- How it all began
- What now
- How to get there
- What is the bottom line
Cruise. How much is in this word. These are sea views, new countries and cities. It's great food and never-ending fun for all ages. This is an opportunity to arrange a romantic trip or a meeting with a large company. It is an atmosphere of celebration, discovery, relaxation and new emotions. It is expensive!?
Let's not be cunning, if you go sailing in the Mediterranean, Caribbean or other southern seas, then all the pleasure will cost you a round sum. Yes, experienced cruisers will tell you for sure that it's worth it. And if you decide to try this kind of rest for the first time, how to understand - is it yours or not? You can ask the same experienced ones, but nothing can replace your own impressions. A budget solution to test the format was found, oddly enough, in the North - in Finland.
How it all began
In the middle of the 20th century, the Baltic Sea was mainly crossed by merchant and military ships. Unlike the New World, it was still very far from any entertainment cruises. However, the inhabitants of the numerous archipelagos of the Baltic and the Aland Islands increasingly sought to travel to the mainland, and Finland and Sweden established passenger sea links with each other. Demand gave birth to supply in the face of ferry companies. Local shipowners began to transport people, their cars and cargo between the cities of the mainland and island parts of Finland and Sweden.
Every year, such transportation has become more and more comfortable for passengers. Eventually, in the 70s, its own unique style of the North Baltic began to take shape: ferry cruises. A special class of ships appeared - cruise ferries. They held thousands of people, and the car decks housed hundreds of vehicles and shipping containers. Some of the passengers followed from point A to point B, and another part made a circular trip solely for the purpose of relaxing, unwinding, walking around other cities and then returning home. The further, the greater the share of such cruisers in the total number of passengers became.
One of the pioneers was the Finnish company Viking Line. Or rather, Aland - it was founded on the Aland Islands, the Swedish-speaking autonomy of Finland, in 1959. Very quickly it began to play such a big role in the Finnish economy that the country's president, Urho Kekkonen, made the founder of the Viking Line his maritime advisor.
What now
In 2017, cruise ferries depart from Finland, Sweden, Estonia and the Aland Islands daily and all year round, offering their passengers everything a spoiled soul desires. Outside and inside, such a ship is not always distinguishable from its oceanic counterpart. The 12-deck floating cities can accommodate almost 3 thousand people, which offer: restaurants, bars, free shows, live music, duty-free shops, all kinds of SPA and saunas. And for children, in addition to their menu in all restaurants, there are several children's rooms (by age) and entertainment programs with animators.
Cruises here don't last for weeks and are therefore ideal for "try" or weekend trips and are inexpensive. For example, Viking Line offers a 4-berth cabin starting at € 47, or even lower if a sale is in progress. That is, in terms of one person, the price of a cabin generally ceases to be a significant factor.
Ferries operate year-round routes connecting 2-3 cities. The full circle of such a trip fits into three days. The most popular route is Helsinki-Stockholm-Helsinki. On the way, the ferry enters the Aland Islands, but does not stay there for long, unloading and loading vehicles. Therefore, tourists, whose goal is Aland, usually go ashore, inspect the islands and sights, so that in 1-3 days (or more) they can board the ferry again and continue their journey.
From Helsinki the ferry departs every day at 17:30 (in summer at 18:00) and arrives in Stockholm at 10 a.m. the next day. Return departure at 16:30 (in summer at 16:00) and arrival in Helsinki at 10:00 (in summer at 09:15). In summer this route continues and after a short stop in Helsinki the ferry leaves for Tallinn. Thus, you can combine three cities in one trip: explore Helsinki before departure, then walk around Stockholm or the surrounding area and end your voyage with a landing in Tallinn. Yes, you can travel in the opposite direction. Complete freedom to choose where to board and where to get off is up to you, and this is another advantage of ferry cruises. So you will have an experience like a big cruise. But the cost of time and money is much lower.
By the way, cruises in winter are no less interesting than in summer, because the ferry can go through ice up to 1m thick. Have you ever watched from the deck of a 200-meter vessel its powerful advance through the ice at a fairly high speed? Such pleasure can be obtained, perhaps, only on special icebreaker cruises to the North Pole. However, there is a small problem. Compared to Arctic cruises, even the price of a two-week cruise in the Caribbean in an above-average cabin will seem quite budget.
We asked Viking Line for some recommendations on how to make your trip even more economical without sacrificing quality. Here they are:
- The pricing system is dynamic, so book your cruise about a month in advance. During this period, it is most likely to get the best price. And if you choose to depart on Sunday or even on weekdays, then you will save even more.
- Take friends and acquaintances with you - expenses are divided proportionally. Cabins are only sold as a whole, so the price remains fixed regardless of the number of companions you provide when booking. Someone else will not be hooked up to you.
- Book breakfasts and dinners in advance on the website. In this case, you will receive a 10% discount. The most popular format is the buffet. Scandinavian cuisine reigns here, so the buffet is a festival of the best Nordic food. Drinks and alcohol are included. For lovers of gourmet and regional cuisine, there are A La Carte and themed restaurants.
- Do not be shy or afraid to drink water on the ferry from the tap. You will find glasses in the cabin. All water is thoroughly filtered, so it has the quality of bottled water. And bottled water in Northern Europe costs 1-3 euros per bottle. The savings are evident.
How to get there
Cruisers always have a question of finding an inexpensive or comfortable flight to the southern countries. With Finland, the situation is much simpler: you can get from St. Petersburg to the Finnish capital by a very comfortable bus for 1000 rubles per person or by a very fast train for 29 euros or more (depending on the day of the week and time). From Moscow to Helsinki there is a direct train "Lev Tolstoy", and to Tallinn, from where you can also take a cruise, comfortable buses with seats, like in the business class of a good airline.
By the way, about the airlines. Finnair operates direct flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Samara and Yekaterinburg. And the transfer from the airport to the center of Helsinki is one of the most convenient and inexpensive in Europe. However, in terms of price, time and convenience, a train or bus from the Northern Capital is preferable.
What is the bottom line
A ferry cruise in the Baltic is inexpensive. The optimal format for a full-fledged trip with maximum impressions and without overpayments. The prices are really low, especially from the Finnish Viking Line.
A Baltic cruise is freedom and flexibility. You are not tied by any conditions and special rates to the route or dates. Hop and hop on the ferry whenever and wherever you want. Start and end your journey in any city. The same applies to any additional services on board: the passenger has no obligations.
A Baltic cruise is a universal format. A great gift, romantic or family trip. Or a great opportunity to meet friends and arrange a joint trip.
