Well, what a lovely time we had! Our mini cruise on board Viking Cinderella was so much more than simply travelling between Helsinki and Stockholm. From the moment we stepped on board, it felt as though our holiday had begun, and we soon discovered that the journey itself was just as enjoyable as the time we spent ashore.
Viking Cinderella is a large ship, carrying up to 2,500 passengers and alternates with her sister ship, Viking Gabriella, on Viking Line’s Helsinki–Stockholm service. Although this is essentially a ferry route, the experience feels much more like a mini cruise, with comfortable accommodation, restaurants, bars, entertainment and plenty of opportunities to simply relax and enjoy being at sea.
Setting sail from Helsinki
We departed from Helsinki at 5.00 pm, and embarkation was quick and easy. Just remember to have your passport or ID with you, as these are checked at the gate. There was something rather exciting about boarding the ship, settling in and knowing that we had a relaxing evening ahead of us, with nothing more to do than enjoy ourselves.
Once on board, we made our way to our cabin on Deck 9, one of the large Deluxe Seaside cabins towards the front of the ship. We were immediately impressed by how spacious it was. In fact, it felt much more like a hotel room than a typical ferry cabin.
There was a separate lounge area with plenty of room to sit and relax, while the king-size bed was positioned at the front of the ship, giving us wonderful views over the bow. There was a television beside the bed and another larger one in the lounge, while our complimentary minibar was another lovely bonus.
It was particularly nice to return to the cabin in the evening, pour ourselves a glass of wine and sit back by the large windows watching the views change outside. The bathroom was another pleasant surprise. It was surprisingly spacious and well equipped, with a jacuzzi bath, separate shower and WC. Thick, fluffy towels and quality toiletries added those little touches of luxury that make such a difference.
After settling in, we were keen to start exploring. We made our way up to the Panorama Deck to watch Cinderella slip away from her moorings and leave Helsinki behind. One of the most memorable parts of the departure was sailing through the narrow channel past the Suomenlinna sea fortress.
From our elevated viewpoint, we had a wonderful view across the historic islands and their fortifications. The weather wasn’t particularly kind to us, but even with the inclement conditions, it was still a lovely way to begin our journey.
Discovering Viking Cinderella
One of the things we particularly enjoyed was simply wandering around the ship. Rather than staying in one area, we explored each deck, discovering restaurants, cafés, bars and entertainment areas along the way.
We soon came across Étage, the ship’s nightclub and entertainment venue, which occupies two levels towards the rear. From the upper seating area, we were able to look down towards the stage, giving us a good view of the action below. After going down the staircase we found ourselves at the stage level which offered a larger seating area with a bar to one side. We decided that this was where we would sit after dinner.
Much of the food and drink action is concentrated around Deck 8, with a a good choice of places to eat, whether you want a leisurely meal, something more casual or simply a drink while watching the world go by.
Dinner with a view
For our first evening meal, we chose the Seaview Fine Dining Restaurant, and it certainly lived up to its name. The restaurant has an elegant Art Deco feel, with starched white tablecloths and crisp white napkins giving it a much more sophisticated atmosphere than we had expected on a ferry. We were fortunate enough to have a window table, so we could enjoy our meal while watching the Baltic Sea outside.
The food was excellent. We began with seafood starters, which were fresh and full of flavour, followed by mains of entrecôte steak and roast chicken. Of course, we couldn’t resist dessert, and the tempting choices didn’t disappoint. Each course was beautifully presented and, most importantly, delicious. We were also pleasantly surprised by the wine list, which was very reasonably priced. Service throughout the meal was professional and friendly, making it a lovely start to our cruise.
There were plenty of alternatives nearby too, including the Main Buffet Restaurant and Ocean Grill, while the Bottega Prosecco Bar offered somewhere to enjoy a drink. The casino and arcade area were also close by, although on this occasion we were more interested in exploring the ship and enjoying the evening.
After dinner, we wandered around a little more and discovered the Duty Free/Tax Free Shop. It was considerably larger than we had anticipated, with a wide range of clothing, wine, spirits and chocolates. Even for those not particularly interested in shopping, it is worth having a look around.
Nearby, the Hornblower Pub was already proving popular, with karaoke providing plenty of entertainment. We also discovered the Melody Coffee Bar, which looked like an ideal place to stop for a coffee and cake. It was then time to see what the evening entertainment had in store for us.
An evening of entertainment
After dinner, we headed back to the show area and found plenty going on. There were fun games to join in with, followed by a live show featuring dancers and acrobats. Later, we enjoyed some dancing to the house band.
