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Tallink MySTAR ferry

Cruise line TALLINK-SILJA LINE (Ferries)

Tallink MySTAR ferry current position

Tallink MySTAR ferry current location is at Baltic Sea (coordinates 59.44415 N / 24.77022 E) cruising en route to EEVAN FIHEL. The AIS position was reported 4 minutes ago.

Specifications of Tallink MySTAR ferry

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Tallink MySTAR ferry Review

Review of tallink mystar ferry.

MS Tallink MySTAR ferry is a Ro-Pax passenger vessel operated by the Estonia-based company TALLINK-SILJA LINE . The ship has a max capacity of 2800 passengers and 150 cars plus 250 trucks/trailers. The vessel was launched in 2020 (inaugurated in 2022) and currently serves the Estonia-Finland ferry route Tallinn - Helsinki (crossing time 2 hours).

The vessel (IMO number 9892690) is currently Estonia- flagged (MMSI 276859000) and registered in Tallinn.

As cruise ferry, MySTAR has 47 cabins (double and quads/max capacity 4 passengers), all located on Deck 10. All staterooms are air-conditioned, with en-suite bathrooms and are both inside and outside. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. Some staterooms are wheelchair-accessible (adapted for disabled passengers). Cabins for passengers with allergies and passengers with pets are also available.

All cabins are with bunk beds (wall-mounted), mirrored vanity table (writing desk with stool), en-suite bathrooms (angled sink, wall-mounted toilet, shower cubicle, hairdryer). The boat additionally offers a total of 300 reclining seats (aircraft-type seats) available for pre-booking. The number of staff and crew cabins is 105.

All passengers must vacate their staterooms 30 min prior to homeport arrival. Passenger registration ends 1 hour prior to ferry departure.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

As facilities, the SILJA MySTAR ship offers:

• The Chef's Kitchen (A La Carte Restaurant) is a sit-down eatery with an open kitchen.
• (Deck 9) Delight Buffet (Self-Service Restaurant) has a capacity of 400 seats and is located in the ship's forward section. Here are offered soft drinks, tea, coffee, wine, and beer, which are all included in the buffet meals price. Breakfast is offered only on morning departures. Swedish buffet is available on all day and evening departures. The buffet restaurant has several theme-food stations, including Grill, Cold Table (meats, seafood), Green Market (Salads), Warm Dishes, Desserts.
• (Deck 9) Fast Lane Restaurant allows passengers to create their own warm dishes and make fresh salads. There are also two chefs for made-to-order food, as well as ready-made options.
• (Deck 8) Burger King Restaurant offers fresh-baked burgers.
• (Deck 9) Victory Bar is a pub offering traditional favorites and beverages, cold snacks, warm sandwiches. The bar has large TVs (broadcasting live sports events), Game Room (paid games), PAF's (slot machines).
• (Deck 9) Sea Pub offers various drinks and classic snacks. The pub has a small stage for live performances by guest musicians.
• (Deck 9) Coffee & Co (Cafeteria / Patisserie / Coffee Bar) offers cold and warm beverages, light snacks (including fresh-baked pastries, yogurts, fruit smoothies, sweet crepes) and meals (made-to-order food and ready-made options). Coffee drinks are fresh-brewed (from freshly ground beans). The Cafe also has a separate takeaway desk.
• Business Lounge (capacity 170 seats) is an exclusive bar lounge for business-class passengers. It offers premium WIFI services, food catering (cold and warm dishes), beverages, newspapers.
• Comfort Lounge is a classy bar lounge serving non-alcoholic drinks, light snacks, WIFI, power outlets, large TV, newspapers.
• Sitting Lounge is a reserved seating lounge with comfortable reclining Pullman seats (4 chairs - 1 table configuration, like on airlines business class), large TV, luggage lockers.
• Drivers Lounge is an exclusive for truck drivers only seating lounge on Deck 11, which services are ferry ticket price-included.
• (Deck 9) Family Lounge with Kids Harbour / Children's Playroom (adjacent to Delight Buffet) is the ship's indoor playground area fitted with TV (for watching cartoons), Ball Pit Pool, craft tables. On each cruise, kids here meet the cartoon character Moomin and the SILJA LINE mascot Harri Hylje (Harry the Seal). Also here is the PlayStation Lounge (separate room for video games and arcade machines).
• (Deck 9) Beauty Salon offers professional services by certified cosmeticians, hairdressers and masseuses (face and body treatments, hair styling and coloring, manicure, pedicure). Reservations are required 24 hours prior departure.
• (Decks 7 and 8 aft) Traveller Superstore is a 2-deck shopping mall covering a total area of 2800 m2 (30,140 ft2). This is a duty-free shopping arcade with retail shops, boutiques, Deli, and convenience store. Here at tax-free prices are sold special occasion gifts and souvenirs, alcohol (brand spirits, wines), tobaccos, luxury-brand perfumes and cosmetics, jewelry, watches, sunglasses, leather goods, confectionery, fashion clothing and accessories, toys, electronics and gadgets, gourmet sweets, Deli handmade teas, and spices. Special offers (shopping promotions) are offered on each ferry crossing. Payments can be made in cash or via bank cards (VISA, MasterCard, EuroCard).
• Traveller Superstore has several entryways, plus a separate entrance from Garage Deck 7. All sale sections and the pre-order counter are on deck 7. The shop opens in the morning (before departure) and closes in the evening (after the last arrival). The shop is also closed while the ship is docked in ports.
• Lobby Shop (Deck 8) is a kiosk for smaller items, including packed food, drinks, magazines, newspapers, souvenirs. It is also where the collection game "Collect and Save" prizes are sold.
• Conference Room (deck 9) has capacity 32 seats.
• (Lobby Deck 9) Wi-Fi service, ATM / cash machine (next to Information Desk / Reception). A nurse can be also reached via the Reception. Small lockers are available for valuables.

