Norwegian Cruises

Why Cruise Norway?

Norwegian cruising holidays are amongst the most spectacular in the world! They involve unforgettable journeys past mighty cliffs, amazing waterfalls, isolated settlements, quaint villages and green meadowlands. Absorbing the country by sea offers an unequalled view of the region with an amazing amount to see and do. From charming cities including Bergen and Trondheim to a huge range of wonderful fjord towns such as Olden, Honningsvag, Gudvangen, Hellesylt and Hammerfest.

Few cruise destinations match the majestic scenery and extraordinary choice that Norwegian cruises offer, not to mention the long hours of sunlight, which allow for what seems to be an ever-lasting holiday! In addition to this Norwegian cruise holidays boast fabulous scenic excursions, including the charming city of Trondheim, the dramatic villages of Geiranger and the legendary train journeys that include the Flam railway.

Popular Destinations

There are many popular places to visit by cruiseliner with the most popular destinations being Flam and Geiranger. These destinations provide incredible journeys through mighty cliffs, spectacular waterfalls and quiet settlements with stunning mountain backdrops. Other popular destinations feature the cities of Trondheim and Bergen with a long list of fjord towns and villages including Andalsnes, Vik, Olden, Honningsvag, Gudvangen, Hellesylt, Hammerfest and Molde.

Additionally visiting the Capital of Oslo, and the southern resort of Kristiansand and the Western Fjords destination of Stavanger are very popular. Many cruise liners also head beyond the Arctic Circle to Tromso and the land of the Midnight Sun where the views are out of this world!

Popular Cruise Excursions

There are numerous places to explore in Norway, but when deciding your itinerary here’s two to consider:

Oslo Attractions: Fjords - Vigeland Sculpture Park - Fram Polar Ship Museum

This tour starts onboard a small boat that allows you to sail past a maze of green islands with picturesque summerhouses, quaint villages and graceful castles. The boat then sails past picturesque islands in the inner part of Oslo Fjord laced with medieval walled towns and majestic fortresses. The tour then transfers to coach to take you to the centre of Oslo where you can enjoy the Vigeland Sculpture Park, Created by sculptor Gustav Vigeland, where one of the main attractions is The Monolith, a column over 14 metres tall into which human bodies have been carved. From there, you visit the Fram Polar Ship Museum, which depicts the history of the polar explorers. The main attraction of the museum is the famous polarship, Fram, from 1892. The ship is displayed in its original condition with its interior and objects within perfectly preserved!

Oslo Fjord Cruise: Akerhus Fortress - Oslo Opera House

This tour begins in front of Oslo City Hall where you sail in a small boat along the Fjord passing a maze of green islands dotted with beautiful summerhouses. On route you will view the Akerhus Fortress that was used to protect Oslo from attacks from the sea and next sail past the modern Oslo Opera House which demonstrates a blend of modern and ancient building styles. Lastly, you will glide past the bustling Oslo Harbour where modern cruise ships sail alongside traditional graceful fishing boats.

Popular Ports

There are numerous places to visit on your cruise; here are four of the popular ones:

Hammerfest - The world’s most northerly town sharing the same latitude as northern Siberia. Largely ice-free due to the off shore Gulf Stream and a popular trading town for the past 200 years.

The North Cape - Offers some of the world's most spectacular scenery. You can cruise the Nordfjord to reach Honningsvag, the world's most northerly village, which lies well within the Arctic Circle, and visit a Lapp village to sample a lifestyle unchanged in centuries.

Bergen - The gateway to the fjords region; it is the second largest city in Norway and also the country’s cultural centre.

People and Culture

The Norwegians are friendly, welcoming and independent. They love the outdoors and enjoy hiking, fishing and boating in the summer and skiing in the winter. They are proud of their natural surroundings with the West Norwegian fjords being on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Traditional folk dancing and singing are enjoying a renewed resurgence and you will definitely witness colourful revelry and fun! The wearing of elaborate folk costumes is still commonplace at festive events with the predominant colours of Norwegian costumes being red, white, navy blue and dark green.

Weather and Luggage for your Norwegian Cruise

Norwegian weather is definitely changeable which means it’s difficult to say what the weather will be like on any cruise. However, your luggage should include light clothes, jumpers, a waterproof coat and comfortable walking shoes or boots. If you go during the winter, you will need a warm coat and boots. In autumn and spring, you may want to bring waterproof clothing. For the summer, take light options, but remember even summer evenings and nights can be cold.

Facilities available on board

When discussing the facilities onboard a generalisation has to be made. For a start some ships are bigger and newer than others and will have more facilities, while other ships are aimed towards a specific market (i.e. Saga Cruises for the over 50's) and will have different types of facilities.
That said, there are some general facilities on all ships that you can be assured of. From the gymnasium,  healthspa, swimming pool and shops, the outdoor entertainment including the nautical games from deck quoits to shuffleboard, the entertainment zones that often include the ballroom where the main shows are presented, the disco and night club zones usually situated separately to the range of restaurants, and the cabins that come with all sizes and facilities.

There are cruises that focus on families, on novice seafarers, single people, some that cater for the active and adventurous and some that cater for those that are private. There are ships that look like floating islands, with incredible theatres, casinos, dining rooms and leisure facilities. There are smaller ships of a more intimate nature, offering themes, including classical music and natural history. If you want colour and fun choose one of the main stream luxury liners, if you are looking for tranquillity, choose a small ship. Whilst demographics definitely differ with each ship, there are Norwegian cruises for anybody looking to explore the region in their own special way!

Thanks for visiting our Norwegian Cruises page. We hope it helped find what you were looking for.