In the summer of 2025, another little travel dream of mine finally came true.
We took our first ferry cruise from Helsinki, Finland to Stockholm, Sweden.
I had always wanted to experience traveling on a cruise ship.
It wasn’t a luxurious cruise with a huge suite or an extravagant itinerary.
Actually, we did this trip on a budget.
But for us?
It was still exciting.
It was also my first time ever sleeping on a ship, so everything felt completely new.
Our little one probably enjoyed the experience the most.
For her, there were play areas, entertainment, a mascot, popcorn, games, and plenty of things to see.
For me?
There was excitement…
and also a little bit of fear once I realized we were actually sailing through the sea during the night. 😂
It wasn’t the most relaxing sleep I’ve ever had, but everything turned out fine.
And by the end of the trip, we came home with another memorable family experience – plus a few lessons for the next time we travel by ferry.
Our First Ferry Cruise From Helsinki
Since moving to Finland, traveling around Europe has become much more accessible for our family.
This time, instead of flying or driving somewhere, we decided to try something different.
We traveled by ship.
Our route was from Helsinki to Stockholm, giving us the opportunity to experience a ferry cruise and explore Sweden’s capital during the same trip.
We sailed with Viking Line aboard M/S Gabriella.
The whole idea felt exciting because the ferry itself was already part of the vacation.
It wasn’t simply transportation from one city to another.
We could eat, relax, watch entertainment, explore the ship, and enjoy the sea views while traveling toward Sweden.
For someone who had never experienced this before, that already felt like an adventure.
Sailing With Viking Line Gabriella
We booked a small cabin on one of the lower levels of Viking Line Gabriella.
Based on our own experience, I would give our overall ferry experience:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 out of 5
The cabin itself was clean, cozy, and very simple.
For a family of three, the space was manageable.
However…
It was definitely smaller than we expected. 😅
There were bunk beds inside, and since we were traveling with a toddler, we were a little worried about her sleeping on an upper bunk.
For our trip, we ended up taking two of the mattresses down and placing them on the floor.
That was where our daughter and I slept, while my husband used one of the bunk beds.
It wasn’t glamorous…
but it worked for us. 😂
What We Would Choose Differently Next Time
Before the trip, we didn’t really know what to expect from the cabin.
Looking back, I think next time we would probably choose a slightly bigger cabin, especially when traveling with a child.
I would also consider booking one located higher in the ship.
Our cabin was on a lower deck.
And because it was my first time sleeping on a moving ship, my imagination did not exactly help. 😅
I could hear sounds from the water and the movement of the ship.
In my head, I kept thinking:
Am I basically sleeping underwater right now? 😂
Of course, everything was fine.
But because the experience was so unfamiliar to me, I couldn’t completely relax.
I slept for short periods, woke up, listened to the sounds, fell asleep again…
and repeated the cycle.
Maybe if I travel by ship more often, I’ll eventually get used to it.
But for my first night?
Let’s just say I didn’t have my deepest sleep. 😂
Things We Enjoyed During the Cruise
Thankfully, the cabin was only one small part of the trip.
Once we were out exploring the rest of the ship, there were plenty of things to enjoy.
We couldn’t attend every activity because there were so many happening onboard.
Instead, we simply chose whatever worked best for our family.
1. Watching the View as We Sailed
One of the simplest things we enjoyed was looking outside while the ship was moving.
The weather was a little grey during part of the journey.
It also rained slightly, and the wind felt cool.
Still, watching the sea and islands slowly pass by was relaxing.
Sometimes we would simply stand near the windows and watch the scenery outside.
It was completely different from looking out of an airplane window.
Everything moved more slowly.
You could really appreciate the changing scenery.
2. Entertainment Around the Ship
There were plenty of activities happening onboard.
We received a schedule showing the different events and entertainment available during the trip.
There was honestly too much for us to attend everything.
And because we were traveling with our little one, we didn’t try to follow the entire schedule.
We simply picked the activities that suited us.
That actually made the trip more relaxing.
We didn’t feel like we had to run from one activity to another.
3. Viking Karaoke and Live Music
One evening, we went to Viking Karaoke.
