One of many latest ships crusing the Norwegian coastal route, Havila Polaris is a snug strategy to see the very best of Norway. Come on board and take a better look.
I just lately spent 11 nights crusing the total roundtrip voyage on Norway’s coastal route. It’s the second time I’ve sailed the historic route between Bergen and Kirkenes.
Common readers can have already seen my every day diary from the journey. It was fairly the journey! Winter storms, ice motels, and northern ligths have been only a few of the highlights.
However now, I need to spend a bit of time speaking in regards to the ship, so you may resolve if a voyage on Havila Polaris is best for you.
Watch: Havila Polaris Ship Tour
I do know lots of you like to observe slightly than learn, so I’ve produced a whole ship tour video. This consists of the general public areas and a take a look at among the completely different kinds of cabin. Take pleasure in:
Should you loved the video, please do learn on for extra photos and knowledge.
Introducing Havila Polaris
Havila Polaris is certainly one of 4 coastal cruise ferries from Havila crusing the Norwegian costal route. Powered by LNG and batteries, they’re the latest, greenest ships crusing the coastal route as we speak.
All 4 Havila ships are basically the identical. Which means in the event you select to sail Havila Capella, for instance, this ship tour and overview will nonetheless be simply as helpful.
It’s necessary to say up entrance that the Havila Polaris is primarily a working ferry and never a cruise ship, nevertheless it does supply an excellent snug expertise for cruise passengers.
The design takes a variety of inspiration from cruise ships equivalent to prime quality cabins, a unbelievable remark lounge, and a selection of lounges and eating venues.
Embarkation and Reception
I boarded in Bergen, which is the place roundtrip cruise passengers board. Right here you’ll discover a terminal the place you check-in, however if you’re taking a shorter voyage and boarding some other place, you’ll possible simply stroll straight on.
All embarkation, disembarkation, and port name service aside from in Bergen takes place utilizing the primary gangway main into the reception space on deck 4.
Company acquainted with the coastal route will instantly discover the distinction, with an ethereal atrium and glass elevator taking satisfaction of place.
The primary reception is staffed 24/7. There’s a small baggage storage room right here for passengers who’re travelling brief distances, or those that have checked out of their cabins previous to departure.
The primary stairwell and elevator results in all flooring, so let’s begin the tour by going all the way in which to the highest of the ship.
This atrium is an excellent characteristic of the ship and helps fill the general public areas with pure mild. The ship isn’t massive so I didn’t use the elevators fairly often, however I all the time loved the arrival up on deck 9, with the skin view typically contrasting with the heat contained in the ship.
Statement Lounge
Deck 9 is called the promenade deck, which because the title implies is especially an out of doors deck. Nevertheless, on the entrance of the deck is this glorious remark lounge and bar, known as Havblikk.
This room is a lightweight, ethereal house with unbelievable views from nearly all seats because of the big home windows and a raised space within the center.
After we have been crusing, this was the busiest lounge, particularly after 2pm when the bar was open. Wines, beers, spirits, coffees, gentle drinks, and cocktails are all accessible right here.
Within the afternoon, Havblikk additionally hosts a small snack lounge for passengers with the Havila Gold bundle. Within the evenings, the occasional occasion passed off right here together with a trivia contest and a dwell efficiency by one of many crew.
Promenade – Deck 9
The remainder of deck 9 is all outdoors, starting with an excellent walkway that wraps all the way in which across the outdoors of the remark lounge.
You’ll be able to see the ocean beneath this a part of the walkway although, so it’s not for many who get a bit of nervous about these items.
Nevertheless I believe the view from up right here is effectively price it. I notably loved this spot throughout sail-ins and sailaways, though I used to be all the time a bit of aware about not standing proper in entrance of somebody who had a window seat within the remark lounge!
This outside promenade deck continues all the way in which to the again of the ship. This can be a unbelievable place for searching the northern lights, or simply absorbing the surroundings. In fact, it’s windy out right here more often than not, particularly when the ship is at sea,so that you’ll must wrap up.
The walkway on the aft of the ship is presumably the very best place for panorama pictures Costume effectively and also you’ll get some nice photographs from right here together with the wake and the flag of Norway.
Spa & Health – Decks 7 & 8
Other than the bridge and two unique suites, deck 8 is one other outside deck. It’s right here you’ll discover the 2 sizzling tubs, open all through the day so long as sea circumstances enable. And sure, folks do use them within the winter!
Close to the recent tubs you’ll discover an out of doors bar, open for intervals all through the cruise, notably when the Havila Meals Tales occasions happen. When the bar is closed, that is nonetheless an excellent space for watching the world go by within the daytime, or stargazing or northern lights searching by evening.
Simply inside, you’ll discover two saunas. There’s entry doorways to those from each the within and out of doors components of the deck. Sadly there was a difficulty with the doorways on our voyage in order that they have been out of motion for a lot of the journey.
One ground down on deck 7, you’ll discover a choice of premium rooms and inside cabins. Other than these, there are two separate health rooms right here, one on both aspect of the ship.
