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Good to know

Welcome to explore everything you want to know about travelling on Finnlines ropax ferries on the Baltic Sea.  Whether you are travelling on the routes Travemünde–Helsinki, Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali or Travemünde–Malmö you find the most tricky questions and answers to them here. 

Booking a trip

  • Special priced tickets according to an offer or discount need to be booked and paid in advance. Discounts are not granted at the check-in and are not refunded afterwards. Special priced places are limited.
  • Group inquiries and bookings through Finnlines customer service. Please see the contact information.
  • We recommend all our passengers to take a travel insurance and make sure that if they are travelling with a vehicle that its car and traffic insurance is valid during the sea trip.
  • Finnlines’ Conditions of Carriage do not include right of cancellation in case of acute illness. We recommend that our passengers always take a travel insurance with cancellation protection.
  • Multi-leg ferry trips and cruises are bookable only on the older online booking system or by contacting Finnlines’ customer service.
  • You can book your trip online 24/7.
  • Online booking is possible until check-in for the desired departure is opened. Exceptions are departures from Travemünde to Helsinki where online booking must be made at 19:00 at the latest.
  • Online booking can be paid with Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard or Maestro. Direct banking is possible in Finland via Aktia, Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Nordea, Oma Säästöpankki, OP, POP Pankki, S-Pankki, Säästöpankki and Ålandsbanken. Bookings in euro can be paid via PayPal.
  • You can book your trip online 24/7.
  • If you want to e.g. book your outbound journey as a standard-priced trip and the inbound journey as a special-priced trip, please contact our Customer Service.
  • Online booking is possible until check-in for the desired departure is opened. Exceptions are departures from Travemünde to Helsinki where online booking must be made at 19:00 at the latest.
  • Online booking can be paid with Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard or Maestro. Direct banking is possible in Finland via Aktia, Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Nordea, Oma Säästöpankki, OP, POP Pankki, S-Pankki, Säästöpankki and Ålandsbanken. Bookings in euro can be paid via PayPal.
  • All pets need to be notified upon reservation. Transportation of other than dogs and cats must be separately agreed with the shipping company.
  • No more than two pets per cabin are allowed.
  • Pets may not be taken into bars, restaurants, sauna or other public areas.
  • Before taking your pet abroad, please check the existing restrictions and regulations from local authorities.
  • There is a limited amount of pet cabins on each vessel and booking a whole pet cabin is always mandatory when traveling with a pet.
  • Read more about traveling with pets.

2023
Season 1
Travemünde–Helsinki 1.1.–31.5. and 1.9.–31.12.
Helsinki–Travemünde 1.1.–31.5. and 11.9.–31.12.

Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali or v.v.
1.1.–13.6. and 14.8.–31.12.

Travemünde–Malmö 1.1.–6.6. and 28.8.–31.12
Malmö–Travemünde 1.1.–6.6. and 11.9.–31.12.

Season 2

Travemünde–Helsinki 1.6.–18.6. and 14.–31.8.
Helsinki–Travemünde 1.6.–6.7. and 1.–10.9.

Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali or v.v.
14.6.–13.8.

Travemünde–Malmö 7.6.–27.8.
Malmö–Travemünde 7.6.–10.9.

Season 3
Travemünde–Helsinki 19.6.–13.8.
Helsinki–Travemünde 7.7.–31.8.

  • If you book a return or multi-leg trip, you get a 20% discount on all ferry trips following the first one. In order to get the discount, you need to book all parts of the trip at the same time.
  • The discount applies to passenger, cabin and vehicle prices, but not to additional services ( e.g. wi-fi, meals) that can be purchased in advance.
  • In case the first part of the trip is cancelled or it is not used, the return or multi-leg discount will be removed from the new first section.
  • After booking you will receive a booking confirmation, which is valid as a ticket. The booking reference number needs to be informed at the check-in.

