Important travel information

Quick links
| Allergies | Age limit | Booking terms | Cabins | Check in | Commander’s discretionary powers | Connecting bus | Customs Clearance | Custom regulations | Conditions of carriage | Electrical wehicles | Fire safety on board | Gas bottles | Maritime safety | MC | Non Nordic citizens | Non smoking | Order and security | Payments and currency | Parking | Pets | Proof of identity | Rental car | Restaurants | Storage Boxes | Special needs | Time difference |

Allergies

There are always lactose-free, gluten-free and vegetarian options on board. For other special diets, contact the staff when you are on board. Please note that we are selling peanuts and nut mix on board.

Age limit

The age limit of 18 years applies on board our ships and connecting buses. Children and young people under 18 years may only travel accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Exceptions are young people aged 12-17 who can provide written proof that the trip is for educational purposes, work, visiting relatives, for sports and school groups with an adult leader, or similar reasons. The exception does not apply to day cruises. Bookings can be made by phone or at any of our offices. The written proof must be carried on the trip and be verifiable with the signature of the person who provided it. You can find the letter of consent here.

Proof of identity

A valid identity proof with a photograph must always be carried and ready to be presented upon request.

Nordic citizens do not need a passport for travel within the Nordic region, but all travelers must be able to identify themselves with a valid ID. For citizens of other countries, a passport or a national ID card is required.

The following identity documents are accepted: Passport (all nationalities), national ID card (Schengen/EU/EEA citizens), driving license (Nordic citizens). Read more here.

Children under the age of 18 traveling with a parent or in sports and school groups with leaders who can show a valid ID are not covered by the requirement.

Controls are carried out regularly in accordance with the ISPS regulations or the International Ship and Port Facility Code, which the maritime organization IMO developed for increased safety.

Eckerö Linjen reserves the right to reject guests who do not have the necessary documents.

Check in

We recommend you to always pre-book your ticket. All passengers and vehicles must be checked in no later than 30 minutes before departure, during the period June-August 45 minutes before departure. Check-In will be closed 10 minutes before departure. Cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, along with their passengers, check in at the vehicle check-in area at the port.

Foot passengers
You who have booked and paid your journey will check in at our check in points in the terminal. Type in your booking number or scan the QR code on the confirmation and you will get a boarding card/ticket, which you scan later to pass through the check in gates. Check-in points are open 2 hours before the ferry departure (1.5 hours before ferry departure at 10.00) in Grisslehamn and 1 hour before ferry departure in Berghamn. Groups check in at the information in the terminal. All times are local.

Instructions for MC on the car deck

Motorcycles loaded on car decks are placed along the side of the ship on the lower car deck. When you have been shown to your designated place, you engage first gear and fold out the side support. Do not use the central support because the vehicle could then tip over during the crossing. The crew will of course help with buckle up if needed.

Customs Regulations

Duty-free import rules

Conditions of carriage

The Company disclaims any responsibility to the extent applicable maritime law allows. The ship’s liability for injury to passengers and damage or loss of luggage or other goods seized for promotion, is maximized in accordance with maritime law provisions.

Carrier reserves the right to carry cargo on deck
Passengers are solely the maximum deductibles as mentioned in the applicable maritime law.
Familiarize yourself with the CSO general conditions of carriage.

Customs Clearance

All customs clearance for Swedish account occurs at Eckerö Customs Station, for more info see www.tulli.fi

Entering Åland non Nordic citizens

Nordic citizens do not need visas. For current visa rules for non -Nordic citizens, contact the Finnish Embassy in Stockholm, tel. +46 (0) 8-67 6 67 00.

Commander’s discretionary powers

All passengers and crew on board is of utmost importance. To maintain security, the right to review travel authorization and use of companion master of the vessel. See summerized information for Eckerö Linjen assistance, click here.

Here you will find the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the rights of passengers when traveling by sea and inland waterway.

Here you can also read about accessibility conditions and quality standards for assistance.

For contact information regarding rights to the national authority, the Swedish Consumer Agency, click here.

