Main Restaurant – Taste of Scandinavia
The main restaurant on deck 7 is the heart of the culinary experience aboard the Rostock-Gedser ferry. With panoramic windows offering spectacular Baltic Sea views, every meal becomes a scenic journey.
"After crossing this route dozens of times, I can tell you: the breakfast buffet is actually the best value. For €18.82, you get a huge selection including Danish specialties you won't find in Germany. Arrive early (before 7:30 AM) for the freshest pastries and the window seats with sea views."
Buffet Highlights
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Nordic Breakfast Buffet €18.82
All-day breakfast until 11:15 AM with Danish rye bread, German cold cuts, fresh pastries, and eggs prepared to order. Coffee and juice included – important since coffee alone costs €5.37!
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Lunch & Dinner Buffet €24.74
From 11:15 AM: International selection with warm dishes, salads, antipasti, and desserts. Kids 5-13 pay only €6.72, under 4 eat free!
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Smart Tip Save 20%
Book the buffet online with your ferry ticket for discounts. Flex ticket holders get 20% off food and a free soft drink!
Restaurant Hours
Breakfast: 07:00 - 10:30
Lunch: 11:30 - 14:30
Dinner: 17:00 - 21:00
Reservations recommended during summer months and weekends.
Reserve TableCafé & Bistro – Quick Bites with a View
Coffee Corner
Organic fair-trade coffee from a small roastery in Copenhagen. The flat white with oat milk is surprisingly good for ferry coffee.
From €3.50Danish Pastries
Authentic wienerbrød baked fresh each morning. The cinnamon snails (kanelsnegle) sell out by 9 AM on weekends.
From €4.20Smørrebrød
Traditional Danish open sandwiches. The herring with curry and apple is an acquired taste worth acquiring.
From €8.90Kids Menu
Smaller portions with a toy surprise. The mini fish & chips is actually better than the adult version.
From €6.90Order your coffee and pastry to-go from the café and head to the rear sun deck on deck 8. There's a quiet corner with bean bags that most passengers don't know about – perfect for watching the wake and spotting dolphins (yes, they're sometimes there!).
Drinks & Sun Deck Experience
While there's no dedicated bar on the sun deck, the outdoor deck on level 8 is still the best spot for enjoying drinks with a Baltic Sea view. Grab your beverages from the Food Express (open 24/7) or the Scandlines Coffee and head outside!
Where to Get Drinks
- Food Express (24 hours) - Beer, wine, and spirits available round the clock
- Scandlines Coffee - Premium coffee drinks and cocktails (11:15-20:00)
- Kitchen Buffet Restaurant - Full bar service during meal times
- BorderShop - Duty-free alcohol to take home (great prices!)
"Most passengers don't realize that the Food Express is open 24/7 and sells alcohol at any time. During summer evenings, grab a cold Danish beer there and find a spot on the sun deck – it's much quieter than the indoor areas and you might catch dolphins playing in the ferry's wake!"
Popular Drinks & Prices
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Danish Beer Selection
Carlsberg, Tuborg, and local craft beers from €4.50-6.50. The Tuborg Classic is particularly good – fresher than what you'll find in Germany.
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Coffee & Specialty Drinks
Full Starbucks menu at Scandlines Coffee. The iced caramel macchiato (€6.50) is perfect for summer crossings.
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Wine & Spirits
House wine from €5.50 per glass. Spirits from €6.00. Better deals in the BorderShop for bottles to take home.
The BorderShop offers genuinely good prices on alcohol – especially spirits and wine. Danish taxes are high, so stock up on the return journey from Germany for the best deals. The shop opens 30 minutes after departure.
Border Shop – Duty-Free Treasures
The border shop operates under special Baltic Sea regulations, offering genuinely good deals on select items. But not everything is a bargain – here's what insiders buy:
Worth Buying:
- Danish Liquorice - Lakrids by BĂĽlow at 40% off Danish prices
- German Ritter Sport - Full range including limited editions
- Scandinavian Gin - Especially Hernö and Copenhagen Distillery
- Smoked Fish - Vacuum-packed, travels well
- Danish Design Items - Georg Jensen seconds at great prices
- Coffee - Löfbergs and Arvid Nordquist bulk packs
- Marzipan - LĂĽbecker quality at Danish prices
- Ferry Memorabilia - The model ships are actually quite nice
Skip These:
Perfumes (not really cheaper), electronics (better deals online), mainstream chocolate (same price as supermarkets).
The shop restocks every Tuesday and Friday morning. If you're traveling on these days, you'll find the exclusive "Captain's Selection" – limited edition spirits that aren't advertised. Ask at the counter.
Shop Hours
Opens: 30 min after departure
Closes: 30 min before arrival
Payment
Accepts: EUR, DKK, SEK
Cards: All major cards
No USD or GBP accepted
Limits
EU passengers: No limits
Non-EU: Standard duty-free allowances apply
Local Secrets & Hidden Gems
The Crew's Favorites
- Morning Pick-Me-Up: Espresso with a Danish "brunsviger" cake from the café at 7 AM – before the breakfast buffet opens and the café gets crowded.
- Best Value Meal: The "Worker's Lunch" – not on the menu, but ask for "arbejderfrokost" at the café counter. €8.50 for a substantial meal.
- Sunset Spot: Port side, deck 8, near the outdoor seating area. Sheltered from wind with perfect sunset views.
- Quiet Zone: Deck 6, forward lounge after 2 PM – families have left, business travelers haven't arrived yet.
Seasonal Specials
- Spring (Apr-May): White asparagus with hollandaise – German tradition meets Danish execution at the Kitchen Buffet.
- Summer (Jun-Aug): Hansens is ice cream on the sun deck – the salted caramel with Danish sea salt is exceptional.
- Autumn (Sep-Nov): Warm soups in the Food Express – the fish soup is surprisingly good for cafeteria food.
- Winter (Dec-Mar): Hot chocolate at Scandlines Coffee – ask for extra marshmallows, they don't charge extra.
"After five years of weekly crossings for business, I've learned that the best meal isn't always in the restaurant. Grab some smoked fish sandwiches from the Food Express, a Danish beer, and head to the sun deck. On a sunny day with calm seas, it beats any indoor dining experience. The crew calls this 'deck dining' – and many regulars swear by it."
Perfect Timing – When to Eat
2-Hour Crossing Timeline
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0-15 minutes: Boarding Complete
Head straight to the restaurant if you want breakfast/lunch without queues. The buffet is freshest now.
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15-30 minutes: Departure
Shop opens. Best time to browse without crowds. Café is quiet – perfect for coffee and pastry.
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30-60 minutes: Mid-Journey
Restaurant peak time. If eating now, expect waits. Bar is pleasant, especially outdoor seating.
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60-90 minutes: Second Service
Restaurant quieter again. Kitchen preparing for next sailing – great time for made-to-order dishes.
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90-120 minutes: Approach
Last call at bar and shop. Grab sandwiches to-go if continuing your journey by car.
Money-Saving Tips
- Breakfast buffet includes coffee – don't buy separately
- Kids under 4 eat free at buffet
- Bring empty water bottle – free refill stations on deck 6 & 7
- Combo meals at café save €2-3
- Group discount (6+) at restaurant – 10% off
Plan Your Complete Journey
Travel Without Car
Complete guide to exploring Denmark using public transport from the ferry.
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