Before your trip

  • All Finnlines’ ro-pax vessels are suitable for disabled passengers. There are a limited number of obstacle-free cabins onboard and they are located close to the lifts. Finnlines’ terminals are obstacle-free, too.
  • If you would need special care in an emergency, please notify us when booking the voyage.
  • If your mobility is reduced and you need assistance to go aboard or disembark the ship, please notify us at the latest 48 hours before your departure.
  • If you make a booking online, please send a message to passenger@finnlines.com and inform us what kind of assistance you need. This way we can consider your need for assistance when placing a vehicle on the car deck or ordering suitable bus transportation from the terminal to the ship.
  • Passengers traveling to/from the Åland Islands should contact Call Center before making a reservation. There is no obstacle-free access from the vehicle to the elevator on the car deck.

In vehicles booked via Passenger Services, it is allowed to carry following dangerous goods. If you have any questions regarding the permitted items, please, do not hesitate to contact us.

  • Gas bottles in campers and boats maximum 4 cylinders
  • Fuel bottles in campers and boats maximum 2 liters
  • Petrol and diesel in jerrycans: Travemünde–Helsinki 5 liter and Travemünde–Malmö or Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali 25 liter (maximum 25 liter canisters)
  • Small portable fire extinguisher
  • Small amounts of paints, thinners or items containing flammable substances (e.g. lighters) in retail receptacles
  • Compressed air or oxygen maximum 6 cylinders per vehicle (for leisure/hobby). Hazardous class 2.2 cylinders unlimited when pressure below 200kPa.
  • Lifejackets and emergency signal devices in a boat as per boat’s category equipment.
  • Medicinal oxygen: Required number of compressed oxygen cylinders for a passenger who has a doctor’s order.

In you cabin baggage, you are allowed to have any retail goods for your personal use like grooming or hygiene e.g. hairsprays, toiletries.

  • There is a limited number of electrical plugs for campers’ or caravans’ refrigeration appliances and vehicles’ portable fridges and freezers on board.
  • Please take your adapter (230 V) with you when travelling.
  • Campers and caravans: Please turn off all electrical appliances (e.g. underfloor heating), except the refrigeration appliances, before driving on board.
  • Portable fridges and freezers: Please check before your ferry trip that the IP rating of your appliance is at least IP44.
  • Electrical plugs can be booked only in advance when booking the ferry trip.
  • Electrical plug costs €10/direction on the route Travemünde–Helsinki and €5/direction on the routes Travemünde–Malmö and Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali.
  • There are two charging points for electric cars in front of the Hafenhaus building in Travemünde. One charging point (22kW) is situated inside the check-in gate at Vuosaari Harbour, Helsinki.
  • There is currently no public charging point at Malmö check-in, but several charging facilities can be found in Malmö area.    
  • At the moment it is not possible to charge an electric car on board.
  • Finnlines reserves the right to refuse to carry a passenger who may pose a danger to his or her own health and safety or the health and safety of other passengers or the crew. 
  • Passengers with a communicable disease, such as measles or rubella, should postpone their voyage.
  • We do not recommend that expectant women travel with us during the last weeks of pregnancy.
  • Finnlines will carry cyclists on all ferry routes. Note that high visibility vest is mandatory for all cyclists within the port area. 
  • Children under 6 years travel for free in the same cabin with a guardian.
  • Recliner seats or beds in shared cabins are not possible to book for children under 13 years.
  • Minor passengers travelling without a guardian in a group or alone have to have their guardian’s written consent. 
  • Minors aged 14–17 years can travel without a guardian but in that case they will be charged adult’s ticket fee.
  • Minor passengers under 14 years of age must have a named guardian who is responsible for them during the sea voyage.
  • Minor travelling alone.pdf
  • Minor travelling without a guardian.pdf
  • On board our vessels you can travel with or without a vehicle. The only exception is the route Naantali–Långnäs–Kapellskär, where all passengers must travel with a motor vehicle or bike.
  • With the exception of Naantali–Långnäs–Kapellskär, all passengers without vehicles are driven by minibuses from the terminal to the vessel and vice versa.
  • Please make sure that you reserve enough time for boarding and disembarking the ship.
  • Groups travelling by bus can drive conveniently in their own bus onboard the ship.
  • For safety and security reasons it is forbidden to walk, drive and ride a bike in the harbour area. Driving takes place under supervision, which means that a lead car takes the car convoy to the ship.
  • The ship’s crew will assist parking the vehicles.
  • Motorcycles with a sidecar or trailer are booked as vehicles up to 6 m long. Motorcycles need to be secured on the car deck. For this, Finnlines offers tie-down straps and other load-securing devices.
  • Apply the handbrake after driving aboard.
  • There is a limited amount of electricity outlets for mobile homes and caravans. 
  • Gas cylinders need to be closed during the voyage.
  • The passenger is responsible that the vehicle measurements mentioned while booking are correct. If the dimensions are exceeded, we will try to arrange another vehicle place. The customer will be charged the price difference according to the price list. However, a new vehicle space cannot be guaranteed.
  • Buses and animal transport (e.g. dog teams and horses) are to be booked via call center only.
  • Vehicles carrying commercial goods and vehicles registered for commercial transportation are booked as cargo. If it is established at the check-in that the vehicle type does not correspond with the booked vehicle type, the customer will be charged an additional fee in accordance with the passenger vehicle or the cargo price list.
  • Due to security reasons, the car deck is closed during the whole voyage.
  • There is no heating on the car deck.

