FINLAND - Scandinavia - page 905

ing province of Finland that's exempt from the European Union's value-added
tax (VAT)—to maintain their tax-free status.
Discounts: Travelers with railpasses that include Sweden or Finland get
discounts on both lines. Tallink Silja's discount is 20 percent in high season
and 40 percent in low season (available on one-way tickets only, not valid for
the more expensive cabins). Viking Line's 50 percent discount applies only
to the transport portion of the fare (not the cabin cost), so it averages out to
about a 30 percent discount on the cheap economy beds and less on nicer cab-
ins (discounts for early booking, seniors, and families—look for family-cabin
rates). Check the cruise lines' websites for specifics.
Age Restrictions: The boat lines do not permit travel on some Stockholm-
Finland routes by those aged 18-20 who are not accompanied by a parent or
guardian. This applies especially to round-trip cruises on successive nights.
One-way tickets are usually exempt from these rules. Websites have more in-
formation, but it's really best to contact Viking Line or Tallink Silja by phone
or email to clarify your individual situation.
Reservations
For summer or weekend sailings, reserve well in advance. You'll get a re-
servation number and can then just pick up your boarding card at the port.
Try to book online with a credit card. Websites are well-organized and both
companies offer online discounts not available elsewhere ( www.vikingline.fi ,
www.tallinksilja.com ) . Tallink Silja charges a €5 fee if you reserve on the
phone or at their offices; Viking Line charges €5 for in-person bookings, but
lets you book for free by phone.
If you want to reserve by phone or just have a question, call the companies
directly. The Swedish reservations numbers are tel. [phone] for Viking
Line, and tel. [phone] for Tallink Silja. In Finland, both lines have toll
numbers that cost extra to call: tel. [phone] for Viking, and tel.
0600-15700 for Tallink Silja. Drop the first zero if calling from North Amer-
ica. Both companies have sales agents in the US: For Viking Line, call
800-843-0602 ( www.bortonoverseas.com ) ; for Tallink Silja, call