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Göta Canal – Sweden's blue ribbon

Göta Canal is one of Sweden’s most popular tourist destinations. It's ideal for a memorable canal cruise across the country and biking on the car-free towpaths that run along Göta Canal is also a beautiful way to explore this iconic waterway.

Göta Canal is often referred to as Sweden’s blue ribbon. The 19th century canal connects Lake Vänern in central-west Sweden with Lake Vättern and ends – or begins, depending on how you look at it – on the east coast. In total, it stretches over 190 kilometres from the town of Sjötorp to Mem.

The canal was built by some 58,000 soldiers and is up until today one of the largest construction projects in Sweden. The first part of Göta Canal was inaugurated in 1822, however, it wasn’t fully completed until 1832. Before the railway and road traffic, it was an important transportation route for both goods and passengers.

Today, it’s one of Sweden’s most popular tourist destinations.

• Pre-season: 7 May-12 June.
• High season: 13 June-15 August.
• Post-season: 16 August-28 September.

Göta Canal, Östergötland

Göta Canal has 87 kilometres of car-free towpaths, ideal for a biking holiday.

Photo : Oskar Lürén

Photo : Jesper Anhede/Göta Kanal

Biking along Göta Canal

Photo : Niclas Albinsson/Göta Kanal

How to visit Göta Canal

You can visit Göta Canal in various ways and for a day or a few weeks – depending on the season, way of travel and if you want to experience the whole canal or a part of it. The classic route, to travel the entire Göta Canal by boat, takes approximately five days during pre and post-season and seven days during peak season.

• By boat: Bring your own boat and set off for the classic way to discover Göta Canal. Practical information such as tickets, booking, locks, fuel and maximum boat size can be found on the official Göta Canal website . Boat rental can be arranged by Göta Kanal Charter .
• Canal cruise: Let others do the work and sit back and relax on a truly Swedish canal cruise. Nine different passenger boats are currently trafficking Göta Canal and the cruise options range from a few hours to nearly a week.
• By bike: Biking along Göta Canal is an easy yet active way to enjoy the destination. There’s a total of 87 kilometres of old towpaths with no cars in sight. Göta Canal offers cycling packages from one to five days, bicycle rental and guides for various routes. If you’re lucky, you might meet the canal sheep!
• On foot: Hiking along Göta Canal is a great way to take in the surrounding nature at your own pace. There are several rest areas and windbreaks along the canal. Hiking packages and guides can be found on the official website of Göta Canal .
• 190 kilometres long.
• 58 locks on the canal.
• 3 million visitors every year.

When to visit

Spring: Be among the first to visit Göta Canal as it opens in May. Restaurants are opening up for the season, the canal sheep are let out to pasture, and you can enjoy the lush nature and bright evenings of Swedish spring before the crowds.

Summer: Peak season means many visitors but also a range of events, activities and other happenings along the canal.

Autumn: Watch Sweden’s longest tree avenue shift into vibrant autumn colours and take in the destination at your own pace as most visitors have left. This is the perfect time for a hike or bike ride along the car-free towpaths.

Winter: Göta Canal is closed from October to April and a visit then is a completely different experience. Some sections are submerged or drained due to renovation, which gives you a new perspective of the canal. Enjoy a winter walk and warm up in one of the restaurants and hotels that are open all year round. On cold winter days, you can even go ice skating on Göta Canal!

Harbour in Sjötorp, Göta Canal

Sjötorp harbour is located next to Lake Vänern, where Göta Canal starts (or ends, depending on which way you go).

Photo : Oscar Luren/Göta Kanal

Göta Hotel, Borensberg

Photo : Jacob Sjöman/Göta Kanal

Autumn at Göta Canal

Photo : Hasse Schröder/Göta Kanal

Where to stay along Göta Canal

There are 21 marinas along Göta Canal, but there’s a range of accommodation alternatives for those who prefer to sleep on solid ground as well. If you’re longing for a classic canal hotel, Göta Hotell in Borensberg, Söderköpings Brunn or Kanalhotellet in Karlsborg are a few suggestions. Looking for something different? Why not stay in a giant mushroom or an old lock keeper’s house courtesy of Norrqvarn Hotell or try glamping by the Berg locks.

There are also several hostels, B&Bs and campsites along Göta Canal.

• 87 kilometres of the canal were dug by hand.
• To keep the workers in good spirits, 14 measurements of schnapps were included in their weekly rations.
• The movie “Göta Kanal eller Vem drog ur proppen?” (Göta Canal or Who pulled the plug) from 1981 is a classic Swedish comedy, set on the canal.

Canal cafés and craft breweries

Göta Canal is dotted with picturesque little restaurants perfect for a ‘fika’ break. Hajstorp Slusscafé and Café Visthuset are two cosy cafés working with fairtrade, organic and local produce. Smultronstället in Söderköping and Hamnpiren in Motala are safe bets for ice cream lovers.

Craft beverage enthusiasts won’t be disappointed either. Here are three gems worthy of a stop:

• Brunneby Musteri in Borensberg: Creating cider, cordial, juice and jam sold at the onsite farm shop and restaurant.
• Lock, hop and Barrel in Söderköping: A craft brewery offering beer and American food in a historic building.
• Vreta Klosterbryggeri in Ljungsbro: Award-winning Belgian styled microbrewery located next to the remains of the oldest abbey in Sweden. The taproom is open during the summer months.

Canal sheep, Ruda

There are several things to experience along Göta Canal such as farms, animals, castles and manors.

Göta Canal, Motala

Photo : Göran Billeson/Göta Kanal

Vadstena Castle, Östergötland

Things to do along Göta Canal

Travelling along Göta Canal is much more than boats and bikes. The blue ribbon passes by several towns, including Sjötorp, Motala, Söderköping, Linköping and Norrköping – all great starting points for cultural experiences. Here are a few suggestions for museums and outdoor experiences along or close to the canal.

Outdoor activities

• Fishing: It’s allowed to angle in the canal if you travel by boat, except for the canal route in Motala. In Töreboda municipality, from the Gastorp bridge to the railway bridge, it’s even allowed to angle from land. Other areas require a fishing license or permit.
• Kayaking and canoeing: Kayaks and canoes are not allowed to pass through the locks on Göta Canal. However, there are some shorter canoe-friendly sections .
• Observe the locks: Göta Canal has 58 locks and thousands of boats pass through them during the season. The locks in Borensberg and Tåtorp are still operated manually. In Berg’s locks, there is an outdoor lock gate exhibition.
• Artwork: There are several art installations to discover along the canal. ‘Rabbit Crossing’ in Söderköping, ‘Water Stairway’ in Sjötorp and ‘Outpost’ in Mem, to name a few.
• Pat the canal sheep: It’s not unusual to see sheep graze on the grass along the towpaths in the summer. They’re usually found around Berg.
• The Canal Museum in Sjötorp: Learn more about the history of Göta Canal.
• Vadstena Castle: Explore the 16th century Renaissance castle on a guided tour.
• Swedish Air Force Museum (Flygvapenmuseum) in Linköping: Browse through Swedish military aviation development via a unique collection of aircraft.
• Kornettogården in Vreta Kloster: A family-owned museum and café with thousands of objects from the 20th century, placed in nostalgic environments from bygone times.
• Motala Motormuseum: Sweden’s largest motor museum with an exciting range of vehicles, taking you on a nostalgic journey.

Göta Canal is called Sweden’s blue ribbon, even though it doesn’t wrap around the whole country. If you want to cross Sweden by boat, you can continue – or start – your journey on the Trollhätte Canal , which stretches from Lake Vänern to the Gothenburg archipelago.

Related articles

Region östergötland, on the road between gothenburg and stockholm – a cultural adventure, region west sweden, city norrköping – an outdoor haven with a rich cultural heritage.

Planning your Göta Canal Cruise in Sweden: What You Need to Know

Discover the beautiful landscapes of Sweden on a Göta Canal cruise. Read on to find out a little of the history of the Göta Canal and about the towns to visit along the way.

Today, the Göta Canal is one of the most famous landmarks in Sweden and embodies the most idyllic aspects of Swedish summer. Here, you can look on in fascination as boats are lifted and lowered by enormous amounts of water in the locks, book one of many available cycling packages and follow the boats as they glide along at 5 knots. You can also choose to experience the canal on one of the many passenger Göta Canal cruise vessels or hire a boat and take your own time exploring the towns along the way.

This year marks 200 years since the Göta Canal Sweden opened for shipping, and 190 years since it was fully completed and formally opened. It was the culmination of 20 years of hard work, allowing ships to finally sail across Sweden, rather than going around it through Oresund.

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Did You Know?

• It took 22 years to complete the canal. The construction period was initially estimated at 10 years. After 5 years, however, only a quarter of the route had been excavated, and the costs already mounted to 50 percent more than what had initially been calculated for the entire construction. However, Baltzar von Platen managed to save the canal project several times, convincing Parliament to approve additional funding.
• 1,900 kilometres – including 87 kilometres of excavated canal (37 kilometres of canal dug out on the western section and 50 kilometres of canal dug out on the eastern section.
• 26 metres wide at the surface, 14 metres wide at the bottom, and 3 metres deep
• 58 locks (100 lock keepers are employed during the canal season)
• The excavated soil volume would have been enough to make a wall, 5 metres tall and 1 metre wide, across the entirety of Sweden, from Treriksroset in the north to Smygehuk in the south.
• 58,000 Swedish soldiers, a pioneer company of Russian soldiers and a number of private workers built the Göta Canal.
• Together, they carried out about 7 million workdays, each 12 hours = 84,000,000 hours.
• As you travel along on a Göta Canal cruise, you will see large stones (ell stones) all along the edge. They are the remains of an old compensation system. The driver who were responsible for the draft animals of course wanted payment for their services. T simplify administration, ell stones were placed along the entire canal section. There were 143 stones, placed 594 metres apart (1,000 Swedish ells). The fee for a pair of oxen towing the ship 1,000 ells was about eight Swedish ore, by the end of the 19 th Century.

