Breaking news – Viking Line to launch cruise service from Helsinki to Mariehamn

17. June 2020

Viking Line will place M/S Gabriella in service for cruises from Helsinki to the Åland Islands three days a week beginning July 1. Day trips to the popular summer town of Mariehamn will give passengers the chance to get to know Åland’s sights and attractions. Viking Line, which has its roots in the Åland archipelago, has daily service to Åland with six vessels. The range of routes available is now being expanded by offering Finnish residents an attractive and safe travel option to become familiar with the beautiful archipelago and this summer paradise in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

In July, M/S Gabriella will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 3:30 p.m. from Helsinki. The vessel will arrive in Mariehamn the next day at 8 a.m. and depart for Helsinki via Tallinn at 4 p.m. In Åland, passengers can choose to spend the day in picturesque Mariehamn or join one of Viking Line’s programmes. People can also book their own car or bike to take along on the journey and explore more of the landscape.

“Our company has its roots in Åland, and the genuine love of the sea and nature that the company’s founders grew up with still shapes operations today. People are always surrounded by the Baltic Sea here. We are pleased to welcome our Finnish passengers to our own summer paradise,” says Jan Hanses, president and CEO of Viking Line.

M/S Gabriella has an ambitious range of restaurant options and great flexibility in the selection of cabins available. The vessel offers a number of different cabin categories, everything from Ville Viking family cabins to luxurious cabins with their own balcony on Deck 11.

Safe to travel

The travel sector is among the sectors hit hardest by the Covid 19 pandemic. The shipping industry has agreed on a number of common safety procedures that enable safe travel. These safety procedures have been presented to authorities in the different countries, and the procedures have been adapted based on the shipping companies’ own safety systems, vessels, terminals and current travel routes. Safety is always Viking Line’s top priority, as is the case with this pandemic. To make travel as safe as possible for our passengers, the following measures have been taken:

• • We are currently accepting almost half as many passengers per departure as normal. As a result, we ensure that social distances between all passengers can be maintained.
  • We limit and control passenger flows in the terminals and during boarding and disembarking of the vessels.
  • We have expanded and intensified cleaning procedures and provide hand sanitizer to all of our passengers.
  •  We provide regular reminders about maintaining social distances and about the importance of people washing their hands often and in the correct way.
  • We limit the number of guests in restaurants and shops. People can also buy things for take away or order room service in their cabin.
  • The selection of activities on board will be adapted to the present situation. We have programmes for both adults and children, but unfortunately the ball pit will not be in operation for hygiene reasons. We offer spa treatments, but our sauna facilities are otherwise closed.

• • Check-in counters, information desks and cash stations will be equipped with plexiglass screens.
  • We recommend payment by card, to reduce the handling of cash.

 

For further information, please contact:

Johanna Boijer-Svahnström, senior vice president, Corporate Communications, Viking Line Abp,
johanna.boijer@vikingline.com, tel: +358-18-27000

Christa Grönlund, press manager, Viking Line Finland,

Christa.gronlund@vikingline.com, tel: +358-9-123 5242