A Norwegian Fjords cruise is possibly one of the most impressive sailings you could ever embark upon and there are hundreds of them to choose from, making it an option available for all tastes and desires. Plus, you can sail directly from the UK and honestly, the best way to see Norway is via cruise ship.

One of things with Norway is that it offers amazing natural beauty year-round, so just one visit is never enough. We always encourage everyone to visit at least twice – once during the spring or summer months and then again in the winter. This way, you get to experience the Midnight Sun and beautiful rolling green hills and cascading waterfalls in the warmer months. And in the winter, the chance to chase the Northern Lights, pet reindeer and go on a thrilling husky ride through the snow.

Our Norwegian Fjords cruise guide is the only tool you need when planning your next cruise adventure, we’ve filled it to the brim with useful information, hints, tips, and ideas.

Norwegian Fjords Cruise Itineraries

You’ll tend to see the same ports pop up on many Fjords cruises, but there are two specific types of itineraries. We’ll explain more below.

Many lines offer Norway cruises of 5-nights and upwards, with some even reaching two plus weeks when heading north into the Arctic Circle and ultimately to the North Cape. Sometimes these are combined into one itinerary and others place more specific focus on just visiting the main lower region fjords.

7-night itineraries are very popular, and you’ll often visit ports such as Olden, Stavanger, Bergen, Alesund, Kristiansund, Njordfjord and others. On slightly longer sailings you’ll also do a lot of scenic cruising, although, even on the shorter cruises you’ll still be amazed by the scenery.

Once you start looking further north towards the North Cape and Arctic Circle, you’ll see ports appear such as Alta, Tromso, the Lofoten Islands and Honningsvaag. This is where you’ll want to be on a winter Fjords cruise in Norway.

So, when is the best time of year to visit the Norway? As briefly noted, we always suggest you visit twice. For the Midnight Sun and warmer days and nights, choose the summer months, but don’t rule spring out as it too can be warm. This is when you’ll experience the sheer natural beauty of Norway and trust us, nothing can beat it!!! You’ll need to keep your camera fully charged! It’s also a chance to enjoy a variation of excursions that really, are best enjoyed on warmer summer days.

In the winter months, you must head to the Arctic Circle. Sunlight doesn’t hang around for long, but that’s OK because you’ll be spoilt for choice on excursions. This is the time to get your thermals on and head out into the snow! Go in search of the Aurora Borealis, meet the Sami people, enjoy husky sledding and reindeer rides – you can ever visit the ice hotel!

Norwegian Fjords Departure Ports

Hundreds of ships cruise to the Norwegian Fjords every year and more than half of them depart from the UK. The most popular embarkation ports in the UK for Norway cruises are Southampton, Newcastle, Dover, and Edinburgh (Rosyth). This gives everyone the chance to pick the port that best suits them and not necessarily have to travel the length of the country to join their chosen sailing.

Must Have Norwegian Fjords Experiences

What you can do varies per port and time of year, but these are just a few of our favourite things to do.

Bergen – visit Floyen for spectacular views across Bergen’s port! A funicular takes you to the top and once there, you can admire the view, grab a coffee and souvenir, and discover one of numerous hiking trails.

Alta – popular for the Cathedral of the Northern Lights and the actual Northern Lights!

Tromso – Tromso offers the Arctic Cathedral, which is certainly worth seeing, as well as Northern Lights tours, snow mobile trips, Sami experiences and much more.

Stavanger – a great place to enjoy under your own steam and you must admire Gamle Stavanger, an urban hub filled with historic wooden houses and just a short walk from the cruise berth. A visit to Pulpit Rock is also popular if time allows.

Olden – another port great for enjoying on foot and with lots of little nature walks to enjoy

Alesund – the Sunnmore Museum is worth visiting and will take you back in time with wonderful historical stories from Medieval times. Great for the fishing enthusiast.

Geiranger – you absolutely must go to the top of Geirangerfjord and take in the view! We promise, it’s with the journey and you’ll not be disappointed.

Types of Norwegian Fjords Cruises and who sails them

Where do we even start with this topic? Whatever type of Fjords cruise you can possibly think of is out there but let us give you the basic rundown.

Cruise lines, that seems to be a good place to start. There are numerous family friend cruise lines sailing the Norwegian Fjords including Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises. Other family friendly lines, but lines that are also ideal for couples, friends and family are P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, and Holland America Line. If you’re looking for something at a slightly slower pace and child free, then look no further than Saga Cruises and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. The above are your main key-players when it comes to sailings in the region, however, there’s more!

If you are looking for ultimate Fjord’s cruise luxury, then let us introduce you to some of the best cruise lines in the world that offer a wide variety of itineraries that cruise the Fjords of Norway, including Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Windstar, Seabourn, Viking Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Azamara and more.

If we move onto ships, there are dozens upon dozens, so finding the right one for you won’t take too much time to do. There are mega, mid-sized and small, adult-only, family friendly, and even yachts.

Norwegian Fjords Cruises 2022 and 2023

Itineraries are already available for both the 2022 and 2023 Norwegian Fjords cruise seasons and there are some amazing offers to be had! Treat yourself to a voyage aboard one of many ships that sail this region, including Iona (P&O Cruises), MSC Virtuosa (MSC Cruises), Anthem of the Seas (Royal Caribbean), Sky Princess (Princess Cruises), Balmoral (Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines) and many, many more.

The 2023 Norway cruise season is also available to book and there are some sensational offers to be had – don’t delay as some ships are filling up quickly. The world is ready to get back to normal again and that, for a lot of people, means cruising! Booking early will also afford you the best offers and incentives.

Finding the Best Deals on Norwegian Fjords Cruises

Using a cruise comparison site like Hello Cruise takes the hard work out of finding the perfect Norway cruise. We compare the best prices offered by travel agents, allowing you to book the very best deals without having to go through numerous options with several different travel agents and cruise lines.

Cruise & stay packages are not massively common on Norwegian itineraries, however, if this was something you’d be interested in doing, always ask if there are any offers available.

We always have amazing deals available so make sure to check out some of the ones we have handpicked just for you.