Göta Canal Historical Timeline

What events have led to the Göta Canal being built and later becoming one of Sweden’s main tourist destinations? In the timeline below, you can see some milestones from history.

1808 : Baltzar von Platen presents his idea for the Göta Canal to King Gustav IV Adolf. Thomas Telford arrives in Sweden to help von Platen stake out the canal.

1809 : King Gustav IV Adolf is deposed and the Riksdag decides on the construction of the Göta Canal.

1810 : Canal construction begins, starting in Motala and Forsvik.

1813 : The first Englishmen arrive to act as supervisors and lead vocational training of the Swedish workers. The first lock is completed in Forsvik.

1819 : Karl XIV Johan decides to build Karlsborg Fortress, which will form a key part of the government’s central defence plan. It will be possible for the royal family, the government, the Riksbank’s gold reserves and the crown jewels to be taken to safety via the Göta Canal.

1822 : The western part of the Göta Canal, between Sjotorp and Karlsborg, is opened and inaugurated. Motala Workshop is founded.

1832 : The construction is finally completely finished after 22 years!

1846 : Sweden’s first propeller boat, Linkoping, begins service on the Göta Canal. The propeller vessels quickly outcompete the cumbersome paddle steamers on the canal.

1870 : Mail-carrying boats are introduced on the canal. The captain acts as postmaster and stamps all letters.

1920 : This year marks the end of organised and large-scale towing of sailing ships.

1970 : The decade when tourism with Swedish leisure boats gains proper momentum, thanks to increased prosperity and longer holidays. The canal is renovated at a cost SEK 45,000.000.

1978 : The Göta Canal Company is registered, as the Swedish state takes ownership of the canal company. The purchase price is SEK 5,700,000 and the purchase includes the canal facilities, historical housing for canal officials and 3,800 hectares of forest.

1981 : The film ‘Göta Canal or Who Pulled the Plug?’ premieres in Swedish cinemas.

2000 : The Göta Canal is named the Swedish Construction of the Millennium.

2022 : 200 Year Anniversary!

Before the First Ground Was Broken

It is not known with certainty who first had the idea of building a waterway across Sweden. It is said the Gustav Vasa talked about it during his first years of government, 300 years before the first ground was broken.

“A cut shall be made between the Lakes of Vattern and Vanern, for the Sake of Shipping Costs and Merchants Goods.”

This is what the Bishop of Linkoping, Hans Brask wrote, as early as the 15 th Century, about the desirable waterway between Lake Vattern and Lake Vanern, after Denmark had introduced tariffs for foreign ships passing through the Sound. The customs system had thus created the need for a free passage across Sweden for Swedish merchant vessels and warships.

The question has always been, why did it then take more than 300 years of investigations, surveys and debates before someone acted on these ideas?

One of the reasons was that the canal projects often collided with other and powerful interests, such as owners of sawmills and mills, eel fishermen and farmers who earned a handsome living by providing horse-drawn transports. Another reason was the heated disputes on whether it was best to let the canal follow existing rivers and streams, or to proceed with dry excavation of a fully artificial canal.

In addition, there was a lack of active leadership as there was nobody stubborn or persistence enough to be able to push through a project of this magnitude. However, both of these qualities were found in Baltzar von Platen, who eventually managed to make the ideas a reality.

Baltzar von Platen

It was a meeting with the king that made Baltzar von Platen decide to try to push through the construction of a canal from Lake Vanern to the Baltic Sea. Von Platen first had the idea in 1801 and the triggering factor was when he saw king Gustav IV Adolf’s fascination with the Trollhatte Canal.

Baltzar’s family originally came from German Pomerania, but his father, who was a nobleman, invested in a career in Sweden. As a 13-year old, Baltzar enrolled at the naval cadet school in Karlskrona and about 20 years later, he left the navy and the military service, with the rank of colonel. He then bough the Frugarden estate at Vanersnas, married Hedvig Elisabeth Ekman and had three children with her. He was also elected to the Board of Directors for the Trollhatte Canal Company.

At the beginning of 1808, von Platen personally presented his ideas about the Göta Canal to the king. This resulted in an ordinance that gave him the task of calculating costs and time consumption as well as staking out the canal route. He then contacted Thomas Teflord, one of Britain’s foremost canal builders, to ask for help.

During a very intense journey of only 20 days, von Platen and Telford completed measurement, levelling, route planning, and decided on locations for locks. In addition, the duo produced the documentation that would form the basis for the Riksdag’s decision on the feasibility of canal construction.

On 6 December 1829, Baltzar von Platen died in Kristiania (now Oslo, Norway), where he was serving as Governor-General of Norway. Sadly, this was three years before the Göta Canal was opened in its entirety.

How the Göta Canal Was Built

The Göta Canal was mostly dug out by hand by 58,000 Swedish soldiers from 16 different regiments. The work consisted mainly of digging but also of blasting and masonry. The soldiers were equipped so that in the event of war or other unrest they could be relocated without delay.

Baltzar von Platen invested in new technology in the form of various tools and technical aids from England, and several skilled English supervisors were hired.

Each group was led by its own commander and sub-commander. Additionally, there was a work manager, directly subordinate to the canal director, at each workstation along the line. Above them all, as the supreme authority over crews, officers and managers of various kinds, sat the canal company chairman Baltzar von Platen, controlling the realisation of his vision.

With the exception of a few free hours, the canal diggers worked from 4 in the morning until 8 in the evening. The gigantic construction project claimed its victims and unfortunately work accidents were many. In the event of death or disability, the canal company assisted the victim, or his surviving family members, with a small pension.

The Canal Becomes an Important Transport Route

It is often said that the Göta Canal was outdated even when it first opened. However, the canal was an important Swedish transport route for at least 100 years and worked wonders for logistics in Sweden.

When Sweden’s industrialisation took off in the middle of the 19 th Century, the need for transport increased. The only problem was that the roads were often in poor condition, and there was still no railway or cars. Shipping was instead often horse-drawn. If the horses were instead tasked with towing a barge on the canal, it’s carrying capacity increased from 120 kilos to 50 tonnes.

Some of the goods transported include herring and fish, cereals, firewood, coal and coke, zinc ore, stone, crude iron and scraps, and wrought iron and steel.

It was not until the 1930s, when the Swedish road network improved and trucks took over, that the canal’s importance as a transport route diminished.

During the Second World War, the need for boat transport temporarily increased again, but from the end of the 1940s, road traffic took over completely.

It then took until the 1970’s before the canal saw a real resurgence again, when the use of leisure boats increased sharply in Sweden. It had become a popular and appreciated tourist destination.

The Göta Canal Today

Over the years, canal traffic has changed its character. From the 1850s on, canal traffic carried as many passengers as all the country’s horse-drawn carriage lines combined. Lots of American emigrants, not only Swede’s but also Finns and Russians, took the canal route to Gothenburg.

When rail traffic developed in the 1870’s, it began to pose an increasing threat to canal traffic. A train journey from Stockholm to Gothenburg took 14 hours, compared to the canal journey of 56 hours (a journey which, however, was significantly cheaper).

Today, the boats carry exclusively tourists. What was once passenger transport is now leisure travel. Around 2000 leisure boats cruise on the Göta Canal every year, and the passenger ships still service it.

In fact, Rederi AB Göta Kanal is still active (the shipping company that has its origins in Angfartygs AB Göta Kanal, which was founded in 1888). The company owns the passenger boats Juno, Diana and Wilhelm Tham. These three large white canal boats are all purpose built to operate on the Göta Canal, and to fit the locks exactly. They operate on the Stockholm to Gothenburg route and are very popular with tourists, both to watch and to travel aboard.

In addition to the three large canal boats, there are also a number of smaller passenger boats for day trips, which are operated by independent shipping companies.

Order of Towns on a Göta Canal Cruise Including Those With Historical Significance

Start and finish your canal journey in Sjotorp!

The Sjotorp shipyard was built by the Göta Canal Company in the 1820s, when a dry dock was also built. The professional skills of the workers were great from the very beginning and ‘Sjotorp builds’ became renowned for their high quality. For almost 100 years, the shipyard was run by three generations of the Groth family, but in 1921 the last steamship was manufactured. After that point, the business consisted mainly of repairs and conversions. The last newly built wooden ship was delivered to Russia in the early 1960s. In 1979, the canal company moved its operations back to Sjotorp, from Hajstorp, and once again took over the shipyards and the dry dock. Today, the business is completely focused on maintenance and service work related to the canal facilities.

In the old red harbour warehouse in Sjotorp lies the Göta Canal’s Canal and Maritime Museum . Here you can experience history and hear exciting stories about the history of maritime operations on the Göta Canal, Lake Vanern and Lake Vattern. Admission is included in the canal ticket for leisure boats. Other visitors can buy a ticket at Café Baltzar von Platen which is located on the ground floor of the building.

Stop for a Swedish fika in Lyrestad. You mustn’t miss the local history museum near the canal.

Just by the lock in Norrkvarn you will find an exhibition that tells the story of the workstation in Norrkvarn. About 300 soldiers and officers lived and worked here between 1810 and 1824. Here you can discover old mechanical tools, see the early ideas about the Göta Canal and experience the life and work of soldiers. The exhibition also marks the start of a 500-metre culture trail , which is also a good way to experience the exciting history of this place. The exhibition is open from 9am to 6pm during the Göta Canal cruise high season and admission is free.

For a long time, Hajstorp was the main locality on the Vastergotland section of the Göta Canal. It was home to a repair workshop, a smithy, carpenters and a warehouse. The Head of Canal Engineering , also head of the western section, had his official residence in the large, white engineer’s huge that was built in 1902 and still stands today. The building also includes an adjacent carriage driver’s house, a carriage house, stables, barn and a laundry room.