One is for cardio coaching and one is for weight coaching. Each rooms are small however they’ve good views and have been typically very quiet all through the voyage.
Eating Venues – Deck 6
Nearly all of the ship’s services are situated on one primary deck, deck 6. First issues first, this deck is rather well designed, making glorious use of pure mild.
Each accessible window house has snug chairs close by enabling friends to profit from the surroundings.
The Havly Cafe is open till late and serves snacks, drinks together with beers and a menu of sunshine meals. This cafe is designed primarily to serve native passengers, though roundtrip cruise passengers can use the realm too in fact.
I spent a variety of time in right here, and never simply because one of many espresso machine and cinnamon buns! The ever altering view by the big home windows is best than any cafe I’ve been to earlier than. I additionally selected to order a pizza or a burger in right here when the timing for lunch didn’t work out for me, due to a port name or different causes.
Via the cafe and previous this relaxed seating space is the ship’s primary restaurant, known as Havrand. This huge house on the aft of deck 6 is the place roundtrip passengers will get pleasure from breakfast, lunch and dinner, all served a la carte.
You’ll hold the identical desk for all three meals all through your journey. The design of this spacious restaurant means there are many window seats and good views from in every single place else. It’s undoubtedly a nice place for 3 meals a day.
Should you fancy a change, there’s the cafe however there’s additionally a positive eating restaurant, Hildring. This comes at an additional cost. Suite passengers can even order breakfast in right here.
Different Services – Deck 6
However there’s extra to deck 6 than simply the eating venues. In direction of the entrance of the ship, there’s the tour desk for reserving journeys and making normal enquiries about locations.
Beside this, a small convention room is used primarily by the expedition workforce to provide every day updates on the voyage, accessible excursions, and any normal info. In addition they share some small insights into Norwegian tradition every day, themed across the present vacation spot.
Additionally situated right here is the ship’s store. This sells good high quality outside clothes from main Norwegian manufacturers, woollen clothes, hats, gloves and slippers, Havila branded gadgets, postcards, mugs, books, presents and private gadgets and toiletries that you might have forgotten to convey.
The ahead a part of deck 6 is taken up by the bow lounge, which I discovered to be one of many quietest components of the ship. That’s possible as a result of there have been fewer home windows right here.
However, I discovered it an excellent stress-free house particularly within the evenings. My most popular spot was these snug chairs by the crackling hearth. Not an actual hearth, in fact, however the crackling sound helped create the phantasm!
There’s additionally jigsaws right here and a small space for youngsters, not that you just’ll most likely encounter too many on board until it’s the varsity trip interval.
Seaview Cabin
Now, I do know a variety of you studying will likely be most within the passenger lodging, so let’s get going with that. One factor I do like in regards to the Polaris is that even on one of many cabin decks, deck 5, there’s a snug lounge with massive home windows.
My cabin although was on deck 4, on the very entrance of the ship. That did imply I felt the motion extra, nevertheless it additionally meant I had a otherwise formed cabin, with more room.
That is certainly one of simply two cabins on deck 4 with this configuration. Common seaview rooms have all the identical services, however are laid out extra like a daily cruise ship cabin.
Talking of which, the cabins are completely as much as the usual of a cruise ship, and much better than you’d anticipate finding on a ferry.
One of many advantages of it being a brand new ship is that the heating and air-con system truly works! That’s one thing that’s not often the case on older ships, and even in motels.
Services included an in-room kettle, a TV, a fridge which I saved stocked with gentle drinks purchased from supermarkets ashore – one other advantage of travelling on a ferry – and a phone.
The telephone doubled as a loudspeaker for the ship large bulletins together with northern lights alerts, however provided that you needed them. This was non-obligatory, and a easy button press turned the bulletins on and off.
Better of all, the room had loads of cupboard space, so it was straightforward to maintain tidy. My suitcase match underneath the mattress, all the time a plus.
Different Visitor Lodging
Throughout a quiet port name, the resort supervisor was type sufficient to let me take a fast take a look at among the different grades of cabin that have been vacant.
Firstly, I noticed one of many Junior Suites, of which there are simply 10 on the Havila Polaris. These comprise a snug residing and dealing space, a bed room space, and a balcony. The TV might be flipped between the 2 areas, and there’s a barely larger toilet.
Inside cabins are a lot smaller however nonetheless snug. The within cabins are actually designed for shorter journeys. Most sleep two, however one of many beds will likely be a fold-down mattress. They’re essentially the most economical strategy to journey.
That being stated, there’s yet one more choice. There’s a port-to-port lounge, designed for passengers travelling comparatively brief distances however who don’t want or must guide a cabin. The lounge options reclining chairs, a TV, and a espresso machine.
There’s a small laundry on board, which might turn out to be useful for these taking the total roundtrip.
I totally loved my time on the Havila Polaris. Should you’re questioning extra in regards to the total expereinces and different accessible choices, try our article all in regards to the Norwegian coastal route.
