We made a wonderful little trip to Marienhamn in the Åland Island in the beginning of September. We hopped on this Viking Mariella from Turku, Finland at 8.45 am. We enjoyed a hefty buffet breakfast right at the start of the journey. Our cars along, as we came back on a different boat to Helsinki the next day. Our boat left from Marienhamn just before midnight and we arrived in Helsinki the next morning around 10:00 am. The reservation included a cabin on the way back.
Åland, Ahvenanmaa, is an archipelago at the entrance of the Gulf of Bothnia, belonging to Finland. It is a swedish speaking region that is demilitarised and autonomous.
The islands are a very popular tourist destination in the summer. Many finns and other scandic people take their bikes on the boat and spend a week or two riding around the islands.
photo credit google images
The shores on the islands are beautiful, with their smooth rocky beaches.
photo credit google images
a shot taken from the boat
These boats are floating cities with many different kinds of good quality restaurants and night clubs. Dutyfree shops offer lots of goodies to take back home. Some people like to take a cruise just for the sake of the party, while others are traveling to their destination and get a good nights sleep in their cabin. Families with kids are always seen on board, the cruise line arranges lots of fun activities for the children.