The company temporarily stopped operating the Helsinki-Stockholm route in March 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed between the two Nordic countries as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The route has remained suspended until now as travel restrictions have remained in place between the countries. However, as both Swedish and Finnish governments have this month announced easing of travel restrictions from July, it is now possible to re-open the vital maritime connection between the two capitals. The route will initially b ere-opened with one vessel, with departures from Helsinki and Stockholm on the route every other day.

The first departure of SILJA SERENADE from Olympiaterminaali, Helsinki will take place on Sunday, 1 August 2021 at 17.00 and the vessel will arrive in Stockholm on the morning of Monday, 2 August at 9.45 local time. The vessel will then depart from Stockholm again on the evening of Monday, 2 August at 16.45 and arrive in Helsinki on the morning of Tuesday, 3 August at 10.00. The operating schedule will thereafter follow the same timetable and the vessel will operate via Mariehamn, Aland as previously.

Commenting on the re-launch of the route, Margus Schults from Tallink Silja OY/AB, said:

"Alhtough we have been able to keep the maritime link between Finland and Sweden strong with the Turku-Stockholm route remaining open throughout the last 16 months, it hasn’t quite compensated for the vital connection between the two capitals and there certainly hasn’t been any tourism traffic between the two countries since March 2020.

"We are pleased that step-by-step we are now able to restore those ties between our two countries and enable Finnish and Swedish travellers to travel to their neighbouring capitals again also by sea.

"Our loyal customers know that SILJA SERENADE is a speacious vessel, enabling sufficient social distancing for everyone on board, our crew will do their utmost in keeping the vessel disinfected and safe for all our guests and we will continue to focus on safety as one of our top priorities. At the same time, our restaurants are ready to offer you our usual top-quality taste experiences, our entertainers are ready to offer you an escape from the everyday and our shops are stocked with all your favourite travel retail goods, so we are ready to look after you, serve you and offer you the best short break of the Baltic sea this summer."