grayjay

It depends on what to look for: Hurtigruten has smallish to tiny cabins in the cheaper categories ( which are expensive enough, though) The mini-suites and suites are lovely but you can easily buy a car on the cost of the fare in the summer months.Hurtigruten offers more buffets, the food concept Havila has is very different.

Havila is cutting costs which you can see that some goodies have been taken away from the suites ( for example dining at Hildring restaurant, snacks and cider in the afternoon, non-alcoholic beverage package) and they will stop selling drinks packages ( at least the non-alcoholic ones) by August or September. The cabins are spacious and lovely, though, and there is a lot of free space to watch nature and the landscape especially in inclement weather. Havly Café on Havilka ships offers lovely food for free, if you booked on a round trip.

Hurtigruten sometimes offers special prices that include half board only if you are content with just having breakfast and dinner.

We have done both Hurtigruten and Havila and both have their ups and downs. The route, the friendliness and the food ( even if the food concept differs) are excellent. We'll be on our way again for a winter tour with Havila, but aren't sure about the one after that because prices have risen enormously since the seasons 2023 and 2024.

I'd also try to find out for yourself - if I were you - what to look for: If cabin size is important, choose Havila, If you love buffets for your meal, that's Hurtigruten's advantage. Try to find out which season you want to go. Summer and Christmas are more expensive that, for example October or March.

The fridge is fairly small, but a bottle of wine will fit in. More, if you take out the cans and other bottles it is originally filled with and which you must pay for anyway.

The gym is fantastic, truly modern,  one can work-out quite well. During our journey it was not used much, though, most people preferred to be outside even if it was wintertime.

Have a great journey! You'll love the junior suite, and breakfast and lunch in smaller Hildring restaurant is a bonus.

that's great, @Brissle. Then you should get all the extra goodies I wrote about. On request Havila will specify the differences in the suite amenities for bookings now and before the change. They'll send you an e-mail on request.

The two special dinners in Hildring restaurant are really nice as well as having the package for non-alcoholic drinks - we loved the Blueberry juice, for example which is expensive - I think 96 NOK.As we rarely drink alcoholic drinks anyway we loved having that package.

What I'll miss is the cider and snacks you were able to get for free in the afternoon as well as some of the special dishes of the Gold card.These goodies are definitely gone.

I also made a small mistake in my previous post - your booking of a suite comes with access to breakfast as well as LUNCH in Hildring restaurant if you wish to do so instead of the bigger Havrand restaurant.And there's these two extra specialty dinners you'll be able to book for free.

And : what I good idea to go on a coastal voyage for a wedding anniversary! If you can stay for a few days after the voyage you might even catch the festivities on May 17th, Norway's national holiday - fantastic!

6 hours ago, Brissle said:

Hi everyone,

We have booked the round trip on Havilla Pollux a year ahead - departing Bergen on 30th April 2025.

We have splashed out (wedding anniversary) and booked a Junior Suite which comes with the Gold package.  I understand that the Gold package is being / has recently been changed and we would be interested if any recent travellers can tell us what's included.

Thanks

Unfortunately it depends on the exact date ( think it was March 31st at the latest) when you booked which benefits you'll have. Most of the goodies like the gold package benefits which for example included special orders, for example eggs Benedict for breakfast or special dishes for lunch and dinner, a drinks package (non-alcoholic) etc.don't exist any more. The only extra you'll have in a suite is the extra space ( but which is really great, including the huge windows and the balcony) and breakfast and lunch in the quieter atmosphere of the Hildring restaurant - there for example you'll also have freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast , for example, which you must pay for in the regular restaurant.

As we have booked our suite for a winter journey before that date we'll get a few extras, like that small non-alcoholic drink package with thirty units, 2 dinners in Hildring restaurant for free and a small-sized onboard credit you can use for drinks or other extras, for example. If you book a suite like @doingourthing did, either on board or at home, I think the benefits are a smallish welcome package including some prosecco , breakfast and dinner in Hildring restaurant which really is nice and quiet and that's about it. The personal welcome letter you'll also find in your cabin I can personnally do well without....

We're not really happy on the new scheme but that's the way the cookie crumbles... One thing which is nice, though is the fact that most things on the menu at Havly café are still included in the fare, for example the heavenly soups or sandwiches or burgers which are a good alternative for having lunch.