It was all great fun and really added to the atmosphere. At times, it was remarkably easy to forget that we were travelling on a ferry at all. It genuinely felt as though we were on a cruise ship. Eventually, we headed back to our cabin, where the quietness was a welcome contrast to the lively entertainment. After a very comfortable night’s sleep, we woke up ready for breakfast and our day in Stockholm.
A very leisurely breakfast
Breakfast in the Seaview Restaurant is reserved for passengers staying in deluxe and premium cabins and this proved to be a lovely way to start the morning.
It felt much more like something you would expect to find in a boutique hotel than on a ferry. We were welcomed with glasses of Prosecco or mimosas, while tea and coffee were brought to the table. We could then help ourselves to the buffet, which included yoghurt, smoked salmon, fresh fruit and salad, as well as a selection of hot dishes prepared to order.
I opted for Eggs Benedict on both mornings, while my son was particularly enthusiastic about his cooked breakfast. He was especially pleased to discover that the usual sausages had been replaced with Swedish meatballs. It was such a relaxed way to begin the day, enjoying the idyllic views as we passed through the Stockholm archipelago.
A day exploring Stockholm
We docked in Stockholm promptly at 10.10 am at the Viking Line terminal at Stadsgården. Its location was particularly convenient for us as we had planned to visit the Royal Palace, and we didn’t need to take a bus or the metro as it just took us around 20 minutes to walk there.
Having already bought our tickets, entrance was quick and we spent a couple of hours exploring the Royal Apartments, the Treasury and the Tre Kronor Museum, all of which are included in the ticket price, more information can be found on their website here.
We were then just in time to watch the Changing of the Guard outside the palace courtyard. The ceremony lasts around 40 minutes and is definitely worth seeing. There was plenty of pomp and ceremony, with marching soldiers and a full military band. The band were particularly splendid, playing a mixture of orchestral numbers alongside a couple of ABBA hits, which were definitely crowd pleasers!
Afterwards, we wandered through the narrow streets of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s beautiful Old Town. Naturally, we couldn’t resist stopping at a cosy café for some Swedish fika — coffee and cinnamon buns — before slowly making our way back towards the ship.
Back on board for another evening
We were back on board in good time for our return departure to Helsinki at 4.30 pm. It was lovely to have a little time to relax in our cabin before sailing and we enjoyed glasses of wine from our complimentary minibar while watching the activity around the harbour.
That evening, rather than returning to the Seaview Fine Dining Restaurant, we decided to try the main restaurant and experience the buffet. This actually exceeded our expectations. Restaurant bookings are arranged in small groups at 30-minute intervals, which meant there were no lengthy queues for the buffet as everything felt organised and relaxed.
We started with seafood, salad and pâté before moving on to the hot dishes. The roast beef was pink, just as I like it, and wonderfully tender. I accompanied mine with red wine jus, Dauphinoise potatoes and a selection of fresh vegetables. For dessert, I was tempted by the meringue gateau, which was light and delicious. As it was a buffet, we could of course help ourselves to whatever else took our fancy along with house wine or beer, followed by tea and coffee to round off the meal.
Later, we returned to the show bar for another evening of entertainment. Once again, there was a lively atmosphere and plenty going on and yet again we found ourselves thinking that this felt much more like a cruise than a ferry journey.
One last morning at sea
After another comfortable night’s sleep, we enjoyed one final breakfast in the Seaview Restaurant. Eventually, of course, it was time to gather our belongings together, but there was no need to rush. Instead, we sat in our cabin and enjoyed watching the scenic approach into Helsinki.
One of the highlights was again sailing through the narrow channel past Suomenlinna, with the historic islands and fortifications providing a lovely final view as we approached the harbour.
More than just a ferry journey
One of the aspects we really liked about our trip was that there was never any feeling that we were simply on a ferry trying to get from A to B. The crossing itself became part of our holiday. There was always something to do, somewhere to eat, a bar or café to discover, entertainment to enjoy or simply a comfortable place to sit and watch the Baltic Sea go by.
Before travelling, I had thought of the trip mainly as a convenient way of getting from Helsinki to Stockholm and back but it turned out to be so much more than that. From our spacious Deluxe cabin and delicious meals to the entertainment, comfortable surroundings and beautiful views, there was always something to enjoy.
The combination of a city break and a mini cruise worked perfectly for us, and I would definitely do it again. If you are considering a city break in either Helsinki or Stockholm, I would highly recommend taking this mini cruise as it gives you a day in another Baltic capital along with two nights on board either Viking Cinderella or Gabriella for a similar price to a hotel room.
We were guests of Viking Line and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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