'My family's worked on cruises for decades - guests always make same packing mistake'

Isak Hals, who has been working for Norwegian cruise liner Hurtigruten as an ‘Able Seaman’ on MS Nordkapp since 2017, has shared his motivations for joining the firm and some top tips

A cruise worker who has generations of sailing experience in his blood has shared his top tips for those about to set sail.

Isak Hals, who has been working for Hurtigruten as an ‘Able Seaman’ on MS Nordkapp since 2017, comes from a very long line of cruise workers associated with the Norwegian brand. His father Eivind Eliassen worked aboard MS Lofoten in the 1970s. Before Isak was even a twinkle in his father's eyes, grandfather Fredrik Sandborg Hals spent an incredible 40 years at sea - including 34 with Hurtigruten - starting on the MS Vesterålen in the 1960s and finishing on MS Richard With. Even further back, Isak's great-great-grandfather Fredrik was a ship clerk, while his brother Paul Emil Hals was on the 1893 maiden voyage of DS Vesteraalen, which would later become Norwegian cruise liner Hurtigruten.

Isak explained why he followed in the footsteps of the many Hals before him. "Sailing is in my blood and for as long as I can remember, my dream has always been to work at sea, and especially with Hurtigruten. My great-great-great grandfather William Dahl Hals was one of several people to help Captain Richard With found the company in 1893 and establish the Coastal Express route in the late 19th Century," the young sailor told the Mirror.

"Since then, every generation of my family has worked onboard a Hurtigruten ship including my grandfather Fredrik Hals who was the captain of MS Vesteralen. From a young age, my grandfather would tell me stories of his life at sea, and I would say that his tales were one of the greatest influences behind choosing to work onboard our ships."

Given that Isak is in a perfect position to offer advice about those embarking on a cruise, we asked him for the items he considers must-packs, and for any words of wisdom he can share. When it came to the essential kit, the Nordic routes that Hurtigruten mostly embark upon were clearly forefront of his mind.

"(Definitely pack) layers of clothing! It gets cold even in northern Norway during the winter season, and most guests assume a thick warm coat will do the trick. With layers, at least if you get hot you can just take them off," Isak explained. "Luckily, we do have a shop onboard and we do call in at towns and villages on our sailings so if you do need more layers or a hat and scarf, there’s always a solution.

"My final advice is to make sure you have a good camera. You’ll see spectacular nature, wildlife, and scenery on your trip, and you’ll want to make sure you capture it all so you can share the experience with your friends and family when you return. Go with an open mind and try your best to switch off from your daily life as soon as you get onboard. The destinations we travel to are often once in a lifetime experiences, so you should take every advantage to get off the ship and explore the places we visit."

As well as being regaled with salty sea tales by his relatives around the dinner table, Isak had an early experience aboard a cruise ship. "In Norway, Hurtigruten is the best way to travel if you live near the coast. I remember as a child, travelling with Hurtigruten to visit some of my older siblings who had moved to another city," he said.

When his grandfather was sailing, Isak's grandmother would come down to the quay to see him as the ship past her home in the inky black water, sometimes even at night-time as the biting frost closed in. "Because then they didn't have rotations like we have today with three weeks onboard and three weeks off, they were gone for several months so she never knew when he would come home," the young sailor explained.

"My grandfather retired before I was born. But I remember he used to go down to the quay to see the ships arrive, especially the ships he had worked on or where he knew someone. Sometimes he used to go onboard to drink some coffee and say hello to old colleagues. Often, I went with him onboard to visit the ships and listened to stories from the time when he was sailing."

Along the east coast of Norway the passage of Hurtigruten ships are an essential part of some communities, with a state-backed ticket scheme allowing locals free passage onboard so they can hop from place to place. People living in the icy climes of Svalbard - way up in the Artic Circle - rely on the cruise ships for deliveries.

More recently Isak took up the "incredible opportunity to work onboard the same ship as my Grandfather had captained". As an Able Seaman he says he plays "an active role in the maintenance and deck operations such as docking, undocking, and line handling and to help with the unloading and loading of cargo and cars that may travel from port to port."

He continued: "I think the most memorable experiences I have had, was during my time as a trainee onboard MS Midnatsol. You have a vision of what some of the destinations will look like, but nothing can prepare you for the beautiful places you get to witness up close. I’ve had the chance to explore various countries, but nothing beats the Norwegian coastline in summer chasing the midnight sun or experiencing a magical Northern Lights display in the winter."