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    From Ship Mates to Kindred Spirits

    Veronica and Lise, colleagues on Havila Pollux, share a unique connection. They walk, talk, and laugh in the same way, and even finish each other's sentences. Yet, they are not related - they are “twin souls”.

    The year was 2014. Veronica Nilsen, hailing from the coastal city of Bergen, had recently transferred to a different vessel within her company’s fleet of coastal cruise ships. Her main responsibilities were in the restaurant, but as the evenings wound down, she naturally found herself drawn to the bar. It wasn't a nightcap that drew her there; rather, like a true night owl, she savored the quiet stillness of the night after a busy day of work." It was in this setting that she met Lise from Arendal, on Norway’s south coast, who was busy with her night shift, cleaning up after the day's guests. For Veronica, offering to help was instinctive, a simple act since she was already there. What started as casual help soon turned into meaningful conversations. Night after night, these chats blossomed into a cherished part of their routine, making the late hours the most enjoyable part of their day.

    "From the day we met, I knew it was something special. I've had many close friends throughout my life, but never a connection like this. It's rare to find someone who truly understands you and is always there for you," says Veronica. 

    Sitting next to her in a swivel chair at Havblikk Bar & Lounge on Havila Pollux, Lise nods in agreement, her smile reflecting a deep sense of understanding. "We've gone through many similar experiences. For instance, both of us have lost loved ones in almost the same manner. We can talk about anything – our joys and sorrows – and there's a trust that whatever we share stays between us," she adds.

    Sisterly Bond 

    There's a striking similarity in how they sit, perched at the very edges of their chairs, backs straight, hands clasped in their laps, legs closely aligned. Both are blondes, their hair styled identically in buns atop their heads.

    As they converse, their body language seems to mirror one another. It raises the question: have they always moved in sync like this, or has one picked it up from the other? 

    Even as their eyes shift between the interviewer and each other, it's evident that they're alert to their surroundings, catching every detail even in the corners of their eyes. "We're incredibly alike. Our thoughts, our values, almost everything we discuss, it turns out we've both had almost the exact same experiences," Veronica shares. 

    Their conversations often overlap as they naturally finish each other's thoughts. "We're so similar that even our parents have wondered about it. My uncle spent his life at sea," Lise says with a chuckle. "And so did my father,” Veronica adds. “It makes you think – perhaps we really are biological sisters. We've joked that if we discovered shared DNA, we'd be perfectly okay with it," she says, laughing. Lise nods in agreement: " I stay in touch with Veronica more than I do with my own siblings. We spend a lot of time together on board and remain constantly connected, even when we're apart".

    Lise and Veronica make the most of their free time at work, as shown in the pictures below. On social media, they refer to themselves as the "happy faces."

    Lise and Veronica in Bodø_snow
    Veronica and Lise on a RIB-adventure
    Lise and Veronica by a cannon
    Veronica and Lise cleaning
    Veronica and Lise under the Northern Lights
    Veronica and Lise during a night shift
    Lise and Veronica by the christmas tree
    Lise and Veronica welcoming Havila Pollux
    Veronica and Lise at Torghatten (mountain)
    Lise and Veronica eating ice-cream
    kystruteskip-i-nord-redigert-av-jos-2-4096x3071

    “A Package Deal" 

    About five years after they first met, Veronica and Lise were required to transfer to another shipping company, a move they embraced under one condition: they wanted to serve on the same ship at the same time. "We had years where we worked opposite shifts before, and it was quite challenging," Lise recalls. 

    Happily, their request was granted. They were both assigned to the Havila Pollux: Veronica as the head waiter and Lise as a waitress (Veronica has since become the Food & Beverage Manager, while Lise is now an Assistant Purser). 

    However, their excitement for the opportunity to work together on a brand-new ship was dampened by a significant delay in the ship's delivery. "The waiting period was challenging,"Lise comments. "We were stationed on opposite sides of the country, and with the pandemic restricting travel, we couldn't even visit each other. Thank goodness for Messenger," Veronica adds. 

    Despite their close bond, they have not yet visited each other's homes. "Life's been hectic," Veronica explains. "And with my recent breakup..." Lise interjects, leading to a burst of laughter from both. Veronica, completing her friend's thought, adds, "Let's just say, our phones were our lifelines during that time."

    Guests' Confusion

    Lise and Veronica refer to each other as sisters. Most of the crew do as well. Often, it takes months for new hires to realize that the two don't share a drop of DNA. Among the guests, the confusion is even greater. The women are frequently mistaken for the same person – even though they don't look particularly alike. This became evident a few years ago when Lise was in the bar, while Veronica was bustling around in the restaurant...

    A guest fixed his gaze on Veronica, and she couldn't help but notice his expression. Reacting as she typically would when a guest looked confused, she approached him with a friendly greeting. The man asked, "Tell me, do you have a sister?" Veronica paused briefly, her mind drifting to her sister back home in Bergen, before responding, "Yes, I actually do." A pleased smile crossed the man's face as he confidently stated, "Ah, yes, I understand! She works upstairs, right?" Veronica quickly followed his train of thought and replied, "Yes, she does, she works upstairs."

    Later in the evening, the same man approached Lise at the bar, remarking with a knowing grin, "Now I know, you have a sister on board!"

    Joke Became Reality 

    The women laugh at the recollection. "Then I nodded to the man and said yes because I immediately realized that he had spoken with Veronica. It was just a joke, but we kept it going. It didn't matter if some of the guests thought we were sisters," recalls Lise. "But then there were more and more guests. Eventually, even some of the crew thought it was true," adds Veronica. 

    While it may have originated in jest, the reality is that their sisterly bond is undeniably genuine. When Lise and Veronica are in each other's company, the atmosphere lightens, laughter flows freely, and they radiate a positive energy that appears to touch everyone around them – two shipmates who have become both sisters and soul-mates.