The railway and the canal met in Toreboda so the area flourished due to the large quantities of goods that were reloaded or placed in storage there. In 25 years, this rural area was transformed into a densely populated town where Toreboda became one of Sweden’s most important transhipment sites during the second half of the 19 th Century . From and to Gothenburg, all kinds of goods were transported by rail and reloaded for further travel along the canal. Toreboda was therefore nicknamed “the town that ties together Sweden’s blue and black ribbons”.

The café in the old bridge keepers cottage is a fantastic stop for fika and waffles!

During the period 1830-1864, there was a post office called Wassbacken , located by a junction where the canal met the old country road. The postal stagecoach between the governor’s town of Mariestad and Wanas on Lake Vattern (now Karlsborg) stopped here to deliver and collect mail. A small house located in the lock inspector’s yard had security bars installed and became a post office, with the lock inspector serving as postmaster. Today, the post office is a small museum run by the Moholm local history associations, and here you will find exhibitions about the Göta Canal and Vassbacken’s postal history.

Here you will find the Göta Canal’s highest and oldest lock . On 14 October 1813, the Forsvik lock was completed. About 500 soldiers had worked for three years to complete it, but even so, the lock was far too short. All the while the locks in the Göta Canal were larger than those in the Trollhatte canal, it worked, but not when those locks were later extended. At the beginning of the 1850s, Forsvik’s lock was therefore extended by moving the masonry of the upper gate chamber.

Experience Karlsborg with its restaurants, shops, events and exciting adventure tours at Karlsborg’s Fortress .

Here you will find Baltzar von Platen’s grave , as he himself had decided that he would be buried next to the Göta Canal. Baltzar’s own wishes for a simple funeral were ignored by Charles XIV Johan. He made sure that von Platen was buried with due pomp and circumstance. The body was carried out to its grave and during a salute by 800 grenadier soldiers, he was laid to his final resting place next to his life’s work. This site is also the resting place of von Platen’s family, as well as the Göta Canal’s Head of Mechanical Engineering, Gustaf Lagerheim. It also said that von Platen’s horse was buried at the same time as himself, not far from his grave. Today, the site is marked with white posts.

The headquarters of Göta Canal Company was built in 1820 and has been an office and archive for the canal company. Over the years, the house has also been home to a museum, as well as to the lock inspector and the Head of Engineering. IN fact, half the upper floor and attic served as the residence of the Canal Director up until the mid-1980’s. His old kitchen is now the staff’s coffee room.

Motala Verkstad / Workshop

The Motala workshop was introduced just before the western section of the canal was opened. The ability to carry out repairs was essential for the Göta Canal. Motala workshop came to have a decisive role in the Swedish engineering industry, as several generations of engineers and mechanics received their education here, at a time when technical education was otherwise almost non-existent in the country. From its origins as a service workshop for the canal company, the Motala workshop then grew into a manufacturing company that gained global renown and sowed the seeds for the Swedish manufacturing industry. All over the world there are bridges, ships, steam boilers, hydraulic presses, traverses, locomotives, pressure vessels, crankshafts and stainless-steel sinks with the company’s characteristic signature “MW”.

The Göta Canal exhibition From Idea to Reality in Motala is located in the old Motala workshop, between the Borenshult locks and the Motala guest harbour on Lake Vattern. Here you can see how Baltzar von Platen took the 300-year old idea of building a waterway across Sweden and made it a reality. You will be introduced to the people who made it possible to build the canal and get acquainted with the technology they used. Admission is included in the canal fee for leisure boats, and the Service Card can be used to enter the exhibition. The entrance fee for other visitors can be paid at Café Mallboden just next door.

Borenshult’s lock staircase is the canal’s second larges t with 5 locks and a level difference of 15.3 meters and is a very popular destination in Motala.

In Borensberg, one of the small lakeside towns by the Göta Canal, you will find the most things you could ever need, in a friendly environment. This is also a popular section of the canal along the 20-kilometre cycling and hiking path from Lake Boren in Borensberg to Berg by Lake Roxen.  

Here you will find the famous Summer Café Glasbruket which serves waffles, home baked goods, ice cream, and locally produced drinks from Brunneby musteri and coffee, of course!

Here you will have the opportunity to taste first-hand the amazing natural products produced for more than 70 years by Brunneby Musteri . This small family run business presses a great variety of apples, berries including strawberries, rhubarb, blackcurrant and raspberries from home gardens and local farmers to produce their amazing ciders, juices and jams.

Ljungsbro / Malfors

The marina is next to Malfors bridge in Ljungsbro, within walking distance, approximately 1 kilometre to Cloetta Chocolate Factory Outlet .

Bergs’ number of locks is Göta Canal’s main attraction. The large flight of locks at Berg consists of seven interconnected locks, making it the largest flight of locks on a Göta Canal cruise . In it, boats ascend or descend 18.8 metres between Lake Roxen and the guest harbour in Berg. Its name, Carl Johan, stems from king Charles XIV John (Carl Johan is Swedish), who visited the construction site with his son Oscar and laid down two foundations stones for the locks.

In the centre of the lock area at the Berg locks you will find the lock gate exhibition which consists of five lock gates set up on the land. Here, you can learn more about the large gates that keep the water in place in the canal and how technological developments have changed them over the years. You also get to experience the mighty gates up close! Each gate tells its own story of how different building techniques have been used throughout the years.

The exhibition A Beautiful Tale tells 200 years of canal history and shows how the engineers overcame every challenge along the way. You are given an insight into how the canal has been experienced and aged throughout the years, from its inception until today, and how it is prepared for the future, through the extensive renovation project Göta Canal 2.0. It is free to enter and view the exhibition, which is open at the same times as the tourist information office in the same building.

Norsholm is a little green gem along the canal! There is a m arina inside the lock with marina facilities in Kapten Bille’s Café and hostel. There is also a floating sauna for hire!

Soderkoping

The lock that boats travel through at Soderkoping today is not the original one. The first lock in this location was built in 1832, but not on sold enough ground, which is why is started to sink almost immediately after completion. It was therefore replaced with the lock that is still here today. That is also why the lock is relocated more towards the northern side, rather than at the centre of the canal.

Idyllic Mem is where your canal adventure starts, or ends.

In Summary – Planning your Göta Canal Cruise

With so many amazing things to do and activities to experience in Sweden, you will be spoilt for choice! However, a truly unique experience not the be missed is a Göta Canal cruise. Not only is the scenery spectacular, the history is fascinating as you will discover during your visits to the small towns along the way.

Are you planning a Göta Canal cruise? Have you been on a cruise along the Göta Canal, or think we should add something above? Post your tips and questions below.

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TRIP PLANNERS FOR SWEDEN: RELATED BLOG POSTS

Want more info to help you plan your Swedish holiday? Check out all the articles we’ve written on travel in Sweden below and continue planning your trip.

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Essential Travel Planning Resources for Sweden

Below are our favourite companies to use for planning our travels to Sweden. They consistently turn up the best deals and overall, are better than their competitors. These are always our starting point when we need to book a flight, accommodation, tour, transportation etc.

Book Your Flight : Our two favourite search engines for finding cheap flights are Skyscanner and Kiwi . They compare all of the available prices across every airline to help you compare flights in one place.

Book Accommodation: Booking.com and Agoda consistently return the best rates for guesthouses and hotels in Sweden. To find a budget hostel, our favourite site is  Hostelworld and Airbnb are great if you are looking to stay for a longer period of time with apartment amenities such as a kitchen.

Book a Tour: We prefer to travel independently, however, sometimes the best and cheapest way to see the highlights of a city / country is to book a tour or package. For Sweden, we always use GetYourGuide  and  Viator for our tour bookings. If we are only going to be in a city for a day or two and want to make the most of our time there, we book through Big Bus Tours .

Book Transportation: Our first port of call for transportation planning is Rome2Rio . This website allows us to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. For road trips in Sweden, we always use  Rentalcars.com , a reliable site for finding the best deal on car rentals. Flixbus is our preferred company for bus travel and Eurail for train travel.

Book Travel Insurance: Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft and cancellations. We never travel without it as we have had to use it several times in the past. We have been using 1Cover for the past 4 years, however, we also recommend World Nomads as many of our fulltime travel friends swear by them.

Always Carry With You: When travelling in Sweden , we always carry a   daypack  for excursions, and the   Lonely Planet Guide !

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out our Travel Resources page for the companies we use and recommend to plan and book our travels. Through lots of trial and error over the years, these are the best!

We are Peta and Jonas of Exit45 Travels, a couple in our late 40’s / mid 50’s who have been travelling the world fulltime since January 2018. We decided to minimalise belongings, and get out of the rat race early to enjoy a new lifestyle with more time for slow travel and new experiences. If you want to know more about who we are, why we choose this lifestyle and how we do it, please follow our adventures and see how you can do it too.

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Göta Canal: The Classic Canal Cruise

Experience the unique atmosphere on board the historical ship MS Juno on this classical 4-day Göta Canal cruise from Gothenburg to Stockholm. On the way you will see the blossoming Swedish country side. All meals and excursions are included during the cruise. The ship sails overnight on two out of three nights. Set departures.

Start the tour in Stockholm instead of Gothenburg?

Transportation

Partly guided

Celebration offer

Göta canal selected departures.

M/S Juno was built in 1874 and celebrates 150 years in 2024. To celebrate the M/S Juno’s anniversary, we offer a special discount of 20% on selected departures: 

From Stockholm; starting on May 25, August 09, August 18 and August 26.

The offer is valid for new reservations and cannot be combined with any other discounts, nor is it applicable for any additional experiences or extra nights bookable for this tour.

