We Spent Seven Nights Sailing the Norwegian Fjords on Queen Mary 2

• The Liner Distinction: Discover the unmatched stability, space, and grandeur of travelling aboard Queen Mary 2, the world's last remaining true ocean liner.

• White Star Service: From tailored dietary care in the main restaurant to white-gloved silver service at afternoon tea, the guest experience is centred entirely around effortless luxury.

• Spectacular Fjordland Views: Experience a seamless transition from the glamorous, sophisticated indoor lounges to the wild, majestic beauty of Norway's most iconic landscapes.

New Cunard April 2028 - Jan 2029 voyages are now available to book! Click here to explore the brand new itineraries.

There is something undeniably special about stepping aboard Queen Mary 2. As the world’s last true ocean liner, she stands entirely apart from any other ship sailing the oceans today.

Built specifically with the strength and elegance required to cross the Atlantic Ocean, she is a vessel deeply steeped in history, tradition, and sophisticated style.

Our Junior Content Editor, Naomi Allen, and Customer Support Executive, Anne-Mairi Stevenson, were recently invited to join a Cunard cruise to the breathtaking Norwegian Fjords.

While they knew it would be an incredible itinerary, they didn't realise quite how quickly they would fall in love with the sheer comfort of the guest experience. Here is their firsthand account of an unforgettable week at sea.

Embarking in Southampton and Settling In

Our adventure began at the Southampton terminal, where the embarkation process was impressively smooth from start to finish.

Despite arriving right at our allocated boarding time, we were able to glide through the terminal even earlier than expected.

From dropping off our luggage to clearing security and stepping onboard, the entire process took no more than 20 minutes.

Before long, we were settling into our beautiful Britannia Balcony Stateroom with a complimentary glass of Cunard Prosecco in hand, watching the familiar bustle of the port fade into the background as our holiday officially began.

There is a real sense of excitement during that first afternoon onboard as you begin exploring, uncovering elegant spaces, and imagining the week ahead.

After meeting up with our group, we headed straight to the Sail Away Party to toast the start of a fantastic voyage.

World-Class Dining in Britannia

That evening, we gathered for welcome drinks at Sir Samuel’s before making our way to the grand Britannia Restaurant.

Dining here quickly became one of our absolute favourite parts of the entire cruise. The menu changes daily, offering an exceptional variety of dishes throughout the voyage.

On our first night, we opted for the crab cakes to start, followed by perfectly prepared salmon for the main course and a refreshing sorbet for dessert. Every dish felt beautifully presented and thoughtfully crafted.

What particularly impressed us was how incredibly accommodating Cunard’s dining team was when it came to allergies and dietary requirements.

Whether guests had food intolerances, specific preferences, or allergies, nothing ever felt like too much trouble for the attentive staff.

To round off our first evening, we headed to G32, Queen Mary 2’s vibrant nightclub, to dance into the early hours.

Settling Into Life at Sea and Glamorous Gala Nights

Our first full day was spent entirely at sea, giving us the perfect opportunity to truly immerse ourselves in the onboard guest experience.

We spent a wonderfully relaxed morning wandering through the ship's grand, light-filled public spaces, admiring the rich maritime heritage displayed along the corridors, and soaking up the refined yet incredibly welcoming atmosphere.

There is a distinct lack of rush onboard Queen Mary 2; everything is designed to let you unwind at your own holiday pace.

When lunchtime arrived, we couldn’t resist heading to the traditional Golden Lion Pub. Like many Cunard regulars, we had heard legendary things about their classic fish and chips, and they absolutely lived up to the hype!

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking the spectacular promenade deck and relaxing in one of the open-air whirlpools as the ocean drifted by.

The Sense of Occasion: Afternoon Tea

Of course, no day at sea with Cunard would be complete without experiencing their famous Afternoon Tea. This isn’t simply tea and cake; it is a genuine theatrical event.

As service began, the white-gloved waiters entered the room together in perfect time to music while the guests applauded.

It created a wonderful sense of occasion. With delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones served with jam and clotted cream, and an endless stream of premium tea, it felt quintessentially Cunard.

Walking into a Bygone Era

Wonderfully full, we retreated to our cabin to prepare for our very first Gala Evening. The theme for the night was Black and White, and the entire ship embraced it beautifully.

Walking through the public lounges felt like stepping right into a glamorous, golden era of ocean travel.

After another spectacular dinner in Britannia, we headed to the Royal Court Theatre to watch Let’s Dance, an energetic production celebrating a brilliant range of contemporary and classic dance styles.

We kept the night alive by enjoying cocktails in the Commodore Club while watching the sun set through the floor-to-ceiling windows, before ending the evening singing along to karaoke classics from Queen, Oasis, and more in the Golden Lion.

