hallasm

24 minutes ago, Travelling2Some said:

Make sure you buy your tickets for the Flambana scenic train in Flam in advance. 

Very good advise - many disappointed  Flåm visitors

5 hours ago, tring said:

pronounce Skane

I’ll rather pronounce it Skagen.

5 hours ago, tring said:

cash for the bus

You can also use the buss app

Yes, you can pay almost everything with your card or mobile phone using ApplePay.

- for card I’ll recommend a Chip and Pin Card rather than card with signature. 

5 hours ago, franski said:

What would be the best time to arrive at the terminal in your experience?

It’s a good idea to check the route - actually easier to navigate from terminal to hotel than the other way.

cabins available from 6pm - no reason for being there much earlier.

Also heads up for dinner the first night

Open seating for dinner buffet from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Long queue for the restaurant until 8:30 pm - when we finally got a table the plates at the buffet were almost empty and staff did start to clan the buffet

Assuming you are Sailing from UK and first port in USA is San Francisco - I’ll use either address of port or the ship’s agent in San Francisco 

7 hours ago, franski said:

We should also be able to walk to the terminal to board the boat.

Yes, its 20 minutes (1.5 km) walk - just check the map - the route is not easy to navigate.

We were at the terminal 4 pm - very long queue.

Enjoy your voyage

1 hour ago, LEtue said:

Received an itinerary modification this week for the Crown Princess - July 25.  They will be using water shuttles in the fjords

Tendering is  for those ports.

12 minutes ago, janetcbl said:

I think Hurtigruten is now owned by TDR Capital, a British private equity firm.

Correct - but the Company Hurtigruten ASA is still registered as a Norwegian company and listed at the Oslo Stock exchange. 

On 8/22/2019 at 7:42 PM, Spanieleyes said:

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Princess so far, and for this one have been leaning towards Holland America

All are good choices from either Copenhagen, Southampton or Amsterdam (probably more departure ports)

On 8/22/2019 at 7:42 PM, Spanieleyes said:

Is there a particular cruise line or itinerary that is recommended for the Fjords?

Do some research on ports - I do prefer Geiranger, Flåm for the scenic Fjord sailing and excellent ports - Olden is also a good choice as well as Bergen.

On 8/22/2019 at 7:42 PM, Spanieleyes said:

have also read somewhere that the regulations are changing for the Fjord cruises, so is it likely that there will be last minute itinerary changes

I think most cruise lines are aware of the changes and does have 2020 itinerary under control.

10 hours ago, Raisinette said:

how to get there from the cruise dock

Different locations in Oslo - if you post ship and date you’ll get more specific answers.

9 hours ago, clo said:

People keep writing Norwegian. 

Also an Airline called Norwegian - however Hurtigruten is Norwegian. The confusing part is Hurtigruten’s 10 different web sites with different prices and offerings - only possible to book port-to-port directly at their ‘Norwegian Site’.

I just picked an available port-to-port  and .no web - MS Nordnorge from Svolvær to Kirkenes - could choose 'All Inclusive' which is full board. coffee and wifi  - same difference for the different type of cabins

27 minutes ago, SarniaLo said:

indeed if you book port-to-port online on the Norwegian website you can only buy full board or no meals

Thank you for the update. Full Board for two days (from Svolvær to Kirkenes)  + one breakfast last day  is NOK 1232 - I believe there will some savings if booking in advance.

2 hours ago, BlueRiband said:

If any one of them requires a visa and you don't have one you will be denied boarding at the pier.

Not necessarily in all situations- but for sure you’ll have some additional costs.

An example is cruises visiting St. Petersburg and passengers requiring a Schengen Visa.

You do not need Russian Visa for your visit to St Petersburg but since you’re are leaving Schengen you need a multiple entry visa - if you have a single entry visa you will need to disembark the ship in the last port before St. Petersburg and embark again at the first Schengen port after St. Petersburg, - of cause hotels and flight at your own expense. This has happened On my Baltic Sea Cruises.

Visa requirements of cause depending on your citizenship.

