Baltic Sea cruises: Helsinki-Stockholm-Tallinn
Jan 8, 2013, 12:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,589
Baltic Sea cruises: Helsinki-Stockholm-Tallinn
I will fly in and out of HEL in the summer. Want to spend 2 days each in Stockholm and Tallinn.
I am a cruise novice. Have done a little bit of research here at FT and elsewhere online. Still have questions:
1. I want to do a circle trip: From Helsinki to Stockholm (stay 2 nights), then to Tallinn (stay 2 nights), and return to Helsink (the order not important). It was not obvious how I can see the scedule on the Viking Lines web site. (have not checked other lines yet)
2. Some FT suggested to join the Viking Club. It seems it is available to natives only (I’m American). Is that correct?
3. What are the port names of the Viking Lines in the above cities? Just want to see them on a map to assist in locating hotels.
4. Any useful links about destinations and cruise lines are welcome.
Thanks in advance.
I am a cruise novice. Have done a little bit of research here at FT and elsewhere online. Still have questions:
1. I want to do a circle trip: From Helsinki to Stockholm (stay 2 nights), then to Tallinn (stay 2 nights), and return to Helsink (the order not important). It was not obvious how I can see the scedule on the Viking Lines web site. (have not checked other lines yet)
2. Some FT suggested to join the Viking Club. It seems it is available to natives only (I’m American). Is that correct?
3. What are the port names of the Viking Lines in the above cities? Just want to see them on a map to assist in locating hotels.
4. Any useful links about destinations and cruise lines are welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Jan 8, 2013, 1:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
Since you want to stay overnight in Helsinki and Tallinn you either have to book regular tickets or hotel packages. Select regular voyage, select date and enter 'from' and 'to' and you will see timetables.
1. Viking Line does not sail between Sweden and Estonia. You have to use http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/ or go via Helsinki.
2. That is my current understanding, at least you need a local address to join over the net.
3. Port info
4. Destinations
1. Viking Line does not sail between Sweden and Estonia. You have to use http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/ or go via Helsinki.
2. That is my current understanding, at least you need a local address to join over the net.
3. Port info
4. Destinations
Last edited by tsastor; Jan 8, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Jan 9, 2013, 7:03 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,589
Since you want to stay overnight in Helsinki and Tallinn you either have to book regular tickets or hotel packages. Select regular voyage, select date and enter 'from' and 'to' and you will see timetables.
1. Viking Line does not sail between Sweden and Estonia. You have to use http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/ or go via Helsinki.
2. That is my current understanding, at least you need a local address to join over the net.
3. Port info
4. Destinations
1. Viking Line does not sail between Sweden and Estonia. You have to use http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/ or go via Helsinki.
2. That is my current understanding, at least you need a local address to join over the net.
3. Port info
4. Destinations
Jan 18, 2013, 4:05 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: TLL
Programs: UA Platinum/*G (pmCO Plat, once upon a time), ZE President's Circle, Marriott Gold, AA, BT, DL, PS
Posts: 100
As far as the destinations themselves, this 20-min Rick Steves episode is actually pretty good (has good shots of the Helsinki-Tallinn ferry as well).
If you have any questions about TLL, am happy to answer via PM.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/200167
If you have any questions about TLL, am happy to answer via PM.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/200167
Jan 25, 2013, 5:38 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,589
As far as the destinations themselves, this 20-min Rick Steves episode is actually pretty good (has good shots of the Helsinki-Tallinn ferry as well).
If you have any questions about TLL, am happy to answer via PM.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/200167
If you have any questions about TLL, am happy to answer via PM.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/200167
Jan 29, 2013, 12:31 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: most of them
Posts: 3,283
Tallinn is interseting. I did it as a day trip from Helsinki. Made for a long day though.
I took the ferry from Stockholm to Turku and then the train from there to Helsinki. It was a fun trip. I believe I was on the Silja line ferry. It was a long time ago. I got a stateroom and slept a bit on the ride over. Docked in Turku in the early AM. The arrival was quite nice with the sun rising and all of the little islands. The walk from the port to the place I was staying in Turku was longer than I expected though. It's an interesting little city with an old castle that was worth a visit. Had a great lunch at the castle actually in their little cafeteria. The train was the highspeed line so the trip was fairly quick from there to Helsinki.
