Whilst staying in Helsinki recently we planned a two day Roundtrip Cruise to Stockholm. Cruise ferries depart daily at 4.45 p.m. and arrive in Stockholm the next morning enabling visitors to spend a day in the Swedish capital before returning to the ferry for the return voyage.
Embarkation
Tallink-Silja Line have two identical cruise ferries operating on this route named Symphony and Serenade. They have been in service since 1990 but with numerous updates still offer a high quality experience. The ships are sizeable and able to accommodate up to 2,852 passengers in 986 cabins with room for 395 cars.
The ferries depart from Helsinki’s Olympia Terminal which is just a short walk from the city’s vibrant market square and also accessible by tram lines 2 or 3 (single tickets €3.10). Passengers are permitted to board the ferry from 3.30 p.m. so we arrived around 30 minutes early to print out our tickets and boarding passes from a self-service check-in machine, counters also available if preferred. Our boarding passes also doubled up as disposable room keys with our cabin number and deck printed on them. The Olympia Terminal has cafe facilities and seating in the departure lounge whilst waiting to board.
At 3.30 p.m. promptly we passed through the boarding gate just needing to show our passports for identification purposes before progressing on board.
The gangway entrance leads onto the impressive 143m long Promenade Deck where we were welcomed on board by a smartly dressed crew member before taking one of the four glass lifts which are positioned at each corner of the ship, up to our cabin on the 10th deck.
Cabins
We had arranged to stay in an A-Class sea view cabin which are located on Decks 5 and 8-11. The cabin seemed more spacious than we had expected and there was plenty of room to store our large suitcase and other bags.
One of the beds was ready for use whilst the other had its bedding in place but had been pushed up against the wall to create more space. We were happy with twin beds but the beds can be pushed together by moving the bedside table to one side if preferred.
The cabin was bright and airy with its nautical themed blue and white striped curtains and wall mounted pictures. Other features included open hanging space, a small desk/dressing table with stool, wall mounted television, hairdryer, telephone and a small but well equipped en-suite shower room. The cabin benefitted from good Wi-Fi reception and once logged in, this worked well throughout the ferry. Four berth versions of these cabins are also available with the addition of two bunk beds.
We noticed that we had only been provided with one pillow each but on enquiring at the information desk on the promenade deck, our cabin number was noted and two more pillows were speedily brought round to our cabin to ensure we had a good night’s sleep. The ferry feels like a cruise ship as passengers retain the same cabin for the return trip and are able to leave their belongings safely on board whilst spending the day in either Stockholm or Helsinki.
Other types of cabin are available to suit all budgets ranging from inside B & C class cabins on the lower decks without windows to the very popular Promenade deck cabins which have windows overlooking the ship’s promenade so that you can look out and see what’s going on and be enchanted with the changing shades of lighting. Also available are family room and Moomin cabins which are decorated with the Finnish fairy-tale characters. For those passengers wishing to celebrate a special occasion then swish suites and commodore class cabins are also on offer.
On-board facilities:
Sun Deck (Deck 12)
Being wintertime and short days we decided to go out on deck before the ferry departed.
This is the best place for photo opportunities of the Helsinki skyline if it’s still light when leaving port. It’s accessed by heading to the back of the ship and then taking the lift up to Deck 12 to go outdoors.
As the boat is quite sizeable there is a large expanse of deck to explore which must be lovely in summertime when passengers are able to sit outside enjoying a drink whilst taking in the views of the UNESCO Suomenlinna Fortress soon after departure. The passageway through the fortress is very narrow and as the ship needs to navigate this stretch very slowly there are superb views from the ship’s top deck over the fortress.
Seaview Lounge (Deck 8)
As it was too cold to stay out on deck very long we returned our coats to the cabin and then went to sit in the cosy Seaview Lounge at the front of the ship to enjoy a drink and to watch the ferry depart.
There was lots of ice around Suomenlinna Island which lies just outside Helsinki harbour and it was fun to watch the boat crunching its way through and leaving a trail behind. Both Silja Symphony and Serenade cruise ferries are sturdily built and equipped for ice breaking conditions.
Sitting in the comfortable chairs by the large windows was very relaxing and we remained there for quite sometime after it became dark.
Promenade (Deck 7)
We then went for a wander along the promenade deck which is the central hub of the cruise ship.
