Baltic Princess
A regular international ferry service operated in St. Petersburg there until 1996, but in connection with the bankruptcy of the Baltic Shipping Company it has been suspended. Attempts to organize the operation of the ferry line in 2003-2005 failed because of low load. Early August 2008 Stella Line attempted to revive this kind of maritime transportation. However, due to financial crisis, the project was closed. There were also some other reasons of unprofitable transportation, among them - focus of ferry service on residents of Finland, which is considered to be more accustomed to such trips. But the visa issue has already taken its tool.
Valentina Matvienko, the governor of St. Petersburg, boarding the Princess Mary on April 21, emphasized that the Northern capital welcomes more and more tourists from different countries, but Finland is a hands-down wunner. Also, the head of the region noted the high demand on voyages to Finland by the Russian tourists, among them - up to 70% of residents of St. Petersburg and surrounding towns.
"We've been waiting for this event for a long time. You know, that attempts to arrange a regular ferry service has been already taken. Two years ago, the crisis got on our way, but the crisis has taught us how to stay the course in the stormy weather. I think that an old sea-dog represented the company ST. Peter line will draw conclusions from previous attempts and choose the right path, "- the governor said.
Valentina Matvienko recalled that there is a special admission order for foreign citizens arriving to Russia on the ferry – they are allowed to stay here up to 72 hours without a visa. As for the “mirroring of visa support ", then, as the chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Vadim Tyulpanov pointed out in his turn, Petersburg MPs are going to lobby through legislative support of visa-free entry to Finland for Russian citizens. At the same time he made an important reservation: the ferry connection St. Petersburg - Helsinki will operate for a long time and be profitable only when Russians will be able to take a trip on the Princess Mary, without applying for visas.
Finnish side represented by Arto Asikainen, Field Director of the Centre for Tourism Development notes that it will be difficult to do in practice: Finland is a part of the Schengen zone, thus easing visa regime for Russians it will violate the treaty with Europe. Helsinki Government will never do it. Therefore, according to Arto Asikainen, visa-free entry for Russian tourists will become the issue for discussion when the entire European Union agrees to open the doors to RF citizens.
In this sense, the launch of the ferry line will help to realize and even exceed expectations on the Finnish side: representatives of the ST. Peter line claimed the passenger flow to make up 500 thousand for 2010, at the same time it is about to carry 200-300 thousand foreigners on board of Princess Mary.
For travelers ST. Peter line tried to do their best. Specialized berth of the new passenger port "Morskoy Fasad" could not be put into operation before the launch of the ferry line, the first voyage was carried out from the port ”Morskoy Vokzal”.
It also applies to the travel comfort. During a tour around the deck representatives of the ship's crew of the Princess Mary told there is swimming pool, sauna, movie theater, and rooms for children, which will start to operate as soon as demand is formed. Official casino, which no longer exists in the cities of Russia, does not work on the ferry. Although, it is said all equipment is loaded onto the ship and next week it will be mounted. The crew and staff facilities promise a comfortable game for Russian tourists. In addition, crew representatives are going arrange special voyage on Thursdays to open seas without calling at foreign ports. There are regular evening shows where St. Petersburg artists perform on the ferry, pleasant entertainment program smoothly turns into a disco till morning. Several bars and duty-free shops on the ferry board also profitably distinguish sea voyage from other types of travel.