FRS Baltic - from Trelleborg to Sassnitz in less than 2.5 hours

Writer: Helena Bergström

FRS Baltic takes you from Trelleborg to Sassnitz in less than 2.5 hours, with its high-speed catamaran. We got the chance to join them on a trip back and forth to Germany for the day, and it was a nice trip that went by as fast as the eye.

Update 2025: FRS Baltic no longer operates the Trelleborg - Sassnitz route, so this can be seen as a commemorative report on a former route.

Table of contents

FRS Baltic

FRS is a long-established shipping company that operates ferries in southern Europe and also connects Europe with Africa. Now FRS Baltic, with its catamaran "Skåne Jet", connects Skåne with Germany in less than 2.5 hours.

You have never been able to get to Germany this fast before, if you want to take your car or motorhome with you. We were offered by the shipping company to test the ferry on a trip back and forth, which we accepted. An exciting and interesting adventure!

Fastest across the Atlantic

Soon after the ferry was launched in 1998, the ship showed how fast it can go. In just 2 days, 17 hours and 59 minutes, she crossed the Atlantic to the UK. The ship broke the record and was awarded the prestigious Blue Ribbon, which is awarded to the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic. The average speed was just over 41 knots, and the record still stands today.

Test for COVID-19

As you know, there is still a pandemic in the world, and that means a lot of restrictions when it comes to travelling. What applies when travelling with FRS Baltic from Ystad to Sassnitz can change from one day to the next, so we advise you to check the company's current travel information.

When we travelled, it was either a vaccination certificate in English or a negative COVID-19 test. Since we couldn't provide the first, we did a test at the harbour just before departure (which is quick and for a fee).

Peter is happy about his negative COVID-19 test!

From Trellebirg to Sassnitz in under 2.5 hours

Then it was time for departure! The FRS ferry is a bit smaller than many of the other ferries, but it still carries more than 200 cars. Larger cars can also go on board of course, and when we left there were a whole bunch of motorhomes, vans, minibuses and the like on board.

We chugged relatively slowly out of the harbour in Ystad (changed to Trelleborg as of 2023), and then the ferry took off. We looked at the view for a while before heading to the restaurant.

Meals and activities on board

The FRS ferry line from Skåne to Sassnitz is almost completely new, and they have not yet decided what menus they will have in the future. When we took the ferry, in the restaurant you could choose between goulash soup, meat/fish of the day, sandwiches or tapas. We chose to munch on some sandwiches along with a beer each. Not bad!

If you're wondering how it worked with "corona safety", there were signs about distance, marked places where you were allowed to sit and not, and a request for a face mask while walking around. On the other hand, everyone is tested before boarding so it felt almost "double-backed".

Ombord på FRS Baltic — Peter and Annabell from FRS Baltic

In the small bar there were some different sandwiches and pastries as well as drinks and ice cream. On the way home we had coffee/tea and a good blueberry muffin there. Downstairs is a café that had not yet opened. It will probably serve things like currywurst, other simple grilled dishes and pastries.

As well as eating and drinking, you can shop in the ferry's duty-free shop, where prices are the same as in the Bordershop in Sassnitz. There are also plans to equip the bar with some games, and once the pandemic is over, there are plans to open the children's playroom. There are also plenty of armchairs for those who want to read or rest. You don't really have time for much more than this. The ferry journey doesn't even take 2.5 hours ...

Border Shop in Sassnitz ... and wonderful Rügen

After 2 hours and 15 minutes we arrived in Sassnitz, Germany. Currently, due to the restrictions in Germany at the moment, you can only stay in the country for 24 hours if you are not in transit to another destination. So our plan was just to get off, shop at the Border Shop, and then go back.

If you take the same ferry back, you have 90 minutes to get off and shop at the Border Shop, which is more than enough time to shop at a leisurely pace. Did we find any bargains? Yes, a few things came along in the shopping cart and in the motorhome ...

Of course, when there is no pandemic and no restrictions, you can choose to spend time in beautiful places. Rügen, with its white limestone cliffs and popular holiday resorts. Although Rügen is an island, it is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so you can continue on to discover the rest of Germany and Europe.

On the bridge of the FRS Baltic

On the way home from Sassnitz we had the chance to visit the bridge of the FRS Baltic, which is always exciting. Here we met a large part of the crew at the same time. This is in comparison a small ferry so the atmosphere on board also becomes a bit familiar.