Midship on the top deck (Heli Deck) there is a helipad - helicopter landing area used in cases of emergency.

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on the TV screens and at the ship's assembly stations (aka muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.

TALLINK-SILJA LINE deals

2-day cruise deals ("Europa 22 hour") are offered only shuttle ferries with departures from Helsinki (embarkation 8 am) to Tallinn (disembarkation 12:10 pm on the next day).

On all Tallink-Silja ships (excepting shuttle ferries) is available Room Service with a la carte priced special occasion gifts, sweets, and beverage menus. However, cabin services must be ordered 4 days prior departure.

Onboard Conference Rooms are equipped with data projectors and white screens, and available for booking with group rates (extra charge pp). The room must be booked for at least 2 hours, and for a minimum of 10 persons. Catering (snack package or buffet meals, also refreshments) can be booked additionally.

Smoking on the ship is prohibited in all cabins, restaurants, bars and lounges, corridors, elevators, stairwells. Smoking on the ship is allowed at designated areas and only on outdoor decks (look for "Smoking Area" signs).

"Collect and Save" program is based on collecting stickers with onboard purchases (on all Tallink-Silja ships stores). The program allows purchasing of selected products at up to 57% discount prices. With every purchase (min value EUR 10), the passenger receives 1 sticker (to be glued inside a campaign folder). By the "Collect and Save" campaign, passengers can buy different products after collecting 10, 20 or 30 stickers. These products are handed out and paid at the Info Stand or at the ship's shops. The "Collect and Save" offers are limited to a time period, or until select products are out of stock.

"Club One" is the company's loyalty program rewarding passengers traveling frequently with Tallink-Silja ferries. By the program are accrued bonus points - based on ferry tickets and onboard purchases), but also on Tallink Hotels rooms booked via Tallink-Silja. The program has 3 levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold) determined by the bonus points. Bonus points can be used for booking voyages, getting onboard shopping and dining discounts, Tallink Hotels ( Tallinn and Riga ) 10% discount plus benefits, Tallink Takso (Tallinn) 5% discount, Europark (Helsinki) 15% car parking discount.