Itinerary - Day by day

Arrival in gothenburg, coastal city in west sweden view details hide details, add extra nights in gothenburg - arrival in gothenburg, coastal city in west sweden from eur 90 per person per night, gothenburg, morning cruise departure göta canal view details hide details, cabin types included during the cruise.

Canal cruise from Sjötorp to Motala View details Hide details

Canal cruise from motala to the baltic sea view details hide details, cruise arrival stockholm, the capital of sweden view details hide details, add extra nights in stockholm - cruise arrival stockholm, the capital of sweden from eur 78 per person per night, departure from stockholm view details hide details, tour category.

Accommodation at good tourist class hotels equal to 3 stars according to Scandinavian standard.

Inside cabin included during overnight cruises.

See Silver accommodation

Accommodation at 4 star hotels or at unique properties, like historic hotels or manor houses, selected for their atmosphere.

Outside (seaside) cabin included during overnight cruises.

See Gold accommodation

Travel tips and reviews

Read travel tips from our local experts, and see reviews from our travellers.

" This cruise was slow travel at its best! It is a tour for all senses and very relaxing. I have travelled the world, and this cruise is among the top-5 tours of my life."

Services included: 

• 2 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower/WC, including breakfast.
• 3 nights (4 days) aboard M/S Juno from Gothenburg to Stockholm or reverse.
• Guide on board the cruise (guiding in English, German and Swedish).
• Accommodation in an outside cabin (bunk beds) on main deck with shared facilities (lower deck, category C).
• 3 x Scandinavian breakfast buffet
• 4 x two-course lunches
• 3 x three-course dinners
• Gothenburg to Stockholm:
• Trollhättan Canal Museum
• Karlsborg Fortress
• The Convent of Vreta
• The town of Söderköping
• The Viking Community of Birka
• Stockholm to Gothenburg:
• The town of Trosa
• Sjötorp Canal Museum
• Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers.
• 24/7 emergency phone service while travelling.
• Additional services included for Tour Category GOLD only:
• Category GOLD hotels (accommodation in standard rooms).
• Outside cabin (bunk beds) on shelter deck with shared facilities (middle deck, category B).

Similar Tours

Special offer.

Destination Göta kanal

Questions about travelling with your own pleasure boat:

E-mail:  [email protected] Phone: +46(0) 141-20 20 50

Book accommodation, activities and packages:

E-mail:  [email protected] Phone: +46 (0) 10-33 23 200

More ways of contact - click here  

Book your experience!

The adventure begins!

Book everything in one place

Some of our current offers

There are hundreds of experiences along the Göta Canal. Here you will find accommodation close to the canal in hotels, boarding houses, at hostels or campsites, and plenty of of restaurants and cafes. 

If you do not feel like cycling the Göta Canal trail, you can buy a ticket for one of the passenger boats, and travel aboard for a day or a week. Naturally, you can also buy a canal ticket and travel on your own leisure boat along one of Sweden's longest constructions. 

All activities

Selected filters:

Season 2024

Cycle boat across Lake Asplången 

As part of the Göta Canal National Cycle Route, a cycle boat operates the section between Hulta and Snövetorp across Lake Asplången. The crossing takes about 20 minutes and runs daily during our high season, June 13 to August 15. Between May 7 - June 12 and August 16 - September 28, the boat runs on Saturdays and Sundays. The ticket needs to be purchased in advance.

Buy a ticket! 

25% discount on high season tickets

Discount for early birds

Are you longing for summer? We understand that very well! For those of you who want to secure your summer trip already, we have an offer with a 25% discount on high season tickets for pleasure boats.

Enter the code GotaCanal24! when you book your trip before April  3rd.  Then your holiday is safe and you can start counting down the days.

Book here!  

Plan your perfect holiday

Time for packages!

We have collected a bunch of really good package experiences for those of you who want to cycle along the Göta Canal.

Make your booking, and start counting the days to your canal holiday. 

Book a package

What do you want to do today?

Experiences on both land and water!

Cycling holiday

Rent a bike or bring your own and enjoy canal life along Sweden´s most beautiful cycling route.

Welcome aboard!

Several passenger boats run on the Göta canal. Choose between day trips of a few hours or…

Boating holiday

Sweden's blue ribbon - the Göta Canal - is a once in a lifetime trip for those who love…

To see & do

Plan your Göta Canal visit

Observe lockage, visit a museum or eat a good dinner - there are hundreds of experiences along the Göta Canal. You can also read more in our inspirational magazine.

More to see & do...            Read our Magazine!

A hike along the towpaths is a wonderfully tranquil experience, yet never boring.

Locking - a historic every day drama!

Come and watch huge amounts of water pour into one of the 58 locks.

Here we have summarised practical information, useful if you are planning to go canoeing through…

All accommodation

Find all accommodation along the Göta Canal here. 

Food & drinks

Stop for lunch or dinner by the Göta Canal, find all the restaurants and cafés here.

Museums and exhibitions

Learn more about the Göta Canal, or visit an exiting exhibition. 

A beautiful history

The Göta Canal is one of the largest civil engineering projects ever undertaken in Sweden. It’s a unique canal with a beautiful history. Come and experience it yourself!

Welcome here!

Inspiration & articles

Feel the beating wings of history!

For those who wish to feel the beating wings of history, there are many places to visit along the Göta Canal and in its vicinity. Below we have listed a selection, and you dec...

The Göta Canal Classic

If you have a lot of time on your hands, and are looking for something extraordinary. Experience the entire canal! Here are tips on places to stop. Mem. Charming Mem is the ga...

The Child-friendly Göta Canal!

Take the family on a journey along the Göta Canal, where new adventures await around every bend. There is a lot of exciting things to see and do here, and a lot of good things...

Read more about the Göta Canal

More inspiration for your visit

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Grand Sweden Cruise

Our premium cruise on the Göta Canal with M/S Diana. Experience the whole route in daylight!

From SEK 27 450

Classic Canal Cruise

This classic route with M/S Juno has been maintained since the company was founded in 1869.

From SEK 18 570

Experience the best of Göta Canal during three days onboard M/S Wilhelm Tham.

From SEK 11 280

Mini Canal Cruise

A cruise through the beautiful Östgöta section of the canal and overnight stay at the locks of Berg.

From SEK 5 995

M/S Wilhelm Tham

Life on board

Your pleasure is key for all our cruises on the Göta Canal. Switch off your phone and enjoy the beauty of the Swedish nature, the company of your fellow passengers, and delicious food.

Along the route

Your cruise on the Göta Canal takes you across lakes, through locks, over aqueducts, and to such famous sights as the Abbey in Vadstena, the Canal Museum in Trollhättan, and Läckö Castle.

Before your trip

All the information you need before you start your cruise, including maps, quays and embarkation instructions to suggested clothing and excursions.

About the Canal

The Göta Canal ranks among the biggest construction projects ever completed in Sweden. The canal is a total of 190 km long, 87 km of which were dug by hand.

Treat yourself with a canal cruise on a historic canal boat – enjoy delicious food, beverages and get plenty of time to socialize. In a tranquil pace we pass beautiful landscapes, idyllic small towns and stop for guided tours.

Our historical ships are unique in the world and are specially designed to fit the narrow locks in the Göta Canal. We have carefully maintained and preserved the charm of our classic canal boats.  Therefore, the interior style reflects the period when the ships were built.

• Company history

Classic Canal Cruise – on the Göta Canal

Highlights of the classic canal cruise.

• The impressive lock staircase in Trollhättan (a total drop of 32 meters) and the Canal Museum
• Sweden’s smallest ferry, ”Lina”, in Töreboda
• Forsvik with the oldest lock in the canal, built in 1813
• Karlsborg Fortress
• Motala, the capital of the Gota Canal
• The convent church of Vreta and the remains of Sweden's first convent
• Birka the Viking City, Sweden’s first town

Docking for the night

Gothenburg – Stockholm: Day 2 Motala. See the itinerary for the opposite direction

Go back to the cruise

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden and the fifth largest city of the Nordic countries. Gothenburg is situated on the beautiful West Coast, at the mouth of the River Göta. Many of our canal cruises start or end at Packhuskajen 10 in Gothenburg, where the old Customs House from 1867 is located. Nowadays the Casino Cosmopol is found in this building

Ströms lock at Lilla Edet was built in 1916 and is located by the River Göta. The original lock was opened in 1607 and was the first lock in Sweden.

Trollhättan

The Trollhättan Canal Museum is located in a storehouse from 1893. Learn more about the fascinating history of the Trollhätte Canal through the interesting exhibition and film shown here. You can also take a walk through the idyllic lock area with the old locks from the 19th century. The impressive lock staircase at Trollhättan consists of four locks, and has a total drop of 32 metres. Of the three parallel lock systems here, only the biggest one (from 1916) is still in use.

Brinkebergskulle lock

Brinkebergskulle lock is the topmost of six locks that regulate the flow of water between Lake Vänern and the Western Sea. The difference in height is 6 meters. The oldest lock from 1752 can be seen beside the modern lock from 1916.

Lake Vänern

44 metres above sea level. Sweden's largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.

Läckö Castle

Läckö Castle is situated on a promontory in Lake Vänern. It was built as a fortified bishop's castle in 1298 and during the mid-17th century, the castle was transformed into Baroque style. After standing empty for 150 years, the castle is now experiencing a renaissance with a rich cultural life and a great deal of work has been done to restore the castle to its former glory. On the Grand Sweden Cruise there will be a guided tour of the castle and the exhibitions (lots of stairs), app. 1-km walk.

Sjötorp

At Sjötorp there is a set of eight locks, and also the remains of some old shipyards. On the Grand Sweden Cruise and the Classic Canal Cruise (from Stockholm) and Göta Canal Highlights (from Norsholm) we visit the old warehouse, where you can find a shop selling, among other things, clothes and home décor, a café and the Sjötorp Canal Museum. In the museum you can see old pictures of Sjötorp, the interiors of several old ships, and also learn more about the building of the canal. There is also a map of all the sunken ships in the Lake Vänern. Enjoy a lovely walk along the locks.

