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Cruise Scandinavia, Russia & the Baltic like never before on board the newest ships in the NCL fleet, the Norwegian Getaway and the Norwegian Breakaway. NCL now offer an all-inclusive package on most of their cruises, so you'll know what you'll be paying up front. How to see the best of the Norwegian fjords from the comfort of a cruise ship. Enjoy front-row seats to incredible vistas while cruising Norway’s dramatic fjords. Serene waters, rugged cliffs rising from the sea and unlimited outdoor adventures await your discovery. View Europe’s largest mainland glacier in Jostedalsbreen National Park, located outside Måløy.
Remarkable Port CitiesCruises to Norwegian Fjords
At 78,309 tons, Norwegian Sun is less than half the size of the biggest Norwegian ships, and it holds just 1,878 passengers at double occupancy. (Compare that to more than 4,000 for Norwegian's biggest vessels.) Expect a far more intimate experience than what you'll find on most of the ships mentioned above. It's a look that carries over to a bevy of high-end eateries, including Nama, a new-for-Norwegian sushi restaurant with a design that is as sophisticated as the sushi it serves. Also striking is the look of a version of Le Bistro, Norwegian's signature French eatery, that can be found on both of these vessels.
Cruising Norway's Coastline
The classic voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen takes 12 days with departures available on most days throughout the year. For passengers considering a trip in 2023, Hurtigruten offers a couple of special itineraries to mark the 130th anniversary of the route. Passengers arriving in Flåm are first treated to a sight of the famous Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord. Many also choose to take a trip on the famous Flåm railway, a remarkable one-hour journey up the lush green valley to Myrdal, a tiny station on the Oslo to Bergen line. During the summer the village can often feel cramped as hundreds of day visitors dominate.
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The Norway, being built for Transatlantic service, had a deep cut to the hull, giving her a much deeper draught than cruise ships. This meant that while other ships in the NCL fleet, such as the MS Starward, could easily dock in many ports, the Norway often had trouble fitting, and needed to use tender service. NCL wasn’t blind to this issue however, and fitted the prow of the Norway with two large, double-deck tenders, with articulating cranes to lower them into the water. Last I know, at least one of these boats is still used to shuttle NCL passengers between current NCL vessels and Great Stirrup Cay, their private out-island in the Bahamas. As a child, I remember talking about the ship that was, “so big she carries her own tenders!
The Norwegian Difference
Embark on a nostalgic summertime voyage along the Norwegian coast up to the Svalbard archipelago at the edge of the world. If you're looking to support CruiseHabit.com, check out the CruiseHabit.com shop for cruise accessories and shirts. If you want to see what the Norway was really like, take a look at this great video shot only a week before her days at sea. Thanks to Harold Smiley Davis, the camera and jib operator for this video, and his site, The Television and Motion Picture Network.
How to Plan the Ultimate Norwegian Fjords Cruise
This was the first, and really the only time a purpose built ocean liner was turned into cruise ship. This meant that pools were built on open decks (the upper deck pool was previously covered), public spaces rearranged to facilitate a single class arrangement, and the vessel modernized from stem to stern. Notably, the public areas that include these restaurants feel more spacious than many of the other ships in the Norwegian fleet. Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva were built with a higher ratio of space to passengers than earlier Norwegian vessels, which itself is an upscale touch.
Norwegian Cruise Line's fleet consists of 19 ships that come in a wide range of sizes and feature differing mixes of venues and activities. Some are jampacked with fun zones that make them perfect for families, while others are geared toward couples and retirees. Some ships have attributes that make them stand out for luxury, solo or budget travelers. The sailings out of Papeete will offer the chance to visit such iconic French Polynesian islands as Bora Bora, Raiatea and Moorea. Ia and Thailand in-depth, with departures ranging from 13 to 18 nights — the sort of cruise that appeals more to older couples than families.
