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

Premiering this month on most PBS member stations, the new series People of the North spotlights lifestyle and culture in the north of Scandinavia along with a popular mode of transit.

While many viewers will be familiar with Norway’s coastal cruise ferry service, the series offers Americans a first glimpse of the brand new name on the route, Havila Voyages.

While Hurtigruten is the famous name on the route, Havila Voyages will soon run four out of every eleven departures on the famous route.

The 11-night voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back serves 34 ports as a cargo and passenger service, but doubles as a roundtrip cruise especially for key international markets including the U.S. and Germany.

Havila and Hurtigruten: Two companies, one route

Following a decision by the Norwegian government to open up competition on the coastal route, the two companies now share the regular coastal timetable. The existing departures have been split between the two companies.

So once the last of Havila’s new ships is ready, Havila will operate four ships on the route, with Hurtigruten operating seven. That means the two companies aren’t competing for every passenger or every cargo transit.

If you want to use the coastal route as a local ferry on a particular day, then you take whichever ship and whichever company is running the service on that day. Competition will be more intense for roundtrip cruise passengers, for whom travel dates are more flexible.

Many former Hurtigruten employees transferred over to Havila with the awarding of the new contracts, so there is a familiar feel to much of the service.

From the landscape as the entertainment to a seafood-focused menu, much of what you can expect on a Hurtigruten trip also applies to Havila, but there are a few differences to be aware of before booking a roundtrip cruise.

Brand new ships

The Havila vessels are the first new ships to be put into service on the coastal route in 18 years. They are some of the most environmentally-friendly vessels of their size operating anywhere in the world.

All four vessels are identical bar some minor differences in onboard artwork. They run on LNG and are capable of running totally emissions-free on battery power for up to four hours.

This means they were the first vessels of their size capable of meeting the Norwegian government’s upcoming requirements for zero-emissions cruising in the World Heritage fjords.

Meanwhile, Hurtigruten has begun the process of retrofitting its fleet with hybrid technology, and is a partner in a research project to launch a completely zero-emissions ship by 2030.

The Havila interiors are also strikingly different to the older Hurtigruten vessels. A modern Nordic aesthetic dominates, with clever design touches throughout the vessel.

Large windows are a feature of all public decks, with comfortable chairs lining every available window space to maximize the opportunity to enjoy the Norwegian landscape, even at dinner.

Bigger cabins

Aside from the compact interior cabins, the majority of cabins on the Havila ships are a little more spacious than their Hurtigruten equivalents. While this matters little for an overnight trip, it may sway your decision if you’re taking the full, 11-night voyage.

That being said, with so much lounge space and outdoor deck space on the new Havila vessels and so many port calls, you may not find yourself spending all that much time in your cabin anyway.

Different food concept

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.

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.

Whether you choose Hurtigruten or Havila for your Norwegian coastal voyage, you’ll have just as much opportunity to enjoy the Norwegian landscape. If you are eco-minded or have a keen interest in Scandinavian design, you may prefer Havila.