Cruise Frog guide
Havila Voyages
Havila Voyages, the international name of the Norwegian company Havila Kystruten, sails four sister ships on the coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes, the classic Norwegian coastal voyage it shares with Hurtigruten. The ships run under a contract with Norway's Ministry of Transport, carrying local passengers and cargo as well as cruise guests, and sell round trips as well as one-way northbound and southbound voyages.
Style
Premium
smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream
Best for
- Couples
- History and culture
- Solo travelers
Fleet rating
No ships rated yet.
About Havila Voyages
The company was founded in Fosnavåg in November 2017, is listed on Euronext Growth in Oslo, and its largest shareholder is Havila Holding. Havila Capella entered service in December 2021 and Havila Castor in May 2022; Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux followed in August 2023 after a Spanish yard's financial trouble and sanctions on the fleet's financier delayed them. All four were completed at the Tersan yard in Turkey to a Havyard design, with LNG engines and some of the largest battery packs fitted to passenger ships, allowing up to four hours of emission-free sailing.
Each ship has 179 cabins and suites, restaurants built around ingredients from towns and villages along the route, a glass-roofed lounge for watching the northern lights or midnight sun, and outdoor hot tubs.
What Havila Voyages is known for
Havila's ships are the newest on the Norwegian coastal route, and reviewers often praise their Scandinavian interiors, comfortable cabins, regional food and quiet, low-emission sailing. The company has won attention for its technology: Havila Capella received the Next Generation Ship Award at Nor-Shipping in 2022, and Havila Castor was the first cruise ship to sail the Geirangerfjord emission-free.
Its early years were disrupted. Sanctions on the company that financed the ships left Havila Capella tied up in Bergen for part of 2022 and pushed the start of Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux to August 2023. Travelers comparing Havila with Hurtigruten should also note practical differences: the ships cannot load and unload cars at most ports on the route, and Havila does not carry electric or hybrid cars. The onboard program is quieter than on larger cruise ships, which suits some guests more than others.
Who it's for
Havila suits travelers who want the classic Norwegian coastal voyage on a new ship, with a calm, design-led atmosphere and lower emissions than older vessels. It works well for couples, solo travelers and first-time visitors to Norway, on the full round trip or a one-way leg, and for anyone who wants to watch coastal life from a comfortable lounge rather than follow a busy activity schedule.
Travelers who want a Svalbard voyage, an all-inclusive Signature-style product or a larger ship with more entertainment should compare Hurtigruten and other lines, and anyone hoping to bring an electric or hybrid car on board should look elsewhere.
- Couples
- romantic dining, quiet spaces, balcony cabins
- History and culture
- port-intensive itineraries, lectures, included excursions
- Solo travelers
- studio cabins, low or no single supplement, easy to meet people
How it rates
None of Havila Voyages's ships has been rated yet. A line's rating is the average of its ships' scores.
Where Havila Voyages sails
Ships
Havila Capella2021 · 15,519 GT · 468 guests · Norwegian FjordsHavila Capella was the first of Havila Voyages' four identical coastal ships, built at the Tersan yard in Turkey, launched in September 2020 and placed in service on 12 December…
Havila Castor2022 · 15,519 GT · 468 guests · Norwegian FjordsHavila Castor, the second of the four sisters, was delivered by the Tersan yard in Turkey in April 2022 and made her maiden voyage on 10 May 2022. On 2 June 2022 she became the…
Havila Polaris2023 · 15,519 GT · 468 guests · Norwegian FjordsHavila Polaris was ordered from the Barreras yard in Spain, but when that yard ran into financial trouble the partly built hull was towed to Tersan in Turkey, which finished her…
Havila Pollux2023 · 15,519 GT · 468 guests · Norwegian FjordsHavila Pollux, the fourth and last of the series, followed the same path as Havila Polaris: begun at the Barreras yard in Spain, completed at Tersan in Turkey and delayed by…Where to fly in
- Bergen Airport, Flesland (BGO)4 Havila Voyages ships sail from Bergen, Norway1 lounge on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Havila Voyages known for?
Havila's ships are the newest on the Norwegian coastal route, and reviewers often praise their Scandinavian interiors, comfortable cabins, regional food and quiet, low-emission sailing. The company has won attention for its technology: Havila Capella received the Next Generation Ship Award at Nor-Shipping in 2022, and Havila Castor was the first cruise ship to sail the Geirangerfjord emission-free.
Who is Havila Voyages best for?
Havila suits travelers who want the classic Norwegian coastal voyage on a new ship, with a calm, design-led atmosphere and lower emissions than older vessels. It works well for couples, solo travelers and first-time visitors to Norway, on the full round trip or a one-way leg, and for anyone who wants to watch coastal life from a comfortable lounge rather than follow a busy activity schedule.
Where does Havila Voyages sail?
Havila Voyages's ships in service sail Norwegian Fjords (4 ships).
How many ships does Havila Voyages have?
Havila Voyages has 4 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Havila Capella, Havila Castor, Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux.
Who owns Havila Voyages?
Havila Voyages is part of Havila Holding AS.
Where is Havila Voyages based?
Havila Voyages is headquartered in Fosnavåg, Norway. It has operated since 2017.
What is the largest Havila Voyages ship?
Havila Capella is Havila Voyages's largest ship at 15,519 gross tons, carrying 468 guests.
Cruising with children
Havila is best approached as a coastal journey with the family. Plan around the actual port timetable and cabin arrangement, with time together watching the scenery.
Read the Havila Voyages family guide →