Norwegian Cruise - Scandinavian Splendour
- Work To Wonders
- May 23
- 5 min read
Updated: May 24
The Norwegian Fjords are a natural mountainous wonder that is one of the truly great cruise experiences in the world.
During the spring and summer, when the weather is right, it's possible to simply stand on deck and watch as your ship meanders through steep-sided valleys with absolutely stunning, peaceful alpine views.
Arriving in the ports - most of which are small - leads you to some incredible adventures. There is the breathtaking Geirangerfjord, with its jaw-dropping Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint.
There is also the Flåm Railway, which takes you high into the top of the fjord, past many waterfalls, to the stunning village of Myrdal.
On our cruise, we docked in the utterly charming city of Bergen, nestled between seven hills and seven fjords, which has charming Nordic architecture.
There are many other ports that can be visited on a Norwegian cruise, some of them even within the Arctic Circle. Some cruises offer the opportunity to see the Northern Lights.
This is a cruise route that really is the adventure of a lifetime.
It's also one of the most economical ways to see a spectacular, but very expensive, country.
How to get there
Norwegian cruises often start from the British ports of Dover or Southampton, with a few leaving from Newcastle, Edinburgh, Dundee, and London. Some also leave from Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. There are also a few that leave from New York, but these itineraries are likely to be longer due to the need to cross the Atlantic. The closer you are to Norway, the quicker you will get there.
Our advice when booking any cruise is to check Cruise Nation to see what is available, and then look for answers to the following questions:
Where do you want to go? Not just in terms of the country but the specific ports of call you want to see.
What do you want to see? Check your ports carefully to see if they are close to the places and the sites you want to visit. In most cases, tours bought from the cruise company and even in port will be more expensive than those you can buy from Viator or ShoreExcursions, or places you can get to yourself. This is particularly true of the Flåm Railway in Norway, which is half the price on its own website as it is through any cruise line. We have found that cruise lines are particularly good at charging for places you can easily get to yourself, with a bit of research on Google Maps. As a rule of thumb, make sure you can get to the place of interest and back to the port comfortably at least one hour before the ship is due to sail. It's very important to check the length of time the cruise ship will be in port, as some save money by not remaining in port very long, which also makes it more likely that you will book a tour with them, rather than with a cheaper provider.
When do you want to go? What time of year is best to see those places? A little research here on average weather conditions will definitely help.
From where do you want to sail? It can sometimes be cheaper to cruise from a European port. Wherever you sail from, it’s a very good idea to make sure you can get there with as little stress as possible before the ship is due to sail. Some cruise lines have a cruise and fly package. If you take this option, your cruise ship will wait for you, but they do tend to be overpriced. If you choose to get there under your own steam (which can be a lot cheaper), the cruise ship will not wait. In that situation, we’ve often found that it’s better to get to the port at least one night before, to be on the safe side.
With whom do you want to sail? There are a dizzying array of options out there, from family-oriented cruises (Royal Caribbean, Marella, P&O), to resort-style (Carnival, Costa, MSC, Princess), to themed (Disney), to luxury (Celebrity, Cunard, Virgin, Holland America), to adventure (Hurtigruten) and lots more.
Who is coming with you? In our experience, it’s better to choose a cruise line that suits everyone in your group and has something they can all enjoy. After all, you are pretty much guaranteed to have at least one day at sea, when it’s better everyone has something on the ship that they want to do.
How much are you willing to spend? Cruise lines make a lot of money from ancillary spend like upgrades, premium restaurants and experiences, gambling and the like. Many cruise lines don’t include tips and gratuities in the price they quote and add these on at the end - make sure you factor this in. We suggest taking the booking right through to the end, without paying, to see how much money your cruise will actually cost.
If you are still bewildered by the level of choice (and we don’t blame you - it is very wide), travel agents can help. Just make sure they give you a good deal and don’t charge you too much more than you would pay if you did it directly with the cruise line.
How we did it
We took our cruise quite some time ago, when it was possible to cruise with Marella from Newcastle, somewhere we could reach on a Megabus from Scotland. This was our first cruise and was very good value at the time. Due to fuel price increases and inflation, Norway cruises are not as economical as they once were, but they are still an unforgettable experience and worth every penny. We highly recommend them.
Our top tips
Be very careful of the seasons and the time of year. Summertime is best for seeing the fjords as the weather is warmer and a little drier. Winter is better for the Northern Lights. Take care of the North Sea crossing if your cruise involves one - in winter it can be very stormy.
Norway is very expensive, particularly for hotels and restaurants. To save money, try to limit your stay onshore in the country. We made sure we were full when we left the cruise ship to avoid buying food onshore as one meal in a restaurant there can cost as much as two or three in Scotland.
This is not a cruise like in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. The weather is not likely to be very warm and rain is always possible. Bring good walking shoes and a waterproof jacket - you might need them.
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