Disability and Special Needs

Plan your trip and let us know in advance upon your wishes, as well as any mobility equipment or medical equipment you plan to bring so Eckerö Linjen can organize the most appropriate assistance based on your needs.

On board there is a lift between car deck and deck 7 as well as low thresholds in public areas (meeting room Jungman, meeting room/bar Båtsman and sun deck are on deck 8 where only stairs are available). On deck 6 there is a accessible toilet.

If you are impaired mobility and require special demands while traveling, you must state this when booking. If your health is compromised due to illness, you should pre-trip; consult your physician to rule out any barriers to travel.

Under EU rules, people with reduced mobility right to accompany if reservation made at least 48 hours before scheduled departure. Check when booking how long before departure you need to be in the terminal. PCA performed by the CSO staff.
Book a PCA if you:
• Not have a PCA or personal assistant with you
• Need special service to get to and from the ship and to get on board
• Use portable oxygen equipment
• Wheelchair user
• Have visual or hearing impairments and need immediate information & assistance
Included assistant

Eckerö Linjen can offer assistance to persons with reduced mobility traveling with someone who can assist during the trip. An accompanying assistant shall provide necessary assistance in the terminal and with embarking and disembarking. A pick up-point/ is inside the terminal, next to the information desk.

You will be met by at the pick up-point from which you will be escorted through security and on to embarkation. You need to be at the pickup point 30 minutes prior to departure unless otherwise agreed at time of booking. The companion helps you on board.

On board the ship, the shipping company is responsible for the safety all on board. Any types of special rules for evacuation and more are determined by the PCA.

Upon arrival – Assistants will meet up at the information Upon arrival of the vessel meets escorts up at the ship’s reception and assists to the pick- up point at the output from the terminal.

Assistance Dog as Aid
An assistance dog used as an aid for an individual shall have a service coat/label and be accompanied by its handler. The assistance dog with its handler has the same right as all other passengers to be present in premises accessible to the public, including on board M/S Eckerö. Disabled passengers may, in addition to general areas on board, also bring their assistance dog into the duty-free shop and certain parts of our restaurants, provided that this does not pose a risk of food contamination.

Payments an currency

The ferry trip has to be paid for at the time of booking online or by phone. You can pay with Swish or bank card/credit card. We reserve the right to cancel your booking if we haven't received the payment.

On board you can pay for your purchases with cash (SEK and EUR), bank card/credit card or Swish. On board you can also exchange SEK and EUR. There is an ATM in Grisslehamn at the entrance to the terminal. On Åland, you can pay with euros but also with Swedish kronor in many places, as well as bank and credit cards with a Visa function. Check with your bank whether your bank card is valid abroad.

Storage Boxes

There are a number of storage boxes available on board in various sizes. A small box costs SEK 20, a large box costs SEK 40. These can be paid for with coins, change is available on board.

Time differences

The time difference between Sweden and Finland is one hour. Finland and Åland has timezone GMT+2. That means when the clock is 11.00 in Sweden is 12 o’clock in Åland.

Restaurants and table reservations

Here you will find information about our meal options on board.

Cabins

Occasionally, a small number of cabins are available for sale (during the summer months of June-August, no cabins are available for sale). These are sold only onboard at the information desk, and we cannot guarantee that cabins will always be available. Please note that you must present ID when purchasing a cabin.

Pets

On board M/S Eckerö there is a dog room, Jungman, which is furnished with several cages of two sizes and also chairs and tables for pet owners. There are also some tables at the far end of Kafé Käringsund where pets are allowed, these places are marked with stickers on the tables. You can also stay with your pet by the sofas on the entrance deck (by the information) and outside on deck. Pet owners are responsible for their pets. Pet owners who leaves animals in there vehicles during the voyage does it at their own risk. The doors to the car deck are locked after departure and opened a while before arrival at port. However, remember that it can get very warm at car deck, especially in summer. The pet must always be leashed when they are on board.

Pets may only be taken on our connecting buses if they are in a basket or a bag in your lap. The owner is responsible for ensuring that the animal does not disturb others. Animals are assigned at the back of the bus due to possible guests with allergy. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are exempt from the rule.

Outside at deck 8 there is a dog toilet.