I took the ferry from Stockholm to Turku and then the train from there to Helsinki. It was a fun trip. I believe I was on the Silja line ferry. It was a long time ago. I got a stateroom and slept a bit on the ride over. Docked in Turku in the early AM. The arrival was quite nice with the sun rising and all of the little islands. The walk from the port to the place I was staying in Turku was longer than I expected though. It's an interesting little city with an old castle that was worth a visit. Had a great lunch at the castle actually in their little cafeteria. The train was the highspeed line so the trip was fairly quick from there to Helsinki.
Jan 30, 2013, 6:35 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,589
Don't think I have time to do Turku. Thanks for the info just the same.
Jan 31, 2013, 2:55 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 536
Day trip is easy because you don't have to carry your baggage with you. But if you have time, there's certainly things to see and do for few days and nights in Tallinn. Day-trippers' experience is pretty much old town with thousands of other tourists.
Jan 31, 2013, 11:53 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: TLL
Programs: UA Platinum/*G (pmCO Plat, once upon a time), ZE President's Circle, Marriott Gold, AA, BT, DL, PS
Posts: 100
BTW, to save yourself the trouble of checking different operators' sites separately, use this site (covers Finland-Sweden, Finland-Estonia, Sweden-Estonia)
https://laevapiletid.ee/en
https://laevapiletid.ee/en
Jan 31, 2013, 5:38 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,589
BTW, to save yourself the trouble of checking different operators' sites separately, use this site (covers Finland-Sweden, Finland-Estonia, Sweden-Estonia)
https://laevapiletid.ee/en
https://laevapiletid.ee/en
Jan 31, 2013, 5:40 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,589
I see day trip HEL-TLL gives me only 6 hours at Tallinn. Is that enough to cover the old town?
Feb 1, 2013, 5:03 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 536
And of course by staying overnight, you can have a nice dinner and enjoy the night life without hordes of day-trippers everywhere.
Edit: With Tallink you can have even longer stay: http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/schedules/helTal/
Last edited by Kallio; Feb 1, 2013 at 5:15 am
Feb 2, 2013, 6:40 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,589
More is better but you'll get a nice overview. With Linda Line you can get 11.5 hours, check out http://lindaline.fi/en/
And of course by staying overnight, you can have a nice dinner and enjoy the night life without hordes of day-trippers everywhere.
Edit: With Tallink you can have even longer stay: http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/schedules/helTal/
And of course by staying overnight, you can have a nice dinner and enjoy the night life without hordes of day-trippers everywhere.
Edit: With Tallink you can have even longer stay: http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/schedules/helTal/
Feb 13, 2014, 5:55 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,203
HEL-TLL and HEL-ARN ferries
bumping this old thread..
1) Is early April too cold for 1 day trip to either TLL or ARN?
2) For HEL - ARN route:
a) is 5 hours enough time for overview of Stockholm city?
b) assume you are allowed to leave luggage in your cabin during day?
3) For HEL-TLL route:
a) if you opt for overnight + day option, can you leave luggage in your cabin? or store them somewhere on port?
b) do you have access to a cabin on the return portion?
4) is there any operator giving overnight both ways to TLL (similar to ARN)?
5) is there any company offering HEL-ARN-TLL-HEL triangle cruise? (could not find one but just checking)
6) Are HEL- LED (ST. Petersburg) 2nt/1 day cruise reliable? anyone has experience?
Regards
TIA
1) Is early April too cold for 1 day trip to either TLL or ARN?
2) For HEL - ARN route:
a) is 5 hours enough time for overview of Stockholm city?
b) assume you are allowed to leave luggage in your cabin during day?
3) For HEL-TLL route:
a) if you opt for overnight + day option, can you leave luggage in your cabin? or store them somewhere on port?
b) do you have access to a cabin on the return portion?
4) is there any operator giving overnight both ways to TLL (similar to ARN)?
5) is there any company offering HEL-ARN-TLL-HEL triangle cruise? (could not find one but just checking)
6) Are HEL- LED (ST. Petersburg) 2nt/1 day cruise reliable? anyone has experience?
Regards
TIA