Godhögen & Hajstorp Övre

We pass a lock system consisting of four locks in beautiful surroundings. In 1822 the western section of the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Hajstorp. Here is the Canal Engineer’s home, now privately owned and the old smithy. On our cruise Göta Canal Highlights (from Mariestad) you will have the opportunity to join the tour guide on a guided walk along the locks. On the Grand Sweden Cruise from Stockholm we dock for the night in Hajstorp.

Töreboda

The railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg crosses the canal here. Töreboda also proudly presents Sweden's smallest ferry, "Lina", which travels back and forth across the Göta Canal.

The Berg Canal

This part of the canal is called the Berg Canal and originally had a sharp bend which was straightened in 1930-33.

The Obelisk

An obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 metres above sea level) of the Göta Canal.

TåToRp

One of the canal's two hand-operated locks is found at Tåtorp.

The beautiful spellbinding Lake Viken (91.8 metres above sea level) serves as a water reservoir for the western section of the Göta Canal. We steer through two of the canal´s narrowest passages - the Spetsnäs Canal and Billströmmen. Both wood-lined and surround with small lakes full of water lilies.

Forsvik lock

The lock at Forsvik, built in 1813, is the oldest one in the canal. The impressive iron bridge dates from the same year. In the lock we are sometimes greeted with songs and flowers by the Kindbom family, a religious group.

We pass Karlsborg, which is located by the western shore of Lake Vättern. On the Classic Canal Cruise we visit the Karlsborg Fortress, which was initiated by Baltzar von Platen and built in 1819-1909. The fortress was intended to be used as the reserve capital of Sweden and house the royal family, the government, the gold reserves and the crown jewels in the event of war. Here you can enjoy an interesting guided tour of the fortress and the beautiful Garrison Church.

Lake Vättern

With a length of 135 km and a width of 31 km, Lake Vättern is Sweden’s second largest lake, 89 metres above sea level. The lake is unusually deep and its water is very clear.

It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called “the Capital of the Göta Canal”. In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the Göta Canal and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you also find the head office of the Gota Canal Company, responsible for operation and maintenance. We visit the Motor Museum, with its large exhibition of antique cars and motorcycles in authentic surroundings, collection of radios, toys, household appliances and more. You can also walk to see Baltzar von Platen’s grave, about 1 km along the left side of the canal. On the cruises Grand Sweden Cruise and Göta Canal Highlights you have the chance to visit the Motala Motor Museum, with its large exhibition of antique cars and motorcycles in authentic surroundings. On the Grand Sweden Cruise and the Classic Canal Cruise we dock for the night in Motala. The Mini Canal Cruise starts or ends in Motala.

Borenshult Locks

The lock staircase at Borenshult is the second longest in the canal, with five locks connected and a total rise of 15.3 metres. Here you might hear the nightingale sing.

Our boat slowly traverses Lake Boren (73 metres above sea level).

In the idyllic village Borensberg there is a hand operated lock. The well-known Göta Hotel, built in 1908, is close to the lock. Next to the hotel there is a small gazebo leaning out over a sharp bend in the canal, known as the “Helmsman’s Horror”.

Kungs Norrby, Aqueduct

The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 and leads over the national route 36.

Ljungsbro Aqueduct

At Ljungsbro we pass one of the two aqueducts on our journey. This one was built in 1970. The canal crosses over the road so you can look down on the cars while you pass.

The Locks Of Berg

The locks of Berg are located north of the city of Linköping. The whole lock system consists of no less than 15 locks, connected with Lake Roxen. The whole Berg lock system is called "The Big Lift". The locks can raise or lower ships 28.8 meters.

Convent of Vreta

The convent of Vreta dates from about 1100 and was the first nunnery in Sweden. Its importance was later superseded by the convent founded by Saint Bridget (Saint Birgitta) at Vadstena. The old convent church at Vreta is one of Sweden's most interesting, offering many medieval treasures. Today, it is used as a parish church and is therefore not always open to visitors. On the Classic Canal Cruise and the Grand Sweden Cruise you have the option of joining the tour guide on a walk (app. 3 km) to the ruins of the convent of Vreta and to the church. As an alternative you can walk along the canal on your own or take a swim in Lake Roxen.

Berg, Carl Johan's Lock Staircase

The Carl Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks. This lock staircase will lower or raise the boat 18.8 metres. On the Grand Sweden Cruise from Stockholm we dock for the night by the bottom lock. 

This lake is 33 metres above sea level. The canal enters the lake at Norsholm on one side and Berg on the other.

Norsholm´s lock

The lock in Norsholm regulates the water level of Lake Roxen. Here the canal crosses the main railway line between Stockholm and Malmö. Our cruise Göta Canal Highlights with M/S Wilhelm Tham starts or ends in Norsholm.

Carlsborg-Mariehov-Duvkullen

There are eight locks in the short distance of around two kilometres.

Söderköping

The idyllic town Söderköping was founded in the early 1200s and was very important during the Hanseatic period. The town also has a long and interesting history as a spa. Today, it is also known for its ice cream parlours. The Mini Canal Cruise starts or ends in Söderköping.

Mem is the start or end point of the Göta Canal, which consists of 58 narrow locks. On September 26th, 1832, the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Mem amid great pomp and circumstance in the presence of King Karl XIV Johan and his family.

The Baltic Sea

Between Mem at the outlet of the Göta Canal and Södertälje we cross open water for a short bit and then weave through the archipelago.

Södertälje

The present lock in Södertälje was inaugurated in 1924 by His Majesty King Gustav V. The lock is 135 metres long, which makes it Scandinavia’s largest lock.

Lake Mälaren

0.3 metres above sea level. In the Viking age, Sweden's third largest lake wasn't a lake, it was a part of the Baltic Sea. Here boats could sail far into Sweden to reach the many cities around the coastline making Mälaren a very important fairway and trading route. Around 1200 the mouth of Mälaren had become so shallow that boats had to be dragged over it to pass. It was about the same time that Sweden's capital Stockholm was founded on that very spot. In Lake Mälaren there are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Drottningholm Palace where the King and Queen of Sweden live and Birka, the Viking City.

Birka - The Viking City

On the Classic Canal Cruise and the Grand Sweden Cruise (cruises departing from Gothenburg) we make a stop at Birka the Viking City . The Viking community of Birka on the island of Björkö is often regarded as Sweden's first town. The town was then an important harbour for international shipping and trade. It was in use for about 250 years and was abandoned before the year 1000. Birka features on UNESCO'S World Heritage list. There will be a guided tour around on the island (app. 3 km, uneven terrain), and we also visit the museum.

Drottningholm Palace

Influenced by French prototype, the Drottningholm Palace was built by architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder. It is the most well-preserved royal castle built in the 1600s in Sweden. Since 1981 the Palace is Their Majesties the King and Queen's residence. Drottningholm Palace is also found on the World Heritage list. We will pass the palace if time permits.

Hammarby Lock

The Hammarby lock in Stockholm connects Lake Mälaren with the Baltic Sea. This is the first or the final lock on the journey.

The Grand Sweden Cruise and the Classic Canal Cruise start or end in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The ships are docked at Skeppsbrokajen 103, Gamla Stan.

Detailed day schedule - Gothenburg-Stockholm, 2024 (Pdf)

Detailed day schedule - Stockholm-Gothenburg, 2024 (Pdf)

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MS Diana Cruise on the Gota Canal — For a Scenic Small Ship Cruise in Sweden, Ya Gotta Go Gota!

Aug 6, 2023 | 0

MS Diana Cruise on the Gota Canal

By Peter Knego

It was a perfect June day in Stockholm’s Old Town (or Gamla Stan) with brilliant sunshine punctuated by just a few wisps of clouds as my partner Mike and I rolled our luggage from the classic hotel ship Malardrottningen past towering cathedrals and stately rococo buildings.

Our suitcases’ wheels bumped and rattled over a seemingly endless sea of cobblestones until we finally arrived at Skeppsbrokajen 103, directly across from the Royal Palace , where our home for the next five nights, Gota Canal Cruises ‘ Diana , awaited.

Welcome Aboard The MS Diana !

Author Peter Knego and the 50-pax Diana. * Photo: Peter Knego

Barely larger than a giant modern cruise ship’s tender, the handsome, 50-guest, 269-gross-ton MS Diana was built in 1931 and has enjoyed a storied career sailing between Stockholm on Sweden’s Baltic coast to Gothenburg, the country’s main portal on the North Sea.

Traversing a series of lakes, locks and the Gota Canal, itself, Diana’s six-night Grand Sweden voyages are among the most unique and picturesque on this planet.

A view of Diana in her original form with a towering foremast before her superstructure was expanded forward. * Photo: Gota Canal Cruises

The Diana , herself, is a diminutive slice of floating history, her quaint looks conjuring up comparisons with the steamer in the movie “Fitzcarraldo” or, perhaps even Agatha Christie’s “Death On The Nile.”

Between her vertical stem and classically proportioned counter stern, her enduringly ribbed and riveted hull supports a sheered and cambered superstructure that consists of two decks with sheltered promenades, topped with a classic stovepipe funnel.

That vertical funnel is actually a relatively new addition, replacing a streamlined early 1960s funnel that never quite looked right, which in turn displaced the original stovepipe funnel from 1931.

The Diana’s builder’s plate is on Bridge Deck. She was built in 1931 in Stockholm. * Photo: Peter Knego

Initially a steamship, Diana was dieselized in 1969 and given even newer, more environmentally friendly diesels in 2009. In 1987, she sank at her berth in the town of Trollhattan and was declared a total loss but thankfully, her owners raised and refurbished her instead of dispatching her to the scrapyard.

