From Malaysia to Sweden: One-Day Cruise: Part 1

9 August 2018

It has always been on my to-do list to go on a cruise. I got to do a one-day cruise on Viking Line for an affordable price (well, my friend says that it is affordable) of SEK464. We got a member price for breakfast and lunch because my friend is a member. Breakfast costed SEK114 and lunch costed SEK250. If I am not mistaken, SEK50 is for booking via telephone and the other SEK50 is the trip (I guess this is the one that is discounted).

Since it was a one day trip, the cruise started at 7.45am and we will reach Stockholm at 6.55pm. The itinerary was like this - Leave Stockholm at 7.45am on Viking Grace and reach Mariehamn (in Finland) at 2.10pm (Finland time which is 1 hour later), followed by walking through a pathway that leads us to our next boat (upon reaching Mariehamn), leave Mariehamn at 2.25pm (Finland time) on Viking Amorella and reach Stockholm at 6.55pm. My friend decided to purchase a room to rest on Viking Amorella. It costed SEK99 for the ad-hoc purchase. It was surprisingly cheap because this room is on the lowest deck and the view of the sea is a painted view on the window!

We got our tickets and waited for the time to board the ferry. There were lots of tourists with empty bags to stock the bags with tax-free alcohol.

As soon as we boarded the ship, we went to the restaurant to have our breakfast. It costs EUR12 if you purchase on the spot. Looks like there is not much huge of a difference with the supposed member price of SEK114.

One has options to eat in their cafe too.

I stepped out to breathe in some fresh air and the air was surprisingly warm!

What is a ship without slot machines to keep you occupied and eat all your money up.

And now, time to shop. It is tax-free. I saw many customers carrying away lots of liquor and beer because it is definitely way cheaper on the ship. The beauty section which is supposedly tax free costs more though. Chocolates and liquor are the ones which are more price-worthy.

This is my purchase - 3 boxes of Karl Fazer Chocolate for EUR13.50. It was written as 'offer price' so I got them.

After shopping, I decided to go on the deck and lie on those lounge chairs.

We took lunch on the same ship (one has the option to have their lunch on the other ship as we are changing ships to head back to Stockholm) at 11am, and as I had a heavy breakfast, I did not have a very heavy lunch which was too bad. Lunch price is EUR27 which is slightly more than our pre-purchased meal for SEK250. Lunch costs more because there is booze too. So, I tried some Finnish beer. It tasted light and not bitter.