Love boat for business usage?

Last week I was on one of the ferries that cruise between Finland and Sweden. In addition to being important cargo transporters, they also carry people. What is surprising, many of these people are not going anywhere.

Let's face it, it is a partry boat with several restaurants. In addition to huge buffet dining, you have a'la carte, cafe type, and then of course night club style with dancing (walse, tango etc.), a bit wilder disco with karaoke, pub, etc.

Since they want all your money, there is of course also chance to do some shopping, including Finnish desing Marimekko, Iittala, Muumi etc. but most important for Finnish and Swedish passangers the tax-free alcohol.

In order for the ferry company to keep the tax free selling right within EU, they applied and got exception for Ahvenanmaa, Åland.

Ever since the ferries stop there for about 30 minutes to unload / load people and cargo - and to get the tax-free possibility.

Also for Finns this brings a possibility to buy snuff / nuuska / snus, the horrible smelling tobacco that you should put under you lip and look rediculous. Just check out some of the Swedish hockey players - also in NHL. That's the reason they sometimes have a funny bump at upper lip, it is not from the game...

Reason for this being successful is the high tax on alcohol in both countries. Hence we also have state monopoly for selling any alcohol above 4.7%. That is all good beers, wine etc., not to talk about our national treasure Koskenkorva Vodka.

Similar pricing applies to the restaurants so no wonder Finns and Swedes keeeeeep drinking. And all of the sudden the boat becomes the LOVE BOAT.

We went onboard due to the conference facilities - and of course to have some fun too. Gotta say, outside the time you spend in the conference room, bars or in the cabin sleeping, there is no point being onboard. Boring. So I don't think the love boat is the best place for conference after all, unless you can keep the schedule busy from start to finish.

Highlight of the trip?
Well, it was not love boat for me. Highlight was to see the rednecks on dance floor without any sense of the moves and their jeans pulled up to their armpits... I bet they were Swedes (and am afraid they are Finns).

I found another writing about the ferry trips and it is something worth reading. I was about to go further with this posting but after I saw this one, I will take the easy option and let you check the info from another site ;o)

Here are still few pics from the archipelago. Would you want to live here?

What about this place then? No complaints expected from next door.

Let's finish it with some ice art...