Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Scenery:
During the first few hours out of Stockholm, your ship passes
through the
Skärgården
(archipelago). The third hour features the most exotic
island scenery—tiny islets with cute red huts and happy people. I'd have din-
ner at the first sitting (shortly after departure) and be on deck for sunset. But
if you don't like cold temperatures, book the second sitting because the deck
gets chilly later in the cruise.
Time Change:
Finland is one hour ahead of Sweden. Sailing from Stock-
holm to Helsinki, operate on Swedish time until you're ready to go to bed,
then reset your watch. Morning schedules are Finnish time, and vice versa
when you return. The cruise-schedule flier in English makes this clear—pick
it up as you board.
Cost
Fares vary by season, by day of the week, and by cabin class. Mid-June to
mid-August is most crowded and expensive (with prices the same regardless
ofday).Off-season,Fridayisalwaysthemostexpensivenighttotravel,while
Sunday through Wednesday nights are the cheapest.
In summer, a one-way ticket per person for the cheapest bed that has
a private bath (in a below-sea-level, under-car-deck “C” quad) costs about
€50-70. Couples will pay a total of about €150-200 for the cheapest double
room (with bath) that's above the car deck.
Round-trip cruise fares (across and back on
successive nights,
leaving you
access to your bedroom throughout the day) generally cost much less than two
one-way trips. (In peak season, the cheapest double cabin round-trip is about
€250-300.) The drawback is that this itinerary leaves you with only a few
hours on land. But you can get the round-trip fare on
non-successive nights
if
you book a hotel through the cruise line for every intervening night. If it fits
your schedule, this is a good deal.
Thefaresarecheapbecausemanylocalssailtoshopanddrinktax-free.It's
a huge operation—the boats are filled with about 45 percent Finns, 45 percent
Swedes, and 10 percent cruisers from other countries. The average passenger
spends as much on booze and tax-free items as on the boat fare. The boats
make a midnight stop in the Åland Islands—a self-governing, Swedish-speak-
