Early April 2022, the Holland Norway Lines (HNL) ferry service started. The MS Romantika sailed for the first time between The Netherlands and Norway. It became a great success in a short time: in May HNL welcomed the 100,000th passenger and during the summer all sailings were fully booked. Many tourists are curious about this new ferry connection and are happy to get on a boat to the country of fjords. And vice versa: Norwegians also appreciate the waterway connection between Norway and The Netherlands and make frequent use of it.
Time for some background information about this new shipping company. Five questions and answers about Holland Norway Lines:
1. Is Holland Norway Lines the first ferry service between the Netherlands and Norway?
Yes. Holland Norway Lines is a young organization, founded in 2021. This shipping company achieved the first direct ferry connection between the Netherlands and Norway. Until recently, you drove to Northern Denmark by car and made a short crossing to Norway or took a boat from Kiel (Germany) to Oslo.
2. Why is the crossing between The Netherlands and Norway so popular?
The ferry connection between The Netherlands and Norway is new, unique and above all a relaxed way to start your holiday to the Norwegian fjords. The ferry is an interesting alternative to a roadtrip or flight to Norway. Park your car or camper on the car deck and fully enjoy the cruise life on board of the MS Romantica.
CEO of Holland Norway Lines, Bart Cunnen, in an interview [1]https://ferryshippingnews.com/interview-with-ceo-bart-cunnen/:
“We see that many people book a one-way ticket. (…) It also fits in the concept of slow travel, where people want to discover at their own pace. People might start their holiday on our ferry, drive to the fjords, and return via Sweden and Germany.”
3. Is the MS Romantica a new vessel?
No, the MS Romantica isn't new. The boat is 20 years old and has a rich history. The cruise ferry is chartered from Estonian shipping company Tallink and has already sailed on many different routes, mainly on the Baltic Sea between Scandinavia and the Baltic States. The ship has been completely refurbished and is in great condition. The cabins are comfortable and equipped with their own private sanitary facilities. Do you want the real cruise experience? Book a luxury suite.
There is no shortage of entertainment: during the crossing you can enjoy live music, drink a beer in the pub or take a seat at the poker table. Children will not be bored either: face painting, mini disco or a game of air hockey? It's all possible on board the MS Romantika[2]https://hollandnorwaylines.com/ship/.
4. How eco-friendly is the ferry to Norway?
Luxury cruises are known to be quite damaging to the environment and a cruise ferry such as the Romantika also consumes a lot of fuel. Fortunately, Holland Norway Lines invested greatly in sustainability [3]https://hollandnorwaylines.com/about-hnl/ and tries to limit fuel consumption. For example, they use sustainable energy once docked in the port and all kinds of climate-friendly technologies have been applied to the ship.
And in the future? The shipping company has an ambitious plan: in 2026 they want to introduce a zero-emission cruise ferry, a new greener ship powered by hydrogen.
5. Are tickets still available for the ferry to Norway in 2023?
Yes, but book on time! There is great interest in the new ferry service between the Netherlands and Norway and reservations keep pouring in. This year in May, all parking decks were fully booked for the summer months of 2022. There is room for 1500 passengers on board the MS Romantika and the parking deck can accommodate 300 cars. Tickets are still available for the summer months of 2023 – also for cars, caravans and campers – but don’t postpone your booking. On our information page we keep you informed about the crossing Eemshaven to Kristiansand.
Holiday to snowy Norway
Norway is beautiful in winter: go on a ski trip in Norway with Holland Norway Lines or book a mini cruise and sail back and forth!
References
| ↑1 | https://ferryshippingnews.com/interview-with-ceo-bart-cunnen/ |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | https://hollandnorwaylines.com/ship/ |
| ↑3 | https://hollandnorwaylines.com/about-hnl/ |
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