengers to the area of public areas. There are not many tourists on board. But at their service - restaurants, shops,bars and a large outdoor pool located on the upper deck.
Swedish cities - Malmö and Nynäshamn have been added to the route since 2018.
Europe in 12 days
The Italian company Costa Cruise offers to make a 12-day sea cruise from Helsinki on the liner Costa Pacifica. The route is circular and is constructed as follows:
- Helsinki;
- St. Petersburg;
- Tallinn;
- Riga;
- Clapeyde;
- Gdynia;
- Kiel;
- Stockholm;
- Helsinki.
Passengers on this cruise may get the impression that this is not a B altic cruise from Helsinki at all, but a Mediterranean voyage. This is primarily due to the theme of the cuisine of restaurants and bars. You can order mainly Italian dishes in them, and the smell of fragrant spices hovers even on the decks. In the evening, you can visit theatrical performances, and live music always plays in the recreation areas and bars. At night, discos and a variety of pool parties are regularly held. During the day, you can take part in sports.
For children, entertainment is also provided here - play areas are equipped, and every day animators entertain little passengers with various programs depending on age.
Short cruises without landfall
Mini-cruises without landing are especially popular - these are daily flights where you can have a good time and at the same time make purchases in Duty free stores.
Mini cruise fromHelsinki on the Viking Line is just one of those. The ferry follows from the exit point to Tallinn. Having bought the appropriate ticket, the ship's passengers do not go ashore upon arrival in the capital of Estonia, but wait for departure, calmly sipping cocktails in the bar or relaxing on deck, having made purchases in the stores on board.
In addition to boutiques, the ferry has bars, spas, restaurants, and shows with professional artists to entertain guests.
Reviews of tourists
Most of the feedback from those who have already managed to cruise from Helsinki is positive. Everyone says that this is an affordable way to make an exciting sea trip.
On board ferries and liners, everyone will find something to their liking. For the young and active - bars, discos, casinos and parties, for children there are play areas. For those who prefer a relaxing holiday, there are cinemas, restaurants and saunas. Also, most ferries are equipped with gyms and swimming pools, sports competitions are regularly held - this will appeal to those who prefer to lead an active lifestyle.
If the cruise lasts more than one day, then the ship's creative staff (animators, artists) prepare exciting shows and performances. So you won't get bored while sailing.
Although the ferry ticket is inexpensive, it should be borne in mind that meals will have to be paid separately. You should also stock up on cash to buy souvenirs in ports.
Advice from experienced travelers
Cruises from Helsinki on linersare very popular. Some have already managed to make some exciting sea voyages. Many, having been on one voyage, return there again with friends, relatives and children. And no wonder, because there is always delicious food on board, a lot of ways to have fun and just relax. For the comfort of passengers, cozy cabins are equipped and interesting routes are prepared.
Those who go on a sea cruise for the first time, some tips will be useful:
- Cabins are divided into 2 classes: economy and premium. In the first case, the class is denoted by the letters A, B and C. They do not have portholes, in their place usually hangs a picture, a mirror, or simply the place is curtained. Class A cabin has a window. Each cabin has 2, 3 or 4 shelves (berths), equipped with a room with a toilet and shower. The premium cabins have a double bed, some have a bed for two more children. There is also a TV very often.
- Sometimes a traveler can catch such an unpleasant phenomenon as pitching. If the ship sails at night and at this time the person is already sleeping, then it will pass unnoticed. But if this happened somewhere in a disco or in the corridor, then in this case, handrails are installed along all the perimeters of the board for stability. You also need to make sure and take special pills for motion sickness with you. Active pastime will help the body quickly adapt to the rhythm of the B altic Sea.
- Another good tip is not to overeat. This can be difficult, given that in the restaurant of the ship, dishes are served in the formatbuffet with a huge selection. But excessive eating can overshadow the trip with a sudden deterioration in well-being. Therefore, it is best to approach the main course after satisfying the feeling of hunger with some kind of light snack.
- You need to take swimming trunks or a swimsuit with you on any voyage - there are always functioning SPA centers or separate saunas on board. Of course, these attributes can also be rented directly on the ferry, but they will cost at least 10 euros.
- On any liner there are open decks where passengers can breathe in sea air, and this, as you know, is very good for he alth. Plus you can enjoy the beautiful views of the seascape.
- Boarding starts 1.5 hours before departure. Shops on board will be closed at this time. They will start working as soon as the ship leaves the port.
- It will not be possible to move the furniture (exception - 1 lower bunk in economy class cabins for those who travel together. Throwing it back, you can get a double bed). All tables, chairs, armchairs, benches and sofas are firmly bolted to the floor to avoid the danger of tipping over during pitching.
- Gambling is allowed on cruise ships in the B altic Sea. There is also a casino and children's slot machines. All profits go to charities.
- The ferries are very fond of traveling with children, as there is a lot of entertainment for them. The trip on the big ship itself is already an adventure. Plus, there are always animators who organize contests, relay races and quizzes with prizes that the little ones will definitely like.travelers. For the very young, a mother-and-child room is equipped.
- It is not forbidden to drink alcohol on board. However, there are a number of rules that are closely monitored. Firstly, you cannot bring your own alcohol on board, it will be taken away at the entrance and returned only at the end of the cruise. You can drink alcohol only in the territory of bars and restaurants where it is served. Beverages purchased from Duty Free shops can only be uncorked after the swim is completed. Silja Line ferries serve special wines and champagnes from Tallink Silja Ships Wine, which you can't taste anywhere else.
- It is forbidden to bring on board boilers and other electrical appliances intended for cooking, as well as the food itself, except for baby food and products for allergy sufferers.
- Smoking is allowed on the ferry, but only in designated areas. In the cabin, tobacco is strictly prohibited - the administration can equate actions with hooliganism, and the smoker will be dropped off at the nearest port without a refund of the ticket price.
- You don't need to take a lot of things with you. The cabins always have clean linens, toiletries and towels. It is convenient to bring light shoes for the cabin.
- There is an unspoken dress code on board. After 5 p.m. it is customary to change into cocktail clothes: men in suits (not necessarily business ones), women in beautiful dresses.
- It is most convenient to pay with cards on board and in ports, but no one is immune from unpleasant surprises - the terminal may break down or bank service is temporarystop. Therefore, it is best to take some cash with you in reserve, at least in two currencies. The first is the euro, the second is the national currency of the country of destination.
- Internet and cellular communications on board are unstable. Wi-Fi is not available on the ferries. While swimming, there are many more interesting things to do than dig into the phone.
How not to overpay for a cruise
Before buying a tour, it is important to carefully prepare, this will help you buy a ticket for a cruise ship much cheaper than the price in the tour operator's catalog. The following facts require special attention:
- The price of the cruise may differ depending on the country where the tourist is located. For different territories, cruise companies may have their own price.
- When choosing tours, you need to study the average price level so that the discounted price does not turn out to be expensive, and vice versa.
- Most often you can buy tickets at a good price 2 months before the start of the cruise. But sometimes it also happens that at this time everything is already sold out.
- Alternatively, you can contact several agents, describing your wishes to them, and as suitable tours become available, they will send the appropriate options.
In any case, everyone will be able to find a suitable route for recreation and travel.
