First Time Cruisers Norway's fjords...

[travelnut1]

My husband has asked that our next big trip be to see the fjords. I have never traveled to Europe and his last trip was at 15. We do travel quite a bit in the US though. From looking at the country a cruise seems to be the easiest way for us to accomplish that. I am so overwelmed when looking at all the different cruise lines and iteneries! I'd love to hear your experiences or even just point me in the right direction to look. We are looking for an approx 7 day cruise. We only speak english, is that a problem? Do you think there is a cruise line that is better for first timers? Costa has one that looks perfect for us (may 27th 2012), any comments on that cruise line or itenerary? We are 35 and 38 and will not be traveling with our kids. Thanks! :)

[uppitycats]

My husband has asked that our next big trip be to see the fjords. I have never traveled to Europe and his last trip was at 15. We do travel quite a bit in the US though. From looking at the country a cruise seems to be the easiest way for us to accomplish that. I am so overwelmed when looking at all the different cruise lines and iteneries! I'd love to hear your experiences or even just point me in the right direction to look. We are looking for an approx 7 day cruise. We only speak english, is that a problem? Do you think there is a cruise line that is better for first timers? Costa has one that looks perfect for us (may 27th 2012), any comments on that cruise line or itenerary? We are 35 and 38 and will not be traveling with our kids. Thanks! :)

 

Costa is the European "sister" of Carnival. English is not the only language spoken on board: announcements are made in several languages, English among them, but you'll have to sit through several of them before getting to English. Smoking is also a big thing-- Europeans smoke a lot more than Americans, and unless they've changed the rules just recently, smoking is welcome aboard Costa ships. The food is primarily (but not exclusively) Italian.

 

We've cruised the Norwegian fjords twice, each time on Hurtigruten. It is not like your big cruise lines -- the entertainment is the fjords, the scenery. The bar isn't open 24/7. There is no casino, no shows. The restaurants are not open 24/7 -- but there is plenty to eat at mealtimes, served buffet style for breakfast and lunch, with sit-down dinners. The ships are small, 600 being the largest passenger load, and then smaller than that, so there is an intimate feel to the experience.

 

Hurtigruten does offer specials, and sometimes special specific voyages. Depending on your budget and interest, they might be worth checking out.

[travelnut1]

:mad: on the smoking, thanks for the heads up :D As long as there is a portion of the announcement in english we'd be fine. off to look some more

[Essiesmom]

There are all kinds of cruises that do the fjords, from one or two to a long cruise that goes all the way over the north cape to Murmansk. Prinsendam (HAL) just did this cruise. I would look for one in the 10 day or more range, leaving from the UK, or amsterdam or Copenhagen...Preferably calling at Geiranger (often including Hellesylt to offload tours),Flaam, maybe Stavanger, Bergen...Try this website, plugging in those ports from the second list of ports, and see who is going and when. It will give you the ship and the itinerary.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com

Happy researching! EM

[travelnut1]

Thank You!! Just figuring out what we should see has really been hard :confused: Off to search some more :D

[Dayenu]

Speaking English only is NOT a problem at all! If you need directions in the streets, try to ask younger people, that's all.

 

Don't go to Tromso or above. I don't think you can go wrong with the fjord itinerary.

 

Our first cruise was out of Copenhagen, next one I was looking out of Amsterdam. Go to Expedia, Cruises, their cruise site is very user-friendly, you can sort by length if you know how many days.

[dsrdsrdsr]

P&O do plenty of 7-day cruises to Norway out of Southampton, adult-only ships or with children. They usually visit Stavangar, Bergen, and two of Flam, Geiranger, Olden.

 

Language is not a problem. The Norwegian education system is fantastic, and if you're asking strangers at random, the chances of finding one who doesn't speak English is greater in the USA (or the UK) than it is in Norway. (Assuming you stick with people over 10 years old, and perhaps under 75 - they used to have German as the second language until 1945.)

[jocap]

Through May-July each year, there seems to be a ship almost every day leaving the UK for Norway. Today there's a Cunard and a Fred Olsen; you'll also find Celebrity, P&O, Princess and others- sailing to see the summer sights with the long light days.

Essiesmom has given a good link there- you could try putting in Southampton to see what's leaving.

Jo.