MS Birka Gotland

The 2004-built MS Birka Gotland (formerly Birka Stockholm) is a cruise ship owned by Eckero Line (a Finland-based ferry company) under the Birka Line brand and operated by its wholly owned subsidiary and travel brand “Birka Cruises.”

The vessel was constructed by Aker Finnyards in Rauma, Finland.

Eckero acquired Birka in 2007.

The ship (IMO number 9273727) is currently Sweden-flagged (MMSI 266314000) and registered in Stockholm.

In late March 2023, the ferry company Gotlandsbolaget/Destination Gotland acquired the 19-year-old Birka Stockholm from Rederiaktiebolaget Eckero (via its subsidiary Shipping Ab Ltd) for EUR 38 million (~USD 41.2 million / ~GBP 33.4 million).

Gotlandsbolaget plans to operate Baltic cruises from Stockholm to Mariehamn (Aland Islands, Finland) and Visby, beginning in March 2024.

After being laid up for several years in Mariehamn due to the COVID crisis, Rederiaktiebolaget Eckero considered converting the 1,800-passenger vessel into a 600-passenger expedition ship, but the project was never realized.

Birka Gotland entered service for the new travel brand Gotland Alandia Cruises on March 31, 2024.

History – Construction and Ownership

Birka Cruises (founded in 1971 as “Birka Line,” 2020-defunct) was a Mariehamn (Aland, Finland)-based subsidiary fully owned by Rederiaktiebolaget Eckero (a Finnish holding company) through its subsidiary Eckero Line Oy. The shipowner Eckero Line (Rederi Ab Eckero) is a Helsinki-based cargo and passenger shipping company founded in 1995. Birka Cruises operated only one cruiseferry—Birka Stockholm—which was deployed year-round in the Baltic Sea on regular crossings between Stockholm (Sweden) and Mariehamn (Finland).

After 49 years of operation, on July 3, 2020, Eckero Line announced the permanent shutdown of Birka Cruises (effectively rendering it defunct) and revealed plans to convert the 16-year-old Birka Stockholm into a cruise ferry. The closure resulted from the severe financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All bookings were refunded, and over 500 employees, including the ship’s crew, lost their jobs.

In August 2023, passenger shipping companies Viking Line and Gotlandsbolaget/Destination Gotland announced a joint venture cruise company serving the Sweden–Finland route Stockholm–Mariehamn (Aland)–Visby. The company is managed by CEO Susanne Kaarnimo-Knight.

The 1,800-passenger ship, informally known as “MS Birka,” was jointly designed by Birka Line, Aker Finnyards Oy (shipbuilder, 1989–2014), and Deltamarin Ltd (a ship design and offshore engineering company founded in 1990).

The vessel was conceived as a dedicated cruise ship without a car deck—unlike traditional cruiseferries—and was considered environmentally friendly for her time, featuring advanced exhaust and closed sewage treatment systems. Her hull design was optimized to minimize environmental impact within the Aland Archipelago.

The vessel (Birka Paradise) was officially delivered to Birka Line on November 8, 2004. The naming ceremony took place on November 10, 2004, in Port Stockholm, with Finnish singer and actress Arja Enni Helena Saijonmaa (born 1944) serving as godmother. The maiden voyage departed on November 11, 2004. The ship was renamed “Birka Stockholm” in January 2013, and her livery was updated from blue-yellow-red to blue-yellow.

Decks and Cabins

MS Birka Stockholm features 900 staterooms (Outside and Inside) across 11 cabin categories. Many accommodations are designed in a marine style, all located above the waterline. Each cabin is equipped with an HDTV, dressing table with chair, wardrobe, telephone, electronic safe (in the closet), and an en-suite bathroom (washbasin, WC, shower, hairdryer). All have individually controlled air-conditioning.

Most cabins are double-occupancy, each fitted with two fixed lower beds (non-convertible to a double). The largest accommodation is the Two-Deck Duplex Suite (each level 18 m² / 195 ft²) featuring a living room (sofa bed, coffee table, armchairs), en-suite bathroom (toilet, separate shower, whirlpool bath), and a separate guest toilet.

The ship has 11 decks, nine of which are passenger-accessible, with cabins on five.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

Dining options include three restaurants—Grand Buffé (self-service buffet), Four Seasons Restaurant, and Café Brazil—plus eight bars, including a whisky bar offering over 90 single malts.

MS Birka Stockholm offers a variety of leisure and entertainment amenities. The relaxation area includes a swimming pool, two Jacuzzis, poolside bars, a sundeck with palm trees, sun loungers, and deckchairs. The Paradise Relax & Spa features a sauna and offers treatments such as massages and skin therapies using algae, chocolate, and volcanic mud.

Daily entertainment includes live piano performances (at Yacht Club Bar), orchestral shows (at Club Copacabana), themed parties, and other onboard activities. Additional facilities include Paradise Lounge, Paradise Beach, Paradise Sundeck (with dance area), Jogging Track, Promenade, Duty-Free Shop (Freeport Shopping), Betting Shop (with licensed bookmakers), Casino (gaming lounge), Birka Konferens (conference rooms), and a helipad for emergency use.

The Birka cruise ship remains the world’s only passenger liner featuring a real sand beach with artificial sunlight.

Drydock Refurbishment 2024

The 2024 refurbishment project by Gotland Alandia Cruises (a USD 6+ million investment) included a full renovation of all passenger cabins, the introduction of new cabin categories (including bow-facing suites), redesign of several public spaces, and upgrades to the wellness complex (renamed Archipelago Spa, now offering new treatments). The sundeck was also completely refurbished. The ship now features a total of nine dining and beverage venues, including bars, cafés, and restaurants.

Itineraries

Following her refurbishment, the former Birka Stockholm (now Birka Gotland) debuted her Sweden–Finland cruises with a maiden voyage in late March 2024 (around Easter), operating roundtrip from Stockholm to Aland/Mariehamn. The inaugural cruise departed from Stockholm (Stadsgardskajen) on March 1, 2024.

During spring and summer, Birka operates 1–3-night voyages visiting Mariehamn and Visby. In peak summer, itineraries expand to include destinations in Sweden (Harnosand, Ystad), Denmark (Bornholm), and Latvia (Riga).

Birka Stockholm’s itinerary program was centered on Baltic Sea mini-cruises operating roundtrip from Stockholm, Sweden to Mariehamn (Finland).

The ship also operated 22-hour cruise crossings between Stockholm and Mariehamn (Aland), with up to seven weekly departures, special weekend voyages during summer, and holiday cruises for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.