Welcome to our Quilting cruise along the Norwegian coast under the Aurora Borealis with ARNE & CARLOS, and Kate from The Last Homely House!

With great pleasure, we invite you to join us in Norway for a fabulous adventure onboard the beautiful new ship MS Havila Capella. Your hosts, ARNE & CARLOS, have joined forces with co-host Kate Jackson from the Last Homely House to create a unique quilting experience as we sail along the most beautiful coastline in the world. Learn all their tricks for finding inspiration and putting colours together and discover Norway's longstanding textile traditions and craftsmanship as we sail beyond the arctic circle and into the land of the Northern Lights.

This classic roundtrip along the Norwegian coast will start and end in Bergen, Norway.

ARNE & CARLOS are award-winning, highly regarded fashion designers, textile artists, YouTubers, and authors. They are best known for their original, colourful, and visually striking designs, as well as their knitwear and their books. Their Scandinavian background and everyday life in rural Norway highly influence their work.

Kate first launched her YouTube channel, The Last Homely House, five years ago and is best known for her colourful, intricate quilts and eye for colour and pattern. She shares this in her videos and tutorials, as well as jolly good humour and a positive attitude. This will be Kate's first cruise, and she looks forward to meeting all of you under the shimmering spectacle of the Aurora Borealis. For this cruise, Kate has designed a special English Paper Piecing project for us to make during this spectacular voyage.

We are especially delighted to introduce you to Havila Voyages. This Norwegian shipping company sails the classic coastal voyage between Bergen and Kirkenes with the Norwegian coast's most environmentally friendly ships. The new ships are loaded with the world's largest battery pack, and they can sail without noise or emissions through vulnerable fjords for four hours. Excess heat from cooling water and sea is used for heating on board. On the menu are locally made dishes from local producers, and all unnecessary plastic is avoided.

March is the perfect time to do 'the world's most beautiful sea voyage' and to experience the mythical Northern Lights. Although science today has revealed many of the secrets of the Northern Lights, we still allow ourselves to be captivated by the mystery of the sky's own fireworks. And in earlier days, the Northern Lights were the basis of many myths and superstitions. The Latin name for the Northern Lights is the Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights are only visible in the winter, late autumn, and early spring when it still gets dark in Norway. March is an excellent time to experience this phenomenon. A few hours before and around midnight, the Northern Lights are seen most frequently and at their most intense.

The cruise will take us to 34 ports along the Norwegian coast. Some ports of call are short, some longer. The Norwegian government commissions Havila to serve the population and communities along the coast with ferry service, mail, cargo, and other supplies, which means the ship is a working ship as well as a cruise ship carrying tourists. This will give you an exciting experience of the local life along the coast.

During the cruise, you will enjoy the company of your hosts, ARNE&CARLOS and Kate, attend their interesting lectures and participate in the quilting activities! The trip of a lifetime – you don’t want to miss this opportunity!

Highlights:

* Bergen City tour before embarkation

* The world’s most beautiful sea voyage onboard MS Havila Capella – 12 days

* Excursion to North Cape is included.Quilting activities and lectures with ARNE&CARLOS and Kate.

* English Paper Piecing kit will be provided for your onboard quilting project. All tools will also be provided, and no sewing machine will be required for the onboard project.

* Experiencing the dancing Aurora Borealis!

ARNE & CARLOS

Scandinavians Arne Nerjordet and Carlos Zachrisson are highly regarded fashion designers, textile artists, YouTubers and authors. They are best known for their original, colourful and visually striking designs as well as their knitwear and their books. Their work is highly influenced by their Scandinavian background and their everyday life in rural Norway. They work under their artist name ARNE & CARLOS, which they established in 2001.

Read more about ARNE & CARLOS here.

Program

PROGRAM

Please note the program is subject to changes.

Day 1 4^th Mar 24 - Arrival Bergen

Arrive in Bergen, Norway, from your home destination by your own arrangement. Check-in at your hotel in downtown Bergen – Hotel Havnekontoret. Welcome drinks in the lobby with ARNE & CARLOS and Kate. A light evening meal buffet is served at the hotel and is included, or you may want to try one of the many excellent local restaurants nearby.

