There are cruise ships, and then there’s a Havila Voyages Norway cruise. We wanted to see Norway’s wild coast, but the thought of those behemoth, super-ships—with their endless buffets and plastic “fun”—gave Angela a serious case of the ick. We weren’t signing up for a floating Vegas or an overfed theme park at sea. We wanted something real. Something raw. Something that actually felt Norwegian.
This is our Havila Voyages Norway cruise—an experience that stripped cruising of every ick and rewired what we ever thought a voyage could be.
The Ship: Clean Lines, Big Views, and Eco Credentials
Step onto Havila’s Capella and you’ll get it. There’s no chaos, no hordes, no manic “fun” committee. Instead, what you see are floor-to-ceiling windows everywhere—real scenery all the time. Nordic design: muted colors, nothing gaudy, just straight-up elegance. Room for everyone, but never crowded. When Angela says the ship “looked like it was cleaned with a Q-tip,” she isn’t joking—spotless, top to bottom.
And the tech? Mixed fuels and DC batteries for those delicate fjords—no dirty exhaust ruining your Instagram shots. Havilah is clearly on a mission to be gentle on the planet, which means portion control at meals, local ingredients sourced straight from port stops, and barely a whiff of waste. Not your average cruise launcher.
The Excursions: Arctic Walks, City Vibes, and Russia Right There
Forget casino nights and karaoke contests—our Havila Voyages Norway cruise was about getting off the boat and into the wild, sometimes weird heart of the country. We picked a handful of excursions (not every stop, because honestly, sometimes you just want to chill on the balcony).
Bodo Coastal Hike
After two days of rain pelting the decks, blue skies broke open for Bodo. Off the ship, straight into fresh arctic air. The hiking trail pulled us past sleepy coastline—fjords on one side, Viking tales on the other. Locals wandered the path with us; no fences, no showy “tourist route,” just open Norwegian wilderness. We ended the hike with hot tea, stories about the real Viking past, community, and a wind that could wake the dead.
Tromso: World Peace, Yarn, and Wooden Bones
Tromso is the Norway you don’t see in travel ads: rugged, tame, and oddly soulful. The ship docked right in downtown—a quick stroll and you’re under the city’s spell. Timber buildings, like something out of a Scandinavian Western. Cafés and yarn shops everywhere. We wandered into Fredsdepartementet, a storefront for world conversations. Inside: three women and a baby, sipping coffee, talking politics, global worries, and life at the edge of Europe. Just people you’d never meet anywhere else, curious, generous, and blunt.
Gallery tip: For a taste of local culture, check out Pen News (link placeholder).
Honningsvag & The North Cape: Standing at the Edge
Honningsvag led us to the North Cape—literally where the land runs out and the globe curves away. Forty minutes by bus, past shattered granite and hardy brush. No trees. Just wind, sun, blue ocean, and that line where sea melts into sky. The North Cape orb marks your arrival—here, you realize your place in the universe isn’t so big.
Dress code: windbreaker and hat, unless you’re into frostbite tourism.
Kirkenes: Russian Borders & Bomb Shelters
Kirkenes threw us into history—a border tour with Russia almost within reach, and World War II scars visible everywhere. Our guide pointed out the lines: pre-Covid, Norwegians, Finns, and Russians crisscrossed the border for shopping and vodka. Now? It’s strictly business—no hand-waving, just stark fences and seriousness. We stood at the end of the Schengen zone, snapped pictures, and felt the weight of geopolitics. Then, down into a real bomb shelter, seeing reminders of how fragile peace really is.
Note: We got off of the ship at this point so we strolled through Kirkenes and discovered a wonderful little Italian deli on the edge of the earth. If you find yourself in Kirkenes, be sure to visit: Johnny’s Lunch Bar . Also drop by Pikene News and tell them we said hello. It’s a great spot to take in the local happenings.
Note: Once we stepped off the ship in Kirkenes, that was the end of our voyage. So, at the edge of Norway and nearly the edge of the earth—we figured we’d stretch our legs and see what kind of trouble we could find beyond the itinerary. That’s how we landed at a gem called Johnny’s Lunch Bar: a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Italian deli slinging plates that make you wonder if you’re still north of the Arctic Circle. The food was a surprise: top-shelf Italian cooking in a tiny town no one ever expects to be a hotspot. Angela swears it was the first proper salad she’d seen in weeks, and everything else was pretty much knock-your-socks-off delicious.
If you’re wandering Kirkenes with a curious streak, duck into Pikene News while you’re at it. The gallery and cultural center are plugged right into the local current. We spent a while there soaking up the vibe—stories, freedom of the press, and what’s rattling the community. Tell them Angela and Norman sent you. It’s the place to be if you want to catch the pulse of Kirkenes, far from anything you’ll find on the cruise circuit.
Dining Done Different: Local Plates, Smart Portions, Real Taste
But let’s get real—food matters. On Havila, you get three restaurants. Fine dining, café for burgers and crazy-good vegan fries, and a big open buffet. But no “stuff your face” nonsense; portions are right, local mushrooms and fish picked up from tiny ports. Plates are small, flavors big. Want wine? You buy wine—no pre-paid luxury packages sneaking into your bill. For us, the vegan burger at the café turned into a repeat obsession.
Workout Views & Laundry Snags
The gym is… well, let’s say motivation comes naturally when you’re running in front of fjords flowing past floor-to-ceiling glass. Pack more than one set of workout clothes (trust us), and be ready to hustle for the washer and dryer—two machines for 300+ people means laundry is a sport.
The Havila Voyages Norway Cruise Difference: Quiet, Mindful, and Actually About Norway
If you’re expecting cocktails by the pool and Broadway wannabes hoofing it through dinner, just close this tab. This is not the ship for you. Havila Voyages Norway cruise is all about the place: land, sea, sky and real Norwegian living. Excursions mean hiking with locals, history on the edge, and conversations about peace and politics instead of shuffleboard. Evenings are for looking out at water, chasing northern lights (the crew gives you a heads-up when they’re dancing), and reflecting on what you’ve seen.
This isn’t a cruise—it’s Norway, unplugged. We wanted fjords, mystery, and reality. We got those and more: border crossings, new friends, wind, local food, and stories we didn’t expect. Bucket list things we didn’t even know existed. No glitz, no grind, just the kind of trip that stays in your bones—long after you find your way home.
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