Set Sail to Sweden | Day 20
Luckily enough I had done all of my laundry and had packed it a couple days before so there wasn’t to much to pack. Check out was at Noon and they said I could have a later checkout but would be 15 euros per hour and latest would be 2pm. Didn’t think that was a worthwhile use of money so I stuck with the noon checkout. I packed up the few things that I had taken out of my bag and my camera gear. As I may have mentioned falling behind on these journal entries is rough. There is always a new one to write and more images to retouch. Somehow I am going to have to get back on track. I checked out but they were able to store my bags until it was time to leave for the ferry. I worked away on the computer for a little bit and then planned to venture to the city center and shoot a photo or two but I misplayed my hand. The ferry was to leave at 5pm and they close the boarding doors 20 minutes earlier. They recommend getting there with plenty of time but didn’t specify how early you could actually board the ferry. By the time I was done working on the computer I just didn’t think there was enough time to ride the metro, shoot, eat food, and return to the hotel so I just walked toward the market area.
The pizza yesterday was so good that I thought maybe I would just go there again but when I got there they happened to be closed. Not going to lie I was a bit sad haha. It’s a bold strategy but next to Luigi’s there is another pizza place called Davinci’s Pizza. Why not see what the friendly competition has to offer haha. Quite a bit of the tables were taken and everyone had pizzas and beers. I found a seat that was across from a grandma and grandad with their grandkids enjoying a pizza. Naturally the grandparents had beer as well haha. A waiter came over and ordered a salami and mushroom pizza. While I waited I kept typing away on the computer. The pizza arrived and looked pretty good. When I went to grab a slice I noticed that the pizza hadn’t been cut. It was a bit odd haha but figured they wouldn’t just forget to cut a pizza and this must be how it comes. Different tactic to let the customer cut their own slices but I will play ball. I got a knife and started cutting a slice. Gotta say unless its one of the signature select pizzas that you can pick up and just starting eating I wound’t recommend pizza places not cut their pizza haha. Once I got a slice cut I took a bite. I would say it was pretty good but not as good as the pizza I had had the day before at Luigi’s. Not that it is that big of a deal but cutting a pizza with a knife in to slices is a bit tedious. They didn’t have any Sriracha or crushed red peppers but had the chilli oil. I gave it a go for a second time but still yet it wasn’t spicy and just added more oil on top. I ate a little more than half and had them wrap up remainder for later. I grabbed a Redbull and headed back to the hotel to grab my stuff. Somehow time goes quicker than I think it does and started to feel a bit pressed. It was 4pm and hadn’t gotten an Uber yet and the boarding doors closed in 40 minutes. I ordered the Uber and it said 5 minutes away and an estimated drop off time of 4:20. I guess I wouldn’t be getting there with “plenty” of time. We arrived at the terminal and had 20 minutes to spare and luckily the checkin line was nonexistent and I was able to get my boarding ticket.
They say this is a ferry but in reality it is a cruise ship. It has 11 floors with everything you could expect on board. As I walked across the bridge I entered the main deck that had shops, information station, a cafe, and of course the casino. I looked at my ticket and it said I was on the 9th deck room 904. I went up the elevator and made my way to the room. I wanted to take this cruise ship time to formally catch up on computer work. That lasted all of 30 minutes and then I headed to the top deck to watch the ship sail away. It was cold up there haha. I looked out over the city and the ship slowly started to move. We crept out of the inlet and made our way through a passageway and out to the Baltic Sea. There were islands throughout the passageway and some had small homes on the rock cliffs. I wonder who owns those and how much they paid. Not saying I would want to live there exactly but it would be kind of cool. It started to rain and that made everyone retreat inside. I headed back to my cabin to attempt to work on the computer but may have gotten sucked in by the casino. I put in $50 and played for a little and went up and down until finally the machine claimed all of my money. That did send me back to my cabin haha. I typed away for another half hour or so and then it was time for my buffet reservation. Closed up the computer and I headed off. I had taken $100 with me for some more casino fun later. When I hit the main deck I walked toward the back of the ship and down a flight of stairs to their buffet. I got checked in and was given a specific table and seat. I roamed through the buffet and located my table. They had a good selection of food but had to start with the prime rib and some roasted potatoes with the shredded