12 hours on Europe's most LUXURIOUS ferry (unbelievable) ⛴️

[@virtueofhate1778]

Btw, many of those Mediterranean ferries are old Baltic sea ferries like the Mega Regina which is an old Viking Line ship that used to operate on the Helsinki-Stockholm route, so no wonder they might be a bit worn out.😅

[@finmotoman75]

Yes, those old "drilling" ferries 😁😉

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Ah yes I was on the Mega Regina earlier in the year! I didn't realise that that's super interesting

[@macjonte]

I was cruising with Louis Cruises 15 years ago, a luxury island hopping in Greece for a week. The ship was nice, but it felt somewhat home. Looked it up, sure enough it was a an old Stockholm - Helsinki ferry. A few years earlier they bought another one which sank after two weeks of ownership in San Torino. As far as I know it’s still at the bottom. That ferry was also from the Baltic, previously Birka Princess, the boat where they filmed the outside for the tv show Rederiet. So I’ve know what happen after the last episode. ;)

[@absolutehonor141]

I have always thought the Stockholm-Turku night trip was too rough, as much as you want to see and experience on the ship, but you get on board so late in the day, and have to get up again before 5 in the morning, the next day is completely ruined, then I prefer to go to Helsinki, then I have more time, and can sleep a few hours longer! But with that said, a day trip from Stockholm to Turku, or vice versa can be fantastic, the trip is 11 hours but only just over an hour is on the open sea, the rest is a fantastic archipelago that is well worth experiencing

[@maritnordin6017]

Do yourself a favor and book your next overnight ferry trip to Turku in June so you can sit outside on the sundeck and enjoy the absolutely amazing view of the achipelago. Also save up some money and treat yourself with the fantastic buffet.

[@anumeon]

all the water onboard the ferries between Finland and Sweden is drinkable. :)

[@Mats_Larsson_64]

Is there tap water anywhere in Scandinavia that is not drinkable?

[@anumeon]

@@Mats_Larsson_64 Not really, no. Well, sometimes in short periods when the watersystem suffers a temporary overspill or leak or similar. But in general. Always drinkable.

[@moonliteX]

​@@Mats_Larsson_64 on trains and airplanes.

[@macjonte]

@@Mats_Larsson_64 There are some cabins with private wells that isn’t drinkable. With owners that don’t care to invest the money into filters.

[@anumeon]

@@macjonte True enough. And of course the groundwater over at Hallandsåsen that remains poisoned

[@saaraa7876]

The ferries are a popular spot for company conferences cause people are stuck in the ferry and no one can sneak off after 15 minutes lol.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

😂😂😂 haha that's clever!

[@oh2mp]

Ships between Helsinki and Stockholm have more comfortable timetables. They depart about 5-6 PM and arrive around 9-10 AM.

[@chimmynah_and_kookie]

Yes but then you miss the main attraction which is the Turku archipelago.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Yeah in hindsight maybe I should have done that. I thought it was because I was worried about connecting to my night train but if it gets in at 10 that would have been fine! Not sure why I opted for Stockholm to Turku instead!

[@oh2mp]

@@chimmynah_and_kookie it would have been hidden in the darkness anyway this time of year.

[@oh2mp]

@@ClairesFootsteps at least you saw the Turku castle and cathedral :)

[@ClairesFootsteps]

@oh2mp yeah it was cool to see them!

[@JanNyman.]

You don´t need to leave the cabin just because the cabin cleaning starts, they just inform you so you´re not sleeping if/when they knock on the door. You are allowed to use the cabin until arrival on destination.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Someone knocked at my door at 5:30am and told me I needed to leave 😅

[@JanNyman.]

@@ClairesFootsteps Ok, that´s really strange. I have taken that ferry many times and you don´t need to leave. Must be new personal onboard who doesn´t know the routines yet. I know that they can knock and ask to get up etc. Hope the rest of the trip was good except the rude wake up call😏. If you ever have time you should take the Silja Line on Helsinki-Stockholm route, they are nice. On Turku-Stockholm Viking Line is the better choice.

[@vikingburger]

Yes, that's right, you don't have to leave your cabin before arrival, just be ready that they will come and take the dirty laundry before arrival.

[@lillianlamantia9605]

Many people do a 24 hour mini-cruise on these ferries so they don’t need to get up early. You can still leave your stuff in the cabin until departure but they will start coming to clean the ones of the people that are getting off so best to be out of the shower and packed before then.

[@Atomisti]

@@ClairesFootsteps Never has anybody told me that I should leave. Perhaps a misunderstanding? I always wait in the cabin until the ship stops to move or I see people leaving the ship. That way the corridors aren't so crowded. Sometimes you might have to step out for few minutes while sombody makes the bed.