The Garage Deck is designed with separate for passenger and cargo vehicles areas. The loading is on 2 levels, with 2 entry and exit ways that can be used simultaneously for expedite loading and unloading.

The separate passenger car deck (capacity 150 cars) can be accessed also during the crossing. The garage also has direct access to Traveller Superstore's upper level, which allows purchased goods to be carried directly to the car.

Follows a list of car deck-related safety procedures:

• Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk (open 24-hours).
• Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
• From your vehicle take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
• Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
• Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges is forbidden.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.

In order to avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.

The shipowner Tallink ( fleet , 1989-founded, headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia ) is an Estonian shipping company that operates Baltic Sea cruise ferries and RoPax vessels with direct services connecting Estonia with Finland and Sweden. and Sweden with Finland and Latvia.

Photos of Tallink MySTAR ferry

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Other TALLINK-SILJA LINE cruise ships

• Baltic Princess ferry
• Baltic Queen ferry
• Silja Europa ferry
• Silja Galaxy ferry
• Silja Serenade ferry
• Silja Symphony ferry
• Tallink Megastar ferry
• Tallink Romantika ferry
• Tallink Victoria I ferry

Tallink MySTAR ferry Wiki

The letter of intent for building the new cruiseferry was signed on October 18, 2018, between the shipowner (Tallink Grupp AS) and the shipbuilder (RMC-Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, Rauma Finland ). The shipbuilding contract (NB6003) was signed on March 27, 2019, by Paavo Nogene (Tallink Grupp's CEO) and Jyrki Heinimaa (RMC's CEO). At Rauma Shipyard were also constructed the fleetmates Romantika (2002), Victoria 1 (2004), Baltic Princess (2008) and Baltic Queen (2009). The sistership Tallink Megastar was built at Meyer Werft's shipyard in Turku Finland . For the MySTAR shipbuilding project, RMC cooperated with Meyer Turku Shipyard to prefabricate some (a total of 8) of the vessel's blocks which were then shipped (barged) to Rauma Shipyard for assembly.

The vessel's financing scheme (building cost EUR 247 million) was 30% paid during construction and the remaining 70% financed via long-term debt on delivery (OECD-term export credit loan with CIRR-based interest rate). In July 2019 was signed the EUR 196,3 million loan agreement between Tallink Superfast Ltd (Tallink Grupp's subsidiary) and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH (KfW Bankengruppe's subsidiary). The loan and the long-term financing were provided by KfW IPEX-Bank and 95% guaranteed by Finnvera Plc (Finnish state-owned financing company, Finland's official export credit agency).

On October 10, 2019, RMC contracted Deltamarin Oy (1990-founded company, subsidiary of AVIC International Maritime Holdings Ltd). The company Deltamarin specializes in ship design and offshore platform engineering and construction. The EUR 7,5 million deal was for providing the hull's design and supplying the vessel's machinery and electrical systems during the construction period. On October 17, Deltamarin Oy signed with Merima Oy (company specializing in turnkey interior design for passenger ships) two contracts for designing the vessel's HVAC (heating-ventilation-air conditioning system) and interior public areas.

The cruise ship's name was officially announced on October 28, 2019. The name "MySTAR" was proposed by Marietta Kahara (Finnish citizen) after TALLINK ran in summer 2019 an online competition that received 2800+ entries from around 30 different countries, but mostly from Scandinavia (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden).

In March 2018, Tallink Grupp contracted the Estonian company Eesti Gaas for the LNG bunkering of the ships MySTAR and Megastar while deployed for the Tallinn-Helsinki service. Since 2015, all passenger and cargo vessels on Baltic Sea routes (including ferries between Estonian Islands and mainland Europe) must use environmentally friendly fuels.

