Traditional flavors are highlighted in the Christmas decorations of the Baltic Sea ships – but there are also fun novelties.
Christmas ham is part of every shipping company’s Christmas buffet. Image from Viking Cinderella. Tuukka Ervasti
If you want to get away from everyday life, and enjoy Christmas at the same time, a cruise is a great option.
Both Eckerö Line, Tallink Silja Line and Viking Line now offer a versatile Christmas buffet on their ships.
We went to check out what is available at the different Christmas tables and what are the strengths of each buffet.
Eckerö Line – even more domestic
Eckerö Line gave up Norwegian sea salmon and replaced it with farmed salmon grown in the Finnish sea. It can be eaten in different forms at the Christmas buffet. Marianne Zitting
Finnish options are even better displayed at the buffet table of the Eckerö Line, which runs between Helsinki and Tallinn.
Norwegian sea salmon has been replaced by domestic farmed rainbow salmon, which comes from a small entrepreneur in Åland. The roe is also a domestic white-knuckled roe.
At the main dining table, cod has been replaced by zander, and a vegan seitan bean stew has also been added.
– We have hired our own baker, says Eckerö Line’s chef Kai Honkamäki.
The baker is responsible for, among other things, the ship’s own island bread, and the new pumpkin cake that arrived at the dessert table.
At Eckerö Line’s banquet table, you can try the pumpkin cake baked in the ship’s own kitchen. Marianne Zitting
The demand for vegetarian food has been taken into account. The warm table of Eckerö Line’s Christmas buffet has 16 dishes, eight of which are vegetarian dishes.
However, fans of traditional Christmas dishes have not been forgotten. Both ham and brine fish are available.
– Not everyone likes it, but older passengers want lye fish, says Honkamäki.
Eckerö Line’s buffet meatballs are made by hand. Marianne Zitting
THE FACTS
Eckerö Line’s buffet
- The price is 38 euros when purchased in advance from adults, 40 euros when purchased on board
- For children aged 6–17, the price is 19 euros when purchased in advance and 20 euros when purchased on board.
- Children aged 0–5 eat free of charge when accompanied by an adult.
To whom? The selection of Eckerö Line’s party buffet is not as wide as that of larger competitors, but the food is of high quality and the price is more affordable than on Swedish ships. The tableware is especially tasty for lovers of traditional Christmas flavors who value domesticity.
Tallink Silja Line – Christmas treats from three nations
Warm sauerkraut is one of the Estonian Christmas delicacies. That’s why it essentially belongs to Tallink Silja Line’s Christmas table. Marianne Zitting
– We offer traditional Estonian, Finnish and Swedish Christmas food, says the kitchen manager of the Baltic Queen ship Merike Kald.
Finnish Christmas traditions are represented by, among other things, a rich fish table with herring and roe, mushroom salad and various boxes.
Examples of Swedish delicacies have been chosen, such as red-salted Christmas ham, Jansson’s temptation and the Julmust drink.
Estonian Christmas traditions are represented by, for example, blood sausage, sauerkraut and veal jelly.
This is what Tallink’s vegan blood sausage looks like. Marianne Zitting
About 40 percent of the buffet’s food is suitable for vegans. For example, you can put amazingly authentic-looking vegan blood sausage on the plate.
– As a new product, we also have vegan crabs, says Kald.
Tallink Silja Line’s Christmas buffet has a total of 124 different dishes. This year, for example, new herring flavors, glazed pork flank and caramelized onion pie with blue cheese have arrived in the selection.
The novelty on the dessert table is the Christmas-flavored plum Eton mess.
On the Baltic Queen, which sails between Stockholm and Tallinn, the Christmas ham is red-salted in the Swedish way. Marianne Zitting
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Tallink Silja Line’s buffet
- The price of the Christmas buffet varies depending on the route. On the Helsinki-Stockholm route, the price for an adult is 52 euros if purchased in advance and 56 euros if purchased on board. For 12-17 year olds, the prices are 21 and 23 euros. 17 and 18 euros for 6–11-year-olds.
