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    12 Days to Falling in Love

    Betsy, 67, boarded Havila Voyages' ship, uncertain of the trip ahead and hopeful to meet a potential partner. However, she found herself falling in love before the journey was over – not with a person, but with Norway itself.

    "Secretly, when I booked the trip for solo travelers, I thought there might be some interesting single men also traveling alone, looking for someone special, maybe the love of their life,” Betsy M. Blan, an American, shared with us. This revelation came during a lunch at the Havrand restaurant onboard Havila Pollux on a crisp October afternoon. The head waiter had thoughtfully arranged a table for eight, a gathering spot for “those wanting to meet new people.” Alongside Betsy were a young Italian couple celebrating their honeymoon, a German man with his mother, and two other German gentlemen – neither of whom matched Betsy's envisaged partner.

    “Perhaps you should consider ‘singles cruises,” Betsy chuckled, acknowledging on day two of her 12-day Bergen to Kirkenes round trip that finding ‘the love of her life’ onboard seemed unlikely. Nevertheless, this didn’t dampen her spirits on what had become a spontaneously planned Norwegian adventure, booked just a month prior.

    The Best Travel Experience Ever

    We reserved our in-depth conversation with Betsy for the Bodø to Stamsund leg, a couple of days later, a four-hour journey perfect for socializing. When we had our chat, we learned that although Betsy is American, she has lived in Rotterdam for more than 40 years – several years married, followed by two more long-term partnerships. She also recounted her career as a personal management assistant for an Italian firm, which ended when the company shut down its Rotterdam office 5-6 years ago. Now officially retired since this summer, Betsy shared, “I’m free to travel extensively, if not for my 'baby' – my cat, who stays with friends while I’m away.”

    Her desire to envelop herself in nature brought her to Norway. “With no prior voyage experience to compare, it was questionable whether a vacation on a ship would suit my needs and expectations,” she confessed. However, the journey turned out to be her most extraordinary experience, a sentiment she later expressed in a letter to the captain and crew. “I worried a cruise might bore me, as I'm not one to sit still,” Betsy admitted. “But the crew's attentiveness and handling of everything allowed me to relax, have fun, and socialize.” She also praised the ship's newness and cleanliness, and its unexpected elegant, minimalist, Scandinavian interior.

    Atrium onboard Havila Voyages
    Havblikk Bar and Lounge
    Havrand Restaurant
    havila_cabins-58-2048x1425

    Betsy, during her journey with Havila Voyages, engaged in various excursions. In this scene, she's pictured aboard a tender boat in the Hjørundfjord, making her way back to the Havila Pollux after enjoying an electric bike tour in Urke village. Beside her is Maite Fressato from Brazil, a fellow solo traveler. The two formed a close friendship while traversing the route from Kirkenes to Bergen and back.

    Delicious Food – Even for the Picky

    Betsy is particular about her food. With a preference for simplicity in her vegetables and a habit of steering clear of several foods, one might have thought that the rich array of flavors offered by Havila Voyages’ Havila Food Stories menus would overwhelm her. The menus, after all, boasted of "flavors reflecting the gastronomic cultures along the Norwegian coast."

    However, Betsy’s experience turned out quite differently. “So far, I’m extremely pleased with both the concept and the quality of the food,” she commented. The à la carte menus presented a diverse array of choices, and she was quick to note the staff’s remarkable patience and friendliness towards passengers with special culinary requests.

    What particularly appealed to Betsy was the careful consideration given to portion sizes. “The dishes are served just right, helping me avoid overeating, a tendency I often grapple with,” she admitted with a light-hearted tone.

    Another aspect of Havila Voyages’ dining experience that Betsy highlighted was its flexibility. She recounted an incident from earlier in the day: “I discovered I could enjoy lunch in the café at no extra cost, as it’s included in my package. This was a delightful surprise, especially since I opted for an early lunch, having skipped breakfast.”

    Crossing the Arctic Circle
    Crossing the earth's Arctic Circle. Photo: Betsy M. Blan

    A Journey Full of Impressions

    As our time with Betsy drew to a close, she spoke of keeping her friends updated with photos and links, eagerly sharing her Norwegian adventures. Although much was still left on her itinerary, she promised to provide us with an update after the trip. In the photo gallery below, you can see some highlights from the remainder of her journey.

    E-biking in Urke
    E-biking around Hjørundfjorden. Photo: Betsy Blan
    Woman with a husky
    Delightful friendly Huskies near Tromsø. Photo: Betsy Blan
    Sunset over the horizon in Norway
    Sunset over the horizon, seen from the ship. Photo: Betsy Blan
    Northern Lights onboard Havila Voyages
    The Northern Lights appeared on several nights. Photo: Betsy Blan
    Hjørundfjorden
    Hjørundfjorden. Photo: Betsy Blan
    View from inside the ship
    Ålesund
    Pretty view above Ålesund. Photo: Betsy Blan
    Betsy Blan_Selfie with goats
    Cashmere goats at Fløyen, Bergen. Photo: Betsy Blan
    Bergen view
    Norwegian Sunset seen from a mountain top in Bergen. Photo: Betsy Blan
    View from inside the ship - blue light
    The secrets of snow tops. Photo: Betsy Blan
    Photographing mountain wall
    Exiting Trollfjord at dusk. Photo: Betsy Blan
    view-from-inside-the-ship-blue-light-1944x2592

    But what about her initial quest to find a romantic partner? We inquired via WhatsApp after her disembarkation in Bergen. The response came promptly: “Hahaha, I met some nice men: one solo traveler who was married and a few couples. So no, I didn’t find a potential partner.»

    Came as Strangers, Departed as a Family

    A week after her trip in Norway, Betsy sent a heartfelt email to the captain of the Havila Pollux. Addressed to him, the crew, and the Havila Voyages staff, it read: ­­­“The Havila Pollux is a brand-new ship. The crew is outstanding: experienced, friendly, approachable, helpful, and very down to earth. The very relaxed informal atmosphere was just perfect. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to spend 12 days and fall in love with Norway! The sea, mountains, light and shadow, whale spotting, an eagle in flight, the local towns, and of course the northern lights experiences were all spectacular.

    We came aboard as strangers to one another and left as a family with new and precious memories and friendships.

    Before moving from the USA to the Netherlands I majored in Leisure Studies and (Therapeutic) Recreation. So in addition to my passenger experience, I automatically observed and analyzed logistics, communication, service and services, entertainment and group dynamics to mention a few. Overall, I would rate everything and everyone on the ship with a 9+.

    (…)

    Bon Voyage,

    Betsy.