Our Norwegian Adventure - The What - The Havila Capella

That's our ship! 

As I mentioned, we'd never been on a cruise. 

I'd never wanted to go on a cruise.

The closest I've ever come is floating around Lake and Forest on a pontoon boat with my favorite captain, Deb, after book group.  

But adventure called, and although I have nothing to compare it to (pontoon boat notwithstanding), I have to believe that this was the very best first cruise we could have taken.  

The story behind the cruise line is so interesting (I think I've used the word "interesting" about a hundred times already.  But it WAS!  Everything was interesting!)  Since 1893, ships have been sailing the western coast of Norway, stopping every day at towns all along the way for passengers, mail and goods; it's called the Hurtigruten, or The Coastal Route Bergen-Kirkenes, and today, the 34-stop route is serviced by Hurtigruten AS and Havila, the company we travelled with, which currently has two ships on the route, the Capella (our ship) and the Castor, with two more new ships to be added soon. 
 

The Havila ships are "Eco-friendly", meaning that they run on both the world's largest battery packs (which allow for up to 4 hours of sailing with no emissions) and liquid natural gas, which reduces CO2 emissions by 25%.  The Norwegian fjords are environmentally threatened by climate change, pollution, fishing and increased tourism - I was glad to know that Havila was responding to these problems.  (There is an interesting article about deep-water stagnation in the fjords here.)

Our cabin was spacious yet cozy; we didn't really spend too much time there, as it was so fun to be out and about  - there are so many spaces inside to just sit and watch the scenery, plus it was wonderful to be out on the decks in the cold fresh air.  

Our cabin.  We loved it.  After the first night (and some Norwegian seasickness pills - Marzine 50mg - that Arne recommended), we slept well.  Like sleeping in a gently rocking hammock, according to Clay. 

Please ignore my wonky glasses - I think I lay on them the first night we were gone, and bent the joint - I was afraid that if I bent them back, they would break, then I'd be that weird woman whose glasses were wonky and taped together. 

The crew spent a lot of time cleaning snow 
and ice from the  decks.  We were thankful for that!

This is our ship, which we hadn't been to at this point,
as the photo was taken from the top of the funicular mountain in Bergen. 

This is the lounge on the 9th deck.  We usually sat here when the ship was cruising - the perfect spot for watching the scenery, talking, laughing and of course, knitting!  

And I don't think we ever missed Happy Hour(s) every day from 4-6
on the 9th deck.  Clay always started with the best orange soda and finished with a beer.  Plus the most delicious snack mix and little fancies, like this beet (beetroot, as they say in Europe) tart with horseradish cream and salmon canape.  

The food on the ship was stellar.  No buffets (which the Norwegians see as wasteful), but plenty of choices.  On each meal's menu, half of the choices remained on the menu the entire voyage, while the other half reflected the region of Norway we were cruising by; this changed 3 times northbound, 3 times southbound.   The service reminded me of tapas or small plate restaurants.  

Breakfast always included eggs, porridges, yogurt, breads and sweet rolls.  Juices, smoothies, coffee, tea.  And salmon. 

Always salmon. 

 

Lunches were lighter, and we were always offered a small "Secret Sweet" - a scoop of ice cream, a tiny tiramasu, a little cheesecake.  

Mussels, cod and crispy potatoes.  If it weren't for the fact that Clay wanted to try lots of different things, I think he would have had mussels at every meal.  

More beets, please! 

Lamb chops and scallops.  

Suppers were wonderful, too; twice during the voyage (once north, once south) we ate in the Hildring Fine Dining Room.  Five courses of Norwegian specialties, from king crab to reindeer to cloud berries.  

Supper always came with a variety of vegetables.  I was fond of the smashed things
- cauliflower, parsnip, pumpkin.

Reindeer tartar

Cod tongue

Cloud berries and other deliciousness.

Yes, you're right.

It was the very best.  

Peace. 

Here is the link to the Havila Voyages site; you can read the menus here.

And here is the link to Aller Travel.