Shipping company Tallink Silja said on Monday that it planned to temporarily suspend ticket sales for trips between Stockholm and Turku on the Baltic Princess. The decision means that customers will not be able to depart on cruises from Stockholm.
The firm based its decision on travel restrictions still in place between Finland and Sweden over the coronavirus situation.
However, passengers will still be able to embark on return trips from Stockholm to Turku and back -- once customers are able to ensure that they are entitled to travel between the two countries.
According to official guidelines, only returning Finnish citizens and permanent residents are allowed to travel from Sweden to Finland. In addition, people travelling for work or other essential purposes can make the trip.
According to Tallink, the measure will remain in force until Finland lifts restrictions on travel to Sweden. In late June, the Finnish government said that infection rates in the neighbouring country needed to fall before restrictions could be eased. Sweden has the highest per capita rate of infections and deaths from the disease in the Nordics.
The cruise line said that it will not fill vessels to maximum capacity, but will only sell 75 percent of available tickets to ensure that distancing can be maintained. It has also stepped up cleaning and disinfection routines, it added.
Update: Edited on 4.8 at 10:20 to indicate that Tallink Silja suspended cruises departing from Sweden, not one-way trips.