We have been on a cruise Stockholm - Tallinn with Victoria I from Tallink Silja Line. So, what did we think? A nice cruise to a nice destination! Here are our tips and thoughts on the cruise.
Table of contents
Cruise Stockholm - Tallinn with Tallink Silja Line
We travelled to Tallinn together with the Estonian Tourist Board and a small group of journalists and tour operators. The company Tallink, which also owns Silja Line, initially invited us to a short presentation, which was interesting. We learnt a few things about Tallink Silja that we found interesting:
- Tallink employs 7000 people
- In 2019, they carried 9.8 million passengers - equivalent to almost the entire population of Sweden.
- Tallink works not only with ferry services, but also with hotels, taxis, restaurants and Burger King, for example.
- A lot of loyal members of Club One (Tallink's bonus membership) come from Asia.
Our cabin on Victoria 1
We stayed in an A-cabin on deck 8. These cabins are quite ordinary, but still relatively nice because you have a sea view. There are two beds (the couch Peter sits on is converted into a bed), bathroom and good opportunities to charge technical gadgets and hang up clothes.
Restaurant Grill House
While travelling to In Tallinn we ate in the Grill House restaurant. We like this restaurant. It is not overly fancy, but it is good food. We started with a "Teriyaki salmon carpaccio". Super good!
The main course was a hearty piece of meat with potato gratin and lightly cooked vegetables. Yummy!
Then we finished the meal with coffee, cognac and small chocolate truffles together with fresh berries. An absolutely perfect ending!
Special breakfast at the Grill House
The following morning we had a "special breakfast" at the Grill House. This is the slightly more luxurious breakfast option offered on board the Victoria I and we can really recommend this breakfast.
This breakfast option is slightly more expensive, but it's definitely worth it. The food is really good quality - creamy Skagenröra, fantastic cheeses and foie gras to die for. There's also bubbly included and you can order eggs as you wish for the table. The best part is that it's quiet and peaceful. There's no hustle and bustle here!
Visit to Tallinn
If you go on a regular cruise Stockholm - Tallinn you have seven hours in the city. Tallinn is a nice city that we like very much. This time we visited the travel fair Tourest 2020 and the relatively new experience centre Proto. We also have tips from previous visits to Tallinn, read more here:
Grande Buffet Restaurant
When it was time to travel home from Tallinn, it was instead dinner in Grande Buffet, the large buffet restaurant. Here it is quantity that counts and there is plenty to choose from.
We focused almost entirely on the salmon and shrimp table, which is always good! There's absolutely nothing wrong with this buffet, but it is of course more loud and not the same relaxed atmosphere we had at the Grill House.
Breakfast in the buffet restaurant
We continued to try the Grande Buffet the next morning, so we had breakfast there. Everything tasted good and we were satisfied, but of course it is not the same experience as the "special breakfast".
What did we think of cruising Stockholm - Tallinn with Victoria I?
We like Tallinn very much as a city, and therefore it will of course be nice to cruise Stockholm - Tallinn. There will of course be many hours on board, but it is quite nice to pass the time there without stress.
This time we were extra lucky and were joined by a really nice and friendly group. But, even if you are not travelling with new friends, you can quite easily spend a few relaxing hours in a nice restaurant or bar. Of course, it can also be an option to travel to Tallinn and stay there for several days - there is a lot to see and experience.
What do you think, have you travelled on a Stockholm - Tallinn cruise? Have you perhaps travelled with Victoria I?
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Cruise Stockholm - Tallinn
- Ships: Victoria I and the Baltic Queen
- Harbours: Värtahamnen in Stockholm and the D terminal in Tallinn, within easy reach of the centre of Tallinn.
- Times: Daily departures at 17:30 from Stockholm.
- Cruise: On a 40-hour cruise you have 7 hours in Tallinn.
Facts about Victoria 1
- Route: Stockholm - Tallinn
- Year of construction: 2004
- Length: 192.9 metres
- Width: 29 metres
- Speed: 21 button
- Tyres: 12
- Cabins: 740
- Number of beds: 2246
Cabins
- Suite (30 sqm) with sea view, located on deck 8 and 9.
- Deluxe cabin (11-14 sqm) with sea view, located on decks 8 and 9.
- A premium cabin (9 sqm) with sea view, located on deck 8 and 9.
- A-cabin (9 sqm) with sea view, located on decks 5, 8 and 9.
- B-cabin (8 square metres), located on decks 5, 8 and 9.
- E-Cabin (9 square metres), located on decks 5 and 8. Interference may occur due to the location of the cabin.
Restaurants and cafés
- Grill House serves meat and fish dishes. It also serves a more luxurious speciality breakfast.
- Gourmet Victoria is the ship's most exclusive restaurant, offering culinary flavours and carefully selected wines.
- Large buffet sets up a large buffet with lots of dishes. A large buffet breakfast is served in the morning.
- Fast Food 24H is a fast food restaurant serving salads, pizzas, wraps and sandwiches.
- Coffee & Co is a café offering coffee, drinks, pastries and light meals.
Night clubs and bars
- Starlight is the ship's dance and show venue with a bar offering a wide variety of drinks.
