stickey_mouse Posted August 5, 2020 #1 Share Posted August 5, 2020 After our Norway itinerary was cancelled for next year, I am scrambling to consider other options. Please compare and critique these two itineraries. A) 7 Nights AmsterdamEidfjordMoldeGeiranger BergenAmsterdam B) 8 Nights AmsterdamFlamAlesundSkjoldenOldenBergenAmsterdam In your opinion, which one wins? Is Geiranger that much of a must-see that it automatically wins out over Itinerary B? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallasm Posted August 5, 2020 #2 Share Posted August 5, 2020 (edited) Flåm is also a ‘must see’ - Skjolden and Olden are also good locations - and Ålesund - ‘B’ is not bad either. For ‘A’ only highlight is Geiranger - Bergen at both itineraries. Why this new topic? What’s wrong with this: Edited August 5, 2020 by hallasm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted August 5, 2020 Author #3 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Flåm is also a ‘must see’ - Skjolden and Olden are also good locations - and Ålesund - ‘B’ is not bad either. For ‘A’ only highlight is Geiranger - Bergen at both itineraries. Why this new topic? What’s wrong with this: Thanks for the reply! I was unable to delete the old topic. And they do ask different questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted August 9, 2020 #4 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Skjolden was my least favorite port. Unfortunately - they are not setup well to handle large ships tourism wise. There wasn't enough tours for people to go on. Unless everyone wants to go to a Stave church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ine Posted August 10, 2020 #5 Share Posted August 10, 2020 (edited) Geiranger by far is the most beautiful sailing into and from the fjord. So any sailing with Geiranger as stop it the best! https://www.fjordnorway.com/geiranger Edited August 10, 2020 by Ine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted August 10, 2020 Author #6 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Geiranger by far is the most beautiful sailing into and from the fjord. So any sailing with Geiranger as stop it the best! https://www.fjordnorway.com/geirangerI think we can get a ‘private’ sailing in and out of Geiranger from Alesund, a stop in Itinerary B. So I’m not sure Geiranger automatically wins in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ine Posted August 10, 2020 #7 Share Posted August 10, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, stickey_mouse said: I think we can get a ‘private’ sailing in and out of Geiranger from Alesund, a stop in Itinerary B. So I’m not sure Geiranger automatically wins in this case. Sailing into or from Alesund is by far not as great as sailing into/from Geiranger. Saling B doesnot get into Geiranger. Your option might indeed be a privatetour from Alesund to Geiranger, but that is mostly a combination of land and ferries to cross the water and not realy sail through the Geiranger fjord. Another option from Alesund is the land tour (by rental car or private driver) to Trollstigen. Edited August 10, 2020 by Ine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted August 10, 2020 Author #8 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 minute ago, Ine said: Sailing into or from Alesund is by far not as great as sailing into/from Geiranger. I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. From Alesund, you can get a private excursion on a smaller boat that sails to and from Geiranger. It's a day trip, from Alesund. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ine Posted August 10, 2020 #9 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 minute ago, stickey_mouse said: I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. From Alesund, you can get a private excursion on a smaller boat that sails to and from Geiranger. It's a day trip, from Alesund. That depends how long your ship will be in Alesund and if you will have plenty of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted August 10, 2020 Author #10 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 minute ago, Ine said: That depends how long your ship will be in Alesund and if you will have plenty of time. I believe it's 11 or 12 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallasm Posted August 10, 2020 #11 Share Posted August 10, 2020 There is a boat trip from Ålesund to Geiranger leaving Ålesund at 9 am and back at 5 pm - two hours stop inGeiranger. Price NOK 1,160. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ine Posted August 10, 2020 #12 Share Posted August 10, 2020 1 hour ago, hallasm said: There is a boat trip from Ålesund to Geiranger leaving Ålesund at 9 am and back at 5 pm - two hours stop inGeiranger. Price NOK 1,160. Sounds great, but duble check the exact arival and departure times. Some ships leave around that time and back on board is at least 30 minutes earlier. So it really depends on the hours the ship is in port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_BJ Posted August 24, 2020 #13 Share Posted August 24, 2020 Flam has the railway ...... world class excursion ..... For us Ger' was VERY crowded ... PACKED .... we went to Flam on our own after our cruise which ended in Bergen. Did Norway in a Nutshell with train /bus / ferry to Flam, spent a nite there (sleepy town when the ships leave for the day) then next day Flam railway to meet the train to Oslo ..