The ‘street’ is lined with a variety of designer and gift shops with several restaurants to choose from including Grill House, Happy Lobster, Tapas and the Bon Vivant Wine Bar.
Live music takes place on a stage along here each evening and with all the wall lights changing colour to imitate the northern lights it’s a great place to stroll and to soak up the atmosphere.
Also to be found on this deck is the information kiosk where you can make enquiries and book city centre transfers.
The Grande Buffet (Deck 6)
In addition to the more intimate dining experiences on board the ship, the Grande Buffet is by far the most popular and I recommend feasting on the abundant selection of dishes in at least one direction. Although not essential, it’s preferable to pre-book a dinner reservation as it is slightly cheaper and a reserved table will be assigned to you.
If you book the dinner and breakfast package for both outward and return there are even more savings to be had. Also, if you only wish to enjoy the buffet one way the voucher can be redeemed in any of the other other restaurants on board up to the buffet value.
The buffet has two sittings at 4.45 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. with the earlier one being ideal for parents with young children. We had reserved a table for the later sitting and enjoyed the vast array of high quality dishes with an emphasis on Nordic flavours along with a selection of international dishes.
There’s also plenty of options for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diners. With a good choice of desserts, a chocolate fountain with fresh fruit, ice creams and delicious Finnish Fazer chocolates, we were spoilt for choice. Wine, beer and soft drinks are readily available on tap and included in the buffet price making it a very good priced meal in comparison to local restaurants.
Breakfast is served each morning from 7.30 until 9.30 a.m. in the Grande Buffet and there was lots of tempting food to set us up for the day from delicious poached salmon, to cold meats, eggs, yoghurts, fruit, pastries, juice and hot drinks.
Tax Free Superstore (Deck 6)
This vast superstore is on the same level as the Grande Buffet and contains beer, wines, spirits, chocolates, gifts, cosmetics and designer goods all at affordable tax free prices with considerable savings from the shops of Stockholm or Helsinki.
For passengers with cars large saver packs are available and on our return to Helsinki we bought some wine and chocolates to enjoy during the remaining few days of our holiday.
Starlight (Decks 7 and 8)
At 7.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. each evening live entertainment takes place in Starlight. During our trip we were enthralled by a Queen Tribute ‘Game of love’ on the outward voyage and ABBA ‘Thank you for the music’ on our return.
Both shows lasted 45 minutes and were of a very high quality and beautifully choreographed.
We were so thrilled to discover that the ABBA tribute was taking place that we pre-booked premium seats directly in front of the stage for the best views.
These seats can be booked in advance and consist of various snack packages. We opted for coffee and petit-fours which arrived with a full pot of coffee for us to enjoy throughout the show. More details here.
After the shows finished, the stage lowers to create a dance floor and a live band plays until the early hours. Whether you wish to dance or not, the music is uplifting with classic hits that everyone enjoys.
Day in Stockholm
After a smooth crossing and a good night’s sleep in our cabin we opened the curtains to a view of the boat passing through the scenic Stockholm archipelago.
At 10.00 a.m. Silja Symphony docked in the Värtahamnen ferry pier and we walked along to the nearest metro station at Gärdet, taking around 10 minutes. For passengers not wishing to walk so far then it’s possible to take a bus to the metro station from the ferry terminal or Bus 76 which is ideal if you wish to spend time in Djurgârden Island and visit the historic ship at the Vasa Museum there.
We spent some of our time exploring the old town (Gamla Stan) with its colourful houses. Moving on, we viewed the exterior of the Royal Palace and Parliament buildings before continuing across the Royal Bridge to Skeppsholmen Island for a coastal walk.
Before returning to the boat there was time for some city centre shopping and naturally we couldn’t leave Stockholm without sampling Fika, Sweden’s answer to the British afternoon tea consisting of mouthwatering cinnamon buns and coffee. Absolutely delicious!
We then returned to the ship and enjoyed Silja Symphony’s facilities once again for our return journey.
What a wonderful time we’d had on the cruise ferry trip and whether it’s summer or winter I’d definitely recommend adding the excursion to your itinerary if you are staying in either Helsinki or Stockholm as you are then able to explore a second Nordic capital.
Cabins vary in price depending on class and season but are often cheaper than a hotel stay making the trip both good value and lots of fun.
During our trip we were guests of Tallink-Silja Line and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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