Norwegian Fjords Cruise Holidays
The Norwegian Fjords, or western Norway, is one of the most beautiful and idyllic parts of the world and we are fortunate that not only is it just a days sailing from the south coast and east coast of Britain to this popular cruise destination but there is also a great range of option from numerous ports and numerous cruise lines.
Whilst fjords can be found throughout the world, it was Norway that gave the world the word fjord and it is Norway that still remains the leader in Fjord cruises.
Cruises To The Norwegian Fjords
Cruise Holidays to the Norwegian Fjords
The fjords are simply archetypal Norway, from mountains that rise from the sea to the sky and with small friendly villages awaiting their next round of visitors- a Norway Fjord cruise is a must for many holidaymakers and on the bucket list for those who haven’t been fortunate enough to visit.
A fjord is a long, narrow and deep bay that is usually surrounded by mountains and many of them feature glaciers, waterfalls and have small towns and villages along the banks of them.
If the idea of been at sea and having nothing to look at for days on end doesn’t appeal to you then a Norwegian cruise is the right choice for you.
With a short crossing across to Norway and with land either side of the ship (sometimes seemingly within touching distance!) for much of the holiday, there is always something to look at on a Norwegian Fjords holiday.
In Norway, some of the fjords can extend for over 200km inland and are up to 1300m (4265ft) deep.
When it comes to cruise holidays in Western Norway, it is best to break it down into the following.
Norwegian Fjords Cruise Guide
Our Norwegian fjords cruise guide brings you all the information you need to make the most of your time in the region.
If you have already booked a cruise holiday that visit the fjordland region, our port guides bring you all that you need to know to make the most of your time on shore but if you are yet to book you Norwegian fjords holiday, our guides bring you all you need to know to decide whether Norwegian fjords holidays are right for you and/or your family.
Popular Ports
Here are our top 10 cruise destinations in West Norway / the Norwegian Fjords.
Bergen, Geiranger, Flam, Alesund, Stavanger, Molde, Kristiansund, Haugesund, Olden and Trondheim
Popular Cruise Lines
Here are our top cruise lines offering holidays to the Norwegian Fjords / Western Norway.
Fjords of Norway
Western Norway, the region of the country that encompasses the entire Norwegian Fjords district, can be split into 4 regions, More og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland and Rogaland.
Rogaland is located in the south of the region and is often known as the gateway to the fjords as it is ports in this region that most cruise lines use as a starting or finishing point. The 2 most popular ports of call in this region are Stavanger and Haugesund.
Hordaland is just to the north of Rogaland and it is here that the biggest and most popular city in the Fordland’s is found as Bergen attraction 100’s of ships each year to enjoy its attractions and mountainous location.
Just to the north of Hordaland is Sogn og Fjordane and it is this region that features the biggest and deepest fjords and it is this region that many think about when thinking of the fjord lands of Norway.
This region is home to Sognefjord, one of the biggest fjords in the world which gives access to the popular ports of Vik, Flam and Sognal.
The most northerly region is More og Romsdal which is home to the popular coastal cruise ports of Kristiansund, Alesund and Molde as well as the beautiful deep fjord ports of Geiranger and Hellesylt.
Best Time To Visit
Here at CruiseHols.co.uk we bring you all of the information you will ever need to choose the right cruise destination for you and your family.
Our destination guides include everything from ports to attractions and excursion to the positives and negatives of the destination.
Norwegian Fjords Cruise Ports
When many people think of a village in the Norwegian fjords, it is Flam that comes to mind. Famed for its railway, the village sits at the end of the Aurlandsfjord branch of the Sognefjord and sits in a flood plain between mountains and waterfalls.
Geiranger is one of the most popular stopping points on a Norwegian fjords cruise and with good reason. The stunning entrance down the Geirangerfjord, see cruise ships go past the beautiful 7 sisters waterfalls before turning almost 90 degrees to dock in the heart of the small village of Geiranger at the very end of the fjord.
The village features a range of shops, cafes, an easy waterfall walk but it is the surrounding mountains that make this place such an incredible and memorable cruise port.
Bergen is one of the world’s most beautiful cities located on the south west coast of Norway that is surrounded by fjords and mountains.
The city is famed for its colourful wooden houses and the Floibanen Funicular that take passengers up the Floyen Mountain for a stunning panoramic view.
Alesund is a stunning port town at the entrance of the iconic Geirangerfjord which is known for its stunning views, art nouveau architectural style and for its breath-taking views.
Molde is an historic city in the north of Norway’s stunning west coast that is perhaps best fame for its view of 222 snow clad peaks, known as the Molde panorama that makes for great photos no matter where you are in the town.
Kristiansund is a small but beautiful municipality on Norway’s west coast that offers visitors a number of attractions including churches, historical sites and museums but it is the water front that is the major highlight of Kristiansund and is the place to spend some time simply walking around and enjoying the views out towards the islands that surround the town.
Olden is the quintessential fjordland village set amongst the mountains and waterfalls at the mouth of the Oldeelva river on the shores of the beautiful Nordfjorden.
About The Norwegian Fjords
The fjords of Norway bring to mind images of steep mountains, waterfalls and small villages that are seemingly in the middle of nowhere and that take you back to the days of Viking warriors setting off of raids.
