We are taking the Tallink Silja ferry, MS Victoria I, from Stockholm to Tallinn.
It was easy to get out to the ferry on Bus #1. I got our tickets at the local 7-11, and we walked about five minutes from the bus stop over to the ferry office. After checking in, it was another kilometer or more out to the ship itself.
Last year we took a ferry overnight from Oslo to Copenhagen.
We were pretty surprised by how nice this ferry is in comparison. We had a nice sized room with bath, queen sized bed, and a big window. The ship is pretty new, and has the usual bunch of restaurants ranging from a 24 hour coffee shop to the upscale dining experience. There is the Aluminum Disco, Piano Bar and Cabaret, as well as a huge casino and full sized Duty Free Store.
We had reservations for dinner in the Tallink Buffet, which turned out to be a pretty good deal. I had a lot of fun trying one bite of this and one bite of that, eating my way through about two kilometers of buffet offerings over a two and a half hour pig-a-thon.
Gail concentrated on the veggies and dessert line.
Unlimited wine, beer, coffee and other drinks is included with the meal, or you can order a bottle of French or Italian wine.
So we ate the evening away, watching the islands of the Stockholm Archipelago slide by. Later, we spent time up on the “sun deck,” which would be more appropriately called the “Wind Deck,” watching the sun slide along the horizon and looking at the little homes tucked here and there on the rocky islands, wondering what in the world the people who live here do for a living?
We both slept soundly from a combination of the enormous amount of food, wine, and the smooth motion of the ship.
I was up early, as usual, prowling down around the 24 hour coffee shop for a cup, then walking out to see the sunrise hitting the waves and passing ships.
Gail slept in until I got her up, and we disembarked at 10:00, one hour ahead of Central Europe and ten hours ahead of home.
What is in Estonia?
I don’t know, which is why we are here to find out.
Because the ship is based in Estonia, they price everything in euros, and it is reasonable compared to Stockholm. The passage over, cabin for the night, and dinner for two cost less than one night’s stay in our Stockholm hotel.