The Tallink ships MySTAR and Megastar (2017) are the biggest "floating superstores" on Baltic Sea as each liner has a 2-deck shopping area of retail outlets with the self-service "Q-shopping" option. When compared to Megastar, MySTAR has a larger passenger seating area, more crew cabins, bigger shoreside power capabilities , 30% larger LNG tanks (reducing in-port bunkering) and implemented Smart Car cargo deck technology (better optimizing vehicle loading-unloading).

In late-February 2020, the shipbuilder RMC contracted Hoglund Marine Automation (Barkaker Norway-based company) to develop and deliver FGSS (Fuel Gas Supply Systems) for the MySTAR ship. For the project, Hoglund subcontracted West Welding Oy (Teuva Finland-based tank manufacturer) to design and supply the onboard LNG systems. The contract was signed by Jyrki Heinimaa (RMC's President and CEO) and Borge Nogva (Hoglund's CEO).

The vessel's construction officially started on April 6, 2020, with the traditional steel-cutting ceremony held at Rauma Shipyard. The special event was participated by Jyrki Heinimaa (RMC's President and CEO) and Paavo Nogene (Tallink Grupp's CEO). The keel-laying ceremony of the vessel (Rauma yard number NB6003) was held on September 20, 2020. During the event was laid the keel's first block (weight ~270 tons) and (traditionally) lucky coins (Euro coins emitted by Estonia and Finnland ) were placed under the block.

Next is the timelapse video showing the ship construction process.

In late-April 2020, Tallink Grupp contracted "dSign Vertti Kivi & Co" (Finnish interior design company) to design the ship's interior spaces. The deal was signed by Vertti Kivi and Peeter Kangro (Tallink Tallinn-Helsinki Route's Director, and MyStar Ship Project's Manager).

In May 2021, Tallink Grupp contracted ABB Ltd (Marine & Ports) for the delivery and installation of ABB's OCTOPUS package.

• The optimization software collects data from the boat's onboard systems and transfers it to ABB's land-based facilities for remote monitoring and performance analysis. Based on the data, OCTOPUS generates suggestions to the Navigation Bridge team to optimize the ferry's performance (including lowering fuel consumption during in-port maneuvering).
• ABB also supplied the OCTOPUS package to Tallink's ships Star (2007) and Megastar (2017) .
• MyStar ship's OCTOPUS package includes 5x ABB Ability modules (Clean Hull, Advanced Performance Monitoring, Dynamic Assembly Pack, Specific Fuel Oil Consumption Monitoring, Performance Optimization /powerplant) out of total 13 different modules.

The ferry's launch (float out from drydock) and the official christening ceremony were on August 12, 2021. The naming ceremony was held at RMC's shipyard and led by godmother Kersti Kaljulaid (1969-born, Estonia's President in the period 2016-2021). Participating in the event were also Paavo Nogene (Tallink Grupp's CEO) and Jyrki Heinimaa (RMC's President and CEO). Due to COVID restrictions, the dockside event was attended by a limited number of guests, as most of the participants joined the ceremony online (via live streaming).

RMC officially delivered MySTAR to Tallink on December 7, 2022. The delivery ceremony was attended by Mika Heiskanen (RMC's CEO and President/since May 2022) and Paavo Nogene. The boat left Rauma shipyard on Dec 9th and arrived at Port Tallinn's Old City Harbour on Dec 10th. MySTAR's maiden voyage/first cruise departed from Tallinn (to Helsinki) on December 13th.

SILJA MySTAR ship technology

The vessel's hull is ice-strengthened (class 1A Super) which allows year-round operations on Baltic Sea routes with extreme ice conditions. Hull's shape was designed using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) tools. A total of 35 different forms were evaluated before choosing the best and most effective hull form.

MS MySTAR is Tallink's second LNG-powered ferry (following Megastar) that uses LNG (liquefied natural gas) as prime fuel and MDO (marine diesel oil) as secondary fuel.

