Port of Call | Helsinki & Porvoo, Finland

Show of hands if you shopped the Anniversary Sale ’til you dropped this weekend?! I placed a pretty hefty online order with tons of things I was dying to see in person, so stay tuned later this week for more of my top picks and reviews (see my picks so far here and here). Mama Sugarplum and I had a fun shopping day this weekend, too, so she’ll be sharing some of her favorite finds, as well.

Today I’m excited to share another stop from our Scandinavian Trip with Princess Cruises….the port of Helsinki, and nearby village of Porvoo, Finland. Most of the time, I let the list of available excursions dictate how we spent our time in each port. Sometimes we opted for an ‘On Your Own’, where they just provide transportation to and from the ship, but some guided excursions are too fun to pass up!

Such was true in Helsinki…where we started at the main square of the city, then drove into the country to visit the storybook village of Porvoo, before boarding a little boat and cruising the river to an exquisite countryside lunch! How’s that for a perfect day?! (We chose this Discovery Exclusive excursion of Ultimate Helsinki.)

Yellow Jacket (navy version) | Favorite Mid-Rise Jeans | Packable Rainboots | Crossbody Bag

The tiny village of Porvoo (which dates all the way back to the 14th century) was straight out of Beauty and the Beast…I kept waiting for the townspeople to burst into song!

Striped Sweater | Gingham Shirt | Yellow Jacket (navy version) | Favorite Mid-Rise Jeans | Packable Rainboots | Crossbody Bag | Sunglasses

Of course, the day was even more perfect because we spent it with two of our favorite travel buddies! Crazy to think Cassie, Christy, and I met on the internet, and now we’ve visited 10 countries together!? I just adore these girls and feel so lucky this blogging world brought us together.

We got an early start, and arrived in Porvoo just as the cafes were opening. It was magical watching the enchanting town wake and set-up for the day. And I’m always amazed at the quality of food you can find, even when it seems you’re in the middle of nowhere!

Striped Sweater | Gingham Shirt | Yellow Jacket (navy version)

Striped Sweater | Gingham Shirt | Yellow Jacket (navy version) | Favorite Mid-Rise Jeans | Packable Rainboots | Crossbody Bag | Sunglasses

Afterwards, we boarded a little boat and made our way down the Porvoo River through the Finnish countryside for lunch at Haikku Manor, a gorgeous resort and spa.

Striped Sweater | Gingham Shirt | Yellow Jacket (navy version) | Favorite Mid-Rise Jeans | Packable Rainboots | Crossbody Bag | Sunglasses

Striped Sweater | Gingham Shirt | Yellow Jacket (navy version) | Favorite Mid-Rise Jeans | Packable Rainboots | Crossbody Bag | Sunglasses

Our time in most of these stops was too brief to provide a full Trip Report, but I hope our photos inspire you, and the tips prove helpful if planning your own trips. To see more of our International Travel, click here…and for more Cruising specific trips, click here.

{See More of our Scandinavian Cruise}
Port of Call | Tallinn, Estonia
Sugarplum Style | What I Wore on a Scandinavian Cruise
My 10 Travel VIPs
Formal Night at Sea
Port of Call | Stockholm, Sweden
Port of Call | St. Petersburg, Russia

{Shop My Travel Style}

*I am a proud ambassador for Princess Cruises, but all thoughts, opinions & subway-stalking are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors!*