"How far can you see?"

It’s not every day that a family of eight embarks on an adventure halfway across the world, but for the Nichols family from Cleveland, Ohio, that’s exactly what they did. Chris Nichols, his wife Regina, their three children, along with Grandfather Chris, Grandmother Kathy, and Uncle James, packed their bags and set off for an unforgettable journey.

Their adventure started west of the Norwegian Coast, in Iceland. Here they stood amidst stark volcanic landscapes, steam rising from geothermal springs, and glaciers stretching as far as the eye could see. 

Soon, they would travel to a land as wild, yet with its own unique story to tell.

Standing where it all began

Suddenly, they found themselves standing on the exact spot where Grandpa Chris’s great-grandfather had been baptized — Ulnes Church in Valdres. Nearby, they also visited a beautiful Norwegian stave church.

Their journey then continued by train from Gol to Bergen, winding through forests, valleys, and mountains. As they neared the coast, the scenery opened up to reveal wide fjords and open sea — marking the start of their adventure with Havila Voyages.

A special invitation to the bridge

The three children — Chris, Andrew, and Sophia —  were brimming with questions from the moment they stepped aboard. Their curiosity was fueled by a recent visit to the COSI Museum back home, where the Titanic exhibition had captured their imaginations. Their curiosity didn’t go unnoticed by the crew, and it was likely what led to a special invitation to the bridge.

Wide-eyed and full of anticipation, they stood outside the elevator on the eighth deck. As the doors to the bridge opened, they were greeted with awe-inspiring views. The usual hum of ship activity faded into the background.

Sophia, with her two charming pigtails, wasted no time climbing up to one of the chairs, with binoculars in her hands. The 180-degree view left her speechless as she scanned the horizon. Her brother Andrew, ever the curious one, leaned in and asked, "How far can you see?"

A lesson in seamanship

The oldest child, 11-year-old Chris, quickly became the inquisitor of the group.

Grandfather Chris couldn’t help but beam with pride. “The kids are homeschooled,” he explained, “so technically, they’re not in school right now…” He paused and smiled, “Or maybe they are — this is their learning.”

And he was right. As the Chief Navigation Officer explained the intricacies of the ship’s battery system, steering mechanisms, and safety protocols, the children absorbed every detail. Their questions came fast.

The young Chris, still thinking about their visit to the COSI Museum, asked a bold question: “Hypothetically, what if we were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and started sinking?”

The crew smiled, appreciating the depth of his inquiry. In response, the Chief Navigation Officer picked up a beacon, explaining the technology that would ensure the safety in any such situation.

Who knew? UNO on the bridge!

As the visit to the bridge came to an end, young Chris had one more pressing question. “Do you play UNO on the bridge?” he asked with a cheeky grin.

Laughter erupted from the family and crew alike. The Chief Navigation Officer, with a twinkle in his eye, replied, “Actually, yes.”

The little boy was astonished to learn that even Norwegians were familiar with UNO.

The ultimate finale

Before they left, the children were given one final surprise: the chance to blow the ship’s horn! The deep, resonant sound echoed through the fjords, creating a magical moment the family would remember forever.

Every end is a new beginning

A few weeks after returning to the U.S., we received a heartwarming email from the Nichols family:

“We all really liked the cruise, and Andrew is convinced he wants to work for Havila Voyages now and asked us to set him up on Duolingo to learn Norwegian... Just tonight, he was very proud he completed the first lesson in Norwegian, haha.”

A simple reminder of how travel can spark dreams in the most unexpected ways.