Although technically modernized with the latest in navigation and safety equipment, with her dark wood tones, polished brass and early 20th-century-inspired soft fittings, Diana looks and feels like a classic Edwardian steamer.

VIDEO: Below, enjoy Peter’s video on the fascinating life story of the 92-year-old Diana!

And do subscribe to Peter’s YouTube Channel @MidShipCinema for more of his excellent videos about ships and boats of all kinds.

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The cabins aboard an ms diana cruise on the gota canal.

Diana has three guest decks, beginning at the top with Bridge Deck, followed by Middle or Shelter Deck and Main Deck which contain three stateroom categories that range from small to even smaller by today’s standards.  She also has no lifts and the stairs linking her three decks are more like steep ladders, so she is not a good fit for those with mobility issues.

Other caveats for the totally modern, comfort-seeking cruiser to consider include her not being air conditioned (not normally a problem in her part of the world but the climate is indeed changing and it did get a bit warm in our cabin on a couple nights) and none of her staterooms have a toilet or shower. Further and finally, there are no TVs or WiFi, for that matter.

So, yes, sailing in Diana is truly taking a voyage back in time…

And yet, for those who are seeking a travel experience that is, indeed, quirky, off-the-beaten-track, nostalgic, endlessly scenic and on a refreshingly human scale, a Gota Canal cruise on Diana or one of her sisters, is ideal.

RELATED: Heidi reviews her wonderful trip aboard Gota Canal’s 46-passenger Juno.

I would liken the experience to Hurtigruten’s Norwegian coastal voyages in that the canal boats make numerous brief stops throughout the day, versus lingering for hours in one port while guests go off on excursion.

That said, the inland scenery and quaint towns visited throughout most of the voyage are similar to a European River cruise in that they are seen up close and from a near water level vantage.

Now, back to those staterooms.

On Bridge Deck, there are nine category A’s with narrow upper and lower berths, a wardrobe and a nightstand that opens up into a sink with a mirror.

Small nightstands unfold to reveal a sink in each stateroom. * Photo: Peter Knego

Guests in these staterooms are greeted with a tray of chocolates and fresh fruit, as well as a small bottle of bubbly and a robe to use during the cruise.

Bridge Deck cabins come with a welcome bottle of bubbly, fresh fruit and chocolates as well as use of a robe for the cruise. * Photo: Peter Knego

On the forward port side of Bridge Deck, Cabin A-23 is a bit larger than the others and might be considered the best on the ship for those who are under 5 feet, 8 inches tall, which is the length of the some of the berths on both Bridge and Shelter Deck, directly below.

Cabin A-23 is slightly larger than the other upper/lower staterooms on Bridge Deck. * Photo: Peter Knego

A typical Bridge Deck Cabin, which has bunks lined up athwartship. * Photo: Peter Knego

The Bridge Deck bathroom, with toilet and shower. * Photo: Peter Knego

As I mentioned, staterooms do not have private facilities (ie toilet or shower) but public bathrooms are available on each deck and showers are located on Bridge and Main Decks. All are cleaned constantly and in my experience, there was never a wait for either.

Six Category B staterooms located on aft Shelter Deck are even smaller than the Category A’s and would best be likened to train compartments.

A Shelter Deck stateroom can easily be likened to a train compartment. * Photo: Peter Knego

The charm of staterooms on both of the top decks is that they all have picture windows and offer constantly changing views. The downside is that they lack privacy when the doors or curtains are open.

Thirteen Category C staterooms are located on Main Deck and feature two lower beds that are longer than those in the A and B categories, so we opted for one of those as I am almost 6’3” tall.

Our Category C cabin, 6, on starboard Main Deck, had two lower beds and a pair of small portholes. * Photo: Peter Knego

These staterooms have a tiny bit more space as well as curtains and doors that close but do not lock. In lieu of windows, they have portholes, which are small but can be opened to allow in fresh air. Ours, Cabin 6 on the starboard side, actually had two portholes.

The Public Areas of the MS Diana

There is basically one large interior lounge on Diana’s Shelter Deck that includes a long dining room that is partitioned into fore and aft sections with a buffet counter aft.

The Diana’s combination lounge and dining room in a forward facing view. * Photo: Peter Knego

The forward section of the room has an area on the port side for cards and board games and a small library with books about the Gota Canal and Sweden on the starboard side.

The forward part of the lounge has a sitting area with games, books and a boutique. * Photo: Peter Knego

There is also a selection of postcards, souvenirs and books guests can purchase.

Aft of the cabins on Bridge Deck, there is a sheltered sitting area with rattan furnishings and a small self service bar called the Honesty Bar, where guests can purchase beer and wine.

The “Honesty Bar” on aft Bridge Deck (shown later in the cruise). * Photo: Peter Knego

Coffee and tea here is complimentary and this is where the afternoon tea is offered, along with a daily baked pastry or cake.

What To Wear & How To Pack

I would recommend packing as lightly as possible as there is very limited closet space but we managed by keeping things in our unfolded suitcases under the beds. For those with no room under their beds, suitcases can be stored in the hold.

As far as dress is concerned, the Diana would be considered a casual ship with guests in shorts, sweats, skirts and jeans by day and country club casual wear in the evenings.

On the farewell night, we sported coats but many did not and it really didn’t matter.

Our fellow guest mix was German, Swedish and English-speaking and the wonderful guide, Amanda, held port and history talks in each of those languages.

The Six-day Grand Sweden Cruise Itinerary sails between Stockholm and Gothenburg, in both directions. * Map: Gota Canal

Day One: Stockholm to Trosa and Into The Baltic Aboard the MS Diana

At the gangway, members of Diana’s crew welcomed us, whisked our luggage off to our stateroom and suggested we grab a pastry and coffee in the Honesty Bar on Bridge Deck as we prepared to sail.

Up on the fo’c’s’le, moments after Diana departed Stockholm at precisely 10:00 AM. * Photo: Peter Knego

Precisely at 10:00 AM, her lines were cast and Diana’s whistle blew before she pivoted into Stockholm harbor and sped off, entering the first lock of the voyage, Hammarby , which would deliver her into Lake Malaren some thirty minutes later.

Diana enters Hamarby Lock. * Photo: Peter Knego

After watching the crew maneuver the ship’s winches and lines, hopping from ship to shore and back to the ship like Olympian gymnasts as the lock filled, then opened into the lake, we headed down to our cabin to unpack.

From port Shelter Deck to Lake Malaren on a perfect summer day. * Peter Knego

Later, we found ourselves on the fo’c’s’le, soaking up the “bow breeze” as Diana motored past Stockholm’s suburban sprawl which gradually thinned out until we were surrounded by lush green islands and the tranquil, soothing blue waters of Sweden’s third largest lake.

At approximately 11:30, we heard Diana’s engines slow a bit as she neared the lemon pastel-hued Drottningholm Palace .

Drottningholm Palace, where Sweden’s king and queen have resided since 1981. * Photo: Peter Knego

Built in the 1600s, it is considered one of the most well preserved royal castles of its era and has, since 1981, been the King and Queen’s residence. Hopefully, the Swedish Royals wouldn’t mind us stopping by for a quick look and maybe a spot of tea before continuing onwards…

The Gota Canal cruise ships all have an open bridge policy. Diana’s bridge consists of modern equipment that has replaced most of the original navigating gear over the years. * Photo: Peter Knego

I often found myself in the wheelhouse during our voyage, enjoying the Diana’s open bridge policy and the nice views over her bow.

Shortly before lunch, Amanda held the daily talk for the English speaking guests, of whom we were the sole Americans, along with a small group of Brits, Aussies and even a pair of Kiwis (New Zealanders).

Captain Christopher and Amanda meet with the English-speaking guests in the Lounge. * Photo: Peter Knego

Captain Christopher and members of his crew also went over the basic safety and practical information and again, welcomed us on board.

At the same time, we were assigned a table with a delightful British couple, Russell and Vanessa, who remained our dining companions throughout the voyage.

Every day, usually at 1:00 PM, a two course lunch is served, followed by tea on aft Bridge Deck at 4:00 PM and a three course dinner at 6:00 PM. Unlike lunch and dinner, breakfast is buffet style and open seating.

The forward portion of Diana’s dining room, just prior to lunch. * Photo: Peter Knego

I don’t eat meat other than chicken and cooked fish and don’t care for shellfish or uncooked fish — with my strange diet, I often just say that I am vegetarian to make things easier for all concerned.  Nonetheless, I gave some advance notice to Gota and was so pleasantly surprised with how efficiently my request was met.

Chef Eva made scintillatingly delicious meat alternatives for me and the wait staff were so charming and discreet when serving them. Much to Gota’s credit, those “just in case” protein bars and peanuts I packed as a back up came home with me after the cruise.

The first lunch consisted of smoked (but cooked) salmon, creamed potato salad and crispy snow peas. Yes, it was basic Scandinavian food but completely homemade with fresh, quality ingredients that made my heart sing.

Dessert was a Swedish Summer Dream consisting of mouth-watering strawberries, lemon curd and whipped cream. Again, it was all very simple but ideal. And don’t get me started on the breads, which were baked fresh everyday.

That bread! With every meal, the baked goods were perfection. * Photo: Peter Knego

I’d wager that about four of the six pounds I gained on that cruise were the fault of pastry chef Jacob.

Jacob was also responsible for the outrageously authentic croissants and pains au chocolate that would occasionally show up at breakfast, in addition to a variety of dark and light ryes that were so delicious with the selection of cheeses.

The beautiful breakfast buffet on Diana is replete with all sorts of freshly baked breads and pastries. * Photo: Peter Knego

Every day, there was an egg dish, bacon, muesli, yogurt, cold cuts and surprisingly flavorful melon slices — I mean, do they even grow melons in Sweden?

Shortly after lunch, we were passing from Lake Malaren back into the Baltic via the Sodertalje Locks and sailing through the archipelagoes of Sodermanland and St Anna.

