Mirror, mirror on the wall

Tallink’s newest ship is a crown princess with ambition. Biggest and cleanest she goes for comfort and luxury. And perhaps the most beautiful, too.

The middle Baltic has its first newly launched passenger ship in more than ten years, Tallink’s M/S Victoria.

Her fairy godmother is Ilon Wilkland, who illustrated nearly all of Astrid Lindgren’s books. Now she has hand painted the children’s room on Victoria, and it is a true work of art. Ilon Wilkland comes from Haapsula, fleeing to Sweden on a fishing boat in 1944.

Crown Princess Victoria, for whom the ferry is named, was on board for Victoria’s showing at Skeppsbron in Stockholm, the largest ship ever to lay there.

Victoria is built by Åker Finnyards in Finnish Raumo. Her color scheme and décor are a bit more Scandinavian in style than her sister Romantica. There are 739 cabins, all above the water line. 100 are in the “luxury class”, with double beds and much more. The public amenities are gathered on two floors, which minimizes stair climbing. The large show stage is on the second floor, with enough space for large dance groups or orchestras. There are two à la carte restaurants, in addition to the large buffet furthest forward. A sauna section lays highest up. There is a large conference center, and a spacious shopping area.

Tallinks Victoria in an unusual appearance in the Stockholm inner harbor

Prices on Estonian routes are lower than on Finnish routes, and prices on land even more so – clothing, sports articles, glasses, lingerie, gloves, sweaters, shoes, food, liquor and dining out will all be 30 – 50% less expensive than in Sweden. Taxis are also much cheaper, but keep your eye on the meter.

A slender beauty

With her long lines, 193 meters, Victoria has returned to the slim shape of classic ferries, but on a larger scale. She really feels big.

But the clean lines are not just for the passengers’ enjoyment. She produces less swell than many smaller ferries, reducing shoreline erosion. She also has the best available catalytic converter, which reduces nitrous emissions by 60%.

With 70 cameras placed all over the ship you can view all aspects of the ship from the bridge. You can see what goes on ahead of the ship. The ramp and bow hatch has their own, independent systems. Sometimes you can even view the dance floor on your cabin TV. So watch out, your spouse may keep an eye on who you dance with from the cabin.

The bridge is 35 meters wide and lays 26 meters above the water line, providing the Baltic’s most beautiful view. In the floor of the bridge wings there are windows with a breathtaking view, very useful at docking.

Estonian nautical safety regulations are somewhat stricter than the Swedish, and Victoria always has two navigators and a seaman on the bridge.

A fine ship

Although built for 22 knots, Victoria is a fine cruiser and actually can produce a bonus knot at full clip, according to Roland Lemendik, her proud, young captain who spent four months on the wharf while Victoria was being built. He knows his ship.

How do you stop this giant?

“It actually takes just four minutes and barely a kilometer to come to a complete stop.”

Tallink now has a large presence in the Baltic, with 11 boats, three launched this season. Victoria’s sister ship Romantica travels the Helsinki – Tallinn route, and Tallink has a third sister available. For now, Victoria sails in parallel with the newly renovated Regina Baltica. Fantaasia travels the new route to St. Petersburg.

In spite of the quick expansion, Tallink turns a nice profit, 225 million SEK last year. Lower wages, screech their competitors, citing differences around 30%.

“On the average, we pay double the wages for the corresponding job on land in Estonia, and that makes for very committed employees,” counters Enn Pant, Tallink’s Chairman of the Board.

In May, Tallink opened its own four star hotel in central Tallinn, with 349 double rooms. Tallinn can be “done in a day”, but that’s just an appetizer. Most visitors enthusiastically embrace this beautiful medieval town that is anything but a museum piece. New restaurants and stores open constantly, offering all the latest. And it’s not just tourist trade; Estonia’s population is very youthful.

“Victoria demonstrates our future ambitions and Estonia’s development as a modern Scandinavia country,” as Väino Konga, Tallink’s president in Sweden puts it.
“On board there’s a one kilometer long car deck.”

In the fall, Birka will launch their newly built Birka Paradise…same size, same wharf, but no car deck.

The battle for the seas is in full swing.