History

Good mood cruises, history in your wake

From this early starting point the development of the sailing season started. Our activities have developed as a family company into its present shape as a private limited company and a concern which includes three companies: Sun Lines Oy, Charter Sun Lines Oy, and Sun Ferry Oy. The companies practice reserved tours, regular tours, and sightseeing tours on seven fully owned ships.

Even though the years have passed and the third generation of staff is already involved in our activities, something has remained the same: joy and a will to please our customers which comes from the heart is always evident with our successful cruise experiences.

History benchmarks

1956

Hilkka and Kalervo Vainio started taxi boating.

1958

A new 50-seat water bus came into service.

1974

Merimatkat Oy was established and the next generation took charge. The new 200-seater MS Alexandra was made ready. 

1968 - 1998

Our own fleet grew by the addition of four new ships.

1989 - 1992

We purchased the MS Korkeasaari-Högholmen, a ship that was later renovated into a cruise ship. MS Tor, a new ice armour ship with 350 seats was made ready for Suomenlinna’s traffic.

1993

Merimatkat Oy was turned into Sun Lines.

1999

The Sun Marina Restaurant was opened and the decision was taken to transfer the whole of our restaurant and food preparation activities to our own facilities where they could be carried out by our own personnel. Sun Lines was incorporated into four companies.

1999 - 2000

A large-scale renovation of MS Emma was undertaken (previous known as MS Korkeasaari-Högholmen), and the ship was turned into an enjoyable cruising restaurant which was decked out in a snappy 1950s style.

2004 - 2005

The shore-based restaurant was relinquished and versatile catering activities were founded.  The company bought an old Suomenlinna ferry, and this was given a new name: MS Suokki.

2006

Sun Lines celebrated fifty years of its existence! The third generation of people took charge of company management.

2008-2009

MS Emma underwent major renovation work during the winter.