[@paulozavala3232]

43 euro for Christmas’s theme buffet (julbord) is a very vey good price! Swedish julbord is an experience you have to try!

[@MartinLovasz-r7r]

Yeah, you do need to bring one size bigger pants with you though. 🤗

[@porcomalo]

last time i was having a buffet on a ferry the price included drinks as well so not a bad price at all!

[@MartinLovasz-r7r]

@@porcomalo It also brings with it nice memories.

[@tuspu8255]

It also includes unlimited alcohol thats why its expensive

[@FatFrog11]

yes and it is eat as much as you want and also drink wine and beer as much as you want in the price

[@274727]

Turku archipelago on Finland's side has over 40,000 islands and islets and still more are rising from the sea in this extraordinary labyrinth.

[@perpersson1072]

yes sweden has only 260 000 island no 1 in the world

[@Jonsson474]

Finland is third in the world when it comes to the most islands, with 178 000, after Sweden and Norway.

[@Kerppu68]

@@perpersson1072 But Finnish islands are uglier so we are no 1 in the world in that category so we win

[@Divig]

The basic thing here is that Östersjön is littered with islands, regardless of our borders.

[@holoholopainen1627]

Journey from Stockholm to Turku has just - 3 hours of sea - The REST of The Time IS inbetween Islands !

[@Drive_with_soma]

Just saying that water is drinkable. Clean water. Also your cabins are for your use untill ship is in Turku so no worries. They dont kick you out 6.30 finnish time. In summertimes Viking Glory and Viking Grace both have those outdoor furnitures padded and that is sooooooooo nice.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Oh cool! I thought it might be but I didn't want to take the chance just in case!

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Also I had a knock at 5:30 asking me to leave my cabin 😬

[@Drive_with_soma]

@@ClairesFootsteps Odd

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

​@@Drive_with_soma I've only done Harwich-Hook-Harwich overnight in the past and the trip is spoilt by having to vacate the cabin early. I don't know how long Claire's ferry has for turnaround time but in the case of Hook-Harwich it's just a couple of hours.

[@agffans5725]

@@ClairesFootsteps .. fun fact. In Denmark we use fresh drinking water in the toilets too. There have been some environmental complaints, who want a change, because it's a huge waste of perfectly good drinking water, but changing the system would obviously be quite costly, with a separate type of plumbing pipes and fixtures.

[@TheJuupajoopa]

Try Silja Line ferries from Helsinki to Stocholm. They have promenades and all. Sundeck spas. Seems to be around 80€ at winter

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Ooh nice will take a look!

[@riku3716]

​@@ClairesFootsteps if you have ever been on Royal Caribbean cruise or heard of their Royal Promenade, that was invented by those Helsinki Stockholm ferries when they were built in early 90s. Their designer got hired by RCL.

[@riku3716]

Also the Helsinki Stockholm routes have much more passenger friendly schedule. No need to wake early, the ship arrives at Harbour about 10am and stays there for the day until leaving in the evening so you can gake two way cruise, stay ashore during the day and return to same ship anh time during the day. With Turku ships with few execptions you need to get entirely off early morning and take different ship back in the late evening.

[@eetusva7521]

If you want a best cruise ship experience in those waters, I recommend the ship Silja Symphony/Silja Serenade :)

[@chimmynah_and_kookie]

Those two are much older ships though.

[@eetusva7521]

@@chimmynah_and_kookie Yes, but for many, including myself, the promenade is the highlight of the ship

[@WarlonWinterheart]

For that authentic "This used to be so luxurious in the 90's" feeling

[@eetusva7521]

@@WarlonWinterheart Well, those ships has been modernized to modern standards for the most part. To me, these new ships don't have any atmosphere.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

I will take a look at these thanks!

[@tuoppi42]

It really is worth it to see the Swedish coast from a ferry. Front deck, if possible and weather permitting. It is a surreal sight when large sailboats are below you and the beautiful scenery glides silently past you. Depends on the boat if front deck is available.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Sounds like I'll have to take another trip in the summer 🙂

[@matseriksson3916]

As you and many others have already said: you MUST take this trip in the summer - and hang out on the sun deck as much as possible! The ship looked almost empty in the video - it' can be quite different during weekends when people are going for party cruises on these ships. I mean, most of them are as much cruise ships as they are ferries.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Thankyou, I will! Just looking into a trip I can take in May 🙂 watch this space!

[@Atomisti]

@@ClairesFootsteps May is probably going to be too cold. Then again, even July can be too cold or rainy sometimes.

