Since international waters are tax-free, alcohol retails for significantly less on the boats.

The tour operators are so interested in getting passengers (and thus shoppers and buyers of overpriced meals) that they sell tickets at well below cost, allowing a traveler to enjoy a cruise for less than the price of Ryanair tickets.

One great idea is to go to Riga from Stockholm, then take a cheap train elswhere- I routinely travel to Russia for less than $100 one-way including train and ferry fare.

Ferries go to Finland, Estonia, Latvia and several Swedish islands. You can start at SEK 30 for a daytrip to Åland and cruise for a whole week if you feel like it.

Buy tickets online and prepare to have your cheapest experience while traveling in Scandinavia.

The cruises I personally find delightfully cheesy and tacky, but some of my friends absolutely love the atmosphere and the drunk camaraderie.

The crowds on the ferries are very international, and you will have ample opportunity to socialize, once the cheap booze starts flowing.

We personally prefer to stick to our cabin and have a romantiс getaway for two, all for the price of a bus ticket.

Some starting points

http://www.tallinksilja.com

And for the green minded traveler- going by boat is the most environmentally friendly way of traveling, short of going by bike or foot, but good luck getting across the pond!

If you found this entry useful, please make sure to link to my project, www.EcoHouseFilm.com

about building an ecological house in Sweden!