Havila 1-15 September 2024 14 September

At night, our ship makes brief stops at the ports of Molde, Ålesund, Torvik, and Måløy. In the morning, we arrive in Florø.

The 11,000 residents of Florø mostly rely on fish farming for their livelihoods. Additionally, wild salmon, herring, and mackerel are caught and sold on the global market. After the discovery of oil in the North Sea in the late 1960s, Florø was used as a supply base for the offshore industry. Florø has also been a stronghold of shipbuilding for centuries. The Coastal Museum (Kystmuseet) is a relatively new attraction showcasing boats and artifacts from coastal communities. In addition, art exhibitions are held here during the summer. Florø was established as a seaport by royal decree in 1860. The municipality it belonged to was named after the farm Flora. The name likely derives from flóð, the Old Norse word for a (rushing) river. The town's name, Florø, is nearly identical, but instead of the original ending in 'a', the letter 'ø' was added, which in Danish means 'island', as the town is located on an island. In 2020, a merger of the municipalities of Flora and Vågsøy created the new municipality of Kinn, the only non-contiguous municipality in Norway. The beautiful Stabben Fyr lighthouse lies off the coast of Florø.

The stunning lighthouse was built in 1867 at the entrance to Florø on a small skerry. It is the oldest lighthouse in the Sunnfjord region. Initially shorter, it was raised and modernized in 1905. However, the old beacon technology and many other details have been preserved. Since then, its exterior has remained almost unchanged, maintaining a high degree of originality. Until 1975, it was operated by lighthouse keepers, after which Stabben Fyr was automated.

Due to its unique design, which covers almost the entire skerry, it was protected as a cultural heritage site in 1999. Boat trips are offered from Florø. After a calm journey through the impressive skerry landscape, we arrive joyfully in Bergen, filled with incredible experiences.