Thor Heyerdahl – Our new home

Date: 17.10.2026

Imagine waking up in a small cabin, hearing the cracking of the ship and feeling the gentle movement of the waves. Instead of traffic outside your window, there is nothing but the endless blue sea.

This is our new everyday life on board. It has only been a few days since we left Kiel, but somehow our lives have changed more than I expected.

From the outside the Thor looks impressive with its three masts reaching towards the sky and the sails catching the wind. But the real adventure starts below deck. Suddenly, you find yourself in a maze of corridors, steep stairs and small cabins. The ship is so big and small at the same time. Sharing a room with up to five people means getting used to different routines, voices and habits. Privacy is rare and silence is almost a luxury.

Our beds on board are called bunks. On the first days we all made them cozy with pictures of our families and friends, lights and hanging shelves.

Still, there is something comforting about knowing that your friends are only a few steps away. Even the smallest moments like laughing together before falling asleep, feel already different from life at home.

Of course, life on board is not only about cabins. The main deck is where the sea feels closest. You can watch the waves roll past the ship, feel the wind on your face and look out towards a horizon that seems to stretch forever.

Below deck, the messroom is one of the places where everyone comes together. It is where we eat, play games and share stories about the day. The galley, our board’s kitchen, is always busy when meals are being prepared. Meanwhile, the ship’s different working areas remind us that the Thor Heyerdahl is not just a home, it is also a place where everything has to work with the aid of a team. Everyone has responsibilities and even small tasks are important, and we are learning that sailing a ship requires more cooperation than most of us probably imagined.