– I have looked forward to this my whole life, says Louise Hill (78).
She is originally from Australia but resides in Italy. Together with a group of Italians, she was set to experience the beautiful Norwegian coast aboard the ship Havila Polaris.
But on Wednesday, all passengers had to be evacuated due to overheating in the propulsion system.
Now it is clear that the remainder of the round trip will be canceled. Hill is clear about how she feels about it.
– I am very, very disappointed. I don’t know if I can come back next year, because I am almost 80 years old, she says.
Trying to find other solutions
Lasse Vangstein, communications director at Havila, finds it unfortunate that passengers are missing out on the journey along the Norwegian coast.
– We are terribly sorry for our passengers, but we cannot compromise on safety. The safety of passengers, crew, and the ship is the most important thing for our company, he says.
– It is always serious with overheating, whether on board a ship or a car. But luckily we have crew aboard who handled the situation by the book, says Lasse Vangstein.
Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / NRK
Vangstein states that all those who booked full or half round trips will receive full refunds.
– Also for unused excursions and any other packages they have booked in advance, he says and continues:
– Some passengers were on shorter trips, where we are trying to find other solutions regarding transport and that they receive a percentage refunded.
Planned trip with husband
The 78-year-old shares that she and her husband had talked about going on this trip since he retired 20 years ago.
– But we didn’t do it, and now I am alone. I traveled because it was something we had planned together, so I am extra disappointed now, she says.
The 78-year-old is uncertain if she will ever get to go on such a trip again.
Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / NRK
Risk to reputation
Vangstein mentions that they are now aiming to have Havila Polaris back on a normal route from Bergen on August 3.
– The propeller system is out of service, and it needs to be repaired, plain and simple. That is why we cannot continue the route.
Havila has faced several challenges, delays, and passengers who have not been able to travel as they were supposed to in the past.
– What does this situation mean for your reputation?
– It is clear that our reputation can be affected by situations like this. At the same time, we hope people understand that this is an incident beyond our control. The potential danger of overheating and possible fire is much greater than what the outcome was, says Vangstein.
Havila Polaris cannot sail on after overheating in the propulsion system on one side on Wednesday.
Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / NRK
– A fantastic trip
One who has not been scared away by Wednesday’s incident is family man Andreas Leutenegger from Zurich, Switzerland.
– It was a fantastic trip, just a bit shorter than we had planned. We will definitely be back, he says.
The family had planned to take the ship to Trondheim and then fly home to Switzerland. Now they will be taking a bus. He mentions that the evacuation went very well.
– I am surprised at how calm people were, actually.
Family man Andreas Leutenegger from Zürich in Switzerland is very satisfied with how the evacuation was handled on Wednesday.
Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / NRK
Charles Lindgren from Minnesota, USA was supposed to be on the ship for seven days, but it turned out to be only two. Now he and his wife have decided to go on a road trip instead.
– My wife and I are trying to make lemonade out of lemons. It is not the best situation, but we at least have enough days left of the trip to do our own thing, he says.
He is glad they will get all their money back from Havila.
– They did the right thing, so we are doing well.
Charles Lindgren has rented a car to be able to drive around and see Norwegian fjords.
Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / NRK
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