Havila Castor ferry

The 2022-built MS Havila Castor cruise ship is the second Norwegian coastal cruiseferry operated by the Norwegian travel brand Havila Voyages (fully-owned subsidiary of HAVILA KYSTRUTEN). The shipowner is HK Ship V AS (also fully-owned by Havila Kystruten).

The ship has max capacity 680 passengers (plus 76 staff/crew) and cargo capacity 9 cars and 190 pallets (40 of which can be transported by freezing or cooling). The vessel will be inaugurated in May 2022 (May 10th/Maiden Voyage/due to construction delays postponed from September 2021 and April 7, 2022) and will operate year-round on Norway's coastal ferry route Bergen-Kirkenes (crossing time 7 days) stopping at 34 ports along the itinerary. This route is served by a total of 11 ships (7x by Hurtigruten, 4x by Havila) and the ferry service is government-subsidized.

The vessel IMO number 9865582) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 257752000) and registered in Bergen.

Decks and Cabins

As cruise ferry, Havila Castor staterooms (179 total) offer 468 berths (lower and upper beds), in addition to the ship's 172 seats (for day passengers). All passenger cabins are air-conditioned, with carpet flooring, ensuite bathrooms (washbasin, WC-toilet, glass shower, mirrored cabinets, hairdryer), HDTV (wall-mounted), multiple USB ports, free WiFi, bedside tables, wall-mounted reading lamps, wardrobe, writing table with chair, 2-seater couch, electronic safe box (in the closet). The ferry company provides bed linens, towels and toiletries.

The boat has 9 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Some staterooms are wheelchair-accessible (adapted for disabled passengers and people with reduced mobility). The cruise ship also offers "pet-friendly" cabins (with linoleum flooring). Passenger cabins are inside and outside, in both economy and luxury categories. Luxury cabins are oceanview, larger-sized, with lower fixed beds (a double convertible to twins), double sofabed (or 2-seater sofa), larger wardrobe (slide-opening), bonus amenities (mini-refrigerator, tea-coffee machine).

The ship additionally has 172 recliners (aircraft-type seats) in a Reserved Seating Lounge available for pre-booking.

Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the Lobby's Reception/Information Desk. All passengers must vacate their staterooms 30 min prior to port arrival.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

As facilities, the Havila Castor ship offers:

• Lobby Hall (Reception Desk, Luggage Lockers, Gangways/embarkation-debarkation)
• Main Dining Room (MDR) Restaurant with menus featuring traditional Norwegian food specialties prepared with locally sourced ingredients.
• Cafe Bar (Cafeteria / Patisserie / Buffet Restaurant)
• Panorama Bar Lounge is the cruise ship's observation lounge has comfortable recliners, floor-ceiling windows, forward-facing slanted windows, glass roof, full bar service.
• Reserved Seating Lounge offers comfortable reclining/Pullman seats and bar service.
• Duty-Free Shop is retail selling alcohol (liquors, wines, beers, also Norwegian brands), tobaccos, brand perfumes and cosmetics, sunglasses, designer watches and jewelry, clothes and accessories, electronics and gadgets, toys, confectionery, gifts and souvenirs.
• A La Carte Restaurant serves complimentary meals to passengers booked in Junior Suites (Breakfast-only) and Presidential Suites (Breakfast-Lunch-Diner).
• Conference Hall is a venue where is provided information about the cruise ship's itinerary, ports, Norwegian culture and history.
• Bow Lounge with floor-ceiling windows and access to Bow ViewPoint (forward-facing outdoor terrace).
• ATM / cash machine is located next to the Information Desk (Lobby Reception).
• WiFi coverage is shipwide.

The cruise ship has two Gyms (fitness areas with sea views) fitted with Cybex machines are arranged in front of the window so that travellers can train and watch the passing scenery at the same time. The Gym's fitness equipment includes free weights, weight benches, treadmills, exercise bikes.

An Outdoor Deck has 2 Jacuzzis. Passenger-accessible Sun Decks offer plenty of open-air spaces, including a sunbathing area (bow location) with loungers. The Cloakroom area (with a Sauna Room) is attached to two jacuzzis.

On top deck are located the Navigation Bridge and Helideck (aft-located helipad / helicopter landing area used in cases of emergency). Large parts of the ship's top-deck are covered by solar panels generating some of the onboard used electricity.

Emergency instructions are displayed in all staterooms as well as on all TV screens and assembly points (muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In cases of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden. Smoking throughout the ship is forbidden.

Car deck

MS Havila Castor has only 1 garage deck (for cars and palleted cargo). Follows a list of cargo deck-related safety procedures:

• Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
• From your car take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
• Access to the cargo deck during the voyage is prohibited.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.
• In order to avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.

Havila cruise itinerary/"Norwegian Coastal Express" ferry route

Next is the cruise ship itinerary map showing the 12-day "Norwegian Coastal Express" itinerary/ferry route operated by both Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages (since 2021).

The list of all ports along Havila's northbound "Norwegian Coastal Express" ferry route includes Bergen (turnaround port/homeport), Alesund, Floro, Geiranger (Stranda), Maloy (Vagsoy), Molde, Torvik (Heroy, Leinoya Island), Kristiansund, Rorvik (Vikna), Trondheim, Bodo, Bronnoysund (Bronnoy), Nesna, Ornes (Meloy), Sandnessjoen (Alstahaug), Stamsund (Vestvagoy Island), Svolvaer (Vagan, Austvagoya Island), Trollfjorden (Hadsel), Finnsnes (Lenvik), Harstad (Hinnoya Island), Risoyhamn (Andoy Island), Skjervoy, Sortland (Langoya Island), Stokmarknes (Hadseloya Island), Tromso, Berlevag, Hammerfest, Honningsvag (Mageroya Island, Nordkapp / North Cape), Kjollefjord (Lebesby), Mehamn (Gamvik), Oksfjord (Loppa), Batsfjord, Vardo (Vardoya Island), Kirkenes (turnaround port/homeport).

Since 2021, the shipowner Havila Kystruten (subsidiary of the 2002-founded Havila Shipping ASA, headquartered in Fosnavag, Norway) together with Hurtigruten provides regularly-scheduled and government-subsidized Norwegian Coastal ferry service between homeports Bergen and Kirkenes. Havila Kystruten's fleet consists of 4 sisterships (same-designed cruiseferries) which were built in pairs by two shipbuilders - Barreras Shipyard in Vigo Spain (Polaris and Pollux) and Tersan Shipyard in Yalova Turkey (Capella and Castor).