[@np7360]

Most people dont use it as a ferry - they do the return and just enjoy the trip, the food and the taxfree

[@StPaul76]

A classic Nordic breakfast is Not a small glass of coffee with dyed oat slime in it and a korvapuusti cinnamin roll sweet heart.. Nordic breakfast would more likely consist of oat meal porridge with fresh butter or berries for vegans and maybe smoked herring and black bread or Karelian pies(in Finland) and about half a gallon of coffee.. :D

[@ClairesFootsteps]

I said *my* classic Nordic breakfast, as in what I always have in Nordic countries, not saying it's traditional! :)

[@birgittae9046]

⁠@@ClairesFootstepsI have a big cup of coffee at breakfast, but with a non sweet slice of ryebread with butter and a sliced tomato. The sweet cinnamon bun is for ”fika time”. 😋😋

[@stefanhakola8980]

@@birgittae9046 Exactly. Rye bread (swedish knäckebröd or finnish ruisleipä) with cheese, tomato and cucumber or leverpastej (liver paté, maybe?) with pickled thin sliced cucumber, and coffee. Kanelbulle (cinnamon roll) is fika, not breakfast. From what I understand many people in USA have cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I don't think that anyone in the nordic countries would consider that a proper breakfast except maybe some 20-something screwed up by social media influence.

[@danfarrik]

It’s a great ship. I’ve taken it from Stockholm to Turku and back a few times. The water from the tap is perfectly potable in the cabins. Oh, and no Swede would have a cinnamon bun for breakfast. We don’t eat dessert/fika for breakfast. 😉

[@juhajuntunen7866]

Cinnamon bun with coffee, so delicious!

[@danfarrik]

@ oh, I agree, just not for breakfast.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Haha I could eat them any time of day, all day 🤣 but good to know! Yes the ship was excellent and good to know about the water!

[@HOXA61]

I'm Swedish and I love cinnamon buns for breakfast! 😋

[@danfarrik]

@ ha ha! I like chocolate cake for breakfast too, but it still isn’t a proper Swedish breakfast.

[@Asa...S]

It is really beautiful in the Stockholm archipelago in the summers. I recommend this! Also taking one of the smaller ferries out to some of the islands in the archipelago. To some you can go with your SL-ticket (same as for the buses/subway/trams etc), and some you need another ticket. In winter time you can use the SL-tickets to more islands, but there are less ferries, less open restaurants etc and less to do in the archipelago, and just less nice. I really recommend visit the Stockholm archipelago in the summer! Perhaps go in the opposite direction and arrive to Stockholm from Finland, or Estonia by one of these big ferries, and then go island hopping in the archipelago, perhaps around Midsummer, that's usually really nice.

[@Vilhyto]

I live in Turku archipelago so you passed my home island. Welcome to Turku and Finland. I hope you had great time ;-)

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Lovely, I bet the island is beautiful! I loved it thanks!

[@bluetexas001]

The ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn in the summer is amazing! Glorious trip.

[@harrikuusjarvi3795]

Yes but Ships and nature are better Helsinki to Stockholm or Turku to Stockholm. Both Turku archipelago is the best. If u go with Helsinki u basically are really soon in open sea. But if u leave Turku u will spend hours to just watching islands. Like half of the trip. But for sure it is really good to go fast ship Helsinki to Tallin also. 2,5hour only. And ship is 202m long. This Viking Glory is 212m long. But it take much more passangers in.

[@bokhans]

The buffé is fantastic and you get all the wine and beer you can drink! Not to mention the dessert buffé that is also included. 😊

[@krisstopher8259]

but it's also very expensive

[@bahiajabari7185]

@@krisstopher8259 in sweden it’s cheap for a Christmas buffet that’s included all you can drink wine and beer 😊 only the buffet is usually around 60€ and up Without beverages.

[@MetsisJ]

The gratis wine is usually some sort of table wine. If you want better, you naturally order one.

[@krisstopher8259]

@@bahiajabari7185 that's expensive. it used to be less than half that 20+ yrs ago. i've been on several silja/viking buffets since the 80s. but i know everything is super expensive nowadays. 60 euro for ONE meal! no thanks, i'll rather starve, i don't eat much anyway

[@krisstopher8259]

@@MetsisJ i drink a lot of cheap wine. i would drink ten glasses if i was in the buffet. then it would be worth the cost

[@joppejoppsson9604]

When you leave the cabin and get off the ship, you are supposed to leave the door open for the cleaners. thats why you have the magnet.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Ah okay that makes sense!

[@MlCROPIZZA]

I have tip for you. If you want to stay up later and sleep longer then Helsinki - Stockholm ferry would be a better choice. The ship does arrive about 9.30 am i believe. Yes i know ferries on that route are over 30 years old however they are still up to the task. The schedule is just more suitable for many

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Yeah I should have done that probably, although it was good to see this ferry!

