If you’re looking to escape from it all to a picture-postcard, serene and remote location, Norway with its fjords is perfect. It’s a place of awe-inspiring natural beauty, where snow-capped peaks give way to emerald green-covered rocky crags intersected by quiet, deep blue waters.
A cruise is a convenient and cost-effective way to explore this magnificent landscape while enjoying the luxuries of the ship, and with daylight extending into the small hours in the summer, you’ll have plenty of time to make the most of it.
Here is our choice of the best cruise lines offering cruise holidays to Norway.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has an extensive Norwegian heritage and smaller ships designed to navigate the narrow waterways of the fjords, meaning you can get closer and see more of this breathtaking scenery. Its cruises take you to National Geographic’s top Natural Heritage Sites – Nærøyfjord and Geirangerfjord. You’ll also get a chance to ride the beautiful Flamsbana Railway and take in the incredible waterfalls of the Seven Sisters.
Saga Cruises
With its two ships, Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of Discovery, more moderate in size, adult-only Saga Cruises can also offer access to places inaccessible by larger cruise ships, berthing alongside smaller towns and quays. Stopping in locations such as Flam and Geiranger, you’ll have the opportunity to take special boat trips to get even closer to fjords, like Naeroyfjord, and step aboard the epic Flamsbana Railway.
Holland America Line
This spring and summer, Holland America Line takes its cruise ship, Rotterdam, to Norway and Scandinavia. Onboard this music-centred ship, you can enjoy some of the best live entertainment at sea, alongside world-class dining, while navigating Norway’s enchanting coastline and fjords. With stops in Oslo and Bergen, there’s a chance to soak up the culture as well as discovering the region’s natural splendour, such as Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau, and the dramatic 182-metre-tall Vøringfossen waterfall.
Cunard
Taking a more cultural approach to cruising the Norwegian fjords, Cunard provides opportunities to discover the folklore and legend of this enticing land as well as its majestic wilderness. Excursions include taking in Haugesund’s Viking heritage and Kristiansund’s art nouveau Opera House. Its ships, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2, sail from Southampton, offering round-trip itineraries to Norway and its fjords.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises aims to offer ‘More Ashore’ with late-night departures and overnight stays at your destinations. This means you can attend a summer concert at Tromsø’s Arctic Cathedral to welcome the return of the Midnight Sun, learn more about the region’s Viking history in the city of Bergen or get immersed in the annual summer Sildajazz Festival in Haugesund. Its cruise ships, Sky Princess and Island Princess, also sail from Southampton, offering round-trip cruises.
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Be one of the first to step aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines’ newest ship, Prima, as it sails to Norway in the summer of 2023. With a focus on elevating its open air space, its expansive outdoor deck and Infinity Beach, which includes an infinity-style pool and glass bridge, make for perfect viewing stations to admire the beauty of the fjords. As well as sailing around the Norwegian coastline, itineraries also include Reykjavik, Iceland, adding more magical charm to these cruises.
Celebrity Cruises
Taking in the wonder of the fjords, from the towering mountains of Bergen to the remarkable wildlife, including eagles, whales and seals, Celebrity Cruises also offers time to soak up the culture and history in Norway’s cities and villages. Discover the colourful fishermen’s houses in Alesund, Oslo’s infamous Viking Ship Museum and the microbreweries in Bergen. Stepping aboard the recently refurbished Celebrity Silhouette on a cruise to Norway, you can now enjoy The Retreat, an all-inclusive area for suite guests and Craft Social, its latest dining venue, alongside other extensive updates throughout the ship.
To explore your options for cruising the land of the midnight sun or book your next cruise, please get in touch with our cruise specialists.
