Passengers react to shorter Stockholm stops: “I probably wouldn’t go on a cruise then”

Ferry operators between Helsinki and Stockholm are reducing port time by up to 40 minutes to cut fuel costs, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

Viking Line will shorten its passengers’ time in Stockholm by 40 minutes starting next Monday, while Tallink Silja has already reduced stops by 15 minutes this month. The changes follow rising fuel prices linked to the conflict in Iran.

Passengers arriving in Helsinki’s South Harbour on Friday morning shared mixed reactions. Outi Yrjölä, a Norwegian resident returning on Silja Line’s Symphony, said a 40-minute reduction would deter her from future trips. “I probably wouldn’t go on a cruise then,” she told Yle.

Viking Line’s adjusted schedule means its vessels will now arrive in Stockholm at 10:10—ten minutes later than before—and depart at 16:00, half an hour earlier. Accounting for boarding times, passengers will have under six hours ashore. Return trips to Helsinki will see a 25-minute reduction, with departures at 17:00 instead of 17:15.

Tallink Silja’s 15-minute cut, in effect since early April, has drawn less criticism. Ella Veistiö, a Helsinki resident, said she now prefers Silja Line for its slightly longer stops, though she cited other reasons for the switch. Rauno Ervasti, a Tallinn local, dismissed the change as insignificant for leisure travellers.

Both companies stress the measures are temporary. Viking Line’s adjustments begin Monday, while Tallink Silja has operated slower crossings since April 1.