Cruising Through the Norwegian Fjords
Booking a cruise was never on my bucket list, something about floating along in a building-sized vessel at the mercy of the ocean unnerved me, but in April 2024 I found myself onboard a Princess Cruises ship.
It all changed when we were planning how to celebrate my mum’s 60th birthday. We love travel so a holiday made sense, but it was only when my mum suggested a simple all-in-one sort of adventure that we landed on an eight day cruise to Norway.
Booking it six months out, we were frantically trying to educate ourselves on where to go, what company to book with, what room type, and what room location to choose. I’ve since learned that cruise culture is a huge thing and honestly, the Facebook groups were a big help.
Choosing the destination was the next hurdle because everywhere was appealing, but given my mum’s love of mountains and water it made sense to venture east towards the Norwegian Fjords – and wow what a good decision that was!
Day one: at sea
Arriving at the ship for lunchtime, we boarded, found our suitcases waiting outside our rooms, and very quickly set out to explore the many levels of the boat. I immediately felt like I had sea legs but I think it was more of a mental thing, considering we’d not yet been untied from the port.
At around 3pm we headed up to the deck for a very damp and breezy Southampton sailaway. Prosecco in hand and North Face coat hood firmly up, it was time to wave goodbye to the UK and raise a glass to the beginning of my mum’s birthday trip.
Day two: at sea
Today was all about exploring the many restaurants, cafes, and bars of the Sky Princess. The ocean was a little choppy as we made our way over the open sea, but nothing horrendous thankfully.
We booked with the Princess Plus package, which meant we had two meals in the premium restaurants, two premium desserts (such as massive ice cream sundaes), and 15 alcoholic drinks per day per person throughout the trip.
With Princess you also get a medallion to wear or carry around with you, which is used for all your dining, drinks, and room access to save the need for cards and cash.
Day three: fjord sail
On our first proper day in Norway we were meant to arrive at our first stop, Haugesund, but unfortunately strong winds meant we couldn’t dock.
Instead the captain diverted into one of the beautiful nearby fjords, where we were able to enjoy the facilities of the ship whilst looking out at the mountains and waterfalls.
This also gave us plenty more time to explore the boat, enjoy some of the entertainment, and of course sample plenty more of the items on the many menus.
Day four: Alesund
As we woke, we were gently sailing into the port of Alesund with nothing but the peaceful hum of the boat as it prepared to dock.
Alesund is a small but beautiful town with plenty of shops, streets, and eateries to explore – or for the more adventurous, hikes up to breathtaking viewpoints.
As we only had a few hours we walked up to the Aksla Viewpoint, and then caught a bus over to the foot of Sukkertoppen Mountain for a challenging but doable hike to the top.
We did our fair share of steps that day so definitely indulged in the culinary delights onboard that night.
Day five: Olden
Another slow morning of enjoying my coffee on the balcony, we arrived in a lovely little destination called Olden.
We first took the bus to Loen and bought tickets for the Loen Skylift, which takes you right to the top of the mountain. Here we got to spend an hour or so trudging through snow and fighting off the biting winds to snap photos of the most insane vista.
When back at ground level, we enjoyed a long walk through the fields and hiking tracks, inhaling a makeshift buffet picnic on the way, before getting back on the ship for what turned out to be the most beautiful sailaway of the cruise.
Day six: Skjolden
Next it was time to explore Skjolden, which became my favourite stop of the entire voyage.
Disembarking with the hoards of other tourists, we set foot towards the mountains and spent hours racking up steps, enjoying the warmth of the spring sun, and soaking in the scenic sights.
A few groups booked onto some water sport activities, but we were happy to just bask in the peace of this gorgeous corner of the world.
As we sailed away once again, the sunset cast a golden orange glow over the ship and the still turquoise waters beneath which was nothing short of magic.
Day seven: Stavanger
It was time to leave the ship for the last time before heading home. It was a hot day in the city of Stavanger, to the point where people were frantically trying to purchase sunscreen believe it or not.
After shuffling around the pretty and colourful streets, we spent the afternoon poolside on the boat with a flow of cocktails to compliment our lunch. I definitely didn’t expect to be sunbathing in Norway in April, let alone come home with tan lines!
Day eight: at sea
The following day we were at sea once again, making one final use of all that that ship had to offer. Not that there was anything but ocean to see, but I especially loved circling around the fitness track on the top deck.
Before we hit the hay in what were the most comfortable beds of all time, we feasted on a delicious dinner and played another competitive game of UNO, which gets messy after a few espresso martinis…
Day nine: Southampton
Early in the morning I took one last top deck stroll as Southampton came into view, before devouring another buffet breakfast to fuel me for the long drive home.
Despite a few rocky moments with the waves and slight cabin fever during the days at sea, I really enjoyed this trip and definitely wouldn’t rule out another cruise.
See more from Norway on my Instagram.