There was live music, and we stayed for a while to listen and enjoy the atmosphere.
My husband and I had our drinks while our little one happily ate popcorn.
Nothing complicated.
Just music, drinks, popcorn, and family time.
Sometimes those simple moments are the ones you remember most.
4. Meeting the Viking Mascot and Playing With Other Kids
Our daughter’s favorite parts of the cruise were definitely the activities made for children.
She became excited when she saw the Viking mascot together with the other kids.
She also enjoyed playing in the children’s area.
There was a ball pit and a small indoor playground where she could play with other children.
For parents traveling with a toddler, having an area where your child can move around and play makes such a difference.
After spending time inside a small cabin, she definitely needed somewhere to release all that energy. 😂
5. Playing the Game Machines
There were also different game and arcade-style machines around the ship.
Of course, our daughter noticed them. 😅
She asked us to try one, so we played a game together.
We didn’t spend much time there, but for her, even trying one machine became another little adventure.
6. Coffee With a Sea View
One of my favorite quiet moments happened in the afternoon.
While our daughter was enjoying the play area, my husband and I sat near the viewing area with some hot coffee.
Outside, the ship continued sailing.
Inside, we could simply sit, drink our coffee, and enjoy the scenery.
Those are the kinds of moments I really appreciate when traveling as a family.
Not every memory has to involve a famous landmark.
Sometimes it’s simply:
Hot coffee, a beautiful view, and a few quiet minutes together.
Arriving in Stockholm, Sweden
The ferry trip also gave us something else:
A chance to explore Stockholm.
We only had around four hours before we needed to return to the ship.
Because our time was limited, we thought booking a sightseeing bus would be the easiest way to see more of the city.
We booked a Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing tour with Stromma.
The idea sounded perfect.
We could ride the bus, see historical buildings, monuments, and landmarks, and hopefully explore more of Stockholm within the few hours we had.
Unfortunately…
things did not go exactly according to plan.
Our Stockholm Sightseeing Bus Experience
For our personal experience on that particular day, I would rate the sightseeing experience:
⭐⭐ 2 out of 5
I want to clarify that the bus tour itself was not bad.
Once we were actually on the bus, we were able to see beautiful parts of Stockholm.
The problem for us was the waiting time and timing of the buses.
And when you only have around four hours in a city, every minute becomes important.
Waiting More Than an Hour
After arriving in Stockholm, we went to the area where we expected our sightseeing bus.
And then we waited.
Other sightseeing buses arrived.
More tourists came.
Some buses left again.
But the one we were waiting for still hadn’t arrived.
We weren’t the only ones waiting either.
There were other tourists there with us.
Eventually, we had waited for more than an hour.
That was frustrating because our time in Stockholm was already very limited.
If you have an entire day, losing an hour may not be such a big issue.
But if you only have around four hours?
That’s already a big part of your available sightseeing time.
The Tour Itself Was Nice
When we finally got on the bus, we did enjoy seeing Stockholm.
We passed beautiful buildings, monuments, historical areas, and different parts of the city.
Stockholm looked very clean and beautiful.
In some ways, it also reminded us of Helsinki.
There was something familiar about the Nordic architecture, waterfront areas, streets, and atmosphere.
At the same time, Stockholm had its own character.
We tried to take as many pictures as we could while moving around the city.
Getting Back to the Ship Became Another Problem
Later, when it was time to return toward the port, we faced another problem.
We checked the nearby sightseeing bus stops, but the next available bus would take too long to arrive.
If we waited for it, there was a risk that we would return to the ship too late.
And missing the ship was definitely not an option. 😅
So in the end, we made the practical decision:
We took a taxi back to the port.
It solved the problem.
But it also meant spending extra money that we had not originally included in our budget.
That part didn’t feel great because one of the reasons we chose the sightseeing bus was to already have transportation around the city.
Still, getting back to the ship on time was obviously more important.
Making the Most of Stockholm Anyway
Even though our sightseeing plan didn’t go perfectly, we didn’t want the inconvenience to ruin our visit.
We were already in Stockholm.
So we decided to enjoy whatever time we still had.