Check-in

  • The identity of all passengers will be checked at the check-in in the harbour.
  • EU and Swiss citizens: The passenger must have a valid passport or an official identity card issued in an EU country or in Switzerland which the states in question has approved as a travel document. Children must have their own passport or official identity card.
  • Citizens of other countries: The passenger must have a valid passport and other necessary travel documents.
  • Nordic citizens travelling on the Naantali–Långäs–Kapellskär route: The passenger can prove his/her identity also with a driving license. Minors travelling with their guardians do not need an identity document.
  • Finland and Germany: Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro, Amex, and Diners Club. No cash payments.
  • Sweden: Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, and Maestro. No cash payments.

On board

  • The cabin facilities depend on the route and cabin category. All the cabins are equipped with bed linen, towels, shower/toilet, air conditioning, and usually also with a TV. All cabins are non-smoking.
  • Most Finnlines vessels have cabins for passengers with impaired mobility.
  • On vessels Finnmaid, Finnlady, Finnstar, Finnswan and Europalink there are combined cabins available with a connecting door, for example for families.
  • Please reserve a possible baby bed for the cabin when booking a trip.
  • A cabin is mandatory when traveling on night departures and when traveling with pets.
  • On Helsinki–Travemünde route recliner seats are available during the summer season and beds in shared cabin round the year.  Read more about the cabins.
  • On Malmö–Travemünde route recliner seats are available on evening and night departures during the summer season. Read more about the cabins.
  • On the route Travemünde–Helsinki Junior or Owner’s Suite is suitable for up to three adults with children aged 0–17 years.
  • Travelling with pets.
  • Please note that there is no doctor or medicine cabinet available for passengers. However, there are always crew members aboard who have training in medical first aid.
  • Mobile phones work via satellite during the sea voyage. For this reason, calls, text messages and the use of mobile data are more expensive on board than on land.
  • If you don’t want to use the satellite connection, put your phone in flight mode. If you want to receive or send text messages or phone calls, turn off mobile data on the phone. You can get the prices from the service provider of your own mobile phone subscription.
  • Skybridge or Telenor service works on all ships except Europalink.
  • Skybridge: Finnlady, Finnmaid, Finnstar and Finnswan
  • Telenor: Finnfellow, Finnpartner and Finntrader
  • Some ships have a Wi-Fi connection via satellite.
  • Helsinki–Travemünde: Paid premium Wi-Fi on all vessels, read more about the Wi-Fi connection.
  • Malmö–Travemünde: Paid premium Wi-Fi on Finnpartner and Finntrader, read more about the Wi-Fi connection.
  • Naantali–Långnäs–Kapellskär: Free Wi-Fi on Finnswan deck 11.