Mingling with the early summer blossoms at our first stop, the resort town of Trosa. * Photo: Peter Knego

Before long, we were pulling up at a marina in the summer resort town of Trosa , which was originally a fishing village founded in the 14th century. We had about 90 minutes to walk along its canal, past wooden houses and brilliant summer blossoms.

At 6:30, as Diana sailed off into the archipelago through mirror-like waters, her long shadow creeping past small islets strewn with red farm houses and sheep, Captain Christopher welcomed us with some bubbly and a “Skoal!” on aft Bridge Deck.

After an excellent first dinner (carrot soup, chicken with cheese gratin and rhubarb compote with almond crumble), we ogled the passing scenery in the increasingly golden light.

We were actually just days away from summer solstice and the sun was not setting until around 10:30 PM, which was shortly after we retired that evening.

10:30 PM summer night sunset from Diana’s cabin 6. * Photo: Peter Knego

Day Two:  Stegeborg to Norsholm By Default

In the early morning darkness, Diana tied up at the tiny port of Stegeborg. We were up extra early and used that opportunity take a three-mile run through the pastoral green countryside, past more of those red barns and sprawling estates.

The stone turret of the crumbling Stegeborg Fortress captured during our morning run. * Photo: Peter Knego

We returned to the ship just in time for a guided tour of the ruins of the Stegeborg Fortress , which dates from the early Middle Ages. Margarethe, the local guide, spoke perfect English and had a wonderfully low key sense of humor that I would pick up on a beat or two later.

The delightful Margarethe shows us around the grounds of the Stegeborg Fortress. * Photo: Peter Knego

An hour after we sailed, we were approaching Mem and the first of the 58 Gota Canal locks, although it was the last one to be completed in 1832.

Although chronologically the last, Mem was the first Gota Canal lock we encountered on our westbound voyage. * Photo: Peter Knego

The Gota Canal, itself, is 120 miles long, 54 of which were dug or blasted out to connect Gothenburg with Stockholm via numerous lakes and other natural waterways.

Conceived in the early 16th century, it was not actually realized until 1810 when the Swedish government appropriated funding for what was the largest infrastructure project in the nation’s history, employing 58,000 workers over a 22 year period.

It was Scottish engineer Thomas Telford who came up with the initial plans after having designed the Caledonia Canal in Scotland .

Sealed in our first lock chamber at Mem, before being lifted to the next level. * Photo: Peter Knego

After the chamber is flooded, Diana gains a new perspective on her surroundings and then proceeds into the next chamber to do it all over again. * Photo: Peter Knego

For many years, the Gota Canal was an essential transport system for passengers and cargo but these days it is mainly used for recreational purposes.

With its highest point being 301 feet above sea level, it’s 58 locks can accommodate vessels up to 98 feet long, 23 feet wide and up to 9.2 feet in draft, which is pretty much the Diana and her two sisters’ dimensions.

As we would discover throughout the journey, people who clearly knew the canal boat schedule were lining the banks on either side, greeting the Diana with phones and good old fashioned cameras.

All guest hands were on deck to bear witness as Diana began her official transit of the Gota Canal. * Photo: Peter Knego

Of course, our first Gota Canal lock was a major event on board and all guests were poised along the open promenades, on the fo’c’s’le and at the stern, watching as the gates closed behind us and the water gradually gushed in.

Once the chamber filled, Diana was elevated enough for the forward gates to be safely opened and sail onward.

After lunch, we were nearing Soderkoping , a town dating from Medieval times that is renowned for its Swedish ice cream, old houses, town hall and two Medieval churches.

The angular medieval structures of the St. Laurentii Church and bell tower at Soderkoping. * Photo: Peter Knego

Suffice it to say, our first stop was an ice cream stand for a pair of double scoop cones, their sugar-drenched flavors rapidly melting in the summer heat as we walked through town, then climbed a zigzagging wooden staircase some 350 steps up to an overgrown scenic outlook and finally, once back down, there was just enough time to visit the St. Laurentii Church (which dates from the late 13th century).

Back at the Diana , we joined fellow guests who followed the ship on foot as she slowly motored past a draw bridge and a total of eight more locks.

Following Diana along the canal near Soderkoping. * Photo: Peter Knego

This gave us some wonderful photo ops of the classic vessel in transit, her wooden bumpers dragging at a diagonal which, in our wild imaginations, conjured up the oars of an old Roman slave galley or perhaps a Viking longship.

After re boarding at the Carlsborg Lock, we gazed on as Diana navigated a winding cut with vast farmlands and forests on either side, and then, during dinner, there was an announcement that would change the outcome of our evening…

Winding through the Swedish countryside aboard Diana. * Photo: Peter Knego

The pump for Diana’s toilet system seized up and we would have to get a backup from the Diana’s 1912-built sister ship, the Wilhelm Tham , which was heading eastbound several hours away by car. Diana would thus have to pull alongside a campground near the town of Norsholm for the night, close to a facility with toilets that we could use.

My 3:00 AM wake up calls would take on a new twist…

And so goes the adventure aspect of quirky cruising on a classic ship like the Diana. Everyone on board thankfully took the news in stride as the good natured crew worked tirelessly into the night getting that spare pump installed.

Day Three: Cruising From Norsholm To Motala With Relief

The following morning, all who had not already encountered the “Toilets are working!” sign at the gangway were pleased to hear the announcement that the Wilhelm Tham’s spare pump had done the trick and Diana’s plumbing was back to snuff. We departed at precisely 7:00 AM, behind schedule but determined to make up for lost time when we encountered our next obstacle.

As the doors of the next lock shut behind us, the railway draw bridge in front of us refused to budge upward. There was a problem with the wiring that took another hour or so to fix, eventually allowing the bridge to raise and Diana to move forward. Had the operators not fixed that bridge, I’m not sure what would have happened…

From there, we motored across the relatively small Lake Roxen, which is about 108 feet above sea level.  Our planned excursion to the town of Vreta and its church and convent had to be cancelled due to our late arrival.

Diana in lock two of seven on her way “up” at Berg. * Photo: Peter Knego

Diana near the top of the Carl Johan lock “staircase” at Berg. * Photo: Peter Knego

An hour or so later, Diana had arrived at the Carl Johan locks in Berg, which consists of a “staircase” of seven locks that raise the ship another 61 feet above sea level.

Once again, there were quite a few spectators on either side of the lock to capture our ship “climbing” upwards.

From there, we transited across a long waterway, including two “aqueducts” where the canal itself was supported by a bridge that crossed over two highways.

Crossing over a highway via one of two Gota Canal “aqueducts.” * Photo: Peter Knego

At lunch, we were offered a choice of various aquavits (that strong Nordic liquor that is often called schnapps) to toast with as the crew serenaded us in Swedish. I’m not sure how much I fancy aquavit but it was a very sweet gesture on the part of our tireless crew, many of whom did not get any sleep the night prior, thanks to the faulty pump.

That afternoon, I had begun reading the novel “Roseanna” by wife and husband authors Sjowall and Wahloo, which features the MS Diana as the setting for a gruesome murder.

“Roseanna” aboard Diana. * Photo: Peter Knego

Not a voracious fiction reader, I borrowed the book from the library and planned to skim through it but immediately found myself hooked. It turns out “Roseanna” is actually a very well known book in Sweden and as the first of 10 Martin Beck detective stories, has been made into a popular British TV movie, as well.

The story of an American girl who is brutally raped and murdered in her tiny cabin (A-1) on aft Shelter Deck, then dumped into the canal, was actually inspired by a cruise in which the authors encountered an attractive American girl on board, much to the pleasant distraction of Wahloo and annoyance of Sjowall.

Our host Amanda shared that the book was Sjowall’s way of dealing with Wahloo’s “distraction” in a purely imaginative way. Sjowall was actually a regular guest on board Diana until she passed a few years ago.

Later that afternoon, as the clouds rolled in for the first time on our journey, we arrived at the Borensberg lock , which is one of two that are actually hand cranked, providing their lock operator and members of Diana’s crew with a little extra exercise in the process.

From there, it was across Lake Boren, another relatively small lake, where at dinner time, we encountered our eastbound fleetmate Wilhelm Tham as she exited the Borenshult Locks, which consists of a staircase of five locks and is coincidentally where the fictional body of Roseanna was discovered in that book I was now so engrossed in.

Diana and 1912-built fleet mate Wilhelm Tham meet outside of the Borenshult Locks on Lake Boren. * Photo: Peter Knego

With our combined speed and diminutive size, our encounter passed all too quickly as the two classic former steamers saluted each other, guests lining their rails. Meanwhile, for a short few moments, our dinners had been abandoned.

We arrived at Motala , our stop for the night, well after dinner was finished but the day was not yet over.

Reflections of Diana at Motala. * Photo: Peter Knego

A small part of the luxury car selection of the vast Motala Motor Museum. * Photo: Peter Knego

Across from where we were berthed was Motala’s Motor Museum, where, despite the late hour, we were given free access to its vast and eclectic collection of classic cars, toys and motor-powered objects.

Day Four: From Motala to Hajstorp In The Rain

On Day Four, we awoke particularly early and started getting into our running gear just as a downpour began. Oh well, we would surely live to exercise another day…

A rainy morning in Motala. * Photo: Peter Knego

At 07:30, our MV Diana cruise on the Gota Canal departed Motala and entered Lake Vattern , Sweden’s second largest, which was akin to being on an inland sea, especially with the strong winds and rain that morning.

Vadstena’s trolley awaits. * Photo: Peter Knego

Instead of crossing, we hugged the eastern coast for the town of Vadstena, where we arrived at 9:00 AM.

Shortly after we disembarked, a bright yellow and blue trolley whisked us off, past Vadstena’s moat-surrounded Castle , which was built in 1540 by King Gustav Vasa and under the grim skies looked like a foreboding backdrop from Game Of Thrones .