8 hours ago, Broon97 said:

Are visas require for shore excursions in Europe for non UK passport cruise passenger.

Post you itinerary and your passport country. Then you can get some more specific answers.

Unfortunately I do not have the Cafe prices and I’m not sure if you can purchase individual meals in the restaurant - when you purchase the port-to-port you can select either full board or no meals.

Depending on your itinerary you can have some of your meals ashore for ports with longer stops. Just note that food in general is very expensive in Norway.

However quality of food at the ships is good an IMO an important part of the journey.

in addition to the port-to-port which can be quite expensive Hurtigruten has also 3 nights packets like Svolvær to Kirkenes or to Bergen - and few other options - better priced than port-to-port. 

It’s not only a question about Visa for Schengen - non-EU national wishing to visit or travel within the EU, will need a passport valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting.

19 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

This  part can't be right:

Assuming you do mean the price  - Why not - lowest price is the order of NOK 55,700 -which is €5,600 - lowest price for this cruise in 2020 is NOK 57,700

One Article in English Language and Another Article

4 hours ago, Raisinette said:

We won't have phones so need to have this planned ahead of time.

Do you bring your phones - then possible to use WhatsApp - free airport network

Or meet at the luggage belt for the last arriving flight - as explained by I_am_a_Dane only one arrival - terminal 3

9 hours ago, erdoran said:

Hey, I’m not roll calling, I’m looking for excursion advice and suggestions, which have been super.

Sorry, my mistake

6 hours ago, jangor said:

When are you sailing?

44 minutes ago, erdoran said:

 I’m slowly getting excursions going, two so far with more to come.  

21 minutes ago, Redheadindixie said:

we are sailing on the Crown on June 27th 2020

Please note that this not Roll Call but a Norwegian Fjords Q&A !

14 minutes ago, ollienbertsmum said:

Thank you for the reply and keeping me confident in the cruise.

You’re welcome - I do like aft cabins myself - however one of the problems I have experienced is black soot flakes from the chimneys on the balcony due to poor quality bunker fuel - due to the Norwegian requirements based on international emission regulations you will not experience that problem - enjoy you cruise and the aft cabin.

10 hours ago, ollienbertsmum said:

was attracted by the idea of being able to get an Aft cabin

An aft cabin will be fine - however the best views are still from upper decks

10 hours ago, ollienbertsmum said:

not sure if I have made a mistake with the ship being so large.

Do not know which ship but I cannot see any difference from sailing the Fjords by a small or a large ship - the Fjord experience will be exact the same - no advantage of a small ship.

10 hours ago, ollienbertsmum said:

 Do the folk here think that this itinerary will go ahead?

Depends on the cruise ship companies - only electrical propulsion will be allowed from 2026 - so only hybrid ships will be able to sail - so far only Hurtigruten and Havila Kystruten will have hybrid ships - for the Norwegian national coastal route hybrid/LNG is a requirement already by 2021 while 2026 for other ships - but more strict regulation for emission already by now - however many cruise ships today will be able to meet those requirements through 2025.

Most important is the Itinerary - personally I think Geiranger, Olden and Bergen are great ports. For Stotfjord and Geiranger Fjord you must be at the deck very early.

below a sailing Geiranger Fjord video - by a large ship.

1 minute ago, victoriaw said:

I think all the Deck 6 cabins are gone unfortunately

Likely - I have had deck 5 cabins - just closed curtain when necessary - do not know how important the view is - if you really want the view you will be at deck or explorer lounge.

I found it convenient with the easy promenade deck access at deck 5.

Makeover is before your cruise..

24 minutes ago, victoriaw said:

limited or no view.”

Some of the cabins  has limited or no view - not all. QJ are at Deck 5 and 6 - life boats are in front of some QJ cabin - also be aware that cabins at deck 5 is at the promenade deck - just walking outside the window and passengers can look into the cabins.

Cabins 626, 628 and 630 are fine - 532, 534, 536 and 538 has view but at deck 5.

just note that MS Finmarken will get a major makeover early 2020.