Sailing with the Moomins to Helsinki
My first trip to Finland not counting airline transfers involved a cruise ship. Once I knew there was a Moomin-themed cabin, I knew this was the only way to travel from Stockholm.
More on that later. We debarked at Helsinki and after marvelling at the size of the ship, we slip-slide our way to the central shopping area. In Stockholm snow could only be glimpsed on hilltops and piled up on the sides of roads, here it is everywhere. Our first stop during a few hours in Helsinki is the other Finnish brand that litters my home and wardrobe, Marimekko. Having already picked up some bargains on board the ship, I didn’t buy anything but marvelled at the vast ranges in the Marrimmelo shops. It made sense that there was also a concession in the major department store Stockmann.
Inside Stockmanns, we find an excellent first coffee stop and the nicest cinnamon bun of the week in Roberts. (Sorry Stockholm!) In fact, I loved everything about Roberts, the coffee chain inside the store had comfy seats and affordable treats. We then set about seeing as much of this friendly capital - picking up more Happy Socks - now at 50%. Most of my energy was spent on staying up right outside or staying warm inside. This is a city we need to see in a warmer climate or with full-on snow shoes. I think the former is a better investment.
After mooching around the shops, we sat in another friendly cafe, Paulig at Kulma coffee before heading back to look around the Stockmann food hall - think Harrods meets Waitrose and stocked up on goodies for the cruise. By this time the snow forced us onto a bus to go back to the ship which meant we go on and warmed up quickly.
So. The cruise ship was fine. Our double cabin offered us a better welcome than the ship. I loved the one previous cruise I’d been on many lifetimes ago. The 4-5 nights on there were full of a variety of things to do from a cinema to a club, to be able to sit by a window with a book and watch the world outside. I remember 3 distinct restaurants, the cafe/bistro, the main restaurant and the dress-up restaurant were all affordable.
The Silja Symphony, had some dull, high-priced restaurants which made us glad we paid for the full board meaning buffet breakfast and dinner, even though on the pricey side. These meals were just adequate. We had a timed dinner reservation upon boarding but didn’t realise we had to join the long queue at that exact time - figuring we could enter when there wasn’t a wait. We’d bought a coffee after going up and down the boat and being disappointed there was only one coffee shop - and not a Swedish/Finnish brand. Then went to check at the restaurant entrance only to be told we had to go in straight away!
You can only imagine the state - and the noise level - of the restaurant when unlimited alcohol is included in the dinner price.
We learnt for the return journey and had a much more paced enjoyable dinner then, although the food was exactly the same both nights..
There was nowhere to sit on the Silja Symphony, other than the one coffee shop, the pub or the entertainment lounge. Only by spending more money. It was most surprising not to have a couple of coffee shops. Worst, there was no wifi in the cabins, again this only existed where money could be spent. I checked at the information desk. We made the two sailings work though and our Moomin-themed cabin made up for what the ship severely lacked in a small way.
The highlight on board was actually the shop that sold Moomin and Marrimeko goods and we were delighted with the sale prices of the latter. We bought Marimekko mugs before we left Sweden!
Having been thrilled by a few train adventures, I know nothing beats travelling slowly towards a new destination and seeing new views appear out of the window like postcards being shuffled I’m glad we did the trip. The Moomins made it.
December 2022
