Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Havila Voyages Review: What It's Like to Cruise Norway's Coast

havila cruise

In the main lounge there are cosy "fireplaces" that make a crackling sound and comfortable chairs and other fixtures in Scandinavian blonde oak wood. Until now the route has been served by Hurtigruten, and Havila Capella is the first new ship in 18 years. In 2018 the Norwegian government split the coastal into three contracts, to run from 2021 to 2030, in order to introduce competition. Newly formed Havila Voyages won one of the contracts and Hurtigruten retained two. Havila Capella is the first of Havila Voyages' four new ships which have impressive eco credentials.

Coastal express voyages 6-7 days

Everything is organized for an efficient workout.The view from the fitness rooms is truly spectacular, with large windows providing panoramic views of the beautiful landscape. If you wish to take a walk or jog while we're in harbour, we can suggest routes for you. We invite you onboard Havila Voyages' ships with décor that reflects Norwegian landscapes including the sea, the sky, mountains and glaciers. Our ships are an experience in their own right, built to enhance your voyage and overall experience by focusing on sustainability, space and comfort at sea. Explore the fjords and the midnight sun in the peak season along the Norwegian coast.

havila cruise

Other onboard facilities

The shipping company is thus clearly positioning itself against food waste (saving over 60 tons per year) as part of its sustainability strategy. Now you can experience the traditional coastal route – and the best of Norway – in brand new, and more eco-friendly ships. Feel the power of nature; the majestic mountains, the vivid water, the stunning Northern lights dancing across the night sky, all while enjoying the modern comfort of a Havila Voyages coastal cruise ship. At the heart of the ship are two state-of-the-art engines that run on LNG as standard or battery power as an alternative. From the engine control room, not only the engines and propulsion systems, but also all power consumption on the ship is controlled and readjusted if necessary. At least two technicians always have an eye on the various monitors and display panels 24/7.

How To Spend 24 Hours In Bergen Before Norway's Coastal Cruise - Forbes

How To Spend 24 Hours In Bergen Before Norway's Coastal Cruise.

Posted: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Welcome to Havila Voyages

In the Havila Shop, you'll find all the essentials for your journey - from toiletries and select pharmacy items to practical clothing for your excursions. We stock renowned clothing brands such as Devold, Skogstad, and Dale of Norway. These high-quality clothes are designed specifically for the Norwegian climate. Other onboard facilities include two saunas, a gym split over two rooms, a small laundry for guest use, and a luggage room. Local passengers can also book a reclining seat in a port-to-port lounge on deck 4. At the front of deck 9, the observation lounge known as Havblikk is perhaps my favourite spot on the ship.

It’s where the restaurants, Havly Café, store and several common areas are located. Natural materials and Scandinavian design create a cozy, authentic and relaxed atmosphere, which immediately increases the feel-good factor. Garish colors have no place in the stylish decor; at most, they can be found in an Aperol Spritz at the bar. In a fireplace lounge-like common area forward in the bow (including an electric fireplace), comfortable reading chairs and a small library invite guests to linger. I imagine this cozy feeling of warmth to be a favorite spot especially when traveling in the winter months.

Norway Coastal Cruise: How Havila’s New Ships Compare With Hurtigruten

To have no price worries for the trip, use the fixed-rate beverage packages. The special thing about Havila Voyages, they offer beverage packages with and without alcohol according to units (30, 50 or 70). For those who want to step it up a notch in terms of taste as well as artful presentation, Hildring Fine Dining’s five-course signature menu celebrates the appropriate Norwegian delicacies on the plate. The following itinerary map shows the Norwegian Coastal Express (ferry route) operated by Hurtigruten and Havila Kystruten (since 2021).

The majority of cabins are Seaview Superior, in a twin or double bed configuration with a sofa bed that can accommodate two children or adults. The largest staterooms are the pair of Lighthouse Suites, situated high on Deck 8, which measure 484 square feet with a 161-square-foot balcony. They feature separate living and bedroom areas and the veranda has a hot tub. In October 2023, Matthew Valentine (Havila Voyages' Head of Sales for UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe) announced that ~12% of its revenue comes from North Americans.

havila cruise

Northbound

Little did he know that the very same route, which is now stretching all the way from Bergen in the west to Kirkenes in the North, would become among the most popular tourist attractions in Norwegian history. The reason is obvious; traveling the Norwegian fjords this way reveals the most breathtaking views of the rugged cliffs, sea birds, harbors, and small villages that dot the entire coastline. For eco-minded travelers, perhaps the most interesting fact about Havila’s ships is that they operate as plug-in hybrids.

When they’re not operating on battery power, Havila’s ships run on liquid natural gas (LNG) that’s being gradually blended with biogas from waste created by fish and land farms in Norway, which drastically reduces the fleet’s carbon footprint. But biogas is only a “midterm solution,” explains Lasse Vangstein, Havila’s Chief Communications and Marketing Officer. The ships are designed to be able to convert to clean-burning hydrogen power as soon as it becomes commercially viable.

It's also possible to walk all the way around the front of the ship here, as there is a narrow walkway that wraps around the outside of the panoramic lounge. One example menu I spotted included cod from Lofoten, Norwegian farm duck, and reindeer from Finnmark. Learn everything you need to know about accessibility on board our ships. As is well known, the price level in Norway for food, drinks and groceries is very high.

Each vessel is equipped with two battery rooms that together hold roughly the same amount of stored energy as 80 Teslas when the batteries are fully charged. That translates to approximately four hours of zero-emission battery power while the ship is underway. The batteries are charged at ports along the coast using shore power from hydropower plants, a renewable energy source that’s ubiquitous in Norway.

They are required to book dining times, to stagger the number of passengers in at any one time, and these timings are flexible and can be changed from day to day if required. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served here with dishes freshly cooked to order from the open kitchen in the centre of the room. The colour scheme in public areas and cabins is inspired by the sea, sky, mountains and glaciers, with a predominantly blue and cream colour palette. There are wave-like patterns on the walls and carpets and even shower screens resemble snow and water.

Port-to-port passengers (and port visitors like me!) will be interested in the Havly cafe. As you've probably guessed by now, the cafe's layout is designed to maximise the use of the large windows. Open for three meals per day, Havrand offers an all a la carte concept. Instead of a buffet, there is a menu of small dishes for breakfast and lunch, while a more standard a la carte menu is available for the evening meal. It doesn't take you long to realise this ship is very different from the other coastal cruise ferries. You enter into this wonderful atrium with a skylight that floods the ship with natural light.

With Otto Sverdrup, Hurtigruten became the world's first cruise company to resume operations. Two cruiseferries (Richard With, Vesteralen) remained operational but passenger-free, transporting only goods (including medical supplies and provisions) to Norwegian destinations affected by travel restrictions. On Hurtigruten ships, breakfast and lunch service usually takes the form of a lavish buffet. In contrast, Havila operates an a la carte approach to almost all meals, which they claim substantially reduces food waste. Menus for breakfast and lunch are based on a small dish concept, allowing guests to order as much or as little as desired. While Hurtigruten’s concept of a fish and seafood-dominated menu with local ingredients taken onboard at many ports is the same on Havila, the service concept is a little different.

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