 

  • Onboard vessels meals are served in the self-service buffet restaurant.
  • Meals are not included in the regular fares, except on the Naantali–Långäs–Kapellskär route.
  • By purchasing a meal package when booking your trip, you save money. Meals can also be bought separately onboard.
  • Water, milk, coffee, and tea are included in the meal prices.
  • In case you have a certain food allergy or diet, we recommend you to mention this when booking your trip.
  • On Germany–Finland route the dinner superior includes milk, water, juice, coffee, tea, draught beer, ship’s wine, and selected soft drinks.
  • Purchases are payable in cash (euros) or card.
  • On the routes Naantali–Långnäs–Kapellskär and Malmö–Travemünde you can also pay your purchases in Swedish krona instead of euros.
  • We accept the following credit and debit cards: Eurocard, Maestro, MasterCard, MasterCard Debit, V PAY, Visa, Visa Debit and Visa Electron.
  • As the data communication is via satellite connection, we cannot guarantee the card payments to succeed.
  • There is no currency exchange nor any possibility to withdraw money e.g. from an ATM onboard.
  • The saunas, jacuzzis, and gym are free of charge for the passengers.
  • Service selection depends on the routes.
  • Passengers shall follow all instructions given by the ship’s crew.
  • Kindly acquaint yourself with the shipboard safety instructions.
  • There are surveillance cameras in the public areas onboard the ships and in the terminals.
  • According to the International Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS), all passengers, vehicles and luggage can be subjected to a security inspection.
  • On Finland–Åland–Sweden traffic you have the possibility for duty-free shopping. Snus is sold only in Swedish waters. Individuals can bring snus for their own personal use (not as gifts) up to 1000g. Read more about import restrictions for duty-free products on the Finnish Customs’ web pages.
  • On Finland–Åland–Sweden traffic you have the possibility for duty-free shopping. Snus is sold only in Swedish waters. Individuals can bring snus for their own personal use (not as gifts) up to 1000g. Read more about import restrictions for duty-free products on the Finnish Customs’ web pages.
  • On other routes, we have a duty-paid shop on board.
  • Tap water on board is potable high quality Finnish or Swedish tap water.
  • Finnish and Swedish, as well as the Central-European time difference is one hour (–1h).
  • The departure and arrival times are always displayed in local time.
  • Vessels operating from Finland to Sweden or Central-Europe have Finnish time aboard.
    • Sweden CET
    • Finland CET +1h
  • The following time zones apply onboard
    • Travemünde–Helsinki CET +1h
    • Travemünde–Malmö CET
    • Naantali–Kapellskär CET +1h  
  • Smoking is only allowed on outer decks in designated areas. This applies to e-cigarettes, too.

Other

  • If a dispute concerning a sales contract cannot be resolved through negotiation between the parties, the consumer can consult the Consumer Disputes Board (www.kuluttajariita.fi/en) on the matter.
  • Before taking the matter to the Consumer Disputes Board, the consumer should contact the Local Register Offices’ Consumer Advisory Service (www.kkv.fi/en/consumer-advice).
  • The carrier is not liable for items lost or forgotten onboard. Please contact the local Finnlines office for further information on your lost item.
  • All lost property is brought about once a month to Finland’s Found Property Service.
  • EU regulation 1177/2010 applies to information providement during the travel, compensation amounts in case of delay and the rights of handicapped and disabled persons. Read more on the page about passenger rights. In a claim situation you can apply for compensation via feedback form. 
  • EU regulation 392/2009 covers liability of the carrier in the event of accidents. Read more on the page about Passenger rights. In a claim situation you can apply for compensation via feedback form.