We walked around.
We took photos.
We looked at buildings and monuments.
And we simply enjoyed being in another country together.
Sometimes traveling teaches you to adjust very quickly.
The original plan doesn’t work?
Make a new one.
A Parade in Stockholm
While exploring, we unexpectedly saw a parade passing through the city.
There were horses and people marching through the streets.
We hadn’t planned to see anything like that, which made it even more interesting.
We stopped for a while and watched.
That’s one of my favorite things about traveling.
Sometimes you accidentally come across something that wasn’t anywhere on your itinerary.
And that becomes part of the memory.
Dinner Back on the Ship
Once we returned safely to the ferry, we finally relaxed.
We had dinner at one of the restaurants onboard.
The food was good and filling.
It was more expensive than what we would normally spend on an everyday meal, but we enjoyed it.
After walking around Stockholm and worrying about getting back to the port on time, sitting down for dinner felt especially nice.
Our little one enjoyed her sausages and potatoes.
And seeing her happily eating after a long day made everything feel calmer again.
Was Our First Ferry Cruise Worth It?
Definitely. 💚
Even with the small cabin…
even with my nervous first night…
and even with our sightseeing problems in Stockholm…
we still had a wonderful family trip.
Our little one enjoyed herself.
We got to experience something completely new.
We spent time together.
And one of my travel dreams finally came true.
Sometimes the best trips aren’t the ones where everything goes exactly according to plan.
They’re the ones that give you stories to tell afterward.
And this trip definitely gave us a few. 😂
More From Our Journey
Being able to take trips like this is something we are grateful for since making Finland our home.
Before these European adventures began, there was a much bigger journey that brought our family here.
You can also read:
Moving to Finland: Why It Wasn’t Part of Our Original Plan
Read Here
How We Actually Got to Finland: Our Recruitment and Residence Permit Journey
Read Here
From Dubai to Finland: Our Adventure in Migration
Read Here
From starting over in Finland to slowly exploring more of Europe together, every trip adds another memory to our family’s story.
And hopefully, there are many more destinations still waiting for us.
Important Note: This post is based on our personal travel experience during summer 2025. Ferry schedules, cabin types, onboard activities, restaurant options, sightseeing routes, prices, and departure times can change. If you’re planning a similar Helsinki-Stockholm trip, always check the latest information directly with the ferry company and tour provider before booking.
“The best journeys aren’t always perfect – sometimes they’re the ones that give us the best stories to remember.”
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
- Psalm 91:11 (KJV)
Our first ferry cruise wasn’t perfect, but that is probably part of why we remember it so well. We learned, adjusted, laughed, explored a new city, and came home with another family adventure to add to our story. 💚
Sources & Useful Links
🔹 Viking Line – M/S Gabriella
https://www.vikingline.com/the-group/viking-line/vessels/ms-gabriella/
🔹 Viking Line – Helsinki-Stockholm Timetable
https://www.sales.vikingline.com/timetable/stockholm-helsinki/
🔹 Stromma Stockholm – Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Sightseeing
https://www.stromma.com/en-se/stockholm/sightseeing/sightseeing-by-bus/
🔹 Visit Stockholm – Official Visitor Guide
https://www.visitstockholm.com/
How cool! I have always wanted to go on a cruise. This one looks incredible! I’m glad you had a good time.
I’ve really been enjoying all of your posts. It’s so much fun to hear about all these firsts you’re having!
Family firsts are always so memorable and exciting. You’re having so many of them!
I’ve heard such great things about Stockholm, and that it’s an amazing city to visit and explore! It’s been on my bucket list since I went to Helsinki for the first time, and so many of the locals had recommended me going there for my next adventure.
This sounds like quite an adventure! It is great you got to fit in some new experiences and check out new places. I can see how a cruise can be stressful too, like your challenge of making it back to the boat on time.
What an adventure! I’ve never been on a cruise, but I would love to. I did have the same kind of bad experience with a hop-on-hop-off bus a few times in different cities. Such a bummer!
I never knew a ferry could have so much to offer! When I think of ferries, I just picture cars being taken from point A to point B. This one looks like a lot of fun!