[@AnnaMaria-123]

There is a spa with pool, jacuzzis , ice room and saunas in Viking Glory. I have been there and it's pretty nice ☺️

[@MikkoRantalainen]

When you buy the buffet, make sure to check if the price is with or without drinks. There's a buffet option with all the food and alcohol you can cconsume and that's the expensive one.

[@fredyyfredfreddy]

Viking lines is such an excellent company. I hope they start some lines on the west coast as well. I would love a line between Gothenburg and London.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

That would be incredible!

[@jannehanhela9607]

Just found your channel through recommendations, you make really comfy and relaxing travel videos, very pleasant to watch! :)

[@kallekonttinen1738]

I travel Stockholm-Turku and Stockholm-Helsinki regularly. I actually brefer Viking Line because I like their buffe. There is very nice fish table with crabs and caviar. You drive in, drop luggage to cabin and head for buffe, take one wine bottle with wife and spent 2-3 hours in there. Then to some music show and to sleep and morning you are ready to drive in an another country! So nice.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Sounds like a lovely evening! I will try the buffet at some point but was on quite a strict budget for this trip!

[@anderslarsen6009]

If you love the overnight ferries then do Copenhagen to Oslo. But wait to after March where both ferries has been in dock and all standard cabins has been renovated.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Ooh good idea, I will look into that thanks!

[@raimo41]

I live in Finland an earlier i went to Viking Line and Silja Line quite often, just go in daytime trip and you can fully enjoy it. Night cruises are more just people drinking and behaving like in night clubs, not for me at all. Summer day cruise is very nice.

[@ArvidLindqvist]

You probably don’t need to be out of the cabin at that time. And you should visit the Åland Islands in the summer time, the Ferry stops there on the way

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Haha I had a knock at 5:30am 😅 I would love to visit them, heard really good thinks 🙂 I think I will have to plan a summer Sweden/ Finland trip for sure

[@Hoksaaja]

They are large ferries that offer cruise ship services, which is probably quite unique. And at a very cheap price and you don't have to stay on the ship for days, often just hours or at most a day.

[@nemesis1970]

water on the ferries Stockholm - turku is drinkable from tap in cabins hence the cup

[@hannesangell]

No, don’t giv up taking the buss. The buss terminal is about 1 km away from Slussen T, and the ferry terminal is a few meters farther. It’s quite a walk! The door magnet is there so you don’t brase your door open with anything else. It would be a fire hazard. In case of fire or blackout, all dorrs shut automagically. That would fail if you instead propped the door open in another way.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

That makes sense re. The magnet! Haha yeah I couldn't work out the buses and I'm not sure why 🤣 I knew there would be a more efficient way haha!

[@Drive_with_soma]

I did drive a bus inside Viking Glory when she was tecnically new one. Beautiful ship all the ways. That film might be in my videos

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Nice! Yes wonderful ship :)

[@juharaty5449]

You MUST make another trip in the summertime since the archipelagos on that route are F A N T A S T I C !

[@ClairesFootsteps]

I bet! I'm looking at doing the Stockholm - Helsinki ferry (and then Turku to Aland and then back to Stockholm) in May :)

[@HellofromFinland-bbp]

Have you ever travelled from Tallin to Helsinki by ferry? It is about 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes deending on what ferry line it is.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Yes I did that trip last year 🙂 there's a video on my channel, although my filming has improved a little in the last year haha!

[@HellofromFinland-bbp]

@@ClairesFootsteps Will watch it tomorrow. Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year!

[@ClairesFootsteps]

@@HellofromFinland-bbp Merry Christmas to you too 🙂🎄🎅

[@rollsroycetrent1000]

You should come to the finnish-swedish ferries in summer, the stockholm archipelago is cool!

[@Necyn]

You can buy a buss ticket from stockholm central station (city terminalen) to the harbour. You do it online same time you book your ferry

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Is there a direct bus? I couldn't work out how to take it 😬

[@Stevenspielburger]

Lovely looking ship! Your singing was very entertaining....

[@ClairesFootsteps]

🤣🤣🤣 I'm hoping Viking Line staff weren't watching that on camera haha

[@mikkolaine4883]

⁠Don’t worry. That is most likely closest to normal compared to what they have seen 😂

[@Kansika]

That cabin is about the same a size as my first ever hotel room in Paris and the scenery is just as good. I've mostly travelled on a deck seat which means you just find some lounge chairs and camp in. Better when you have friends or family along, though. The doors lock open for when the sea gets rough.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

I've done that before on other ferries but do prefer my own bed these days!

