Looking at Norway on the map, you can imagine that Thor took his hammer to it, smashing the long coastline into pieces.
In fact, its 63,962 miles, including 50,000 islands and 1,190 fjords, were created by Ice Age glaciers, making it the second longest coastline in the world (after Canada), which means, surprisingly, that Norway is a country with a maritime history. heritage, from Vikings to polar explorers.
Since 1893, ships have been plying their way up and down Norway’s coastal towns and villages, many of which have no road access, some even to this day. Called Hurtigruten (“express route”), the ships operated a bus-like schedule that ferried goods, mail, cargo and people across 34 ports from Bergen to Kirkenes, 2,500 nautical miles further north.
In the 1960s, a network of airplanes began to replace transportation needs, and at the same time ships began to see an increase in passengers just there for the ride – no wonder, as the scenery along this pristine coastline is nothing short of spectacular .
As the needs changed, so did the operations. In 2006, the Hurtigruten Group was launched, offering a combined cargo and cruise line, and currently has 16 ships in its fleet. It enjoyed a monopoly until 2020, when a new kid on the block, Havila Voyages, was granted a license to travel the route.
It wasn’t a smooth sailing — the pandemic caused ship delivery delays and a tourism shutdown — but Havila Voyages is finally enjoying its first real sailing season, and it’s been worth the wait.
Havila operates a fleet of four identical, 640-berth, brand new, eco-friendly, gas and battery-powered hybrid ships with a pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030. Not only are the ships soft , comfortable and quiet, but its cleanliness also means that the Havila fleet is also given the privilege of sailing in Norway’s protected fjords, such as Trollfjord i favorite on Instagram, where mountains and waterfalls seem to close in around the ship as you navigate the narrow channel.
Your options along this path are endless. Take a two-day trip (from $170), or do all 11 nights, end-to-end (from $1,530), picking up your Arctic Circle crossing certificate as you go.
Some tourists (and locals) use the ship as a ferry – I had visions of passengers drying their socks on the radiators, thankfully that’s not the case – and sometimes there are only 20 minutes between stops. So if you go on a cruise excursion (think, any winter sport, dog or reindeer sledding, sea eagle watching, city explorations, a stop at the Russian border, even partying with Vikings) you can come back for met ships further along the way.
You can even stop for a few nights in a traditional Norwegian fisherman’s cottage. The one-week Lofoten Hop-on/Hop-off trip includes an interlude for two or three nights in an authentic rorbucomplete with seasonal adventures curated by travel partner Up Norway (prices from $7,201).
Simply as a sailing experience, Havila Voyages does not disappoint. The cabins are modern, sleek and comfortable, and the ship boasts all the usual trappings – bars, restaurants, a shop, a small children’s area, a hot tub on deck (perfect for viewing the Northern Lights) and, since we’re in Scandi land, a sauna.
What you won’t find is karaoke, bingo or any entertainment (except for a few puzzles.) Who needs that when there’s so much natural beauty to soak up through the panoramic windows? And there’s another cruise staple you won’t find—hell of the hot all-you-can-eat buffet.
Lunch and breakfast is a curated menu of small plates; choose as much and as much as you like, brought to your table. Dinner is a choice of entrees, with sides served family style. On all meals, part of the menu remains the same throughout the voyage, with other offerings changing daily to reflect the area you’re currently sailing in, sourced directly from the region.
Renowned Norwegian chef Gunnar Hvarnes is behind this food concept.
“I want to show Norwegian food and drink at its best,” he said. Traditional recipes are used, such as fenalår (dried and salted leg of lamb), cured deer and smoked salmon.
“We have to highlight good Norwegian ingredients in a simple way, and then we have to serve food on different levels, from the simple but good and crispy waffle in the cafe, to the best venison fillet in the delicious restaurant,” he said.
Not only is this a delicious way to explore Norwegian cuisine, but it’s also another incentive for environmental commitment. Getting rid of the buffet means just 58 grams of food waste per passenger per night of the cruise – 75% less than normal and reducing the amount of food waste by around 65 tonnes per year, according to Lasse Vangstein, Havila’s head of communications and sustainability Voyages. officer.
“Sustainability is at the core of our business, from reducing our emissions, to creating value and jobs along Norway’s coast, to how we approach our food concept,” he said. “With the exception of some fruits and spices that are not grown in Norway, all of our food products on board are sourced and produced in Norway, mainly along the coast that we operate on a daily basis. Our founding father, chairman of the board and majority owner, Per Sævik, has stated that ‘We are navigating world heritage. So should the generations to come.’
Havila Voyages sails that heritage route all year round – summer will bring you 24 hours of daylight and midnight sun picnics; winter brings snow sports and the northern lights. Official announcements from the bridge will alert you to any aurora borealis sightings (for those who hate a wake-up call, you won’t hear this in your cabin unless you enable your phone setting to do so.)
There is also a Northern Lights promise for passengers who have booked the return trip from Bergen between October. March 1 and 31. If the lights don’t appear, you’ll get a 6 or 7-day trip completely free.
Even if they don’t show up, you can be sure to witness jaw-dropping beauty around every steep bend, from the world heritage site of Geiranger to the stunning Lofoten archipelago. Prepare to be enchanted by cities like Tromsø, with its cable car that takes you up the mountain to see the twinkling lights of the city below, or Trondheim, surrounded by water, with its magnificent Nidaros Cathedral.
Be sure that with all the culture, pure food, fresh air and tranquility, you will fall in love with Norway.
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Image Source : nypost.com