Hurtigruten
The ships also have a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than many Norwegian ships, leading to better service. In addition to their coastal voyages, Hurtigruten offer sailings to more remote places. You can see the stunning coastline, some of the country's biggest cities, small coastal communities and the world-famous fjords, all without needing to worry about accommodation, food or transport.
Sustainable cruising in Norway
Since 1893, various cargo and passenger vessels have operated a scheduled service along the Norwegian coastline with very few interruptions. To this day, scheduled ships still carry both cargo and local passengers, but they are best known globally for their roundtrip cruise-like experience. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines offers five-night to eight-night cruises from Southampton and Newcastle in the spring, summer and early fall. Occasionally there may be fjord itineraries from other ports such as Southampton or Dover. During the winter, Fred Olsen's focus switches to northern lights cruises to the north of Norway.
While they are well fitted out, the ships don't offer a lot of the entertainments you’ll find on more traditional cruise lines. In more recent years, the journey has been marketed internationally as a round-trip coastal voyage. Many passengers combine the trip with a couple of days sightseeing in Bergen or a trip on the world-famous Bergen railway to Oslo. Some of the world's biggest cruise ships call at Norwegian ports from time to time. Whenever a large ship is in dock, locals tend to come out to greet the ship. When the Adventure of the Seas called at Trondheim recently, guests were greeted with cannon fire and a local band.
Both Hurtigruten and Havila push their local food concepts heavily, both featuring a focus on seafood and ingredients obtained from the ports along the route. With its brand new eco-friendly ships, Havila points towards the future of the coastal voyage and is well worth consideration. Passengers on the famous coastal cruise of Norway get up close views of the Norwegian coastline and ...
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Cruise ship stranded in 2019 could have been "one of the worst disasters at sea," officials say.
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This is becoming such a problem that Norwegian authorities have announced plans to make the fjords zero-emissions zones within the next decade. This means only all-electric or hybrid ships will be allowed in the fjords, drastically cutting the availability of cruises in the most popular areas. The northernmost port on many cruise itineraries, Tromsø is a wonderful little city. If you have the time, take the Fjellheisen cable car for a panoramic view of the city and its mountainous surroundings.
The main reason to visit in the winter is to see the northern lights. You’ll sail for many hours away from light pollution, giving you a great chance for a sighting if the skies are clear. While the prices can be a little lower, it’s also much colder and of course, the darkness means you’ll see less of the coastline. One thing that the coastal cruise does have in common with cruise ships is the focus on premium, sustainable dining.
There’s the Britannia dining room or upgraded Britannia Club for everyone else. A magnet for tourists from all around the world, Geiranger is home to cruise ships galore every day throughout the summer. During the high season, Hurtigruten vessels sail along the Geirangerfjord but do not stop at the village. At the other end of the fjord, the village of Hellesylt is a popular alternative port. Norwegian Fjords cruises generally range in length from seven to 14 nights. Bergen is the main city on most fjord itineraries, though some may include Oslo as well.
The hybrid ships run on liquified natural gas (LNG) and, for up to four hours, on 86-ton battery packs, for emissions-free sailing (the packs can be charged in ports with clean electricity). Done up in decor inspired by Norwegian landscapes, they carry up to 468 overnighting cruise passengers, plus locals, to 34 ports. Shore excursions allow you to leave the ship and rejoin at a later port to get to key attractions. Hurtigruten ships are popular for cruising Norway’s coastline year-round, roundtrip from Bergen, going as far north as Kirkenes and the Arctic Circle, and stopping at a myriad of ports, both large and small. You can expect stops in destinations like Alesund and Oslo on these itineraries, though you'll generally avoid playing the narrow waters of the inland fjords. French cruise line Ponant has expedition ships exploring the Norwegian fjords in summer and winter.
At Norway's northern extremes, you can view the midnight sun if you cross into the Arctic Circle during the summer. Norway's weather in May and September can be a bit chillier and rainier. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S.
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