As far as I could see it, the differences are small. From October 2024 on, most drinks in the afternoon and evening are included i.e. not only during meals, you'll get a pullover etc. besides your expedition jacket etc.

On the other hand I found the prices hiked up in relation to 2023/24....

Or fly to Tromso, stay a few days then book the route Tromso to Kirkenes ( and stay a night or two, great in winter) and book the southbound route on either Hurtigruten or Havila from Kirkenes back to Bergen.

That's correct. Some electrical failure. Pollux will be docked from May 3rd and restart on the coastal route on May 13th. out of Bergen.

April is rather a quiet time for a coastal voyage and I think the "Pollux"won't be sold out. Secondly, the weather in April might be anything from mild and with hints of spring but rain and snow are possible, of course, too. So I'd book on board. The only exceptions might be snow excursions if they are still possible (Husky trails and such) , but it might be too late for such, anyway.

May we ask which excursions you have considered?

About your second question: You'll find such a map on the TV in your cabin. Using a phone in Norway is easy, you'll have strong signals everywhere, even in remote areas. So you might use that, as well.

Happy sailing!

As drinks during meals are included and the wine offerings, for example are quite decent and are changed every few days to explore a new taste I wouldn't include a beverage package.

21 hours ago, mef_57 said:

I am from Ontario, Canada. I will have adequate clothing.

I also thought to take the train from Oslo to Bergen for more chance of Autumn colours.

Then you're well prepared to stay on the outside decks for watching the northern lights if they appear!

But in September, similar to Canada, you might have quite sunny and warmer days, too.

I'm not sure if the Norwegian autumn colours will top the Canadian ones which we found quite spectacular!

And the train trip will be a great opportunity and it's a lovely ride in all times of the year ( we did spring, winter and autumn and found all the rides spectacular!)

If possible you should stay a day or two  in Bergen and Oslo both - such beautiful cities to explore even if expensive. And if you are considering the train trip to Bergen: it can be combined with the trip "Norway in a nutshell" - Recommendation!

Have a great trip!

I just found out that Maud is supposed to be back in service around the middle of April.

As far as I know it is still in dry dock in Bremerhaven, Germany, as there was extensive damage . I think Maud will be back in the spring, at the moment a smaller ship, the Spitsbergen is doing her job.

You'll be happy with junior suite 7304 portside - we loved it. Lots of room, even if the bed is a bit on the narrow side (Queen size). The balcony is great for watching what goes on during the loading at the ports, people getting on and off... At the postal voyages it ALWAYS is portside docking.

I'm also wondering about the new amenities that go with the suites. We booked another trip while Gold package etc. were still included. The new amenities listed as yet are only small welcome package ( not much to be honest) and breakfast in Hildring restaurant which is great - it's much smaller and thus quieter and you won't have to get up at a special time slot for breakfast (which I hate!). We loved the included coffee specialities, the extra (Gold) meal choices and the included non-alcoholic package with 30 units each as well as the free snacks and apple cider in the afternoons.I would be definitely unhappy and angry if we wouldn't get what was promised, especially as the suite comfort is expensive enough.

I sincerely hope Havila won't cut all of those amenities as they make the trip special and much more comfortable. Let's see.

If you booked a return trip, regular coffee, tea and water are included all day, as is internet service. The meals in the café ( except packaged goods, but for example soups, sandwiches, pizza, hamburgers, buns) are included in the year 2024 for those who booked a return or half-way trip with full board.

It's quite easy to buy some extras like chocolates, sparkling water or soft drinks when going outside at some of the stops.

September is great as you'll have all those lovely fall colors. Enjoy your trip. And one of the good things about Havila is the fact that there a lot of comfortable seats and views through huge windows throughout the ship.

It might also be possible to upgrade to an outside cabin at little cost when on board, depends on how fully the ship is booked.

May is difficult in regard to weather in Norway - it can still snow, others days might be quite warmish but mostly it is still cool and you will need a rainproof and warm parka besides a lighter jacket. a scarf and hat might become handy , too, especially when on deck outside. Deck 9 on Havila ships is great to walk around, but it can be very windy. On deck 6, you'll find a lot of comfortable seating inside with great views through the large windows. It's near to the café with coffees, teas and delicious goodies - included in your fare if you booked a roundtrip.

Enjoy your time!