The ship's powerplant consists of five MAN dual-fuel engines - three 12-cylinder (model 12V51-60DF, combined output 37,8 MW) plus two 6-cylinder (model L51-60DF, combined output 12 MW). The ferry's total power output is 49,8 MW. The propulsion system includes two Wartsila fixed-pitch propellers with twin propeller shafts. The navigation systems are also from Wartsila, including the NACOS Platinum (integrated vessel control system). The rudders are from Becker Marine Systems.

The power generated by the main engines produces electricity that is used by the propulsion motors, as well as all auxiliary systems and hotel functions. This new maritime technology allows the engines to be started and stopped depending on the ship's current electricity demand, which additionally improves fuel efficiency.

When compared to traditional marine engines, in gas mode, the engines produce 1/4 less COx, 2/3 less NOx, zero SOx and no soot particles. The onboard LNG system consists of 2 bunker stations, 2 horizontal LNG storage tanks by Linde (cryogenic, vacuum-insulated, stainless steel, total gas volume 600 m3), double-walled bunkering lines, pipelines (acid-proof stainless steel), special pipe fittings, gas distribution system, steam boilers. All the ship's electrical equipment is certified "explosion-proof". The LNG is stored at temperatures -160 Celsius (-256 Fahrenheit) and under pressure 4-6 bars.

The Ro-Ro equipment (bow door, bow-stern doors, front-rampway doors, ramps, lifting platform, hatches, passenger doors, hydraulic power facilities) were all supplied by MacGregor. The company ABB supplied the vessel's power and electric propulsion systems, as well as the Octopus (smart energy management system). While mechanical propulsion is optimized for a single-speed, electric propulsion is based on rotating speed control resulting in energy efficiency at all speeds. The ABB propulsion also improves passenger comfort as the cruise liner runs much more quietly and smoothly. ABB's Octopus is the newest marine technology, allowing real-time monitoring of the vessel's energy (and fuel) consumption. Based on the collected data, the software suggests optimal performance recommendations.

The cruiseferry's cargo capacity is 3800 lanemeters.

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Tallink MyStar Review: Helsinki – Tallinn

On our recent visit to Helsinki we arranged a trip on the flagship Tallink MyStar .  As ferries depart up to seven times a day we opted to take the popular 10.30 a.m. service.  MyStar entered operational service in December 2022 and has since been sailing on Tallink’s Gulf of Finland route between its homeport of Tallinn and the city of Helsinki, completing six departures per day alongside its sister ship Megastar.

Built to Finnish-Swedish Ice Class 1A requirements, MyStar can take up to 2,800 passengers and 208 crew members plus assorted freight up to the equivalent of 750 cars.  The ferry has 12 decks housing various facilities including 46 passenger cabins, bars, lounges, a cafe, restaurants, a children’s play area, a computer gaming room, kennels and a vast shopping area extending to more than 2,500 square metres on two decks.

The Helsinki West Terminal 2 is quick and easy to reach from the city centre as both Trams 7 and 9 terminate there with a journey time of around 15 minutes.  On arrival at the terminal we printed out our boarding cards but it’s also possible to download the Tallink and Silja Line app which allows passengers to check-in online and store boarding passes on their phones.

We arrived about an hour prior to departure allowing us 20 minutes to explore the terminal and to watch our ferry arrive from the boarding lounge windows.  Standard return fares with seven hours in either port start at only €33 with upgrades to Comfort and Business Class available at an extra supplement.

Boarding the ferry begins 40 minutes prior to departure and as we’d arrived promptly this allowed us ample time to explore the ship and its many facilities before relaxing and enjoying a meal.

MyStar can carry many passengers but with so much space on board I doubt it ever feels overcrowded as there is plenty of room for everyone.  As we were sailing mid-week the ferry wasn’t quite so busy and as we stepped onto MyStar it felt as though we were on a cruise ship as it was so luxurious and fitted out to a very high standard.

As a special treat we were booked into the  Business Lounge  which is conveniently located on Deck 8 with a door leading into it from just inside the main foyer.  This premium lounge is positioned at the front of the ferry and boasts panoramic views through its large windows looking out to sea.