You are allowed to bring pets between countries when animals have an ID tag , pet passport, rabies vaccination, for dogs even deworming tapeworm (echinococcosis) and are dewormed against tape worms by an veterinary 1-5 days (24-120 h) prior to departure. The rules also apply when you travel with us, even if you do not intend to disembark on Åland/in Sweden. Contact your veterinarian in advance of departure (minimum 1 month). Check the relevant provisions of entry/re-entry to the Åland Islands in Food Safety Authority Elvira, phone 00358-20690999 and entry/re-entry into Sweden Board of Agriculture, phone 036-15 50 00. Please observate that there are different rules for cats. dogs, horses and so on.

Connection bus

Our connection buses must be booked in advance. Arrive at the bus stop you have booked at least 10 minutes before the departure time of the bus. When boarding the bus, refer to the booking number. You then redeem your boarding card at the terminal in Grisslehamn. See bus timetable and stops here

Parking in our harbors

Grisslehamn: At your disposal is a special parking privilege for cars at our terminal in Grisslehamn. Parking costs SEK 20/car for 12 hours and SEK 30/car for 24 hours. The maximum parking time is 1 day.

Travelling with a motorhome? The fee for caravans/motorhomes is SEK 80 per day from October 1 to March 30, and SEK 150 per day from April 1 to September 30. The maximum parking time is 1 day in connection with a ferry trip with M/S Eckerö on the same day of arrival.
Motorhomes must reverse into the designated motorhome parking space, see map here. For you who wish to stay at a campsite or need parking for more than one day, we recommend Grisslehamns Marina & Camping, which is located within a pleasant walking distance, approximately 1 km from the Eckerö Linjen terminal.

Berghamn, Eckerö:
In Berghamn, Eckerö, there is a free parking lot at your disposal.

Electric vehicle charging

In Grisslehamn, at the parking lot, there are 10 charging stations with type 2 outlets for electric cars. By downloading the Parkster app, you can easily charge your car, purchase a parking ticket, and pay.

In the Parkster app, you can also quickly find available charging stations and specify how long you want to stay. If your plans change, you can easily extend or cancel the parking time at any time. Read more and download the Parkster app here

There's no possibility to charge electric vehicles on board M/S Eckerö.

Electric vehicle on board

Passenger cars and other vehicles powered by electric batteries (BEV; Battery Electric Vehicle and/or HEV; Hybrid Electric Vehicle) is categorized according to international regulations as dangerous goods. However, vehicles without visible damage or defects and normally used for road transport may be transported under a special provision, which means that they are generally not regarded as dangerous goods and may be loaded on board like any other ordinary road vehicle. However, if the vehicle is damaged or has signs of leakage, the special provision does not apply and the vehicle is thus considered dangerous goods, which means that M/S Eckerö may not load such vehicles.

Bicycle On board

You can book a bicycle on M/S Eckerö and check in at the car check-in at the terminal, where you follow the given instructions. However, please note that bicycles cannot be taken on board our connecting buses.

Rental car at Åland

Book a rental car at Åland easily and conveniently online. For you who visit Åland as a tourist or on business, it is easy and convenient to rent a car at Rundbergs Bil & Service. Order the car directly to the port and it will be parked at the pick-up point and waiting when you arrive. Rundbergs Bil & Service has a large range of car models in different sizes: cars and minibuses for up to 9 persons, vans and various equipment. Read more and book here

Non smoking

Eckerö Linjen ship M/S Eckerö are a non-smoking area. Smoking is permitted outside on the 7th deck at starboard side at prow in marked smoking area.

Maritime safety

The boat trip takes two hours and is partially closed waters; you have land in sight at all times. If conditions require we try to travel without delays. We have the ability to choose different lanes for different weather conditions. No traffic at night. Our ship has been inspected and approved by both the Swedish and Finnish maritime authorities. From the ship’s bridge we have visual watch over the ship’s bow door and additionally video monitoring and alarm of the same. The crew is of the Swedish language and safety information is in Swedish. Safety training is carried out continuously every week and regularly during navigation control of authorities.