[@sotkajarvi]

There used to be a free bus from Slussen to the ferry terminal. It's been a few decades ago I used it, so it might not exist anymore.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Oh cool! I didn't see anything about that in my research but maybe someone else knows 🙂

[@birgittae9046]

@@ClairesFootsteps you can take the SL-bus no 53 or 55 from Slussens T-station (you will find the bus stop on Katarinavägen, Läge F). Three stops, then you arrive to the bus stop ”Londonviadukten”, where Viking Line ferries are. The bus journey takes only 4 minutes. 👍

[@michaeljohndennis2231]

Hi Claire, new Irish subscriber in Manchester UK 23 years here - I’m well used to taking the SailRail (train and ferry) via Holyhead to Dublin but this ferry is next level - I know of Turku, as there is a chocolate factory there that produces the Milka brand of chocolate

[@solid4brewing]

One of the ferries you travelled on in the Mediterranean was operating the route Stockholm - Tuurku in the early 90ies 😃

[@ClairesFootsteps]

That's so interesting! Was it the Mega Regina?

[@274727]

Mega Regina, Mega Smeralda, Mega Andrea and Mega Victoria.

[@caseihcruiser220]

m/s Viking Glory was my last ship in the fleet. I really enjoyed to work there 😊

[@TheVoiTube]

😂😂😂 When the sun comes up? 😂😂😂 Miss. You are in Finland it doesn't or just flashes an hour. You so funny.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Few hours in the south 🙂

[@Ollireki]

The doors probably stay open firmly for cleaning. There's limited space as is, so the door isn't a hassle.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

This makes sense!

[@WhadifuzAlottanois]

Door magnet... A safety feature for multiple reasons. And most of all for house-keeping.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

yeah that makes sense!

[@kaiasher3083]

very jealous 😮‍💨have you ever done the dfds newcastle-ijmuiden? such a cool ferry

[@ClairesFootsteps]

I've not yet but it's on my list!

[@aedanjmcghie]

Could the door magnet be useful for keeping the door open while you’re on stormy seas?

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Ah yes good point!

[@robertenskog46]

On this route Stockholm-Turku it’s only one hour in open sea. The rest of the trip you are surrounded by islands so the risk of stormy seas is low and short-lived in this ship. There is more open seas in the route Stockholm-Helsinki.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

@@robertenskog46 would the ferry do this crossing (and maybe others) as well?

[@HezuFoto]

@@ClairesFootsteps That exact ferry no, but the cruiseferries on HelsinkiStockholm route are quite similar, somewhat older and bit smaller though. Departures earlier in the afternoon/early evening and arrival slightly later in the morning, no option for daytime sailings unlike on the TurkuStockholm route. Also less archipelago on the Finnish side on this route. There are (cruise)ferries also between Helsinki and Tallinn (Estonia) and Tallinn and Stockholm. Also there is ferry route Kapellskär (Sweden, near Stockholm)-Långnäs (Åland, Finland)-Naantali (Finland, near Turku), which has the currently newest ships on Baltic Sea, although the starting points might be more suitable for those traveling with a vehicle.

[@robertenskog46]

@@ClairesFootsteps no, this ferry is only for the Stockholm-Turku route. I can also recommend going by day between Stockholm and Turku so you can see the thousands of islands in the archipelagos both in Sweden and Finland. I think Viking Line have the best ferries between Stockholm and Turku while Silja Line have the bigger ferries between Stockholm and Helsinki with a big shopping street in the middle. The new railway bridge has now opened in Turku so you can now travel directly again with the train from Turku harbour and Turku station to Helsinki. Another ferry route you can take is the route to Gotland in the middle of the Baltic Sea. The route doesn’t have many islands but Gotland is amazing to visit. The city of Visby in Gotland is the best preserved medieval city in the Nordic countries.

[@Songfugel]

Isn't Viking line the budget option? like Ryan Air/Spirit is for airlines 🤔

[@Markmeister1989]

Nah, they offer pretty much the same product as the competitor TallinkSilja but with a more reasonable price. Viking Line have two very modern ships on the Turku route while TallinkSilja offer their revolutionary Silja Serenade and Silja Symphony on the Helsinki to Stockholm route with their still impressive promenade in the middle of the ship.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

If RyanAir could do this, I'd be very impressed!

[@Ana198]

The buffet does have unlimited beer and wine on tap so it's not that bad if you compare it to a normal restaurant on the ship with the insane price for booze

[@ClairesFootsteps]

True, although that's presuming you want more than 1-2 drinks!

[@tombrunila2695]

Did you know that over one thousand years ago Viking lines made cruises along the rivers down to the Black Sea and even to Constantinople, today known as Istanbul.

[@Silveirias]

Normally I'd, too, say they shouldn't charge for just tap water, but it is a ferry, so that water has to get onboard somehow, so I feel like it's a little justified at least to charge.