There is a €69 supplement for access to the Business Lounge and although not in everyone’s budget range, it definitely transforms the crossing into a memorable occasion.

Facilities include premium super fast Wi-Fi, a full hot and cold buffet and a ‘serve yourself drinks bar’ which includes everything from soft drinks to wine, beer and spirits.  On the outbound sailing we tucked into a delicious brunch buffet with a wide range of dishes including smoked salmon, pâté, fresh fruit, bacon, eggs and pastries.

For business travellers heading to either Tallinn or Helsinki I would recommend taking MyStar as with the short crossing time between the city centres it is actually much quicker than travelling by air.  The Business Lounge is very comfortable and its facilities comparable with any airport business lounges that we have used.  There is ample room to relax and/ or work and as it is just by the entrance/exit customers enjoy priority disembarkation so can swiftly be on their way.  The same applies for business travellers who have taken a car on board.

As we departed, we hardly noticed the ferry had started moving as it is powered on LPG and is silent in operation.  During the two hour crossing we also had time to take a look at the other facilities available on MyStar all of which exceeded our expectations.

The Comfort Lounge is located on the same deck as the Business Lounge and also has cosy seating in a relaxed atmosphere.  A €29 surcharge is payable to access this area with passengers being offered a selection of savoury and sweet snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.

All other areas of the ship are included in the basic ticket price including the Sitting Lounge which is a quiet, separate area with reclining, airline type seats.  Another option if you don’t want to splurge on upgrading to either business or comfort class is to enjoy a meal in the Delight Buffet Restaurant.  

This ‘all you can eat’ restaurant has a changing menu depending on the time of sailing and with the exception of the breakfast sailings also includes wine and beer.  Late breakfast on the 10.30 a.m. sailing is €20 or €18 if booked in advance) and dinner €32 (€29 if pre-booked).  Whilst lunchtime menus in Finnish restaurants are reasonably priced, dining out in the evenings can be expensive especially if you add wine to accompany your meal.  This makes the MyStar buffet restaurant a good alternative and a pleasant way to round off a day trip to either port.

On board, there’s also the Chef’s Kitchen , a stylish restaurant with an open kitchen and a relaxed atmosphere.  The menu is moderately priced and has selections appealing to most tastes.

For light bites there are even more options including the Fast Lane, Coffee & Co. , a floating Burger King  and two pubs, the Garden and the Sea Pub .

Moving on from dining options, the MyStar shopping experience extends the full length of the ferry and is stocked with international brands including the Finnish designer favourites of Marimekko and Iittala.

On the floor below, passengers can purchase beer, wine and spirits which are all priced considerably cheaper than in Finland so much so that stocking up on the return trip can more than pay for the cost of the ferry with the savings made.  We bought some wine and of course couldn’t resist adding several boxes of the delicious Fazer Finnish chocolate to our shopping basket.

Our ferry docked promptly at 12.30 and as we were in business class we were able to disembark first.  The nicest part was being offered some Fazer chocolates as we left! Spending the day in Tallinn

The ferry terminal in Tallinn is just a 15-minute walk southwest of the old town.  If you want to save your energy for exploring the city centre then you can take Bus 2 which leaves from Reisisadam in Terminal D.

Explore the medieval old town

The walking route from the ferry leads to the imposing city walls that enclose the old town.  Many sections of the walls and the defensive towers are beautifully preserved as they would have looked hundreds of years ago.  The walls were constructed in 1265 and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Enter through Viru Gate which is flanked by two towers and one of the most picturesque sections.  Just inside the gate, a daily flower market takes place which is lovely to see with its large displays of fresh flowers.  Tallinn’s old town is an absolute delight with its exceptionally well preserved maze of narrow, cobblestone streets lined with cosy cafes, interesting small shops, beer halls and restaurants.

