Havila Voyages
Fodor’s Expert Review
Havila voyages operates four identical sister ships on Norway’s Kystruten, or Coast Route. The route is subsidized by the Norwegian government and is also called the Hurtigruten (Express Route), which is somewhat confusingly also the name of the other company operating the service (the Norwegian government has split the contract between the two companies).Read More
The service in the route is sort of half-ferry, half-cruise. In addition to tourists, the ships also carry cargo, passenger vehicles, and local residents traveling between the ports on the route. Many of the port calls in the smaller towns are just ten minutes, enough to load and offload small groups of passengers and freight. In larger towns or those of interest to tourists, the stops can last a full- or half-day.
Most cruisers, however, are there for the scenery. Relax with a book or a puzzle, a cozy sweater and perhaps a glass of Norwegian aquavit and just watch the spectacular Norwegian coast float by.
Cabins are comfortable with clean-lined Nordic design. There’s a wide range, from basic interior rooms with bunk beds to seaview and panoramic view rooms. Most of the exterior rooms are designed like typical cruise ship rooms with a pair of single or full-size twin beds. Rooms are well-wired with outlets and have a minibar, coffee and tea maker, TV, safe, and free WiFi. Bathrooms are stocked with local Norway-made Fitjar Islands bath products.
There are two suite categories, which come with a package of extra amenities, including welcome sparkling wine and the ability to dine in the fine dining restaurant Hildring instead of the main dining room for breakfast and lunch (dinners remain available for a separate cover on specific evenings during the voyage).
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What to Expect on Board
Havila is known for paying homage to the regional cuisines of Norway, and rotates menus based on the region the ship is sailing through.
There are two separate menus for the Fjords region to the south, and the Polar Region to the north. There’s also a roundtrip menu of always-available standard dishes at every meal, regardless of region. On all menus there’s an extensive selection of meatless options.
Most guests dine in the main dining room, Havrand. Breakfasts are buffet-style, with guests selecting their cold items from a buffet; they can also order drinks and hot items, tapas-style, which are delivered by staff. There’s a selection of cheeses, smoked salmon, yogurt, muesli, bacon and eggs, veal sausages with baked beans, pancakes, meatballs in tomato sauce, hot cereals, pancakes, fruit, salads, cold cuts, or smoothies.
Lunches are also served tapas-style, with a mix of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes, including salads, soups, schnitzels, and salads. Portions are on the small side, but the staff don’t judge passenger with larger appetites who order plenty of dishes.
Dinner is three courses—starter, main, and dessert, with a two meat or seafood options and two vegetarian options for the starters and mains on the regional menu, and one of each type on the roundtrip “always available” menu. The focus is on Norwegian seafood like trout, salmon, and cod, with meats like steak, pork, or meatballs.
Suite guests dining in Hildring for breakfast and lunch enjoy a similar menu, but in the intimate, quieter space with attentive table service. At dinner, there’s an elevated regional tasting menu with a separate cover, and several theme evenings available during the voyage, like the king crab feast out of Tromsø and Hammerfest, and the nine-course farewell dinner out of Bodø.
Havly Café is an a la carte café offering ice creams, pastries, sandwiches, and other light snacks and beverages throughout the day, including cinnamon buns and skolebolle, a yeasted bun filled with custard and topped with shredded coconut.
Still water, coffee, and a tea are provided free at meals. Beverage packages are available in non-alcoholic and alcoholic varieties, based on a pre-paid number of units in increments of 50/70/100. Most beverages on the menu are included in the packages. There are also filtered water dispensers at various points on the ships.
Onboard entertainment is more in line with a ferry company than a cruise line.
You won’t find flashy stage shows onboard this ship, just port talks and good conversation with the expedition team, taking in the surrounding scenery (and the northern lights in the winter). There are also a limited number of cultural or scientific talks given by the expedition team.
The lack of whizzbang entertainments onboard is made up for in the quality of the shore excursions, which range from kayaking or hiking adventures in the ports where the ship spends a few hours, or a snowmobiling trek between two ports while the ship traverses them by sea. Highlights include trips to Nordkapp (North Cape) near Honinngsvåg, King Crab Safari or Dogsledding new Kirkenes, or a boat trip up Geirangerfjord while the ship is docked in Ålesund.
There are two fitness rooms on each ship—one for cardio, and one for weight training, where there are weight machines but no free weights.
There are two jacuzzis outdoors a the sun deck, and changing rooms with men’s and women’s saunas, which are available to all guests free of charge during the day. There are not, however, spa facilities offering spa treatments onboard.
Key cruising tips
Your Shipmates
A mix of tourists on package cruises and locals jumping the ferry between ports. Tourists are often a diverse group, with Americans, Britons, Germans and other Europeans typically among the largest contingents (onboard announcements are routinely given in Norwegian, English, and German), but it’s also not uncommon to see large groups of visitors from Japan or China onboard, particularly during the winter season for northern lights viewing. There also seem to be plenty of solo travelers onboard most sailings.
Dress Code
None. Guests are encouraged to dress for comfort.
Junior Cruisers
There’s a small children’s play area in an alcove on deck 6 of each ship, with a couple boxes of toddler-appropriate toys, a TV showing cartoons, and comfy beanbag chairs. The ships don’t provide any other children’s programming or children’s menus, although they’re open to special requests to accommodate dietary needs.
Service
Service, from the mostly Norwegian crew, is utterly Scandinavian – pleasant but direct, egalitarian and sensible. Although Havila is a younger company, many of the crew have worked on the coastal express route for years and know the ports intimately, so they’re often a good source for insider info.
Tipping
Tipping isn’t expected or commonly practiced in Norway or Scandinavia where pay and benefits are good. Fares on Havila Voyages include a service fee, but you can tip if you feel compelled.
Past Passengers
Havila Voyages doesn’t offer discounts or benefits to past passengers, but there are periodic offers or promotions available on their website.