Norwegian Fjords

[janetcbl]

IMO: The Celebrity. Flam (take the Flambana excursion if able), Geiranger (magnificent scenery) and Bergen (fascinating city in itself) would make it an easy choice for me. Been to Norway many times, have never been to Olden or Skjolden…perhaps I am missing something?

[hallasm]

6 hours ago, UNH1995 said:

I appreciate any insight anyone can provide.  This will be our first time in Norway

Another vote for Celebrity: Flåm, Geiranger are the tow best deep fjords impunity Norway and Bergen a very nice coastal city.

Princess: Skjolden is ‘secondary’, while Olden is fine - also Stavanger is ‘secondary‘.

 

Note that availability of cruises to Flåm and Geiranger will be very limiter from 2026 due to restrictions on emission from cruise ships.

[ontheweb]

Another vote for the Celebrity cruise. Geiranger is just spectacular. Bergen is a very interesting place. 

[CaptJerry51]

I have now read all 23 pages twice, but have a question regarding Stavanger.  I am cruising this June on Royal Caribbean and will be on deck very early for the sail-in to both Geiranger and Flam to see and photograph the scenery.

 

We are in Stavanger on a Saturday from 8 to 7 and I am considering booking the Rodne small boat cruise in the Lysefjord to Pulpit Rock (not a RIB).

 

My question for anyone that has done this - I am thinking the Lysefjord scenery will be very similar to what I will already have seen from the ship of the fjords in and out of Geiranger and Flam.  I don't think Pulpit Rock from water level will be much to see.  Pulpit Rock is all about the view from the top.  So why take this boat trip?

 

mickeysgal back in post #511 on page 21 said she loved it.  I am 50 / 50 on booking it unless I hear another solid yes vote and why.  I can find some Stavanger city based things to do.

Thanks for any responses.  My wife can't make the hike up to Pulpit Rock and I don't think I want to go solo.

Edited April 7 by CaptJerry51

[kaisatsu]

3 minutes ago, CaptJerry51 said:

I have now read all 23 pages twice, but have a question regarding Stavanger.  I am cruising this June on Royal Caribbean and will be on deck very early for the sail-in to both Geiranger and Flam to see and photograph the scenery.

 

We are in Stavanger on a Saturday from 8 to 7 and I am considering booking the Rodne small boat cruise in the Lysefjord to Pulpit Rock (not a RIB).

 

My question for anyone that has done this - I am thinking the Lysefjord scenery will be very similar to what I will already have seen from the ship of the fjords in and out of Geiranger and Flam.  I don't think Pulpit Rock from water level will be much to see.  Pulpit Rock is all about the view from the top.  So why take this boat trip?

 

mickeysgal back in post #511 on page 21 said she loved it.  I am 50 / 50 on booking it unless I hear another solid yes vote and why.  I can find some Stavanger city based things to do.

Thanks for any responses.  My wife can't make the hike up to Pulpit Rock and I don't think I want to go solo.

The Lysefjord is a bit rockier than Geirangerfjord and Sognefjord, but if you have seen both of those, you won’t have a dramatically new experience in Lysefjord. It’s a pretty area, but if there’s something else you’re more interested in seeing/doing in Stavanger, then I wouldn’t worry about missing anything.

 

The “old city” in Stavanger is charming to walk around with lots of white wooden houses and cobbled streets, and the petroleum museum is vaguely interesting. The colorful wooden waterfront buildings of the bryggen are worth seeing if you aren’t calling in Bergen (which has the best/most in their UNESCO-listed waterfront).

[wandb]

On 4/7/2024 at 11:59 AM, kaisatsu said:

The Lysefjord is a bit rockier than Geirangerfjord and Sognefjord, but if you have seen both of those, you won’t have a dramatically new experience in Lysefjord. It’s a pretty area, but if there’s something else you’re more interested in seeing/doing in Stavanger, then I wouldn’t worry about missing anything.