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Hello Claire, thanks for the latest video. These ferry firms claim their accommodation is like a 4 star hotel...but the letdown is the very early arrival (if taking an overnight ferry). Similar with Hook-Harwich which I've taken before.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Agree! It was the only downside. I would have definitely paid a bit more if I could have stayed in my cabin until 9 or 10

[@oggamer735]

@@ClairesFootstepsyou could have for free, unless the ferry left before that for a new trip.

[@HezuFoto]

@@ClairesFootsteps The ferries on StockholmTurku route spend only few hours in port before they start the next trip since there is two departures each day: one in the morning and another in the evening.

[@danvernier198]

Holding the door open with a magnet is more for the cleaning staff than the passengers.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

this makes sense, thanks!

[@MikkoRantalainen]

The R in Finnish is always rolling R, quite similar to Spanish rolling R. So you should pronounce e.g. Turku as TuR-ku.

[@lkrnpk]

Baltic Sea ferries are indeed very good ferries

[@carolawasberg6271]

That cabin is the smaler one, I had 1 that had a round bed and a window. I did too enjoy my trip

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Nice, I'd like to try a different cabin next time! Such a fun trip

[@postoffice146]

Nice video. You have more time to sleep and relax if you take the the ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki and not the train from Turku to Helsinki. Better to sleep or bath in the spa and sauna on the ship than be dragging your luggage to the train station 🙂

[@ClairesFootsteps]

thankyou :) Yes in hindsight I probably should have taken the ferry to Helsinki, it was cool to see Turku though!

[@mackan-kf4tg]

You should’ve taken the 53 bus from outside the Arlanda Express at T-centralen!! It takes you right to the sea ferry terminal at Londonviadukten!!!😂 You wasted a lot of time walking!!!😂😂😂

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Haha I couldn't for the life of me work out to get there 🤣 good to know though!

[@birgittae9046]

Yes the city buses 53 (and 55) goes to bus stop Londonviadukten, where Viking Line is.

[@Atomisti]

Walking is wasted time?!

[@ClairesFootsteps]

​@@AtomistiDo agree with you, I always try to get my steps in when I travel and had the time to get to the ferry so didn't really feel like a waste of time at all 😊

[@mackan-kf4tg]

@ Depends how much luggage you have!!!🤦🏻

[@juhakeskinen1103]

You should have taken bus 58 from central station to ferry

[@HOXA61]

Bus no. 53 😉 Get off at Londonviadukten.

[@2xtreem4u]

there is a bus from stocholm södra station to londonviadukten that is the nearest bus stop to viking line

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Haha yeah I couldn't for the life of me work out how to get there but knew there would be a more efficient way 🤣

[@2xtreem4u]

@@ClairesFootsteps it's all the chaos from building the new slussen and a new underground bus station

[@birgittae9046]

You could have taken the Tunnelbana from T-Centralen at Central Station where Arlanda Express arrives. Tunnelbana red or green line south, only 2 stops to Slussen. Then change to bus with the same ticket. To the SL-bus 53 or 55. They pass Slussen, on Katarinavägen, Läge F. And takes you to ”Londonviadukten” where Viking Line is. The T-bana takes maximum 4 minutes and the bus ride takes 4 minutes. 😊

[@Pro4Stars]

I think I prefer the cabine in the film Brooklyn (2015), except for the bathroom. By the way we traveled by a DFDS ferry to Felixstowe from Gothenburg.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Ah when did you do that journey? Doesn't look like there are any ferries from the UK to Scandinavia any more which is a shame!

[@Pro4Stars]

@@ClairesFootsteps In my youth, you know, the decade when you listened to Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Billy Idol, etc. You had kind of forgotten ABBA, but in the early 90s it was ABBA again, thanks to the CD ABBA Gold. When I was really young, we listened to ABBA at home. We had the LPs Ring Ring, Waterloo, ABBA (1975) and Arrival. 🙂 Coming to Felixstowe was like stepping into Emmerdale, two helpful ladies at the tourist information spoke just like they do in the TV series Emmerdale. At least that's how I perceived it. From wikipedia ("Tor Line"): "DFDS purchased the entire Tor Line passenger division in late 1981. Initially the Tor ships were marketed as DFDS Tor Line"

[@malingronlund3486]

You can take buss 53 from Stockholm Central to London viadukten then its only 10 min walk. And it is drinking water. You dont have to get of at turku you can book a 23 h Cruise so you are comming back to Stockholm the next night..

[@ClairesFootsteps]

That would be fun to do the cruise! Yeah I'm not sure how I couldn't work out how to get there 🤣 knew there would be a better way haha

[@MariusClausen-bf2kw]

The most luxurious ferries are Color Fantacy and Color Magic, sailing betwen Oslo and Kiel in Northern Germany. They yourney takes 19 hours. They where buildt in 2004 and 2007 and have been the biggest ferries since then. How ever in 2022. 2 ferries between Trelleborg in Sweden and Rostock in Germany and 1 in the Mediterranean are now longer. But you measures a ship in tonns and the Colorline ships are 20% bigger than the new ones.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Thanks for the info, I am going to try and take this next year 🙂

[@Snobollskrieg]

"Big roadworks going on at Slussen!" Yeeeeeah, that's been going on since uh... I can't even remember a time when Slussen DIDN'T have any work being done to it.

