Before becoming an Arctic spa boat, Vulkana lived many lives.
Launched in 1957, shaped by the North Sea, transformed by vision – she carries history, soul, and fire within her steel hull.
A rich maritime history
Launched in 1957 at Lista under the name Viga, she was first a fishing vessel, forged by the North Sea and the Norwegian coast. Herring, cod, mackerel, sprat — she carried the rhythm of the ocean and earned her place among the fleet of the legendary Herring Kings of Ryfylke. In the 1970s, she was renamed Leif Jr. and began a new chapter as a whaling boat, sailing from Lofoten to the icy edges of Svalbard each summer. Over the years, she changed owners and names — Heimøybas, then Ofsen — gathering stories, scars, and souls along the way. One of her owners once said: “She was the best boat I ever had.”
The spark that changed everything
In 2007, during the Tromsø International Film Festival, two bath lovers crossed paths with a boat broker from Andenes. A casual conversation turned into a wild idea:
What if a fishing boat became a floating spa?
What started as a modest dream quickly escalated into a spontaneous decision. At 3:35 am, outside Verdensteateret in Tromsø, Ofsen was purchased. She was in poor condition: worn down, abandoned, filled with broken equipment, but something was undeniable.
She still carried power. She still had a soul.
From raw vessel to Arctic floating spa
The transformation took two years and a bold vision. With Finnish architect Sami Rintala and master boat builder Gunnar Eldjarn, Vulkana was reborn — not erased, not polished into something artificial, but transformed with deep respect for her past. Where 60 tons of cod were once stored, you now find a Japanese-inspired Zen Lounge and a warm Turkish hammam. The former crew quarters gave way to a wood-fired sauna and an intimate restaurant for up to 12 guests. Steel, wood, steam, fire. Past and present intertwined. This is not a spa added onto a boat. This is a boat that became a ritual.
An Arctic spa experience like no other
A floating spa boat in Tromsø, designed to slow time and awaken the senses.
Hot Tub
Sauna
Hammam
Arctic Plunge
Bar
Fire-pit
Sink into the 40°C wood-fired hot tub on deck.
Breathe in the steam of the hammam.
Feel the contrast between heat and polar air.
Watch the mountains pass.
Let the sea do the rest.
Top 10% of attractions worldwide Traveller’s Choice 2023 – TripAdvisor
