Experience: Mariella + Helsinki & Tampere

The trip I waited for so long is finally happening and as promised I'm taking the chance to give an update. I've been able to give very brief daily updates on instagram, so if those interest you, feel free to follow me there as well.
I started with taking Mariella of Viking Line to Helsinki. She's usually on Helsinki-Stockholm route, but during this peak season she does a trip to Tallinn and back instead of staying in Helsinki all day. Obviously I couldn't let such a sweet chance go. Mariella's stop in Tallinn lasted for less than an hour, which means that I had to be in the terminal long before her arrival and I got to watch her come in to her sister's harbour spot. Mariella had everything one would expect to see in an overnight cruising ferry and her interior reminded me of the Cinderella, but it was clear that she's not quite the newest vessel in the fleet. I liked her large sundecks and the fact that the area under the bridge wings was accessible.

Mariella arriving and her fleetmate Viking XPRS

The info & wifi spot

Open decks

Bow visor closing as we depart...

...leaving Viking XPRS behind...

...as well as Victoria I

Silja Europa in Paljassaare

Cruise ships of the day - Royal Princess, MSC Poesia and Costa Fortuna

Royal Princess and MSC Poesia

Costa Fortuna leaving with us

Possibly the nicest place on board during summertime, although the vibration there was quite bad.

If I were to guess I'd say the captain has a thing for plants

Lifeboats, hopefully never to be used

Mandatory funnel picture

Karaoke at the night club

Underway...

Quite a nice view to accompany a slice of pizza.

Mariella's sister and ex-fleetmate Princess Anastasia near Helsinki

Superstar near Helsinki

AIDAmar in Helsinki

Silja Symphony and Seabourn Legend

Ex-fleetmates Club Med 2 and Wind Surf in Helsinki

Club Med 2

 

Silja Symphony departing

On my first day in Helsinki I didn't do much besides checking in to a hostel and walking around a bit. On the 2nd day I visited Linnanmäki which is a kind of a must-visit for me at least once every year. I've always had a thing for amusement parks.

Tulireki

Salama and Hurjakuru under it

Kingi, a freefall built this year, quickly became a favourite, especially because of the mighty view up there.

Ukko has also been a big fave ever since it was built in 2011

Vuoristorata, built in 1951.

The same evening I took a train to Tampere and met up with my friend Tuulia, who hosted me. The next day we looked around in Tampere, visited the Chilifest and a couple of stores.

They had literally everything made out of chili at the fest - chili sauces, chili marmalade, chili ice cream, you name it..

 

Quite the usual forest view at Pyynikki.

The Pyynikki tower. I visited this place two years ago, though this time I didn't even bother to climb up - I was here for the famous landmark doughnuts, which are possibly one of the most delicious things I've ever had. I had two on the spot and bought 6 for later.

Today consisted entirely of Särkänniemi - yeah, another amusement park

Koskiseikkailu and the Näsinneula tower

View from the viking ship

Me on Trombi, which was quite a rough ride

The swing ride; On the background Tornado, the best ride of the park, and Näsinneula tower.

Tomorrow early in the morning I'll continue to Turku. I have never been there before and common sense tells me that there's probably a lot more ships there than here in Tampere, although there's lots of small boats here on lake Näsijärvi. I hope I'll be able to update again soon.

Next post - Turku & Viking Grace

Fare thee well, Silja Europa

It has been well over a year since I've done ship introductions but in the light of recent news I think it's needed. 

This is also the 50th post to this blog. 

Name: MS Silja Europa

IMO number:  8919805

Built: 1993

Lenght: 201,8m

Beam: 32,5m

Draught: 6,8m

Tonnage: 59,914 GT

Type: Cruiseferry

Speed: 21,5 knots

Capacity: 3644 passengers, 932 lanemeters

Status: Chartered, currently in Paljassaare Harbour

Silja Europa was built in the Papenburg yard of Meyer Werft, which is known as the birthplace of many great passenger ships, among others many Costa, Norwegian, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean ships, the whole AIDA Sphinx class, but also the late Viking Sally, finally known as Estonia. Ever since her delivery she has not gone any farther than her birthplace, nor outside the Baltic Sea at all. She was initially built for Rederi AB Slite, which was a part of Viking Line, and was to be named Europa. She was the world's largest cruiseferry by gross tonnage until 2001 and still remains by far the largest by passenger capacity. In fact, she carries about as many passengers as the Royal Princess. She was also the location of the first ever floating McDonald's restaurant until 1996.

Europa at the shipyard in Viking Line colours, almost complete.
http://www.simplonpc.co.uk

She was almost ready to be delivered, but then the Swedish krona was devaluated, leaving Slite unable to pay for her. She was then chartered to rival Silja Line, who finally bought her from the shipyard. She was initially placed on the Helsinki - Stockholm route. In September 1994 she was the first one to receive the mayday call of MS Estonia and her captain Esa Mäkelä initially led the rescue operation. In 1995 she was put on Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route where she served until early 2013, with minor exceptions. During her service she saw some incidents, just like all ships do. For example, in 1998 she collided with a small sailing boat in thick fog. The boat sunk and Silja Europa rescued the passengers with a lifeboat. In 1998 she crashed into the pier in Mariehamn due to strong winds. In 2000 she had problems with one of her propellers and was taken out of service for five days, in 2001 her autopilot broke down and she had to cancel a cruise. In 2009 she damaged her steering system and was taken to Gdansk for repairs.