Looking straight ahead, we couldn't understand how fast we were going, but when the captain asked us to look to the sides, we could see how fast we were travelling across the sea. The ship was travelling at 33 knots, an impressive speed, but still far from the top speed of 48 knots.

A great day with FRS Baltic

It was a really lovely day! One is not so spoilt with adventure these days, so it was wonderful both to get out on the sea and to sniff a little carefully on "abroad". Soon you will still be able to travel outside the country's borders and be away a little longer!

Back in Skåne the same day

Since the ferry is so fast, we were back in Skån the same day. The parking area in Ystad harbour has not opened yet, it will not open until 1 June, but we parked on some long-term pitches together with several other motorhomes. Nice view!

Facts about FRS Baltic

Year of construction: 1998
Length: 91.3 metres
Width: 26 metres
Vehicles: 210
Passengers: 676
Crew: 22
Travelling time: 2.5 hours
Horse power: 40 000 hp
Maximum speed: 48 knots (89 km/h)
Engine: Ruston diesel x 4

Practical info

Departures and prices: See current information on tour list and prices on the company's website.
Pets: Pets must be booked in advance. Dogs are welcome on board, but are not allowed on the restaurant deck.
Accessibility: There is no lift, but on the upper car deck there is an entrance to deck 2, which is equipped with a ramp. The restaurant deck is only accessible by stairs.
Travelling with children: Children up to 3 years old travel for free and children up to 15 years old pay a little less. There is a play corner (closed during the pandemic).
Read more: You can find more information at the company's website.

READ MORE: Things to do in Skåne - tips, sights and experiences

Helena

30 May 2021 6:00

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ferries, Skåne

Helena

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24 Comments

Add yours →

Lisa says:

Fantastic that it is possible to travel so quickly between Sweden and Germany. Must be tested sometime.

30 May 2021 - 7:20

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Really fast! The crossing never got boring 😀 .
  
  31 May 2021 - 5:39
  
  Reply
Ama de casa says:

Good to have a fast connection, but maybe a bit TOO fast when there's a lot to do on board 😉.
We crossed the Atlantic a couple of years ago, but it took much longer than 2 days. On the other hand, we were not in a hurry either and there were also a couple of stops in Iceland. A nice trip 😀.

But the line is perfect for travelling to the continent and looking around.

30 May 2021 - 9:10

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Haha, the time over felt was absolutely perfect for eating in peace and quiet and looking around 😉 Exciting to go across the Atlantic! On such a trip, safety would perhaps be more important to me than speed iofs. But cool that this is so fast!
  
  31 May 2021 - 5:42
  
  Reply
  - Labinot says:
    
    Do you have a Swedish number to contact you?
    
    07 July 2021 - 17:34
    
    Reply
    - Comment by post author
      
      Helena says:
      
      Not sure if you mean to us (FREEDOMtravel) or to FRS Baltic? Our contact details here:
      https://www.freedomtravel.se/om-oss/helena-och-peter/
      FRS Baltic's contact details can be found here:
      https://www.frs-baltic.com/sv/kontakt
      
      07 July 2021 - 21:20
      
      Reply
Hasse says:

Seems smooth, but I have heard that it is expensive. Wondering how this catamaran is purely environmental, versus other ferries in the Baltic Sea. Was it something you got information about?

30 May 2021 - 9:10

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I thought the prices seemed quite reasonable, but just compared them rather quickly. Good question about the environmental aspects. We didn't check it out properly, but will try to do so and get back to you.
  
  31 May 2021 - 5:58
  
  Reply
Husisblogg says:

This will be to check up on the time I get to go abroad again, wondering if I will be allowed to take the fast ferry next time?
Perfect to stock up for the summer..😉.
Exciting that you have seen another "bridge", perhaps quite different from the previous one(s).
All good

30 May 2021 - 9:32

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Very easy to go over! And then, of course, when you don't have a covid test, it's even easier (and cheaper because you have to pay for the test). The bridge was exciting to see! 😀 They are a bit similar, but here it went faster 😜.
  
  31 May 2021 - 6:00
  
  Reply
Nils-Åke+Hansson says:

Travelling time: 2.5 hours at the most when you have a dog with you.

