In the lounge on the ferry between Magerholm and Sykkylven on Sunnmøre, the cafe is empty. Olav Harald Ulstein misses the good talk over a cup of coffee on the way home from work. He believes that self-service cafes destroy the social environment on the ferry. Ulstein has taken the ferry for 50 years, and says that he has noticed that fewer people are sitting in the cafe than before. – I think there was more socializing on the ferries in the past, especially when there was a serviced kiosk. The ferry lounge on the Magerholm-Sykkylven ferry is empty. Photo: Nils-Atle Sundnes / news Self-service café Kjell André Brunstad has also been a frequent user of the ferries for over thirty years. He also notices that fewer people sit down in the cafe after the service was replaced with computer screens. – Before, everyone would come in and buy svele and coffee and sausage with bread, says Brunstad. Kjell André Brunstad has taken many ferries as a professional driver. Photo: Nils-Atle Sundnes / news The former professional driver believes that the ferry journey is much longer if you sit in the car than in the cafe. – It’s an eternity if you have to sit in the car and wait for nothing. If you go in and meet famous people, it’s two minutes and you’ve left, says Brunstad. New habits Professor Aksel Tjora has researched social interaction and community development. He himself has observed the empty cafes when he takes the ferry to his holiday home. – There are many more people sitting in their cars on the car tire than what you have been used to in the past. Aksel Tjora is professor of sociology at NTNU. Photo: KJARTAN OVESEN / news When the pandemic hit the country, people were encouraged to stay in their cars during the ferry journey, and catering services were temporarily closed. Those who could previously imagine going into the cafe were encouraged to sit in the cars. That could be a possible reason why some still don’t go into the cafe, explains Tjora. – People add new habits and routines when they are required to do something else for a while. Missing the musty smell in the hallways It is becoming increasingly common to close serviced cafes and shops in several places in the country. Several of the country’s largest ferry companies such as Torghatten Nord, Norled and Fjord1 today have several ferries with self-service cafes. About half of the 27 ferries to Fjord1 in Møre and Romsdal only have self-service cafes. This is according to Olav Strømstad, who is head of catering at Fjord1. – Where there is money for it, of course we want to have a kiosk serviced, says Strømstad. He says the company has not received feedback that self-service destroys the social environment. There is still something the customers miss after several cafes became self-service: – They miss the musty smell in the corridors. Ferry between Sykkylven and Magerholm. Photo: Nils-Atle Sundnes / news – You are lucky if you meet someone Olav Harald Ulstein is a well-known figure. He is a former deputy mayor in Sykkylven municipality and participates in Farmen. Now he misses meeting famous people on his commute. Ulstein believes that there used to be a social gain in entering the ferry, which has now disappeared. – You are lucky if you meet someone, and even luckier if you meet famous people. Olav Harald Ulstein has taken the ferry from Sykkylven for 50 years. Photo: Nils-Atle Sundnes / news
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Olav Harald (59) misses the good talk on the ferry