chicken. I wonder how they calculate the loss but they had tap beer at the drink station. I brought my food to my table and returned with my glass for a beverage. I had gotten a sail away beer which was $6 euros so would say it was in my favor to get a few beers here while they are “free.” On bigger, and longer, cruise ships the buffet it typically free but for this one is was $45. Their site said you purchase that at time of booking but I am sure if you didn’t and you showed up they would find you a seat. I ate my food which was quite tasty but my eyes were bigger than my stomach so seconds was out of the question. This is where I offset the cost because I lose money on the food but gain it back with beer haha. The buffet had a certain closing time so the employees were starting to pack up all of the food. Luckily enough they don’t turn off the beer tap. I wasn’t the only still in the dining area and we all had the same plan. Everyone sat around chatting with their groups and refilling their wine or beer until the last possible moment. Finally they said it was time to go and so made my way out and back to the main deck. We all know what time it is! CASINO TIME! I made my way back across the main deck and entered the casino. It was a whole lot more crowded than earlier. I think the age limit for gambling on the cruise ship is 18 so there were more than a few kids by themselves or with their parents playing the machines. I spread the 100 around a few different machines but just couldn’t seem to find the winning one. It took 45 or so minutes playing 75 cents a pull but finally was buried. Tight the cruise ship slots haha. I needed find a beer but just before that happened I recognized they opened the black jack table. Maybe that would be more lucrative than the slot machines. Against my better judgment I pulled out another $100 and headed for the table. All the seats were filled but an Asian family. I watched until finally a seat opened up.
A few things I didn’t know about Finnish blackjack. First, you can only double on a dealt 6 through 11. Second, and this is a real rub, is if you and the dealer push on a 17, 18, or 19 that is a win for the dealer and you lose. I assure you that was to happen a few times and blew my mind each time. Lastly, the dealer deals out all the cards, with him being last, but he only deals himself 1 card. After everyone is done hitting, standing, splitting, or doubling then he deals himself his card. I would be curious to know exactly how that changes the odds for the dealer. I’m not a card counter but I would imagine that by waiting to deal yourself last that that would change the kind of card you got. We may never know. I sat down and rode the 100 for a solid hour and a half. I would lose 30 and then catch it back and then up my bet and lose and would ride that train for a good while. Finnish people are insane. Some were splitting 10s when the dealer was showing a 10, hitting on 15 when dealer is showing a 5 just the most erratic playing of all time and that contributed to the inevitable demise of Bayly’s money. As I got down to my last 20 I put 10 on the hand and was dealt two Aces. I of course split them and said can you put them face down? He replied, “what if you are dealt another ace would you want to see and split again?” He was right and sure as shit I was dealt a 10 on the first ace and then another ace on the second one. Well I was out of cash so decisions needed to be made. Back to the ATM Bayly went. I pulled out another 100 and split um up again. I was dealt a 7 on the second ace and 4 on the 3rd and sure enough he drew a 20 haha. Ended like we knew it would. I needed a beer after that heart break so went up the stairs to the club area and ordered a beer. The club was packed with people watching a dancing show. I found one of the last seats in the upper deck and watched until the show ended. The temptation was to great and went back for vengeance on the blackjack table. The deal had other plans though and continued to push and take my money. He got black jacks and 5 card 21’s. That final hundred certainly didn’t last as long as the previous one. That was enough for me and headed back up to the club area where I heard a familiar song. The club was playing a cover of Nothing Else Matters so I got a final beer and sat in the chair. Finally it was 1:30am and the club was closing down which spelled bedtime for me. Made it down the endless hallway back to my room and got the bed fixed up for bed.
Well this cruise was certainly more expensive than I wished it would be but hey you can’t win if you don’t play. The cruise would dock at 10am in Stockholm and would make my way to the hotel. The cruise is a lot of fun and I know why so many people go on them. This was a different, and not so normal, way for me to travel but sure enjoyed it. I had to try and get some sleep because the morning would come quicker than I wanted it to. Stoked to have gone to Helsinki and stoked to be heading to Stockholm. I have heard Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in the world so can’t wait to explore! Until tomorrow Sweden!