30 May 2021 - 9:34

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Understand that it must be easier with a shorter trip when travelling with a dog! You can have a dog on board, but not on the restaurant deck. You must also register the dog, because there is a maximum number of dogs per trip that can accompany you.
  
  31 May 2021 - 6:02
  
  Reply
bmlarsreseblogg says:

So practical when you want the journey to be quick, perhaps on the way home. How we long and hope to be able to go down to Germany in late summer. We love to start our trip with Gothenburg-Kiel, partly because we only have 15 miles to Gothenburg and so we really have time to feel that the journey has begun before we can sit in the motorhome the next morning. ....

30 May 2021 - 10:03

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Very smooth indeed! Otherwise, we agree that the Kiel-Gothenburg ferry is nice!
  
  31 May 2021 - 6:04
  
  Reply
Ditte says:

What fun to try! And it went quickly. Nice to be able to bring the motorhome too. Perfect with a quick test on Covid. Assuming that a PCR test was not required.

30 May 2021 - 10:12

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It was an antigen test we did, that's what they did in the harbour. Important that the result is in English, to be valid in Germany.
  
  31 May 2021 - 6:06
  
  Reply
  - Ditte says:
    
    I know that some countries require a PCR test with the results in English and are not satisfied with an antigen test, so that's why I was wondering. The PCR test takes a little longer to get ready. We are now vaccinated x2 and hope for Covidpass soon. We received a certificate that we are vaccinated but it is still only valid in Sweden.
    
    31 May 2021 - 13:46
    
    Reply
BP says:

Finally, a real adventure at sea! Great fun! Fantastic with the fast ferry that takes less than 2 1/2 hours to Sassnitz. Guess it will be really popular now that the restrictions are eased.

PS. Bordershop's prices are too high. It would be cheaper in a regular supermarket. DS.

30 May 2021 - 20:20

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Isn't it? A really fun adventure 😜. Well we think the ferry should be popular, so convenient! Regarding the prices in Border shop compared to the supermarket, I have no idea. We thought there were very good prices on beer and spirits in the Border shop. Wine does not feel quite as affordable perhaps.
  
  31 May 2021 - 6:43
  
  Reply
  - Solan says:
    
    Perhaps a variant to test
    when we go in the autumn. Thought the price list was funny, but it gives itself. Worth checking, and the ferry looks nice... 😉.
    
    31 May 2021 - 7:56
    
    Reply
Margareta Lillvik says:

As someone who doesn't like the sea route, I think it's great to have only 2.5 hours as opposed to the previous 4 hours. Worth the extra money that it can be. In the autumn we also avoid the test.

31 May 2021 - 18:07

Reply
Lena - gott för själen says:

Wow, what an adventure! Very exotic 😉 Great to be able to get away a little. That sounds great that it goes so fast. Maybe it can be an option for us who go to Germany from time to time (under normal circumstances).

Hug Lena

16 June 2021 - 6:33

Reply
Peter says:

Nice to have a fast line! It looks great. How do you feel about the car deck? Is it crowded compared to larger more traditional car ferries? Are there different places for cars/caravans?
Regards
Peter

19 July 2021 - 15:36

Reply
G.Nehls says:

Terrible. Dirty menu from last year, prices taped over, horrendous prices in the shop and often no prices. Cashier uninterested, seemed to have fallen asleep. Café Nautilus - very unprofessional. What is the language on board? German and Swedish was not possible.

03 April 2022 - 22:30

Reply

FRS Baltic - from Trelleborg to Sassnitz in less than 2.5 hours

Writer: Helena Bergström

FRS Baltic

Fastest across the Atlantic

Test for COVID-19

From Trellebirg to Sassnitz in under 2.5 hours

Meals and activities on board

Border Shop in Sassnitz ... and wonderful Rügen

On the bridge of the FRS Baltic

A great day with FRS Baltic

Back in Skåne the same day

Facts about FRS Baltic

Practical info

You might also like:

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24 Comments

Lisa says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Labinot says:

Helena says:

Hasse says:

Helena says:

Husisblogg says:

Helena says:

Nils-Åke+Hansson says:

Helena says:

bmlarsreseblogg says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Solan says:

Margareta Lillvik says:

Lena - gott för själen says:

Peter says:

G.Nehls says:

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