Drotten ferry

MS Drotten ferry (fka MS Gotland) is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel owned and operated by the Swedish ferry company DESTINATION GOTLAND. The ship has a max capacity of 1500 passengers and 500 cars (or 120 lorries). Like its sister MS Visby (launched 2002), the vessel was built in China (Guangzhou) and was launched in 2003. The ship currently operates on the ferry route Visby-Nynashamn (port to Oskarshamn and Vastervik) - crossing time 3 hours.

Several daily crossings from Oskarshamn connect to Gotland Island (Visby), Oland Island (Grankullaviken) and Bla Jungfrun Island (aka Blakulla - uninhabited island/nature park). Port Oskarshamn is a seaport in Kalmar County (southwest of Nynashamn), with a capacity to handle container carriers and bulk cargo ships (dry and wet). The port has total quay-length 2,7 km (1,7 mi), max depth/draft 11 m (36 ft), Ro-Ro terminal (serving roll-on / roll-off ships), gantry cranes, covered storage (warehouses), oil and chemical silos. In the port (harbor's southern side) is located Oskarshamnsvarvet Sweden AB - shipbuilding yard established in 1863. The shipyard has floating drydock, gantry crane, slipway, 318 m (1043 ft) long quay.

Cabins

As cruise ferry, Drotten has 115 cabins (112 passenger staterooms), all of which are air-conditioned and with en-suite bathrooms. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. All rooms (categorized as "day cabins") are located on Cabin Deck 8 (Kupedack) and are in two types - Outside and Inside.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The ship's main dining facilities include Food Market Restaurant (Restaurangtorg) and Bistro Lounge (Bistrosalong) - both located on Lounge Deck 7 (Salongdack), There is a Conference Room (located aft-portside on Lounge Deck 7) that can be booked for group meetings and conferences at sea.

The ship offers a total of four Seating Lounges fitted with comfortable reclining Pullman seats. Lounge seating prices are based on deck location:

• Front Lounge (Forlig Salong / 360-degree forward views)
• Economy Lounge (Ekonomisalong / midship portside- and starboard views)
• Aft Lounge (Aktersalong / aft-starboard views)
• Bistro Lounge (Bistrosalong / aft-portside views)

Also on Lounge Deck 7 are the ship's Information Desk (guest services) and two kids playrooms (equipped with toys and games), The ferry company doesn't provide onboard children entertainment (kids-dedicated program with specially trained staff and supervised activities). Both ship entrances (boarding areas) are also on deck 7 (forward-midship) with direct access to the Lobby area.

The ship has 3 elevators (passenger lifts) accessing all decks.

Aft on Cabin Deck 8 is the Sun Deck (outdoor/open-air deck area) accessible to passengers.

Aft-midship on top-deck (in front of the funnel) there is a helipad (helicopter landing platform) used in cases of emergency.

DESTINATION GOTLAND ferry+land accommodation packages (hotels, cabins-cottages, camping sites)

Through DESTINATION GOTLAND, ferry passengers can choose dates and book at discounted prices various types of accommodations ashore - on Gotland Island. These choices include hotels, cabins, cottages and campsites. The company currently offers for reservations (pre-booking) the following land-based properties.

Coastal hotels and resorts - Best Western Solhem, Best Western Strand, Breda Blick, Clarion Wisby, Helgeand Wisby, Visby Bors, Djupvik, Frejs Magasin, Kalk, Strandakar, Magazin1, Donners Hotell, Hallfreda Hotell, Hotell Gute, First Hotel Kokoloko, Hotell St Clemens, Hotell Slitebaden, Hotell Slottsbacken, Hotell Stenugnen, Vallevikens Hotell, Hotell Villa Borgen, Frojel Resort, Gumbalde Resort, Kneippbyn Resort Visby, Rosas Pensionat, Scandic Visby, Snack Annex, Warfsholm (Klintehamn).

Cabins and cottages (holiday villages and resorts offer from cottages to fully-equipped guest houses) - Muramaris, Kneippbyn Resort Visby, Vallevikens Hotell, Tofta Camping, Lummelunda Vandrarhem Hostel, Puttersjaus, Aminne Fritid-Havsbad, Gotlands Idrotts, Norderstrand City Camping, Hogklint, Ljugarns Semesterby, Stugor Pensionat Lovangen, Pensionat Warfsholm, Kronholmen's Estate, Visby Gustavsvik, Sudersands Semesterby (Faro), Dromstugan Kneippbyn, Farosunds Semesterby, Lickershamn Holiday Village, Lickershamn Holiday Village, Alva Village, Strandskogens, Snackan (near Klintehamn), Annelunds Holiday Rentals, Fridhem, Mavens kustnara stugor (Kappelshamn), Burgsvik.

Camping options include the popular campsites at Aminne Fritid-Havsbad, Lickershamn, Snacks Camping, Tofta, Strandskogen, Burgsvik, Sudersands Camping (Faro), The Medieval Week's Campground, Visby Strandby (Norderstrand), Bjorkhaga (caravans), Gangvide Farm (caravans), Ljugarns (caravans), Kneippbyn Resort Visby (caravans).

Car decks

The ship's garage decks are Car Deck 3 and Car Deck 5 - both with lift and staircase access.

Follows a list of car decks-related safety procedures:

• All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on the TV screens and at the ship's assembly stations (aka muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.
• Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk (open 24-hours).
• Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
• From your vehicle take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
• Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
• Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges is forbidden.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.

To avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.

The shipowner Destination Gotland (1998-founded, headquartered in Visby, Gotland Island Sweden) is a domestic ferry company operating in Sweden exclusively. Destination Gotland's current fleet includes the conventional ferries MS Drotten (ex Gotland), MS Visby, MS Visborg, MS Gotland (ex Thjelvar), the high-speed ferries HSC Gotlandia and HSC Gotlandia 2, as well as the 2004-built cruise ship Birka Gotland.