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Baltic Sea ferries

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Major companies
Eat
Drink
Buy
Do
See
Stay safe
Get around

This article is about cruise ferries local to the Baltic Sea. See cruising the Baltic Sea for international luxury cruise ships visiting the Baltic Sea.

There are many car and passenger ferries crossing the Baltic Sea, between all Baltic countries. Those between Sweden and Finland are in Sweden called Finlandsbåt ("Finland boat"), while in Finland "Sweden boat".

Most of these ferries carry car traffic between countries. They also function as cruise ships for short shopping trips, from 2 to 48 hours.

[edit] Major companies

Finnlines [1] links most countries with Baltic ports. Operates the longest ferry trip on Baltic Sea - two and a half day cruise from Lübeck to St. Petersburg (via Sassnitz and Ventspils).

Stena Line [2] between ports in Poland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Norway.

Scandlines [3] Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Latvia.

Tallink/Silja Line [4] between Sweden, Finland and Baltic states is a mid-market carrier, offering good standard of food, accommodation and entertainment for road-trips and entertainment cruises.

DFDS Seaways [5] between Sassnitz, Kiel, Karlshamn and Klaipeda.

Viking Line [6] is usually considered the low-end carrier between Sweden and Finland and Tallinn.

RG Line [7] between Umea/Sweden and Vaasa/Finland.

St. Peter Line [8] two ships run between Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn and St. Petersburg.

Polferries [9]: Świnoujście - Copenhagen, Świnoujście - Ystad, Gdańsk - Nynäshamn/Stockholm.

Unity Line [10] between Świnoujście and Trelleborg and Ystad in Sweden.

TT Line [11] between Travemünde and Rostock in Germany and Trelleborg in Sweden.

Bornholmer Faergen [12] between Germany, Sweden, mainland Denmark and Bornholm/Rønne

Birka Cruises [13] offers high-end cruises between Stockholm and Mariehamn(Åland), without the car ferry function.

Kołobrzeska Żegluga Pasażerska [14] Kołobrzeg(Poland) - Bornholm/Nexo.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Most cruise ferries have several cafés and restaurants at all price levels. The value for paid money is typical to Sweden and Finland; you know what you get, but you won't be impressed. The most famous one is an all-you-can-eat Nordic buffet/smörgåsbord at around 300 SEK. Should traditionally be eaten as seven servings; herring, other seafood, cold cuts, warm meat, sausage, cheese and dessert.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Drinks in the bar are slightly cheaper than in regular Swedish or Finnish pubs.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Most cruise ferries between Sweden and Finland make a stop at Åland, to earn the legal opportunity to host duty free shopping. These stores, with alcohol and tobacco prices far below Swedish and Finnish levels, are the main attraction for many passengers. Consumption on board is officially not allowed, but happens all the time.

[edit][add listing] Do

Gambling at slot machines and roulette tables.

[edit][add listing] See

Scenic view of the Stockholm archipelago, Åland and Turku archipelago. Stage performances nightly.

[edit] Stay safe

To make an understatement, drunkenness is common on these ferries. While security crew tends to be forgiving to drunkenness itself, violent behaviour is usually punished by spending the rest of the journey in a detention cell, or even marooned in a foreign port.

During night-time, there is no reason to visit open deck, except smoking. Remain indoors.