I have several times been in Lisbon and there were several possibilities to dock, but they were always next to each other.

In Greenock Hurtigruten is building a new terminal which wasn't finished yet in 2023, so they only had a tent (beware, no facilities !) for embarkation and disembarkation.

Hurtigruten offered transfer by bus to the airport, which simply was much too expensive. For the same price we took a taxi. There's a dispatcher  directing passengers but it still was a hassle - not enough free taxis. A lot had them pre-ordered and were able to leave quickly.

I think we paid 45 pounds - there is a link to Glasgow taxis where you can find out the current prices.It's possible to do the transfer by train and bus, but it is quite far to walk to the station etc. I wouldn't recommend it.

It depends on what you want to see: Portside you'll be able to watch loading and unloading from your balcony which we liked to do quite often. I also used the balcony to decide if it was possible/worthwhile to leave the ship - sometimes I didn't because the streets etc. were quite icy and slippery. Going north we thought starboard offered nicer views as well as the sun climbing up slowly across the mountain tops.But to be honest we loved every day on our round trip.... The junior suites are similar - one set is nearer to the bridge, the others are more to the aft but very similar ( perhaps a bit nearer to the whirlpools on deck 8...) I can honestly recommend any one. They come with Havila Gold, too, which means better coffee and extra menus to choose from.

By the way, we booked Havila Polaris for a trip in winter 2024 .... Couldn't stay away because of the great experience we had this fall...

Perhaps allow me to help - you really won't need money - We have just returned from a coastal voyage plus a few days in Oslo etc. - I took a few NOK but didn't really need any except to leave some extra money in my hotel room. Everything, and I mean everything we could use our credit cards for , even for the restrooms in public spaces like Oslo station.

Have a great time!

Phoenix'homepage = phoenixreisen(dot)com gives quite a lot of information.

Amera will be out of dry dock in December. Quite a lot will have done to her - and all the grungy bathtubs will have been been removed, hurray.

We have been on some cruises ( river and sea) with them but personally would prefer Azamara with similar routes and better food, even if meals on Phoenix are ok, and wines and juices are included with the meals. Coffeetime is great with lovely cakes, yum-yum.

Quite a lot of Germans nowadays speak some English, even though with a heavy accent sometimes. And the crew is always happy to converse in English.

Enjoy your cruise!

But I'm not sure if they are included in the fare... Regular coffee/teas and water are, though.

I'm not sure if the Midnight concert is still offered by Hurtigruten. We went to the concert when on a Havila ship and liked it very much - traditional music played on the organ or piano plus saxophone and a singer. It was exclusively for ship passengers and had to be booked on board. (495 NOK) It was about 5 minutes to walk from the ship.

Just back from a Coastal express cruise: Hjorundfjord was wonderful to experience. Didn't do the excursion itself but heard of people who liked it. But gliding along the fjord was great in itself.

The Vesteralen sightseeing tour is interesting, but you have to keep in mind that it will start at 8.00 o'clock in the morning and during our October cruise it was still quite dark at that time. Quite a lot of the excursions started or ended in darkness so we didn't book anything except the midnight concert. It's also worthwhile to look at the weather reports and book on board - as the ships are never this full in winter time you'll almost certainly will have enough time to book. During our October cruise there were always offers for all excursions available except ( at first) for the RIB boat experience.

All the cities where there are extended stops, for example Trondheim, Tromso, Alesund, Kirkenes etc. are extremely walkable and there's a perfect public bus system we quite often used to get around or sometimes a taxi. The offered excursions are good but extremely expensive. The only thing to watch out for is the time - the ship won't wait....

No late night snacks or room service except perhaps in suites.

But you always skip out and buy some extra food to bring on board to enjoy at one of the longer stops.

But even if you don't usually eat much - I'd go at least for one or two meals ( you needn't buy a package) but can book one for the fay. The buffets are fantastic!

The Polar Outsides are, as far as I know, on the lower decks and thus may have more noise . They quite often have bunk beds instead of a double bed. If it's really double the price I'd wait until you actually  board and look at the cabin you have been assigned - quite often, if you are not happy, you can upgrade at low cost. Have you booked a guarantee cabin or did you choose a number and cabin category - that also influences the price. Hurtigruten cabins are notoriously small and a bit cramped, but most people don't care as they are more interested in enjoying the fantastic views, the food...

Hope that helps!