[@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt]

The onboard snack prices are the same as supermarket prices here in Australia.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Haha yeah they're not that far off UK supermarket prices

[@RKMa64]

This is a ccol trip series😎

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Thankyou, I had so much fun filming it!

[@johnthefinn]

The water is drinkable. Though I prefer beer, myself.

[@holoholopainen1627]

Nice Video ! Done The same journey at late 80s - several times ! On Your way to Helsinki - You have more time ! There IS ONLY - 3 Hours - of open sea inbetween - till You arrive to Åland Islands & artipelaco ! Have You ever heard of Ferry ESTONIA - 1994 ?

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Thank you, I loved the trip! I've taken the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn, or is that something else? 🙂

[@holoholopainen1627]

@ClairesFootsteps I was talking about The Helsinki vs Turku Ferries ! Stockholm to Turku - only 3 hours of open sea - otherwise inbetween Islands... Åland / Mariehamn - Turku has asmany islands as Stockholm ! IT takes 18 hours from Stockholm to Helsinki - and at Helsinki IT IS open sea after You pass Suomenlinna ! NOTE The Islas of Åland & Capital MARIEHAMN - IS part of Finland - even They only speak Swedish !

[@holoholopainen1627]

@@ClairesFootsteps There are letters in Our alphabet - socalled Scadies as Å / Ä / Ö ! Mariehamn IS The Capital of ÅLAND - as Turkus Swedish name IS ÅBO ! The letter IS Å - that Finnish speakers call Swedish " O " says " oo " ! Islas of Ooland as City of Oobu - as letter " O " says in Swedish as " uu " !

[@Taurwathwylth]

I assume the UK must have routes towards Norway and Iceland. And maybe the Faroes. Aren't those as luxurious?

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Sadly not, the only places you can take a ferry to from the UK are France, Netherlands, Ireland and Spain!

[@Taurwathwylth]

@ClairesFootsteps Oh, I see. But isn't there an episode of one of the Gear programs where they take a ferry towards Scandinavia... I mean it was to land on Norway but the idea was probably to end in someplace else. Did they disembark from somewhere else than England or Scotland? Also why aren't the ferries to any of those other places that luxuriousitynessable, then, hm? I guess you'd think that at least some higher-end options existed.

[@Argantonis]

@@ClairesFootstepsAt least the used to be a service from Newcastle to Norway.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

@Argantonis I actually was just reading some ferry news and they are hoping to reinstate in 2026!

[@Taurwathwylth]

@@Argantonis Maybe that old one was what Jeremy Clarkson and the guys had featured in their program.

[@nemesis1970]

how is the coffee and cinnamon bun a nordic breakfast?

[@ClairesFootsteps]

I said my typical Nordic breakfast, as in, what I personally always eat in Nordic countries. Know it's not traditional but also I could eat cinnamon buns any time of day 😅

[@norajoybrusewitz5280]

The ship is used as a werry short cruise

[@oldschooltechno]

Yeah, and as you were wondering how people can check the shows and don't sleep, it's mainly for those who do the round trip. Then you don't have to get up so early for house keeping or get off the boat.

[@paanikki]

An interesting fact: Finland and Sweden both belong to the EU tax and customs union, so there is no customs border between the countries and one cannot do duty free shopping when traveling directly between the countries. This is why the ferries make a port call in the Aland islands, between Sweden and Finland, to allow duty free sales on the ferries. Aland is an autonomous part of Finland, but not a part of the customs union. By the way, Nordic people don't eat cinnamon buns for breakfast. A typical nordic breakfast is more healthy and boring, like oatmeal with bilberries.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

That is interesting, I didn't know that!

[@MikkoRantalainen]

17:10 You pay for renting the glass, the water if free.

[@holyhelga]

Magnet is there for when the cabin is being cleaned in preparation for the next renter

[@veijolalli326]

The water IS drinkable and tasty.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Glad to know that now 🙂

[@penaarja]

Was this at covid time?

[@ClairesFootsteps]

No it was the other week!

