I wanted to share recent travel experience to Helsinki with you, although I was traveling by passenger ship instead of plane. Please take into account the mitigatory fact, that this ship is very fast (cruising speed is 45 mph) and that it´s stewardesses have lovely red uniforms
I was traveling on-board Silja Line SuperSeaCat Four ( http://www.fastferries.fsnet.co.uk/superseacat_four.htm ). SuperSeaCat Four is biggest fast ship running between Estonia and Finland and I had chance to travel First Class (free tickets), which meant huge blue chairs, free bar and complimentary meal service . Main course (chicken breast, Asian noodles and oven baked tomato) was actually quite insipid, but dessert (gluten-free chocolate-cake made from almond-flour) made it up. Coffee was tip-top too - coffee beans are milled just minutes before coffee-making, which guarantees good aroma. First Class passengers get plenty of personal space and priority disembarkation in destination. It is really good product, although not cheap one - o/w price is normally around 60 euros. Standard class can be as cheap as 15 euros round-trip.
Sea was rough (waves up to 3,5 meters) and on few occasions ship banked sharply. Passengers were suggested to remain seated, but it was suggestion only and those chairs do not have safety-belts anyway (I wonder why, because on lighter boats it is quite easy to fell out of chair in the event stormy weather).
Crossing took 90 minutes and in the middle of the voyage I was offered chance to visit captain-deck. It was great experience. Chief captain, 61 years old Italian gentleman, had great personality. It appeared that in his younger years he sailed frequently from Italy to New York on big passenger ships.
Now the disturbing part. Silja Line has frequent traveler program Club Silja where one can earn points for tickets and products purchased on-board. I wanted to do some tax-free shopping during return trip, but discovered that Club Silja card was not in my wallet. So I decided to find out my card number in Helsinki - I was told that it is possible to enter card manually in the ships store.
No! Young rep in Helsinki harbor is telling me that it is not possible to enter card manually. Ship is leaving in few minutes. I tell her that I was told otherwise, but she remains in her position. "Fine," I say. "Just please tell me what is my card number, here is my passport."
"No, I am not allowed to tell you that. You can not use your number anyway," she answers. "You have to have your card with you. (There are no lines, terminal is empty, we still have few minutes and she is looking at my card number at the same time)"
"OK," I replay. "I find it out later. Just please tell me what my card number is."
"No, I can not tell you that," she tells me stiff-neckedly. "I can put it into your booking, but I can not tell you (I was traveling with free tickets which do not give credit, so no use whatsoever)."
I was getting frustrated, but ship was leaving and I had to go. I called to Silja customer service without delay and they managed to tell me my card number over the phone. Card number was entered manually in the store and everything worked out just fine.
However, I am still quite angry. Should I write a letter to Silja Line? I just do not understand why this representative was so unfriendly and un-cooperative.
I believe that one should have access to any information regarding him/her, frequent traveler numbers included.
Or am I wrong?

[This message has been edited by fokker50 (edited 10-09-2002).]