Celebrating Norway’s National Day in Stavanger

Our very first port of call was the charming city of Stavanger, and we could not have picked a more magical day to arrive. By complete coincidence, our visit fell precisely on Norway’s National Day, one of the country’s grandest annual celebrations.

The colourful streets were absolutely alive with joyful music, local parades, and proud families dressed in their traditional, intricately embroidered bunads.

Rather than feeling like tourists observing the festivities from the sidelines, it felt as though we had truly become part of the celebration itself. Everywhere we looked, there was vibrant energy and a deep sense of national pride.

After a busy day exploring the festive streets, we returned to the comfort of the ship for another excellent meal in the Britannia Restaurant, featuring smoked salmon and delicious dumplings in a rich cheese sauce.

Exhausted but happy, we made the most of our comfortable stateroom retreat by curling up with a film on the onboard entertainment system for a peaceful night's sleep.

Waking Up inside a Norwegian Postcard

Nothing could have prepared us for the sheer awe of waking up in Skjolden. Opening our stateroom curtains revealed one of the most breathtaking views we have ever witnessed.

The quiet fjord stretched out before us in vivid shades of turquoise, perfectly framed by dramatic mountains and cascading waterfalls.

It is one of those rare landscapes where photographs simply cannot capture the true scale of what you are seeing.

After soaking up the scenery from our private balcony, we headed ashore for some unique adventures.

Highlights included visiting a local llama farm, where we were able to meet and walk the llamas through the peaceful countryside, and even trying our hand at Viking-style axe throwing!

Culinary Excellence at The Verandah

That evening brought the ultimate culinary highlight of the voyage: dinner at The Verandah Steakhouse. From the moment we walked through the doors, it felt like a premium event.

In a wonderful touch of bespoke service, the staff presented us with a selection of specialised steak knives, explaining which blade design best complemented different cuts of heritage meat.

We kicked off the feast with an incredible, overflowing seafood platter showcasing fresh oysters, crab, and shrimp.

It was a fantastic opportunity to sample delicacies we wouldn't normally order, adding to the memorable, upscale atmosphere of the evening.

A Journey High Above the Nordfjord in Olden

The following day brought us to the beautiful village of Olden, where our shore experience took us straight to the famous Loen Skylift.

This spectacular cable car carries visitors from the edge of the fjord up to the summit of Mount Hoven in just a few minutes, revealing unforgettable panoramic views.

Looking out across the sweeping Nordfjord with massive mountains and ancient glaciers surrounding us was a humbling, stop-and-stare moment.

At the snowy summit, we warmed up inside the local café with rich hot chocolates and famous Norwegian cinnamon buns while admiring the horizon.

On our return journey, we even discovered a beautiful waterfall hidden just off the roadside, a personal highlight for the nature lovers among us.

Back onboard, we changed into our swimwear and headed straight for the deck whirlpools. As Queen Mary 2 slowly departed, the local villagers lined the shoreline, waving goodbye in a heartwarming tradition.

Watching the dramatic fjord slowly disappear into the distance from the warmth of a bubbling hot tub was a surreal travel moment we will treasure forever.

Cruising Hardangerfjord and Final Days at Sea

One of the greatest luxuries of a Norwegian Fjords cruise is that the journey itself is the destination. Our day sailing through the majestic Hardangerfjord was dedicated entirely to pure relaxation and appreciation of the scenery.

We spent hours walking the open promenade deck, finding new vantage points, and watching the ever-changing landscapes drift by.

The morning also included a wonderfully relaxing spa session, where we fully unwound across the saunas, steam rooms, thermal experiences, and hydrotherapy pools.

As darkness fell, another elegant Gala Night transformed the ship, bringing more laughter, music quizzes, and dancing under the stars.

On our final full day at sea, we explored some of the ship's most exclusive spaces, including the luxurious Princess Grill and Queens Grill areas, learning more about the elevated experience available to suite guests.

Our final evening concluded with the sensational No Town Like Motown show in the Royal Court Theatre, which had the entire audience singing along to the hits of The Temptations and The Four Tops from start to finish.

Final Thoughts on a Magical Voyage

Looking back, what made this trip so undeniably special wasn’t just the magnificent destinations, although the Norwegian Fjords are spectacular beyond words.

It was the flawless combination of world-class scenery, Cunard’s exceptional White Star service, and the entirely unique experience of travelling aboard Queen Mary 2.

Cruising offers a perspective of Norway that simply cannot be replicated by land. Sailing deep into the heart of the fjords allows you to experience the country’s most remote, pristine locations with the ultimate convenience of having your luxury hotel travel with you.

More than twenty years after first entering service, Queen Mary 2 remains a triumph of maritime engineering, a ship built not just for cruising, but for conquering the oceans in absolute style.