[@Flokarl1]

43 Euro is afairly good price for a Christmas Buffet . These can cost up to 60 Euro...because its alot of specialities to eat

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Yeah that makes sense! Still 43 euro on one meal seems quite a lot to me 🤣 I went to IKEA in Stockholm for dinner and had it for less than 5 euro haha

[@mikaelm2419]

Well, if you want to compare factory made smush into a multiple course dinner made by dozen chefs that's your prerogative. The buffets are the best thing in these ships!​@@ClairesFootsteps

[@mainiotaainetta]

45 eur for a buffee is still cheap compared to what it is on land, but It's a bit of a barbaric experience so you didn't miss out anything.😊 And Welcome to Turku Claire!

[@artofstormdancing3319]

All you can drink so it is pretty cheap because if you get drunk there you don't have to spend as much in the bar...

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Haha true, I didn't want to get drunk though 😂 just had a 5€ glass of wine at the bar!

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Haha sounds intriguing! Thanks so much 🙂

[@mainiotaainetta]

@@ClairesFootsteps 🥰

[@fdk7014]

They charged you for a glass of tap water? That's a bit cheap

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Haha yes! For tourists who weren't aware the water in bathrooms was drinkable 🤣 I know for next time now!

[@nexttonic6459]

Yes you can drink water from faucets in Nordic countries.Edit, and the Ferries as well =)

[@nannacat3]

Cool😊

[@nannacat3]

Omg there is sauna at that ship!

[@mikkolaine4883]

Actually four saunas 😄

[@timoterava7108]

There are saunas absolutely everywhere in Finland.

[@MrFinlandsuomi]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@penaarja]

Oh, how did this seems that there are no peoples. Been in this ferries to sweden and tallin like 50 times, always crowded. 2-3 thousand, maybe more.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

It was super quiet! Because it was midweek in the winter maybe?

[@penaarja]

Never seen like that

[@mikkolaine4883]

These ships can carry 2800 passengers. New Tallink ships around 2500. Europa used to be the biggest with 3000.

[@Hotbulldozer]

Sweden has the most islands in the world 270.000

you must be the first person considering to drink water from ferry cabin tap. the tradition on ferries is to get a box of beer cans fron duty free shop

[@strategicconsensus]

As someone who has travelled extensively on these ferries, I liked the old clapped out ones more. The new ferries are designed as floating shopping malls and the ferry aspect has ben completely lost. They now cater primarily to the needs of cruise passengers looking to get shitfaced. Piped in music everywhere 24h a day. No quiet areas or rest areas, all seating is either inside or next to a busy bar or restaurant. Don't like it? You are welcome to pay through the nose for an overpriced cabin. But I guess that is where the money is.

[@teemuuusi-esko6280]

A cabin is included in the standard ticket price on Viking Line. You can opt for not having the cabin, you save 16 euros, I don't think that is overpriced. On a 11 hour crossing it's good to have a place for the luggage and coats, and to have a little rest, too.

[@holyhelga]

Generally you can drink tap water on boats

[@Cta2006]

Not at all. The biggest and most luxurious ferry is the Color Line ferry between Oslo, Norway and Kiel, Germany. The Color Magic is the biggest car ferry in the world

[@ClairesFootsteps]

I will definitely add that one to my list

[@juhakeskinen1103]

Yes you can drink that water

[@Hliljan]

Now you have to take the ferry Norrönna to Faroe Islands. It’s best from April to October due to the weather

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Ah yes this is the one that goes onto Iceland isn't it? Hoping to do that this year!

[@Hliljan]

@ yes it is but owned by Faroe Islands. Did the trip this summer. It’s amazing🤩Am from Faroe Islands living in Sweden and normally go by plane but took the ferry this summer

[@HezuFoto]

@@ClairesFootsteps Yes, from Hirtshals in Denmark to Tórshavn in Faroes to Seiðisfjörður in Iceland (and vice versa). I have taken the Tórshavn-Seiðisfjörður leg and it was quite interesting, albeit it was somewhat bumpy ride (North Atlantic is not the calmest of the seas).

[@johanna8028]

The buffet includes unlimited alcohoi too, so the price isn't that outrageous.

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Ah yeah I guess if you want to have some drinks it works out ok!

[@martenth1984]

43 euro for the buffet includes free flow wine/beer and cider 😂😂😂

[@ClairesFootsteps]

Yeah it's not a bad deal if you want to drink (I only wanted the one glass). Although I've heard it's not the best quality wine and I'm quite picky about the wine I drink (and don't drink beer/ cider). But can see how it would work well for some!

[@Flokarl1]

Cinnamonbun as breakfast????😲 That is NOT a Scandinavian breakfast

[@ClairesFootsteps]

😬 sorry! They're so tasty though I could have them any time of day!

[@ChloeOwen-g7p]

❤❤😍

[@jonbackman]

Then you check islands mounts in Turku/Finnish archperlaho 😂

[@perolden]

Same ferries you find in Norway, that go to Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Actiually the ones going to Germany are rated the feriies in the world with highest standard, Sweden-Finland ferries can't really compete.