Order and security

The ship’s master, or his designee, has the right to refuse to carry passengers who disturbs the order and safety of the ship. Passengers should follow the appropriate rules that are posted on board and in the terminal and any instructions from the crew.
Food, with the intention to be consumed on board in the ship’s restaurants is not permitted without crew’s permission. Baby food and special diets for special allergies may be brought on board.

Passengers may not bring alcohol or other drugs on board. It is not permitted to bring any types of alcoholic beverages on board; it is allowed to be purchased in the ship’s duty-free shop. Passengers who are intoxicated or who disrupts order on board may be turned away from the ship

Passengers are not permitted without special permission to bring weapons, equipment, or other objects that could endanger passengers, crew or ship. Passengers are required to provide upon request to produce objects that could endanger order and security on board, the crew will keep the equipment’s for storage during travel. Passengers at the request do not show the content of luggage may be denied on board the ship. Passengers are not entitled for a refund of the ticket price, including any right to compensation for any costs which it incurs due to deportation.

Order and security on connecting buses
The above rules also apply to passengers on board our shuttle buses. The driver has the right to refuse passengers who disrupt the order. Connection bus can only be used in connection with vessel trip.

Fire safety on board

• M/S Eckerö has a valid fire safety certificate and has approved fire alarm systems and fire extinguishing equipment on board. There are sprinkler systems throughout the entire car deck as well as firefighting and breathing apparatus that is approved and meets the regulatory requirements.
  In addition to the mandatory fire extinguishing equipment, special extinguishing equipment for electric car and battery fires is available on board. It consists of cooling equipment that can flush water from below on to cars for cooling and fire blankets that can cover cars to prevent the spread of fire, such as an electric car that has thermal runaway.
  There are also special extinguishers for lithium-ion battery fires which can be used anywhere on the ship, not just on the car deck, for quick response.
• Fire drills are carried out every week and special training is also given on how to handle fires with electric and hybrid vehicles.
• The crew is regularly trained both on shore and on board and we have special CBT training for electric car fires within the shipping company.
• We follow the requirements and recommendations of the national authorities and the European Maritime Safety Authority regarding the transport of so-called AFV vehicles (electric and hybrid vehicles) on ro-ro vessels. This includes, among other things, how to make risk assessments, training the crew, ventilation, handling accidents and incidents, etc.
• The car deck has camera surveillance, and in addition to that it is monitored by staff after departure, during the voyage and before arrival. The car deck has ventilation that can handle 20 air changes per hour in port and 10 air changes per hour during sea voyage, which can be closed with fire dampers if necessary.
• One of the most important measures is that we do not allow electric cars to be charged during a voyage which reduces the risk of thermal runaway. Battery charge level (so-called SoC) and charging are factors that largely affect the risk of possible accidents.
• At present, there is no segregation between ordinary vehicles and electric and hybrid vehicles. There are many opinions on this, but the maritime authorities and industry do not have concrete rules and advice on this.
• We co-operate with other shipping companies in, among others, the shipowners' association and other forums on this issue and follow developments continuously.

Handling of gas bottles

Gas bottles (Eg; LPG, Propane, Butane and similar flammable gas substances) used in motorhomes, caravans and similar vehicles may be transported if they meet the following conditions:

• The gas bottles must be intact and undamaged and meet the safety requirements with regard to marking and testing.
• The goods must be intended for personal use, household use or for sports and leisure.
• Gas bottles may only be carried in vehicles that have been inspected and approved for this.

Rules of conduct and safety routines regarding gas bottles on board the ship and within the terminal area:
- Gas bottles must be reported to the staff at check-in gates. The staff informs about the rules of conduct and safety routines and gives a sticker or tape to the driver of the vehicle to mark the location of the gas tubes on the vehicle.
- The fixed gas installation's main valve must be switched off. All gas appliances such as stoves and refrigerators must be switched off throughout the crossing and within our terminal areas.
- Bottles must be stored upright in order for the safety valve to function correctly.
- The gas bottles must be easy to access and possible to be removed quickly during the sea voyage. The door to the storage place for the gas bottles must be unlocked and marked.

All gas containers are accounted for at their full weight/volume, regardless of filling level.

Booking terms

See booking terms here