Vadstena’s moat-fringed castle under damp skies. * Photo: Peter Knego

The trolley delivered us to the Abbey, where an organist played and a hymnal singer crooned while our guide described some of its historic artifacts.

We then rode the train back to the castle, where we toured some of its bleakly grand halls. In one of the rooms, a radiant Small Tortoiseshell butterfly flitted in the gray light of one of its towering windows, probably having just been stirred out of hibernation.

Small Tortoiseshell beauty stirred. * Photo: Peter Knego

Of castles and classic ships! * Photo: Peter Knego

By noon, Diana was back on Lake Vattern, taking its modest swells, as well as the wind and pelting rain, with stride.

As we crossed, we enjoyed a special treat for lunch — authentic Swedish waffles with berry preserves and whipped cream.

Waffles, Swedish style. * Photo: Peter Knego

At Forsvik, in a longstanding tradition, we were met with a canal-side gospel reading, Christian songs and a bouquet of flowers by the Kindbolm family, who have been greeting the canal boats for three generations.

During the rain-soaked exchange, our hostess Amanda presented them with a freshly baked apple cake.

After exchanging greetings and a cake with members of the Kindbolm family at Forsvik, Diana continues on her journey. * Photo: Peter Knego

Since the diagonal rain and gusts of wind continued, the afternoon tea was held in the shelter of the dining room.

Soon, we were crossing Lake Viken , which is at the highest point in the journey and supplies water for the western portion of the canal.

Rainy day on Lake Viken. * Photo: Peter Knego

At 9:30 PM, after sailing through more beautiful but soggy scenery, Diana tied up at the town of Hajstorp for the night.

Day Five: From Hajstorp To Vanersborg on an MS Diana Cruise on the Gota Canal

With sunrise at this time of year around 3;30 AM and our cabin being a bit steamy while the ship lay motionless, we were wide awake as Diana sailed off on the final full day of our cruise, past more farmland and now actually riding down in elevation through the locks ahead.

Diana’s 92-year-old stem in its fresh water element. * Photo: Peter Knego

Another major highlight was passing her fleetmate Juno , which is the oldest overnight passenger ship in the world.

Built in 1874, she is a floating legend — for more info on Juno, click here for Heidi Sarna’s richly detailed feature about an eastbound sailing a few years ago .

Currently, Juno is operating three-night voyages between Goteborg and Stockholm, similar to the Diana’s but minus a few of the overnight stays.

From newest to eldest in Gota tradition as Diana, goddess of the moon and hunt meets Juno, queen of the gods. * Photo: Peter Knego

With passengers lining the port rails of each boat, Juno and Diana listed towards each other as  they sailed past in a grand salute. Another encounter for the history books.

In Sjotorp, we were able to disembark and follow Diana along the canal once again, this time through eight locks.

The Canal Museum at Sjotorp. * Photo: Peter Knego

The Sjotorp Canal museum is located there and has the bridge of a former canal boat, the Valborg II , among its displays, photos and model collection, which were free to visit for Diana’s guests.

After that, we were crossing Lake Vanern , the largest in Sweden and third largest in all of Europe.

I might add that my lunch during that smooth crossing was particularly good, with a simply mouthwatering vegetable cutlet alternative to what I am told were equally delicious Swedish meatballs.

My excellent vegetarian alternative to the authentic Swedish meatball lunch course. * Photo: Peter Knego

Meatballs, Swedish style. * Photo: Peter Knego

And it was as discreet as it was tasty, too, so fellow veggies need not worry about a big fuss being made over their dietary preferences on an MS Diana cruise on the Gota Canal.

At 3:30 PM, we were pulling up to a landing at the base of the picturesque Lacko Castle , which looks like something out of “Sleeping Beauty.”

Fairytale, picture post card view of Diana in front of Lacko Castle. * Photo: Peter Knego

Our included tour by local guide Frederik was fantastic, explaining much of the castle’s backstory and laced with that dry Swedish humor I had come to enjoy so much.

Unlike the prior castle, Lacko was brimming with strikingly original frescoes, paintings and lavish furnishings that really brought its history to life.

Entering one of the grand halls of the Lacko Castle. * Photo: Peter Knego

There was also an exhibit about Animals In Art, which was on loan from the Swedish National Museum.

After our tour, we had enough time to zip back to Diana and don our running gear for a three-mile romp through the local scenery, returning moments before she cast her lines and sailed onward to Vanersborg, where she overnighted.

Back on Lake Vanern aboard Diana, where rain meets polished brass. * Photo: Peter Knego

Meanwhile, it was the captain’s farewell evening on board. A nice touch was that each setting was graced with a local Swedish flower and bubbly was provided during a series of toasts as captain and crew thanked us for joining them on the voyage.

Chilled bubbly for the captain’s farewell toast. * Photo: Peter Knego

After dinner, we were offered a visit to the galley, a surprisingly tiny space where all the week’s culinary magic transpired. The galley is actually on Main Deck, directly below the Dining Room and services the Dining Room via a hand cranked dumbwaiter than can safely transport up to 12 covered plates at a time.

With just the two chefs and two waiters, it is actually a feat of engineering to get everyone on board served in a timely fashion and yet they do it seamlessly, twice a day.

Tiny galley with Chef Eva and cheerful, multitasking deck hand Jacob, who climbed all sorts of ladders, undid and secured the lines, kept the ship clean and polished, dried the dishes and always made guests feel welcome. * Photo: Peter Knego

Day Six: The MS Diana Cruises From Vanersborg To Goteborg (Gothenburg)

At 7:30 AM on the final day, we passed the Brinkebergskulle Lock , which is the oldest in the system and dates from 1752.

An hour or so later, we had arrived at Trollhattan , which has a staircase of four locks that would eventually lower us nearly 105 feet.

Reflections of Diana at Trollhattan. * Photo: Peter Knego

There was some free time here, our last to enjoy ashore before the end of this splendid journey.

We paid a visit to the Trollhattan Canal Museum , where we watched a film on the canal and perused the exhibits, which to my surprise included a large model of Swedish American Lines Gripsholm , a gorgeous luxury liner that was built in 1957 and last served for now defunct Regency Cruise Lines as the Regent Sea.

A strangely proportioned model of the 1957-built transatlantic liner and deluxe cruise ship Gripsholm towers over the exhibits in the Trollhattan Canal Museum. * Photo: Peter Knego

Another nice bonus was the handsome, preserved excursion boat, the Elfkungen, which dates from 1875 and is used on short cruises in the region.

At 12:25, we were passing through the last lock at Lilla Edet , which would put us at North Sea level for the rest of our journey to Gothenburg .

Another nice highlight was being granted a visit to the engine room, which is spotless and features those 2009-built diesels that so reliably propelled Diana along her time honored route.

The Diana’s spotless diesels can propel her at a top speed of ten knots. * Photo: Peter Knego

After packing and one final lunch as the outer limits of Goteborg wafted by, we watched from the Bridge Deck as the crew lined up our luggage in the lounge, preparing it for offloading when Diana reached her berth alongside Goteborg’s old custom’s house.

The timing was ideal as I was down to the last few pages of “Roseanna.”

All too soon, just as I closed my book, the crew lined up on the quay to send us off with a warm farewell.

Con te partiro, Swedish style. The lovely staff and crew of Diana line up on the quay at Gothenburg to say goodbye. * Photo: Peter Knego

We then wheeled our luggage over more of those bumpy Swedish cobblestones to our hotel as Diana prepared to embark a new crew and a completely full complement of guests for the next day’s eastbound departure.

Well, since our hotel was just a block away, we couldn’t help but to “stalk” Diana the next morning as she sailed off on her easterly voyage at precisely 10:00 AM.

I certainly hope to see her and her gallant sisters again one day!

Diana departs on her next eastbound voyage. * Photo: Peter Knego

Interested in an MS Diana Cruise on the Gota Canal?

The five-night/six-day Grand Sweden Cruise on the Diana that Peter experienced starts at about $2,400 USD (SED 25,415 Swedish Kronor) per person for double occupancy accommodation (including meals and excursions).

For more information, visit the Gota Canal website.

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© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.

About The Author

Peter Knego

Peter Knego is a cruise journalist, as well as a historian and collector of ocean liner fittings and art (see his www.midshipcentury.com). He writes for top cruise and travel pubs, including USA Today, Travel Weekly and Ships Monthly, and has been interviewed and quoted as an expert in The New York Times, SeaTrade Insider and others.

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• Russian News and Stories

The Moscow metro now has a full 4G coverage

• On 19 Oct 2018

The Tele2 mobile network company became the first to build an infrastructure for 100% stations of the Moscow's metro. The high-quality 4G internet is now available on all 259 stations of the Moscow's metro, Moscow Central Circle (MCC) and monorail.

The operator has secured a 100% 4G indoor-coverage internet an all stations of the metropolitan metro, including the passageways, pavilions, and stairways. The investments into the project have exceeded 800 million rubles.

The Moscow underground is a specific infrastructure object, which has its own particularities. All works on designing, installation, and adjustment of the hardware should have been conducted exceptionally during night hours when the metro is closed for entry. A sufficient number of stations have a status of cultural heritage, thus, the network development has required additional approvement from the Department of Cultural Heritage of Moscow.

The network coverage within the metro system opens new horizons for the analysis of the "big data". Tele2 Network has analyzed the users' activity during the summer months and has indicated the busiest metro lines, which were: Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya, Zamoskvoretskaya and Kaluga-Riga lines. During the summer months, on the stations of Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya lines the subscribers have downloaded 125 TByte of internet-traffic, have made over 2 million calls with the total duration of 27 thousand hours, which equals to 3 years.

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" DIR: West; bigger nice evening sun but louder due to main street DIR:East; Quiter, very bright in the morning if sun rises "

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