summertravel424

Thanks for the previous help with hotels. Because Helsinki will be so busy with the games, I thought I would get out of the city for two days. I have heard there are a few overnight cruises to Stockholm. Does anyone have an opinion on which one is best and why? Thanks for your help!

GeoffHamer

Silja Line and Viking Line both run huge overnight ships between Helsinki and Stockholm (www.silja.com, www.vikingline.fi). Both have sailings every night and offer cheaper "cruise" fares if you return the following night. Silja Line used to me more up-market, but I'm not sure if this is still the case. Both companies also have overnight services from Turku to Stockholm, which would allow more time in Stockholm; trains connect from Helsinki to the port of Turku.

HunterGatherer

The Silja ships ("Serenade" and "Symphony") from Helsinki to Stockholm are much nicer than those of Viking ("Mariella" and "Gabriella"). Silja is however a bit more expensive. IMHO "Serenade" and "Symphony" (identical sister ships) are by the nicest ships between Finland and Sweden.

I would prefer Silja over Viking any day (and later this summer I'm taking Silja), but note that Viking can be better for partying than Silja, as it attracts a somewhat younger crowd. That said, most of the people you will meet during that time of the year are families returning from their summer holidays.

I would not go via Turku, partly because the Helsinki-Stockholm ships are better, and partly because I don't find the train journey to Turku very exciting.

I second Geoffs very sensible suggestion concerning the cruise.

millicom

Dear summertravel424,

There are also overnight connections to Stockholm from Estonia and Latvia. The Tallink MS Victoria is currently the largest cruiseship stationed in the Baltic Sea. During summer, there are 6 or 7 different ferries/speedboats that will take you over the Gulf of Finland From Helsinki to Tallinn

Enjoy

detraveler

We sailed on Silja from Stockholm to Helsinki recently and were really happy with our cabin. We had a cabin with a balcony that was on the sunrise side of the ship. It was great for watching the islands go by in the evening. We selected Silja for the reasons that the other posters noted and were happy with our choice.

We also visited Tallinn and enjoyed Tallin much more than Helsinki. Tallinn has a great old city that we really liked wandering around in. You might consider a trip there. It was about 1.5 hours by ferry from Helsinki. Stockholm was wonderful and had more to do and see than Tallin but was also much more expensive than Tallinn too.