 

The “old city” in Stavanger is charming to walk around with lots of white wooden houses and cobbled streets, and the petroleum museum is vaguely interesting. The colorful wooden waterfront buildings of the bryggen are worth seeing if you aren’t calling in Bergen (which has the best/most in their UNESCO-listed waterfront).

Great info!! Thanks!

[PATRLR]

On 4/7/2024 at 11:51 AM, CaptJerry51 said:

I have now read all 23 pages twice, but have a question regarding Stavanger.  I am cruising this June on Royal Caribbean and will be on deck very early for the sail-in to both Geiranger and Flam to see and photograph the scenery.

 

We are in Stavanger on a Saturday from 8 to 7 and I am considering booking the Rodne small boat cruise in the Lysefjord to Pulpit Rock (not a RIB).

 

My question for anyone that has done this - I am thinking the Lysefjord scenery will be very similar to what I will already have seen from the ship of the fjords in and out of Geiranger and Flam.  I don't think Pulpit Rock from water level will be much to see.  Pulpit Rock is all about the view from the top.  So why take this boat trip?

 

mickeysgal back in post #511 on page 21 said she loved it.  I am 50 / 50 on booking it unless I hear another solid yes vote and why.  I can find some Stavanger city based things to do.

Thanks for any responses.  My wife can't make the hike up to Pulpit Rock and I don't think I want to go solo.

We are doing the Rodne small boat cruise in the Lysefjord when we are in Stavanger in July (on Princess).  We are doing it because quite frankly nothing else interested us in that town.  I would love to hike Pulpit rock, but, my wife couldn't do it.

[PATRLR]

On 4/11/2024 at 11:24 AM, PATRLR said:

We are doing the Rodne small boat cruise in the Lysefjord when we are in Stavanger in July (on Princess).  We are doing it because quite frankly nothing else interested us in that town.  I would love to hike Pulpit rock, but, my wife couldn't do it.

Now I am really, really bummed.  I must have screwed up something and I never actually made the reservation for this excursion.  And now it's sold out.  Princess also offers a similar excursion (for 3 times the money and an hour less time), and it too is sold out.  Now, I'm not sure what we'll do in Stavanger.  Sigh.

[hallasm]

9 hours ago, PATRLR said:

Now, I'm not sure what we'll do in Stavanger.

My plan for Stavanger is to walk around the old town with the beautiful houses and narrow streets. Old Stavanger (‘Øvre Strandgate’).
‘Nedre Strandgate’ 17 and 19 houses the Stavanger Maritime museum. The Norwegian Canning Museum is also located in the area

From there to Bryggen and ‘Skagenkaj’ and ‘Øvre Holmegate’ (Fargegaten) and Valberget viewpoint.
The Norwegian Petroleum Museum is also located in the area
Visit Stavanger Town Center, The Cathedral, City Park and Breiavatnet.

 

[PATRLR]

4 hours ago, hallasm said:

My plan for Stavanger is to walk around the old town with the beautiful houses and narrow streets. Old Stavanger (‘Øvre Strandgate’).
‘Nedre Strandgate’ 17 and 19 houses the Stavanger Maritime museum. The Norwegian Canning Museum is also located in the area

From there to Bryggen and ‘Skagenkaj’ and ‘Øvre Holmegate’ (Fargegaten) and Valberget viewpoint.
The Norwegian Petroleum Museum is also located in the area
Visit Stavanger Town Center, The Cathedral, City Park and Breiavatnet.

 

Thank you @hallasm.  Something like that is probably what we'll do.  Walk around town, see the sites, maybe the petro museum, eventually sit and have a coffee or wine or small bite to eat. 

We'll also look into doing some hiking.  I'd love to hike Preikestolen/Pulpit Rock, not sure if my wife can do it, but we'll see what else is available in the area.  

 

We'll enjoy ourselves no doubt. 