Old Town Square 

At the heart of the Old Town lies the Town Hall Square which was once a market square and the centre of the city’s government.  This cobblestone square is named after the Gothic town hall which stands on one edge of the square and is surrounded by quaint, Hanseatic buildings.  During the summer it’s home to numerous events and it is where a fairy-tale like Christmas market takes place each December.

Toompea Hill

Climb to the top of the old town via Toompea Hill for views of the medieval fortress, Toompea Castle.  The fortress towers above the old town and is the seat of the Estonian Parliament.  The blue, black and white Estonian flag is raised every morning at sunrise to the sounds of the National Anthem.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

This spectacular, onion-domed cathedral perched on top of Toompea Hill is Estonia’s Orthodox cathedral and the grandest, most opulent church in Tallinn.  Entrance is free but photography is not permitted.

City Viewpoints 

Enjoy a walk on part of the walls which span 1.9 km.  Located on the northern side of Toompea Hill is the Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform .  From here there are stunning views over the old town across to the port beyond.  The Patkuli Viewing Platform is located slightly further along the city walls and also offers breathtaking views over the city rooftops and of the new town.  From there, descend the 157 steps to the town below.

Balti Jaam Market

It’s always interesting to visit an overseas market and the one at Tallinn is no exception.  Balti Jaan is located next to the railway station and contains around 300 stalls over its three floors.  There are large halls for fresh fish and meat, an entire lane devoted to fruit and vegetables and lots of inviting dining options in the street food zone.  Upstairs visitors can take a look at Estonian design, crafts, clothing and household goods.

Back at the ferry terminal we were able to access the Tallinn Business Lounge for  a cup of coffee before boarding the 19.30 return crossing to Helsinki.  Back on board and seated by the window we watched the sun set whilst enjoying the delicious dinner buffet accompanied with a glass of wine.

We then relaxed in our comfortable business class armchairs sipping freshly brewed coffee reflecting on what a lovely day we’d just had.  I’d highly recommend taking the Tallink MyStar ferry between Helsinki and Tallinn whether in standard, comfort or business class as the journey definitely adds to the experience.

In addition to Tallink’s two ferries between Helsinki and Tallinn,  Tallink also operates day cruises on their Silja Line ferries between Helsinki and Stockholm which include two nights on board either Silja Symphony or Silja Serenade and a whole day in either capital city.  Further details can be found on Tallink’s website by clicking here .

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During our ferry trip we were guests of  Tallink  and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.

41 responses to “Tallink MyStar Review: Helsinki – Tallinn”

took the ferry back in 2007 but it was not THIS ferry. This ferry looks like it’s almost a cruise ship! It looks so good! 🙂 Tallinn is a wonderful little city too!

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Glad to read that you have experienced both Helsinki and Tallinn. If you ever take the journey again I’d definitely recommend travelling on either MyStar or MegaStar. Thanks so much for commenting Andy.

It definitely looks more like a cruise ship than a ferry and the two hours must have flown by. Talinn looks like a beautiful town to explore. Loved all your photos.

Thanks so much for your interest and valued comments. Both the cruise ferry and Tallinn itself made for a lovely day out!

This might be one for the list! Great information!

Thank you so much for your interest in my trip on Tallink MyStar.

In view of the capacity and number of crossings between Helsinki and Tallin, this speaks volumes about the need for a tunnel between the two countries, as is currently being studied I believe. In the meantime, ferries still have a bright future ahead of them.

I have also read about plans for a tunnel between the two cities and even if that materialises it wont be for some time so I agree that Tallink ferries have a bright future ahead.

Marion and we also visited there and you saw amazing two cities in Helsinki .You were on the Ferry to Tallinn ..I love these images Anita

Thanks for your interest and kind words Anita. Have a good weekend!

This is one of the fanciest ferries I’ve ever seen. It seems like a comfortable way to travel! I’m impressed at how many different areas and options there are on board.

Tallink ferries are definitely the way to travel if ever you are in the Baltic Linda. I’ve never been on a cruise ship but I can’t imagine it being much better than this! Hope you both have a lovely weekend.

