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GOOD TO
KNOW BEFORE DEPARTURE
Boarding
Is done at the earliest one hour and no later than
15 minutes before departure. The ship guide welcomes
you at the
gangway, after which the crew will help
you with baggage and finding your cabin.
Tour Guide
The Tour Guide provides daily information in three
languages (Swedish, English and German), describing
the program
for the day, something of the history of
the Göta Canal and the places visited, and also
plenty of practical hints. The
Tour Guide is
available throughout the cruise and often leads the
group on guided tours.
Meals
A large breakfast buffet is served every day (except
the first day of your cruise). Lunch and dinner are
usually divided
into two sittings (except on 2- and
6-day cruises). Table reservations should be made as
soon as possible after
embarkation. We serve a set
menu both for lunch and dinner. Although our chef is
ambitious, space on board is limited
and we
therefore regret that we cannot offer an à la Carte
menu.
Special dietary needs
Is offered, for example vegetarian or diabetic, if
you notify us at least three weeks in advance.
Please inform us when
booking your cruise.
Dining room and lounge
The shelter deck contains the dining room and
a lounge for 25 persons with a small library. The
steamer also has a
mini-shop. There is no radio or
TV on board.
Cabins
Cabins are charming, but very small. They have
bunk beds (except M/S Diana's cabins on main deck)
and are about
the same size as a
railway sleeping car compartment. Therefore, avoid
bringing too much luggage. We recommend a
traveling wardrobe and a
medium sized suitcase, which can be pushed in under
a bunk.
The length of the beds varies, so please tell us if
you are taller than average.
All cabins have a washbasin with hot and cold
water. Showers are provided on all decks (except
shelter deck on
M/S Diana) as well as toilets. The boats
have 220 V AC electricity, with outlets in all
cabins. The water in all taps is
drinkable.
The Ship's library and mini-shop
In the lounge, there is a ship's library with
a variety of literature in Swedish, English and
German - much of it describing
the Göta Canal and its
surroundings, as well Sweden. We try to provide the
latest morning newspapers (Swedish)
along the route. The mini-shop sells maps, postcards, books,
souvenirs, sweaters, film, confectionery, ice cream,
etc.
Clothing
During the day, casual wear is recommended as
much time is spent outdoors. Bring summer clothing,
but don't forget
you may occasionally
need something warmer, such as a windproof jacket.
Good walking shoes are vital for the
excursions. For dinner, passengers usually exchange their leisure wear for
something slightly more formal, but no dark
suit is
necessary.
Guided tours
Guided tours are usually on foot and participants
must be able to walk at a normal pace.
Walking, jogging, cycling
In many places, the former towpaths along the canal
offer excellent opportunities for walking
or jogging. The boat also carries two bikes,
which you can borrow if you want to go exploring
along the Göta Canal
on your own.
Children
Children must be at least 7 years old and occupy a
berth of their own.
Disability
The thresholds are high, the stairs steep and
most excursions are made on foot. Passengers with
impaired mobility
should mention this when making
reservations and should travel with a companion able
to provide assistance.
Smoking
For safety reasons, smoking is forbidden in the
cabins, dining room and lounge. Smokers should use
the special
ashbins provided on deck.
Mobile phones
For the convenience of our guests, mobile telephones
may only be used on land.
Hotel accommodations
Your travel agent or the Göta Canal Steamship
Company Ltd can make reservations at centrally
located, first-class
hotels in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Motala and Söderköping.
Arrival and home journey
The day before arrival of the boat, the Tour
Guide will accept taxi reservations from guests.
There is no taxi rank
near the quay in
Gothenburg or Stockholm and it may be difficult to
obtain a taxi nearby. We therefore recommend
advance reservation via
the Tour Guide. Sometimes, the cruise schedule may
be subject to delays owing to weather
and boat queues at
locks. Always leave a good margin when booking onward
journeys.
Welcome to the Cruise of a Lifetime on the Göta
Canal!
Göta
Canal Schedule
Sights & Highlights
Canal Steamers |
