Yes. I was out of station for last 2 days. We (eight Indians) started the trip by Friday after noon. We took train from Vastertas to Stockholm. Btw, I am still youth, since I got youth concession for train ticket:) Reached there at Stockholm harbor by 4.00PM. Viking Line, Mariella was waiting for us. I had a cruise trip (less than 1 hour) some time back in US, from Whidbey Island. So I had already set my expectation about Mariella too.

Once I step into the ship, that was amazing. I would say like a 4-star hotel in India. With reception, conference halls, tax free shops, restaurants, casinos, disco club, auditorium, car parking etc. We got two cabins, mine was cabin 5720 (Fifth deck). Total 8 decks; hope you remember Titanic had only 9 decks Journey started by 4.30PM. Announcement from crew, “..will be reaching Helsinki by 8.30AM..”. ie 16 hours we had to spend. But time was going like any thing.. music, dance, casino, disco, shopping etc more than enough. My 5 hours sleep started by 3AM. Btw, we were crossing Baltic Sea. We landed Helsinki by 10 AM (Finland time). Kept our bags there in cabin, and landed Helsinki.

Helsinki is on a peninsular on the south cost of the Finland. Finnish and Swedish are national languages. Currency – Euro (still some shops accepts Swedish Kronor). We took city tour bus and visited most important places in Helsinki city. The city’s best-known building is the Lutheran Cathedral on Senate Square, Olympic stadium (The 1952 Olympics were held there). Till evening we were visiting near by places. By 5 PM, back to Marriella. Return trip was tired and sleepy. Still activities were there. But I was too sleepy. Back to Stockholm by Sunday 10AM. I have uploaded some snaps here.