In 2006 Silja Line was bought by Tallink, along with the Silja Europa. She continued sailing under the Silja Line brand until early 2013 and in her first 20 years of service she had the Silja Line livery with only minor changes over the years.

Silja Europa in her early years with white funnel and back doors.
www.simplonpc.co.uk

In 2012 she was repainted with the new Silja Line logo; the funnel had been painted blue in 2000.
© Kalle Id

In January 2013 she swapped routes with Baltic Princess and started serving the Tallinn-Helsinki route, mainly cruises directed for the Finnish market. In addition to changing route she was transferred from Silja Line to Tallink. During that era I had the honour to go on board twice, first with the purpose of transport and a year ago I celebrated my birthday on a cruise. She still remains one of the mightiest and most impressive ships I've seen.

Approaching Helsinki in her latest livery

A bit less than a month ago I heard rumours that she would be taken out of service soon and later those rumours turned out to be true, as stated in the following press release, published on the 21st of July: 

AS Tallink Grupp and Bridgemans Services Ltd. have entered into a charter agreement to charter the cruise ferry Silja Europa to Australia from August 2014 as an accommodation vessel.

The period of the charter is at least 14 months with an option to extend up to 48 months. In relation to the above initially the following re-routings are planned in our operations: Baltic Queen which is operating on Tallinn-Stockholm today will change to Tallinn-Helsinki route presumably on 7 August 2014 and Romantika which is operating on Riga-Stockholm route today will change to Tallinn-Stockholm route. Isabelle will continue the service on Riga-Stockholm route.

On the 6th of August she did her last crossings and since then she has been laid up in Paljassaare. From what I've heard, she will leave Tallinn in early September, possibly for good. The changes in the rest of Tallink's fleet may not be final either; I'll keep you updated. After she leaves the Baltic Sea, she will go farther than she has ever been before.

Leaving for her last scheduled voyage to Helsinki

Next day in Paljassaare

Silja Europa and the Moon

Sights of July and what lies ahead

A lot has happened in July, resulting in several posts and good memories for a long time. In the meanwhile I've had lots of workdays at the cruise harbour. Although having the access doesn't feel as special as it used to, it's still a great place to look around and take photos once the shift is over. I've seen some beautiful ships and I'm yet to see some more, although most of the work is done by now. Of course I've got some really neat shots from outside the cruise area as well.

For example this photo of outbound Superstar, taken from Linnahall.

And this portrait of Victoria I, taken when I worked as a volunteer sailor on a sailboat named Emily, transporting people from one harbour to the other and vice versa during Tallinn Maritime days.

Quite the normal summertime six o'clock traffic on the bay: Norwegian Star, (Tallink) Star, Finlandia, Gann and behind her, Viking XPRS. Out of the picture, Victoria I is also setting sail.

The two sisters (Mariella and Princess Anastasia) behind the Old City Marina; the funnel of Viking XPRS also shows.

Norwegian Star seemed to be present every single time I had any business near the sea.

Which obviously results in lots and lots of pictures of her.

Quite a common, yet interesting sight - lifeboat drill. 

While I was on the Legend of the Seas she also seemed to be everywhere. 

And I got to witness some more advanced modern methods of ship maintenance. 

From two perspectives.

Fleet Street, Tallinn

Same place the other day.

From farther away

and from above.  

In comes Costa Luminosa

.. and Emerald Princess, accompanying Baltic Queen.

The list of visiting royalties extends - Royal Princess in royal solitude.

Slightly closer to the Emerald Princess.

My beautiful hometown and some boat.

Speaking of my hometown - on busy days, this lineup of wifi-enjoying crew members can be found at the stores.

Meanwhile at the "baby pier" - Hamburg

Europa 

and Serenissima

Serenissima and Viking XPRS

Gann, seemingly, was a bit too big for the baby pier though - here she is next to Crystal Symphony.

Azamara Journey and MSC Poesia

Celebrity Eclipse. Characteristically to the cruise line, her shape is quite interesting.

And the gangway is quite fancy.

Silver Cloud

Eurodam and Finlandia.

Back in May-June, I used to mention travelling plans a lot, mostly, to be more exact, my inability to make any. In the beginning of July I finally knew all I needed though and I've spent the whole month organizing. Now that the time left is as long as the trip itself and everything is quite clear to me, I feel like it's the right time to shed some light on what's coming up. So, for now I'll say that in two weeks I'll be on the move in Finland and Sweden, trying out all the Viking Line vessels I haven't travelled on yet. Of course it'll be so much more than just that but the rest I'll let you know of as it happens. Although accessing the internet may get a bit complicated sometimes, I'll try my best to post trip updates as soon as I find a way.