- On the Turku-Stockholm and Stockholm-Tallinn routes, an adult buffet costs 46 euros when purchased in advance and 50 euros when purchased on board. Prices for 12-17 year olds are 20 and 22 euros, 6-11 year olds 16 and 17 euros.
- On ships on the Helsinki-Tallinn route, the buffet price for adults is 35 euros when purchased in advance and 39 euros when purchased on board. The prices for 12–17 year olds are 17 and 19 euros, for 6–11 year olds 14 and 15 euros.
To whom? The largest selection of the three companies is a good option for an open-minded foodie who wants to try a little bit of everything and is ready to taste the delicacies of neighboring countries as well.
Viking Line – something for everyone
Christmas candies at Viking Cinderella’s buffet. The versatile selection also spoils those with a sweet tooth. Marianne Zitting
Viking Line’s Christmas buffet has 105 dishes. Or 117, if you include the children’s table as well.
– There is something for everyone. And if you can’t find it, we’ll come up with something else, assures Viking Cinderella’s chef Juha Karjalainen.
The taste world is strongly Nordic and almost 80 percent of the dishes are local food.
There are plenty of options for fish lovers. The Karelian advises to test, for example, smoked bream.
– It is extremely good.
Cheeses at Viking Cinderella’s Christmas buffet. Marianne Zitting
Another delicacy worth tasting is Jansson’s temptation found on the box table. Trying Viking Line is the key to taking its taste to a whole new level. In addition to the basic ingredients, the temptation is tamed with roe paste.
The box table also has a carrot, potato and lantu box. The most popular box flavor of all is carrot.
This year, Viking’s buffet features new flavors served in rustic wooden boxes: air-dried ham, roast beef pastrami, duck breast, reindeer pâté and cheeses.
According to Viking Line’s statistics, the demand for vegan food has begun to level off. However, they were not forgotten in the design of the Christmas table. For example, barbeque-glazed tofu with side dishes and grilled loin with garlic cream are available.
Viking Cinderella’s Christmas table also has vegetarian options. There is a selection for vegans on board. Marianne Zitting
THE FACTS
Viking Line’s buffet
- The price of the Christmas buffet varies depending on the route and time of travel. Between Helsinki and Stockholm, an adult’s meal costs 46 euros when purchased in advance and 49 euros when purchased on board. Prices for 12-17 year olds are 17 and 19 euros, 6-11 year olds 13 and 14 euros.
- Between Turku and Stockholm, the lunch buffet costs 32 euros for adults when purchased in advance and 36 euros when purchased on board. Prices for 12-17 year olds are 15 and 17 euros, 6-11 year olds 13 and 14 euros.
- Between Turku and Stockholm, the dinner buffet costs 41 euros for adults when purchased in advance and 43 euros when purchased on board. Prices for 12–17 year olds are 17 and 19 euros, 6–11 year olds 14 and 15 euros.
- There are already three price categories between Helsinki and Tallinn. Brunch is available on day departures, which costs 24 euros for adults if purchased in advance and 28 euros if purchased on board. The prices for 12–17 year olds are 14 and 15 euros, for 6–11 year olds 9 and 10 euros.
- Between Helsinki and Tallinn, dinner from Monday to Thursday costs 34 euros if purchased in advance for adults and 38 euros if purchased on board. The prices for 12–17 year olds are 17 and 19 euros, for 6–11 year olds 9 and 11 euros.
- On weekends, dinner between Helsinki and Tallinn costs 36 euros for adults when purchased in advance and 40 euros when purchased on board. The prices for 12–17 year olds are 17 and 19 euros, for 6–11 year olds 9 and 11 euros.
To whom? For the foodie who loves fish dishes, who is especially excited about the Scandinavian world of flavors. In terms of pricing, it is between competitors, and you get good value for money.
The story was originally published on 29 November 2024.