Finlandia ferry

MS Finlandia ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel owned and operated by the Finnish company ECKERO LINE. The ship has a maximum capacity of 2080 passengers and 665 cars (or 115 trucks/trailers). She was launched in 2001 and currently operates on the Finland-Estonia ferry route Helsinki-Tallinn with a crossing time of 2 hours 15 minutes.

Cabins

As a cruise ferry, Finlandia has 200 cabins with a total of 1190 berths. All passenger cabins are located on decks 6-7, are air-conditioned, and have en-suite bathrooms (washbasin, WC, shower). Cabins are situated forward, above the car decks, and are available in 2-, 3-, or 4-bed categories (inside and outside). The company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. Standard cabin amenities include twin and bunk beds, wardrobe, writing table with chair, alarm clock radio, and flat-screen TV with satellite reception.

"Pet Cabins" are floored with linoleum, and valid health certificates for pets are required. Some staterooms are wheelchair-accessible (adapted for disabled passengers).

The ship also has 400 reclining seats (fully-reclining Pullman armchairs/air-type seats) located in two Reserved Seating Lounges, each with large TVs and bar service offering snacks, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer, and wine.

All passengers must vacate their cabins 30 minutes before arrival at the homeport.

Shipboard dining and entertainment

Facilities onboard Finlandia include:

• Dining options: Self-Service Restaurant EckeroBuffet (600-seat buffet restaurant, also serving early breakfast) and a 2-deck Cafeteria (snack bar/patisserie/coffee shop). Onboard meals are prepared with locally sourced products. The buffet menu includes a variety of hot and cold dishes, desserts, and beverages (soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea, water, domestic beer, house wines). The Cafeteria offers light snacks, sandwiches, cakes, grilled dishes, and ECKERO LINE’s famous meatballs.
• Bars and pubs: 2 bars (Paja, Naissaar) and 2 pubs (Telakka, Jatkasaari). During summer, an outdoor Sun Deck bar with tables and 400+ seats is also available.
• Nosturi Show Lounge with live music entertainment and floor-to-ceiling windows. It doubles as a disco club with international and Finnish music.
• (Deck 8 midship) Conference Centre with meeting rooms for 8 to 110 guests, equipped with comfortable seating and coffee tables.
• Video Games Room for teens with arcade machines.
• Children’s Playground equipped with toys, games, indoor climbers, and a full-size play boat. It is located next to the Café, allowing parents to relax nearby.
• Shopping Center: POPUP Shop (Deck 8) and Eckero Market (Deck 6) selling gifts, souvenirs, alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, clothing, sportswear, toiletries, electronics, toys, books, magazines, sweets, and beverages.
• (Deck 9) Sun Deck (Solarium) with tables, deckchairs, and a 400-seat Lido Bar serving drinks and snacks (open only in summer). Also located here are the Navigation Bridge (forward, with adjacent officers’ quarters) and the midship helipad (for emergencies).
• (Lobby Deck 6) ATM/cash machine next to the Reception (Information Desk), where passengers can also purchase ECKERO tickets, tobacco products, and newspapers.
• Wi-Fi and Internet available at extra cost. Mobile chargers and iPad rentals are also offered.
• Kennels for pets. Valid health cards are required. During embarkation and disembarkation, dogs must be leashed and muzzled. Passengers with pets always disembark last.

Emergency instructions are displayed in cabins, on TV screens, and at assembly stations (muster stations). Life jackets are distributed at muster stations. In emergencies, elevators may not be used.

ECKERO LINE ferry cruises

ECKERO LINE operates the Tallinn-Helsinki route (and return) with three daily crossings.

• From Tallinn (Monday-Saturday, except Sunday): departures at 6:00 am, 12:00 noon, and 6:30 pm.
• From Helsinki (Sunday-Friday, except Saturday): departures at 9:00 am, 3:15 pm, and 9:40 pm.

This schedule allows "day cruises" between Finland and Estonia. A day cruise from Helsinki to Tallinn departs at 9:00 am, arrives at 11:15 am, and returns at 6:30 pm, giving around 6.5 hours in Tallinn. Longer cruises include pre-booked hotel packages.

From Tallinn, morning departures at 6:00 am return from Helsinki at 3:15 pm, allowing 6.5 hours in Helsinki. Longer cruises (Monday-Friday) depart Tallinn at 6:00 am and return at 9:40 pm, giving about 12 hours in Helsinki.

Afternoon cruises (Sunday-Friday) depart Tallinn at 12:00 noon and return from Helsinki at 9:40 pm, providing around 6.5 hours in Helsinki.

Finlandia docks at Passenger Terminal A in Port Tallinn (closest to Old Town) and at West Terminal T2 (Lansisatama) in Port Helsinki.

Car decks

All vehicles must have proper documentation and valid insurance. Having the car’s technical data sheet speeds up boarding checks. At booking, the vehicle’s model, length, and height must be specified. Car ferry passengers must arrive at the departure port 90 minutes before departure.

The ship’s garage has 4 car decks with capacity for 665 vehicles, accessible via three ramp gates (two stern, one bow). Car deck safety procedures include:

• Disabled passengers or those needing assistance should contact the Information Desk (Deck 5, open 24/7).
• Apply the handbrake, leave the vehicle in park/1st gear, switch off ignition, alarms, electrical equipment, and headlights. Gas cylinders must be turned off. Lock the vehicle.
• Take only valuables and essential hand baggage with you.
• Note your vehicle’s location and garage deck/stairway number before leaving.
• Access to car decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, in cabins, and in lounges is forbidden.
• Wait for the announcement before returning to your vehicle.
• Do not start the engine until instructed, to prevent air pollution.

Eckero Line, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Helsinki, is a Finnish passenger shipping company operating a single vessel (Finlandia) exclusively on the Helsinki-Tallinn route.