Judy Ersvaer – the M/S Stockholm’s most frequent passenger

PolarQuest has so many great travellers and one of them is Judy Ersvaer. She has voyaged with M/S Stockholm on many occasion – in Svalbard, along the Norwegian cost, in England, Wales and Scotland including the Orkney and Shetland Islands! We asked Judy to tell us more about her passion for this beautiful and classic ship built in 1953.

How did you first find out about the ship M/S Stockholm and what caught your interest?

I found her on the Internet when searching for trips to Svalbard on small ships, and I was immediately fascinated with her originality. I can't stand it when they advertise "luxury". In my mind, she is more luxurious than all those modernised up market ships.

What is it about M/S Stockholm, that makes you travel with her repeatedly?

M/S Stockholm, whatever can I say? The feelings I have come from deep inside and all well up when I see her again for my next trip. When I finish a trip and am still around, I come and watch her depart (sadly without me).

One never really knows what to expect, which makes it a true adventure. Having Per Engwall the Captain and owner of the ship, and his selected crew interact with us – it makes it feel like a big family.

I may be silly, but the two GREAT trips I did to Greenland last year, it was all about the trips and the ships were in a way irrelevant. With Stockholm it's the other way around!

Where did your first trip go?

My first trip was a circumnavigation of Svalbard. While on board, Per Engwall said he went to St. Kilda, a place I’d always wanted to go, so that sold me for my second trip. After that there was no stopping me…

Which trip on the M/S Stockholm would you say has been your favorite and why?

Oh, who knows... all of them! Extremely lucky to land on St. Kilda twice in really good weather. But when I did the three trips in a row, from Scotland to Svalbard, I was in heaven. Might add that all the guides have been great, as is your office!