TL;DR
- Havila Voyages reports UK sales up 16% for summer 2026.
- Southern European airports are seeing long EES passport queues; Norway’s phased rollout is smoother.
- Bergen and Oslo are handling arrivals with less friction, per Havila’s Global Head of Sales Matthew Valentine.
- Late bookers are switching north rather than sit in queues.
- Cabin availability for July and August is now limited on some sailings.
- Summer voyages showcase the midnight sun, Geirangerfjord, and the Lofoten Islands.
What’s Happening at Havila Voyages
Every agent with a client on hold about a summer trip to Spain, Italy, or Greece is fielding the same question this week: how bad are the airport queues going to be? Sophie’s reading that Norwegian coastal operator Havila Voyages reports UK sales up 16% for summer 2026, and the reason given is tied directly to the Entry/Exit System rollout at southern European gateways.
The story broke via BreakingTravelNews on 9 July 2026. Matthew Valentine, Global Head of Sales at Havila Voyages, points to Bergen and Oslo airports handling arrivals with less friction than the big southern hubs. Late bookers are noticing, and they’re rerouting.
A Closer Look
Havila’s read on it, in Valentine’s own words: “Many holidaymakers have understandably been concerned by headlines about lengthy immigration queues across Europe. Unlike many major European gateways affected by long passport queues this summer, the Norwegian’s phased approach has meant a smoother transition and is driving interest in travel to the country.”
The knock-on effect is availability. Valentine adds: “Our growth this summer has only been limited by the capacity available. While there are a limited number of cabins still available for July and August, agents will need to book quickly in order to secure them.” July and August cabins are going. Anyone still deciding on a summer Norway voyage is racing the calendar.
For Client Chats
Sophie finds this one interesting because Norway has historically been a winter sell for the UK market. Northern Lights, Christmas markets, the classic aurora hunt. Valentine notes that other nationalities have long picked the coastal route in summer, and it’s only recently that British holidaymakers have caught on to what a June or July voyage actually looks like.
His words: “It is only in recent years that British holidaymakers have realised that a summer voyage can be just as spectacular, if not more so.” Think midnight sun casting light on deck at 1am, Geirangerfjord’s towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls slipping past the window, and the Lofoten Islands with their pristine beaches and picturesque fishing villages. It’s a different Norway to the one the UK usually books.
The Helpful Bit
For any agent with a client currently sitting on a Southern European summer booking and getting cold feet about the airport experience, Norway via Havila is a live alternative worth flagging. Cabins are tight, the sailings are dated, and the swap-in reason writes itself. Website for reference: www.havilavoyages.com.
