W hen I found out that I could visit Saint Petersburg in Russia for up to 72 hours without a visa if I arrived from Helsinki via ferry, that interested me…
Great. No Ferry Service to Saint Petersburg From Helsinki. Now What?
…but upon my research, there is only one company which operated ferry service from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg — specifically, St. Peter Line, of which I highlighted a Black Friday sale as late as Tuesday, November 22, 2016 in this article — and it is currently not operating ferry service because “the Russian shipper St. Peter Line that operates the Tallinn-St. Petersburg route with a fleet of two ships, Princess Anastasia and Princess Maria, is to sell the ships to Italian cruise ship operator Moby Lines”, as announced in this article in The Baltic Course back in late September of 2016.
Ferry service will supposedly resume starting on Sunday, April 2, 2017; but there is no official confirmation that that information is indeed definitively true. At best is this article found at the Internet web site of St. Peter Line, which offers minimal information at best:
ST. PETER LINE ferry company and the largest Italian ferry operator Moby Lines has signed a merger agreement in November 2016. As a result of synergy of two brands there will appear a new cruise product, which will contains the rich experience of Italian culture and saving the best traditions of Russian hospitality.
According to the new concept, passengers will be able to feel charm and amazing nature discover the infinite beauty of Italy. Traditional Mediterranean cuisine will provide real explosion of new emotions and impressions.
In addition to change the general cruise concept, it will be absolutely new schedule. After departure from St. Petersburg (every Sunday), the ferry will arrive to Helsinki on Monday only for 1.5 hours and the same day it will depart to Tallinn. Therefore, in fact the second city of entry for Russians will be Tallinn. And on the second day the ferry will arrive to Stockholm and then to Helsinki. Since Thursday to Friday the ferry will stay in St. Petersburg as a hotel for foreign passengers, who arrive to the Northern Capital of Russia for 72 visa free hours. Since Friday to Sunday the ferry will be following the route: St. Petersburg – Helsinki – St. Petersburg.
The new cruise product will be launched in April 2017. During 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and coming 2018 FIFA World Cup, fans from all over the world, which will stay in St. Petersburg could enjoy the high level of service of new cruises on the Baltic sea.
Summary
Should I be amazed that there is currently no ferry service between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg or Saint Petersburg and Tallinn at this time with no alternative ferry service? April 2017 is not that far off into the future. Why is there no way to book a reservation on a ferry at this time?
I could always skip Saint Petersburg and simply take the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn — although did you know that “the cities of Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia, have just signed an agreement to develop a rail line connecting the two capitals via a 92-kilometer (57.2 mile) tunnel beneath the Baltic Sea”, according to this article written by Feargus O’Sullivan of CityLab? “If all goes to plan, the link could slash journey times: a trip that currently takes one hour and 40 minutes at its very shortest would last just 30 minutes.”
That new tunnel will not be ready by the time I arrive in Helsinki; but it sure would be cool to travel through the longest undersea rail tunnel in the world.
I was hoping to take advantage of this opportunity while in Helsinki — especially as I would not have to apply and pay for a visa to Russia — and the ferry is the only way of which I know in order to visit Saint Petersburg without a visa for up to 72 hours. Arriving by any other means of transportation — such as train or bus — do not qualify for the visa-free visit.
Do you have any thoughts or suggestions?
Source: St. Peter Line.