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran2020 Posted August 28, 2020 #14 Share Posted August 28, 2020 On 8/24/2020 at 6:37 PM, Capt_BJ said: Flam has the railway ...... world class excursion ..... For us Ger' was VERY crowded ... PACKED .... we went to Flam on our own after our cruise which ended in Bergen. Did Norway in a Nutshell with train /bus / ferry to Flam, spent a nite there (sleepy town when the ships leave for the day) then next day Flam railway to meet the train to Oslo ..... Capt_BJ, awesome pics! What time of the year was it? Summer? Does not look too sunny over there 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_BJ Posted August 31, 2020 #15 Share Posted August 31, 2020 (edited) July 2018 .... they were setting heat records ..... https://www.visitflam.com/information/webcam/ Edited August 31, 2020 by Capt_BJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickey_mouse Posted September 5, 2020 Author #16 Share Posted September 5, 2020 What about Skjolden vs Eidfjord? Doesn't seem to be much draw to either? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran2020 Posted September 6, 2020 #17 Share Posted September 6, 2020 On 8/31/2020 at 8:31 PM, Capt_BJ said: July 2018 .... they were setting heat records ..... https://www.visitflam.com/information/webcam/ Capt_BJ, stunning views Hard to believe this is all real Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deec Posted October 16, 2020 #18 Share Posted October 16, 2020 I am worried about toting luggage if we do "Norway in a nutshell " on our own on a cruise that ends in Bergen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallasm Posted October 16, 2020 #19 Share Posted October 16, 2020 (edited) @deecYou can get luggage transferred from Bergen to Oslo provided you’re staying at a hotel in Oslo - Link to porter service. Edited October 16, 2020 by hallasm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deec Posted October 16, 2020 #20 Share Posted October 16, 2020 that is an option!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_BJ Posted October 16, 2020 #21 Share Posted October 16, 2020 we did nutshell when our cruise ended on Bergen and did drag our bags .... it was a bit of a PITA but WAS doable. Every leg of the trip there WAS someplace to put bags ... special racks or the typical bus storage area ... they were never 'underfoot' We made the post cruise a long leg .. spent two extra days in Bergen then booked via nutshell and stayed a night in Flam (become a quiet place when the cruisers leave), then the remaining train to Oslo for 3 nites before flight home. Nutshell Bergen to Oslo is a LONG day .... just the direct train Oslo/Bergen is a long day (did that previously). Breaking it up with the nite in Flam was restful ..... If we do it again I WILL consider use the baggage shipping tho .. altho we've had good luck with AirB&B which does not get this service .... decisions decisions .... Flam after the cruise ship left . . . it is in the distance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDTrip Posted July 25, 2021 #22 Share Posted July 25, 2021 On 10/16/2020 at 2:23 PM, Capt_BJ said: we did nutshell when our cruise ended on Bergen and did drag our bags .... it was a bit of a PITA but WAS doable. Every leg of the trip there WAS someplace to put bags ... special racks or the typical bus storage area ... they were never 'underfoot' Capt_BJ .....If you had to choose between a DIY Nutshell with overnights in Oslo, Flam and Bergen or a 7 day fjord cruise which includes Bergen (but not Flam and Olso) which would you choose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallasm Posted July 25, 2021 #23 Share Posted July 25, 2021 @MDTrip - I’m not Capt_BJ but in order to provide a qualified answer please provide full Itinerary of your 7 day cruise - Flåm is not the only port of interesse at a Norwegian Fjord Cruise - However important that some of the deep fjord ports like Geiranger and/or Olden are included - Oslo is not normally included in a Norwegian fjord cruise. Difficult to directly compare Norway in a Nutshell and a cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDTrip Posted July 26, 2021 #24 Share Posted July 26, 2021 22 hours ago, hallasm said: @MDTrip - I’m not Capt_BJ but in order to provide a qualified answer please provide full Itinerary of your 7 day cruise - Flåm is not the only port of interesse at a Norwegian Fjord Cruise - However important that some of the deep fjord ports like Geiranger and/or Olden are included - Oslo is not normally included in a Norwegian fjord cruise. Difficult to directly compare Norway in a Nutshell and a cruise. Our 7 day cruise itinerary is : Amsterdam - Alesund - Bergen -Geiranger - Stavanger - Amsterdam. I would appreciate your thoughts on doing the cruise versus spending about 4-5 nights doing Norway in a Nutshell with an overnight stop in the middle of the trip (Flam or nearby.) We are in our late 60s and do not plan to hike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallasm Posted July 26, 2021 #25 Share Posted July 26, 2021 Norway in a Nutshell is a much more active tour than a cruise - Train from Oslo to Myrdal - change to Flåm train - boat trips on the fjords, bus and overnight stay in the area before continuing to Bergen by bus or train. You can buy a ‘Norway in Nutshell’ package by most people are booking train, hotel, bus and boat trips separately. Flåm is primarily know from the train and possible a bike back downhill from Myrdal - from a cruise perspective Geiranger is much better - long scenic sailing and then multiple view points with an amazing views - several bus options in Geiranger for the view points. Ålesund is a very picturesque city. I’ll suggest the cruise from Amsterdam - Geiranger is a worthy substitute for Flåm. You must be up early to enjoy the scenic sailing through the fjords into Geiranger. As I mentioned in another post (other subject) Hurtigruten from Bergen to Kirkenes in combination with the train ride Oslo to Bergen might be an alternative. A different experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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