intuition

As of today, the SK lounge (if someone ventures into the dark side) has restored service including alcoholic beverage AFAIK.
I was there yesterday, last day of the 'sodas and sandwiches' regime.

Courmisch

If they'd wanted to optimise the process, they'd have made a line for nationals and residents, with a sign advising residents to prepare one of their KELA card, Finnish driving license or Finnish domestic ID in addition to passport/national ID.

But then again, if the majority of entrants are nations and/or residents, why have a separate queue for the others? And I don't think the system is made to be convenient. While I was there, the THL staff where using pen and papers to count passengers. I didn't quite get what part of the entry process Finentry simplified.

Anyway, I strongly suspect that the reason for the current queue arrangements simply stem from the existing signage of the passport check desks, rather than any fancy legal or moral consideration.

ffay005

Oh, that was slow. My TLL passport control (by car) took only 58 min last week.

I could pay Sanna double breakfasts if she just stopped this nonsense right now.

lento

I am also interested on this for this summer. Did you have show PCR test certificate to board the ship ?

ffay005

Sorry, but that's complete nonsense. If something is discrimination, it is the fact that Finland doesn't let Schegnen citizens into the country at all. Queueing for an hour is nothing compared to an entry ban.

Also, this is how all the countries in the world do it, be it Montenegro, the USA or Argentina. Citizens (and residents) returning home, this way. The rest, that way. This is what Sweden did, as well, and still does.

Courmisch

That's offensive.
The point is that it's not OK to discriminate foreign EU residents vs national residents when it comes to returning to their country of residence. And yet, that's exactly what Finland was doing back when the border guards moved back to 2A, then to 2B area.

Now they're simply back to their normal location, implying the normal EU vs non-EU signage.

That is not to say that it is OK or not OK to discriminate the Schengen member country nationals and residents by denying them entry. We all know that Finland is in contravention of the Schengen agreement as of last November.

The USA are not in a sui generis union with other countries, not signatories to the founding treaty of the EU. Finland is. Being treated by Finland the same way I'm treated by the USA has a very second class citizen ring to. I don't know if Sweden does it, but that's not OK if they do. At least Lithuania, Germany and France didn't do this when I visited there in the past 15 months; they just checked everybody indiscriminately. And Ireland has always had passport checks on entry, yet they don't discriminate Irish vs other EU/EEA/CH passports.

FFlash

I hate kitchenwork but yeah I would do Sanna all dishes as well if she ended all border stupidities!

OH-LGG

I dont go tests. I had 5hrs shopping cruise and they are test free.

Original Long Drink 19,90€/24 pack and it really tastes better without Finnish tax.

reflektia

Indeed.

OH-LGG

This booze rally is something only a Finn can understand.

Or where in the rest of the world citizens take cruise for 5 hours and load a van full of light taxed spirits.

Courmisch

Sorry to disappoint you, but alcohol/duty-free travel is actually quite common.

Compare Brits taking the ferry to Calais, in particular.

cistavoda

They can now enjoy their two bottles of tax free wine

WilcoRoger

My eyes somehow read it like this "I hate kitchenwork but yeah I would do Sanna if she ended all border stupidities" Early stage dyslexia?

Im a new user

Same problem on the Kapellskär-Mariehamn route: the ferry duration is similar but you can't bring a lot since it's tax-free. However, people drive from Sweden to Denmark and Germany and buy a lot, then drive back.

Superrman

I was in TLL with Viking Line in May. Nothing needed for entering Estonia, but returning to Finland requires negative PCR first upon boarding, and then again at port in HEL, alternatively proof of previous flu.

Danskebåt from Norway also applies here.