There are no ferries or scheduled ship links between St Petersburg and other Baltic ports. You can get as close as Tallinn from which you can take a bus to Russia. Or, arrive by ship in Helsinki and take the train or bus to Russia.

There used to be a great ferry that sailed between Helsinki and St Petersburg but the line, Silja Lines was purchased by Tallink which reworked the routes to exclude St Petersburg. These ships were not typical ferries, rather like deluxe cruise ships with swimming pools and night clubs, nice cabins and gyms. I've used these myself when they were sailing and really enjoyed them.

A regular cruise ship would of course visit these destinations but you can not join a cruise already in progress in St Petersburg

Thanks, thats a shame it doesnt go anymore, a collegue did a cruise from St Petersburg to Helsinki and said it was just wonderful, like a cruise ship.

Do you know if these luxury cruises still go even if not from St Petersburg. i.e. I could fly to Helsinki if it started there?

Thanks

Leonie

Hi Onie13

The Silja ships, operated now by Tallink, take on passengers in each port, so the closest to St Petersburg is Tallinn, a short bus trip away. The trip to Helsinki is about 6 hours by train and 8 by bus. The main time difference is the border delays for motor vehicles as opposed to the very easy and almost unnoticed passport control and customs with train travel.

The cruise is overnight between ports for 5-6 hours of shore time in each port before casting off at about 5:00p.m. each day. The ships, such as the Opera and the Symphany are modern, well maintained and have all the amenities including spas, gym, musical theater, discos, indoor swimming pools, lots of duty free shops, casinos and numerous restaurants. The cabins are quite nice, nicer than most good hotels in St Petersburg or Helsinki, and a lot lower priced.

When the new passenger terminal in St Petersburg starts operation, the rumors have it that the Tallink itinerary will include St Petersburg again. The new terminal might begin limited use by the end of 2007 and completion 18 months after that.

Have a good voyage.

have a look at:

www.tallink.com

www.silja.fi

www.vikingline.fi

Nice cruise ships are going to and from between:

Stockholm-Helsinki

Helsinki-Tallinn

Tallinn-Stockholm (not so sure about these, they might go via Helsinki anyway)

All three places are served by cheap flights from Stansted (Ryanair to Stockholm, Easyjet to Tallinn, Blue1 to Helsinki - or Ryanair to Tampere 2hrs from Helsinki), and relatively inexpensive BA (if you book well time) from Heathrow.

Helsinki is a train or coach ride away from St.Petersburg, coach connection between Tallinn and St.Pete is also frequent and allegedly cheap. Trains are nicer.

No more nice Tallink cruises from St.Pete, sorry.