Day 2 5^th Mar 24 - Bergen City Tour and embarkation (B, L, D)

After breakfast, welcome to a city tour of Bergen, where you will see the major attractions. We will visit The Textile Industry Museum just outside Bergen and factory of Oleana where they produce beautiful knitwear, where also a delicious lunch will be served. Before embarkation, enjoy a trip up the funicular to Fløyen, from where there is a fantastic view over Bergen and the surrounding mountains. You may even get a first glimpse of your ship MS Havila Capella! In the evening, drinks are served in Havblikk Lounge, followed by dinner in Havrand Restaurant. The ship sails from Bergen at 20.30.

Day 3 6^th Mar 24 - Ålesund (B, L, D)

In Ålesund, the inhabitants claim this is Norway’s most beautiful town – and they could very well be right! The city is renowned for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture. This is an extended port of call, and the ship will remain in Ålesund all day, with plenty of opportunities to explore this charming town. Optional tours will be available. Today, ARNE & CARLOS and Kate will give their first lecture/class.

Day 4 7^th Mar 24 - Trondheim (B, L, D)

Trondheim was founded by Vikings in 997 AD. The most famous building here is Nidaros Cathedral, built in the Gothic style. An organized excursion to Husfliden Trondheim is included in your package. We will visit the sewing rooms to learn more about Norwegian bunads (traditional folk costumes) and see the skilled artisans and tailors at work.

Day 5 8th Mar 24 - Crossing the Arctic Circle (B, L, D)

Today we cross the Arctic Circle! During the call in Bodø you may want to join Havila’s excursion to Saltstraumen – the world’s most powerful maelstrom. We sail through the Lofoten archipelago towards the pretty fishing village Svolvær, for a late evening call. If the weather allows, we may sail in the very narrow and mysterious Trollfjord this evening!

Day 6 9th Mar 24 - Tromsø (B, L, D)

Enjoy Norway’s beautiful coastal scenery as MS Havila Capella sails north further up the Arctic waters. In the afternoon the ship will arrive in Tromsø, the gateway to the Arctic and the largest city in Northern Norway – also called ‘Paris of the North’, because of its lively restaurant and bar scene.

Day 7 10^th Mar 24 - At the top of Norway (B, L, D)

Arrival Honningsvåg - the portal to the North Cape, where a globe monument marks the top of Europe. The very popular excursion up to the dramatic promontory is included in this travel adventure!

Day 8 11^th Mar 24 - Kirkenes – the Bordertown (B, L, D)

Kirkenes is the turning point for the northbound journey, the Havila coastal express changes direction and heads south. Kirkenes suffered severe damage during the WWII bombings. The town is quite an outpost influenced by many different cultures and nationalities.

Day 9 12th Mar 24 - At the top of Europe – Hammerfest (B, L, D)

Cruising southbound MS Havila Capella calls at Hammerfest which used to be the northernmost town in the world before Longyearbyen in Svalbard claimed the title. As the cruise continues south to Tromsø, you may glimpse views of the Lyngen Alps, which boast some of the highest peaks in all of Norway.

Day 10 13th Mar 24 - Lofoten Archipelago (B, L, D)

Today you will explore the stunning Lofoten archipelago, a highlight of the scenic route. The birthplace of Hurtigruten Stokmarknes is a port of call where the Hurtigruten museum can be visited. The building resembles a ship in a bottle and chronicles the Hurtigruten legacy.

Day 11 14^th Mar 24 - Helgeland Coast – where the trolls live (B, L, D)

Admire the fascinating mountain range the Seven Sisters and see the hole passing straight through Torghatten mountain and learn about the myths and legends from the area. This part of the coast is stunning!

Day 12 15^th Mar 24 - Viking Capital and Bacalao capital (B, L, D)

Two important ‘capitals’ will be visited today –Trondheim the Viking Capital and Kristiansund the bacalao capital! If you missed attractions in Trondheim on the northbound journey, now is your chance to catch up. Havila offers an excursion to The Atlantic Road – ranked as the world’s best road trip by The Guardian. Today ARNE & CARLOS will give another lecture about their interesting life and work as designers.

This is our last evening onboard and we will meet for a farewell drink!

Day 13 16^th Mar 24 - Fjord country and the home stretch to Bergen (B, L)

As MS Havila Capella takes us south towards Bergen, enjoy the stunning coastal scenery and fjord landscape, on our last day onboard. (Today, Kate will give a final lecture)

MS Havila Capella arrives in Bergen at 14.45 in the afternoon and it is time to say goodbye to the ship’s crew, new friends, ARNE&CARLOS and Kate after a wonderful time with lots of lovely memories!