Those mental images always seem to involve the massive fjords that that are always the focus of travel programmes and brochure but between the Norwegian mainland and the Svalbard archipelago, there are around 1,200 fords to explore.
Of course, not all of those can be traversed via a cruise ship and not all of them would be worth heading along with so many offering a once in a lifetime experiences.
Some of the fjords, such as the 1.5 kilometer long Noredefjorden near to Hammerfest feel nothing more than a coastal entrance between land masses but the giants such as the 127-mile long Sognefjord, the 111-mile long Hardangerfjord, the 96-mile long Vestfjorden or the 82-mile long Storfjordenleave you in awe from the moment you enter.
No matter which fjord you choose to cruise along or where you end up spending time on your next Norwegian fjords holidays, we are sure you will have a great time and hopefully our guides can make it even better.
Norwegian Fjords Holidays
It is no surprise that the Norwegian fjords is a popular holiday destination for millions of visitors each year from around the world thanks to the incredible natural beauty, the fantastic attractions in the country and the ease in getting their but for those of us based in the UK, we are so lucky to be located so close by.
Norwegian fjords holidays won’t give you the opportunity to spend the day at the beach and they won’t offer the party atmosphere of a Spanish costa’s, but they offer so much more than that and it is for those very reasons why most tourists enjoy Norwegian fjords holidays each year.
The same other worldly terrain that attracts holidaymakers is what can make it incredibly difficult to explore the region in a traditional manner.
Although most villages are only a few miles apart, it can take hours to get between them and with limited public transportation options, it can be a frustrating experience to explore on your own but thankfully there is an almost perfect solution to exploring the Norwegian fjords on a holiday and that is onboard a cruise ship.
When enjoying a Norwegian fjords holiday onboard a cruise ship, you not only get to visit several the great towns and villages found in the region, but you get to experience the very best of the fjords as you sail along them.
Cruise ships sail for hours along the longest of the fjords that allow you to see small and remote villages, stunning waterfalls, lots of local wildlife and all whilst been metres from ginormous mountains.
Best Time To Visit
The fjords offer different experiences all year around and so the best time to visit comes down to how you want to experience them and what you want from your holiday to the Norwegian fjords.
The main cruise season is between April to October, and it is during that period that those wanting to visit the region onboard traditional cruise ships will have to visit although it is possible to visit throughout the winter onboard smaller vessels and specialist expedition holidays that take you to see the northern lights.
The winter months offer shorts days and long dark nights, but they also offer the stunning sight of seeing the fjords covered in snow and in the winter dusk.
For many, Spring is the ideal time to visit the region as the mountains are still covered in snow, but the days are longer, the weather warmer and the seas are calmer when compared to winter.
If you prefer the weather at its warmest, the least chance of rain and the longest days, it is the summer months that is the ideal time of the year for you to visit the fjordlands.
Although the summer month sis also the busiest time of the year, not just for those arriving onboard cruise ships but also those arriving by road, rail and air so you also have to take into account that the ports can get very busy during the summer.
That is especially the case when more than 1 ship is in port as the stunning beautiful small village you visit can turn into a bustling town with over 10,000 visitors all trying to take in the key sights, visit the same attractions and walk around the same waterfronts.
Norwegian Fjords Cruises From UK
If you are wanting to head across the North Sea to visit the fjords from the UK, you are in luck because not only is there a huge range of cruise lines to choose from that offer a massive choice of ships including some of the biggest and most modern, but you also have a wide range of itineraries starting from numerous ports around the UK coastline.
As is so often the case when it comes to cruise holidays out of the UK, it si the port of Southampton that features the widest range of cruise holidays to the Norwegian fjords and it is from their where most of the big brand cruise lines operate out of, but it is also possible to head off on your next adventure from ports including the likes of Dover, Tilbury, Newcastle, Liverpool, Rosyth and Portsmouth.
Norwegian Fjords Cruises From Southampton
As mentioned above, it is the UK leading port of Southampton that is also the go to port for many wanting to cruise to the fjords from Great Britain and it is for good reason.
The port offers the widest range of itineraries onboard the biggest range of ships and perhaps most importantly, it also offers the best chance of picking up a bargain.
The port offers the chances to sail onboard some of the biggest cruise ships in the world, but you can also choose smaller ships for a more personal experience and everything in-between.
It is from the port of Southampton that the majority of international lines sail from as well as a number of UK focused lines for a great choice of cruising style that will suit all preferences and budgets.
Norwegian Fjords Cruises From Newcastle
If you live in the north of England or Scotland, there is often the chance to head across the North Sea from the Port of Tyne in Newcastle for holiday to the Norwegian fjords.
It is also a great option for those who don’t like long times at sea as you are that much closer to Norway but there are a number of limitations in cruising from the north east of England as there are only a limited number of ships that depart from there and you will only often have the option on cruising onboard smaller and older ships operated by more traditional lines.
Norwegian Fjords Cruises From Dover
The port of Dover also offers cruise holidays to the Norwegian fjords including onboard huge ships from major international brands, but the number of cruises is limited when compared to Southampton and the majority of ships operating tend to be smaller and older ones that again offer a more traditional style of cruising.