- Aluminium Disco & Sport bar offers a nightclub and drinks menu.
- Aperitif bar is an elegant little bar next to the luxurious Gourmet Victoria restaurant.
- Sea Pub is a pub with a drinks menu and also a beer tasting menu.
Shopping
- Perfume & Fashion sells beauty products, fashion and accessories.
- Tax Free Shop sells drinks, sweets and tobacco.
Services and activities
- Information disc on deck 6 is open 24 hours a day.
- For children there is a playroom, newly renovated in 2019.
- Relaxing and bathing There is a relaxation area with a sauna, jacuzzi and pool bar. Hera Salongid offers various treatments.
- Artists and shows is offered continuously. See the Tallinksilja website for the current programme.
Good to know
- Pre-orders can be made for the cabin, such as champagne or chocolate.
- Internet is available on board in the form of WiFi (how well it works may vary at sea).
- Payment can be made with Swedish kronor, euros or credit cards. Currency can be exchanged on board, but cash cannot be withdrawn.
- Wheelchair can be borrowed on board against a deposit. Limited numbers are available.
- Domestic animals may rest on deck 6 (left side).
Ann says:
If you have travelled on both boats, which was the best?
12 February 2020 - 8:21
Helena says:
We went on the Baltic Queen this summer. It has a Russian restaurant, which is kind of fun. We've written about travelling with it here: https://www.freedomtravel.se/2019/07/husbilsresa-i-estland-med-start-i-tallinn/
Otherwise, I don't really know if I got any sense of such big differences.
12 February 2020 - 8:45
Reijo Välijeesiö says:
Victoria
12 February 2020 - 9:53
Eva/Living like Eva says:
I travelled Victoria 1 to Tallinn and Baltic Queen from Tallinn last January, with an overnight stay on site. Real sea steam on the way there, which meant that we could not enjoy breakfast 🙂 Was a little disappointed that the range in the store was worse on the way home, when I intended to buy some drinks. Otherwise, everything was great!
12 February 2020 - 9:37
Helena says:
Too bad if the sea state means you can't enjoy the food of course! We were calm when we travelled, but you can't be completely sure of that at this time of year.
12 February 2020 - 15:43
Lena in Wales says:
What food! This is what got me hooked!
12 February 2020 - 9:45
Helena says:
The food was really good! 🙂
12 February 2020 - 15:44
Ditte says:
We have occasionally travelled with Victoria and the first time was on her first trip. Then won a trip in a competition in a morning programme on the radio with everything included plus a luxury cabin. We usually book A+ cabins and high up.
As for food, we do not eat in the buffet restaurant. Want more peace and quiet and to be served at the table. (Yes, we have on one occasion tested the buffet restaurant and the food was perfectly ok. But it is the environment I find too "noisy".
We like Victoria better than Baltic Star but there is not much difference.
I think Victoria feels a little fresher but both ships would benefit from more care. But maybe it has become since the last time we travelled a couple of years ago.
Good to hear your views.
12 February 2020 - 10:25
Helena says:
But how fun that you won a trip !!! A-cabin works well, but has also travelled a little more luxurious at some point, and it is very nice! Completely agree that the buffet restaurant becomes a bit messy, it becomes so on large buffets.
12 February 2020 - 15:46
Ama de casa says:
Looked very nice and tasty all that 🙂 🙂 .
Yes, we have travelled with Tallink (or if it was Silja at that time?) To Tallinn many years ago and it was a very nice trip, both the trip itself and the city. Also hit the luxury breakfast and it was not bad 😀 However, I do not remember what the boat was called.
12 February 2020 - 11:09
Helena says:
The luxury breakfast has been good all the times we've tried it, it's probably my favourite on these boats 🙂.
13 February 2020 - 19:24
Maria / MagnoliaMagis says:
Says only one thing: HUNGRY! I'll go and see what can be scared out of the fridge....
12 February 2020 - 18:37
Helena says:
🙂
13 February 2020 - 19:24
BP says:
We have been to Tallinn three times, but don't remember which boat we went on. The food was perfectly fine and the cabin with windows (a must) was nothing to complain about either.
Looks like you had a real royal time there with food and drink. Also, I love Peter's jacket. It is almost as "sharp" as the orange one;-)
12 February 2020 - 21:15
Helena says:
The food was really good! And it's nice that you like Peter's blue jacket 🙂 Both it and the orange one are of course from Taracci 🙂 ).
13 February 2020 - 19:25
Lena - good for the soul says:
Yes, we have made that trip. We started by spending a couple of hours at the outdoor bar in bright sunshine, before they threw off. Then we had a very nice cruise and cosy day in Tallinn. Also liked that city. But that breakfast. We missed it. Happy to pay a few extra dollars to get a little more peace and quiet. Next time ...
Hug Lena
13 February 2020 - 6:06
Helena says:
Nice! We definitely recommend the breakfast for next time! 🙂
13 February 2020 - 19:26
Liniz Travel says:
Hope you had a nice trip to Tallinn hugs
13 February 2020 - 8:39
Helena says:
Yes really nice! Thank you very much! Have fun Lina!
13 February 2020 - 19:26