Kate Jackson

Kate at The Last Homely House

Kate first launched her YouTube channel, The Last Homely House, from her kitchen in the North of England over five years ago. There she has shared her adventures on sewing, quilting, crafting, and much more in over 300 videos. She has, however, been making things for much longer than that, starting sewing and quilting at home when she was just a small child. Kate is best known for her colourful, intricate quilts, and eye for colour and pattern. This is what she shares in her videos and tutorials, as well as jolly good humour and a positive attitude.

Kate lives in one of the most beautiful and remote parts of England, where she keeps a large and wild garden. You’ll frequently catch glimpses of her cats, goose, bees, and even grandchildren running around her garden in her videos. This will be Kate’s first cruise, and she is very much looking forward to meeting all of you under the shimmering spectacle of the Aurora Borealis.

Havila Coastal Express

MS Havila Capella

The Havila ships are classic and beautiful with décor that reflects Norwegian landscapes including the sea, the sky, mountains, and glaciers. Natural materials and Nordic design create a warm, genuine and unpretentious atmosphere, in which you are sure to feel at ease. You can enjoy the scenery gliding by outside from the ship’s many public areas. Comfortable seats and panoramic windows give you the best possible views of the Norwegian coastline.

HAVILA GOLD CARD IS INCLUDED WITH ALL ITS GOLDEN ADVANTAGES!

Food and beverage

* Havila Gold’s exclusive extra choices at breakfast, lunch and dinner

* During the voyage you get two evenings in the fine dining restaurant Hildring with an exclusive five-course menu

* Non alcoholic beverage package with 30 units of soft drinks, mineral water and fresh fruit juices

* Tea and coffee package included with a rich selection of premium coffee choices

Service

* Havila Gold Lounge with welcome drinks and snacks in Havblikk Bar on deck 9 every day 16.00-18.00

* Welcome package in the cabin

* No cover charge for room service in your cabin

* 20% discount on selected Havila items in the ship’s store

Cabins

On board these new coastal cruise ships, the emphasis is on providing passengers with spacious cabins. The cabins are intended to be pleasant places to relax during the day and sleep well at night. The typical Nordic décor reflects the landscape through which you will be sailing.

Most of the cabins have sea views, while others are located inside the ship. Some of these are small, with just two beds and make an inexpensive alternative if you are not travelling far. The cabins and suites range from 16m² to 45m², and can accommodate up to four people. All cabins have TV, free wifi and USB ports.

Read more about the cabins here: https://www.havilavoyages.com/the-ships/cabins

Interior cabin (single or double use)

Superior Seaview cabin with double or twin beds (single or double use)

Junior Suite with balcony

Tourleader

Your tour leader from Aller travel is Githa Kristensen who has been arranging knitting and garden tours with ARNE & CARLOS for several years. Githa has always worked in the travel industry, as tour leader, on cruise ships, and as a travel agent and travel producer. For the quilting cruise, Githa will meet you at Hotel Havnekontoret in Bergen, and she will be assisting our group with all practical matters throughout the tour. Githa is also a keen knitter and a sailor - and the Norwegian coastal cruise is an all-time favourite!

Travel and cancellation conditions

Terms and Conditions Aller Travel AS

The terms and conditions of this contract apply to all products or services of any kind whatsoever provided for or arranged by Aller Travel. These terms and conditions represent the entire agreement and a binding contract between Aller Travel AS and the customer.

The terms and conditions of this contract are drawn up in accordance with the Package Tours Act, and the regulations laid down by the Norwegian Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion. However, in case of conflict between this contract and Package Tours Act, this contract shall take precedence.

1. CONTRACT

Your contract partner is Aller Travel AS. When used in this contract, «you,» or «customer» means each person whose name appears on the face of the ticket and/or who uses the ticket for passage on the tour described in the ticket.

When you book travel with us, this contract is regarded as binding once Aller Travel AS receives the first payment of the deposit. Aller Travel AS is then responsible for delivering the products/arrangements you have booked while you are financially responsible for the booking. The moment you make a booking you are confirming that you have the authority to accept these terms and conditions on behalf of yourself and any travel companions. You accept responsibility for payment to us for all customers in your booking. The customer is solely responsible for ensuring that the actual reservation corresponds with the booking made.

As the person making the booking, you are also responsible for ensuring that the names on all documents are correct and in accordance with the passports of all customers for whom you are making the booking. As the person making the booking, you will also be responsible for ensuring that all travel companions in the booking are kept fully informed of what was booked and any changes that may arise.

