Havila 1-15 September 2024 3 September

This evening we embark on our Havila Castor ship. After a delightful breakfast, we take a walk along the coast and then stroll back through the charming old town houses to the hotel, where we will pick up our luggage. However, shortly after, rain and storm set in, which forced us to shorten our walk a bit. The check-in at the terminal is very pleasant, so we are soon off on an exploration tour of our home for the next twelve days. Simply impressively large and beautiful. Shortly after 8 PM, our ship departs towards Alesund.

Traditionally, the "Postship Line" Hurtigruten was operated by several shipping companies on behalf of the Norwegian government. Since the merger of the last two remaining Hurtigruten shipping companies, TFDS and OVDS, in 2006, the line has been monopolistically operated by Hurtigruten AS. To reintroduce competition, a part of the trips on this route was put up for tender by the Norwegian government. Havila Kystruten won this tender and was to take over about a third of the trips from the previous operator starting in 2021.]

For this, Havila commissioned a total of four ships of the type Havyard 923 from two shipyards. Two ships, Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux, were ordered from the shipyard Hijos de J. Barreras in Vigo. They were supposed to cost about 200 million euros per ship, have a capacity of 700 passengers, and be powered by liquefied gas. Additionally, the Havila Capella and the Havila Castor were ordered at the Turkish shipyard Tersan Shipyard in Yalova.[ The ships are named after star names.

Both at the Spanish and Turkish shipyards, there were massive construction delays, leading to the cancellation of contracts with the Spanish shipyard, which were then awarded to the Turkish shipyard. At the beginning of 2021, right before the planned start of the line service, Havila had no ships available.

On December 12, 2021, the first ship, Havila Capella, began operations on the Hurtigruten. On May 10, 2022, the second ship, Havila Castor, followed.

The Havila Capella was detained in the port of Bergen on April 12, 2022, due to sanctions against Russia and could not resume its voyages until June 28, 2022. The ship was owned by a Russian leasing company, which had canceled the ship's insurance contracts. For the Havila Castor, however, alternative financing could be arranged on short notice. Since July 2023, the Havila Capella is owned by Havila Kystruten.

The Havila Polaris could not commence operations as planned either. The delivery of the Havila Pollux was delayed due to the earthquake in Turkey in February 2023. On August 1, 2023, Havila Voyages took over both ships from the construction yard.

Unlike the ships of the shipping company Hurtigruten AS, no electric, hybrid, and hydrogen vehicles are allowed on the ships.