As usual a very comprehensive report illustrated well in picture. I see a little Russian influence in the architecture.

Thanks so much for your kind words Ian, your comments are appreciated.

Wow! That ferry is huge!! Glad you enjoyed business class. I loved Tallin

We had a lovely day out both travelling on MyStar and in Tallinn itself. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, it’s much appreciated.

Like they say, getting there is half the fun. And taking the MyStar indeed seems similar to a cruise ship. The food and shopping looked wonderful, but so did the sitting areas and bars. The town of Tallinn looks charming with its history and red tile roofs. Another wonderful post, Marion!

Thanks so for your kind words and interest in my day out on MyStar and visit to charming Tallinn. If ever you are visiting the Baltic region, it’s definitely the best way to travel between these two Nordic capitals.

I would love to do this! What a great trip with so much offered on board. Helsinki and Tallin are both on my travel wish list and what better way to see them!

Exactly Meg! I do hope you all get to visit these two beautiful Baltic cities and taking this ferry is Def the best way to get between them.

What a great read 🙂 From 2011 to 2019, I lived in Stockholm, Sweden (I am originally from Berlin, Germany), and frequently embarked on cruise ship journeys every other week. During that period, the fares were considerably more affordable. Out of all the voyages I took, my personal favorites included those from Stockholm to Helsinki, Helsinki to Tallinn, and Stockholm to Riga. When I last went on a cruise in 2022, I was shocked by the high prices of everything – from tickets and restaurants to tax-free shops. But still..it’s a priceless experience 🙂 I hope you enjoyed walking around Tallinn!

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Thanks for your kind words and interest in my review of the Tallink ferry between Helsinki and Tallinn. Along with the Stockholm route, these ferries are like luxury cruise liners and a very relaxing way to travel.

The ferry seems like the way to go with the beautiful views and elegant setting! Tallinn also seems like a wonderful place to explore.

Tallinn is like something out of a fairytale Allie and taking the MyStar ferry made getting there and back extra special too.

Never took the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn, but what a brilliant idea for my next visit over there! I haven’t had much time in either places, so I’d love to return. Glad you had a wonderful time, Marion!

Yes, do take the ferry next time Rebecca as it’s a pleasure in itself as well as being the best way to explore the two capitals.

Hey you describe things sooooo well!! I have used Silja several times while travelling for business in Sweden and Finland and I LOVED those short cruises, SOOO much better than flying.

Thanks so much for your compliment Simon. You’ve made my day! Travelling Tallink Silja Line is definitely much better than flying. Adore their Helsinki – Stockholm crossing too.

Wonderful – get me to the cocktail bar!

I didn’t want to get off the cruise ferry Hannah but wandering around Tallinn was of course lovely too !

This ferry really embodies the phrase Getting there is half the fun. They have definitely thought of everything for this 4 hour crossing. Definitely faster and nicer than driving and having time to spend in another city is the bonus for day trippers. Thanks for sharing Marion. Allan

Travelling on Tallink MyStar two hours each way was so relaxing at the beginning and end of our day out in Tallinn Allan. Definitely recommend the crossing if you are ever n the Baltic region.

The ferry looks so luxurious! At first I thought it was a cruise ship. I think I’d love walking through the old town of Tallinn, what a beautiful city!

Taking the ferry and then spending the day in fairytale Tallinn is a beautiful experience Lyssy.

Looks a fabulous way to travel between the two cities – great recommendation.

It really is. Thanks so much for your interest Sheree!

I always enjoy reading your posts Marion

Thanks so much Sheree, it means a lot.

Wow, even kennels – it’s a pretty big ferry that definitely caters to everyone’s needs! The first time I saw it on your blog, I was blown away with how beautiful and spacious the ferry is … and I still am! I love The Garden – I think 2 hours would be too short to enjoy everything the ferry has to offer 🙂.

I know exactly what you mean Corna. I could have happily gone round again!

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