2. GOVERNING LAW AND FORUM SELECTION CLAUSE

Any disputes and matters of whatsoever nature between the customer and Aller Travel AS shall be governed by Norwegian law. Such disputes and matters shall be litigated in and before a court of law in the city of Oslo, Norway.

3. GUARANTEE

Aller Travel AS at all times provides the statutory guarantee for package tours from:

The Norwegian Travel Guarantee Fund
Post box 227
N-4001 STAVANGER
Norway

4. PAYMENT

Payment of deposit NOK 4000 per person is due immediately for all bookings.

The full amount due must be paid 12 weeks before departure.
If the booking is made less than 12 weeks prior to departure, the full amount is due immediately.

If you fail to make any payment by the date on which it is due under this contract, Aller Travel AS reserves the right to cancel the booking, keep the deposit and demand a cancellation fee.

For online purchases made by credit cards, Aller travel follows the EU regulations which require 3D Secure banking system for credit card transactions.

In order to pay by credit card, please check the following:

• Check the limit on your credit card
• Check that your card is open for transactions in EU
• Preferably use browsers Chrome or Firefox, from a stationary computer
• Check that your bank and credit card are enrolled in the 3D Secure banking system

5. PRICES

The tour fare set forth in this contract is stated Norwegian kroner (NOK), which is per person based on double occupancy. The fare does not include items of a personal nature, including but not limited to, laundry, liquor, beer, or wine. The full and correct price of the trip is given before a booking is confirmed, except as set forth below.

The tour fare includes all applicable and known taxes, surcharges and government-imposed fees.

6. TRAVEL PROTECTION PLAN

We recommend that all passengers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your trip investment from unexpected events such as cancellations, delays, and medical emergencies. Please read the cancellation policy below.

7. CANCELLATION BY CUSTOMER

You or anyone in the booking have/has the right to cancel the booking at any time. All cancellations must be done in writing by the person who has made the booking. The cancellation is effective on the date that Aller Travel AS receives the cancellation request.

Cancellation fees are calculated according to the following schedule:

Number of days prior to departure	Cancellation fees
Less than 30 days before	100 %
30 – 89 days before	50 %
More than 91 days before	Deposit is non refundable

8. CANCELLATION BY ALLER TRAVEL AS

Aller Travel AS reserves the right to cancel any booking without liability or compensation to you, provided such cancellation is due to circumstances that are beyond Aller Travel’s control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, piracy, terrorism, civil strife, labor conflicts, weather conditions, perils of the sea, mechanical breakdown, or collisions («force majeure events»).

Aller Travel reserves the right to omit, alter, or curtail any tour excursions at its sole discretion. If a change to a tour is minor, of a kind that the customer should have anticipated occasionally occurring or the occurrence of which is beyond Aller Travel’s reasonable control, then Aller Travel shall have no obligation to pay a refund to the customer. If a deviation is not minor, or Aller Travel cancels a tour, a full refund will be given to the customer.

9. MEDICAL CARE AND NOTICE OF SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Prior to traveling, you must notify us of any medical condition for which you or any person accompanying you may require either medical attention or accommodation during the tour, including but not limited to food allergies, or for which the use of a wheelchair is required. The customer assumes all risks arising out of the customer’s personal medical condition prior to the tour, whether or not that condition is disclosed to Aller Travel.

10. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Your specific passport and visa requirements as well as any other immigration requirements are your own responsibility and you must clarify this with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. We do not accept any responsibility in situations where you cannot travel because you do not meet the latest requirements.

11. COVID-19

Entry restrictions discontinued. The statutory requirement to obtain a negative test prior to travel and the requirement to register entry into Norway upon arrival have both been discontinued.

12. CONTACT INFORMATION

Aller Travel AS
PB 656 Løren

0507 Oslo, Norway

TEL: + 47 917 93 754

Githa Kristensen

Prices in USD

PRICE SPECIFICATION:

Interior cabin twin/dbl per person: NOK 49 500,- (USD 4500)

Interior cabin single use: NOK 54 500,- (USD 4900)

Seaview Superior twin/dbl per person: NOK 56 500,- (USD 5100)

Seaview Superior cabin single use: NOK 61 900,- (USD 5580)

Jr Suite Balcony twin/dbl per person: NOK 79 500,- (USD 7200)

Other cabin categories on request.

ARNE & CARLOS Quilting Cruise with Kate from The Last Homely House