Of all my Finnish ferry boat experiences...this was the best.
Who could want more on our trip to Sweden for small family. We get a smaller Finnish ferry boat, less trafficked. Cleaner than most largers Finnish ferries. A free-to-use sauna wich is virtually empty.
This Finnlines ferry from Turku to Sweden is faster than some larger ferries, and the price is nice.
A view from our ferry -the archipelago seascape.
Another great reason to use the ferry route from Naantali, Finland to Kapellskär Sweden!!
The archipelago islands shield our finnish ferry boat from strong 'open sea' winds. Making the ship rocky-roley, tilting from side-to-side. It is harder walk in a straight line and you could get seasick. fast!
The four of us got a great deal. Two cabins with lunch and one evening meal and sauna. All for 145 euros. Compared to larger ferryboats like Viking or Silja line, though this ferry was much smaller. The inside seemed cleaner than others we tried.
Our cabins include showers pull-down beds,TV's:
Finnlines cabins
Finnlines empty hallways
Layout of our finnish ferry boat
This ferry is less crowded than larger and more popular ferries even though we went in late July. Aura searched really hard to find this deal.
We left the port of Naantali at 5pm and arrived in Kapellskär Sweden at 11pm.
And in real life this is what our ferry looks as we are queuing up to board our vessel. The stern of the ship on the right looks like our layout picture above.
Our ferry to Sweden
Off to sea we go!!!
There are hundreds of islands out there
This small Finnlines ferry has a small store, with Fazer chocolates, gifts, games like...sudoku, memory, cards, and toys for children.
Perfect gift idea! A collection of classic Moomin mugs
Less entertainment but more meals
The downside...No "live band" entertainment. This ferry services are fewer than larger ferryboats with fewer ships personnel. Is that why our ferry tickets are cheaper compared to a more popular Finnish ferry boat?
Meals are served twice. Once between 4pm and 5:30pm and the other at 10.30pm. Homefood, Kotiruoka. Keep in mind...it is easy to eat lot's. Fresh salmon, beef-in-meat-sauce,fresh Finnish berries, peeled potatoes, veggies, two kinds of fish, finncrisp with butter.
Food prepared with care
There is a playroom for kids with a pool of plastic balls, and TV/dvd's. After eating, Aura and the kids took a nap in our cabin.
A playroom for children
Now about that sauna!
Nope, I did not go for that afternoon family nap. Instead...I went down to get a sauna! The sign on the door toward the lounge/sauna area says: "For Truckdrivers only!" But they are not strict about who they allow in. Even if you are not a truck driver...come on into the sauna.
The entry to the sauna
Comfy chairs to lounge around in and a 'Coke' soft-drink machine. White tiled changing room before entering the sauna.
Finnish Sauna on our ferryboat
The Men's sauna is a rectangular sauna room, with two level of benches bottom and top. A stylish bucket which holds water for throwing onto the sauna stove. Temperature in each of the four corners is almost the same, so heat waves hit you just as fast regardless of where you sit. The electric sauna stove seemed to be at half power.
And the sauna was on from 5pm. on. The showers in the sauna room have a 'push-once' button, water sprays out for 30 seconds, and then turns off after that. After getting hot, go out of the sauna, wrap up in your towel, supplied in your cabin, go out to the deck to cool off.
I walked to the sauna from our room barefooted...felt soo good coming from the hot sauna. After and hour I walked back to the sauna, and noticed...the floors of the sauna and bathroom were just cleaned.
See another on-board Finnish sauna! This Viking line Finnish ferry-boat has a larger sauna which includes a whirlpool and infra-red sauna?
Going to Sweden and beyond by car/truck...then this is a place where you can use the on-the-ferry-boat computer terminal and print out your travel itinerary.
Planning and printing our travel route
Juhani, our traveling friend, comments: "This is a clean ferry boat."
We have traveled to Estonia, Sweden and back to Finland on a plethora of ferries, yet the small Finnlines ferry. -A positive suprise!
Great route, low priced and long scenic view of the Finnish archipelago islands on a ferry that is clean and has a 'free-of-charge sauna.' Less crowed than traditional larger ferries.
See another Ferryboat similar to this which departs from Gdynia, and connects you to Finland from Southern Europe.
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.