Edited April 13 by PATRLR

[TMLAalum]

@PATRLR

We booked the Rodne excursion independently when we were in Stavenger.

Here is website: Norwegian Fjord Cruises - Rødne Fjord Cruise (rodne.no)

Hope that there is availability when you are there.

 

Edited April 13 by TMLAalum

[PATRLR]

6 hours ago, TMLAalum said:

@PATRLR

We booked the Rodne excursion independently when we were in Stavenger.

Here is website: Norwegian Fjord Cruises - Rødne Fjord Cruise (rodne.no)

Hope that there is availability when you are there.

 

Thanks but that is what I was saying above, I thought I'd booked it direct but somehow I screwed up and hadn't booked it.  It's sold out now.

[TMLAalum]

4 hours ago, PATRLR said:

Thanks but that is what I was saying above, I thought I'd booked it direct but somehow I screwed up and hadn't booked it.  It's sold out now.

Guess when I read excursion I thought it was a cruise tour.

[maureenk]

6 hours ago, PATRLR said:

Thanks but that is what I was saying above, I thought I'd booked it direct but somehow I screwed up and hadn't booked it.  It's sold out now.

Perhaps Get Your Guide has spots available on the same excursion?  Worth looking....

[Kbwhat53]

20 hours ago, hallasm said:

My plan for Stavanger is to walk around the old town with the beautiful houses and narrow streets. Old Stavanger (‘Øvre Strandgate’).
‘Nedre Strandgate’ 17 and 19 houses the Stavanger Maritime museum. The Norwegian Canning Museum is also located in the area

From there to Bryggen and ‘Skagenkaj’ and ‘Øvre Holmegate’ (Fargegaten) and Valberget viewpoint.
The Norwegian Petroleum Museum is also located in the area
Visit Stavanger Town Center, The Cathedral, City Park and Breiavatnet.

 

I’m also going to look for all the wall art!

[mkaalong]

wow! WOW!  I just read through ALL 23 pages and thanks for the info, tips, ideas and suggestions!  I am still in the planning stages for our June 2024 cruise, but I have so much info now. THANK YOU!!

Edited April 16 by mkaalong

[roomba920]

On 4/13/2024 at 11:44 PM, Kbwhat53 said:

I’m also going to look for all the wall art!

Nice. We're booked for a boat excursion, and then afterwards we're taking a local bus to see the 3 Swords in the Stone.

[ontheweb]

19 hours ago, mkaalong said:

wow! WOW!  I just read through ALL 23 pages and thanks for the info, tips, ideas and suggestions!  I am still in the planning stages for our June 2024 cruise, but I have so much info now. THANK YOU!!

WOW! You showed incredible patience reading through 23 pages! And it looks like today is the 3 year anniversary of the start of this thread.

[Traderboy]

We set off in a weeks time to Haugesund, Alesund, Olden Skjolden and Stavanger.

 

I now know we are doing the lift at Olden, a boat cruise at Stavanger, a walk up to the viewing place at Skyolden. Can we easily walk around Haugesund and Alesund or do we need some transportation?

 

 

[Tbird1969]

Is there anywhere to explore Viking history from Geiranger, Alesund, and/or Bergen?

 

[Schooner4]

Renting a car in Alesund to drive to Geiranger and returning to Alesund the same day. Would there be a preference between driving clockwise and taking the ferry one way from Geiranger Hellesylt versus doing the same route counter-clockwise?  Thank you for any advice. 

[wrldtrvllr]

I apologize if this has already been asked and answered but would like opinions on cruising southern Norway fjords end of September/early October vs May/June?  Would love to see northern lights. (Have cruised Alaska in May, July, and September and thought May was the best due to the most snow coverage, long days, less rain but am anxious to hurry up and see Norway and decision is between fall 2024 and early summer 2025). Looking at MSC and furthest north it goes is Alesund.

Kiel Germany | Copenhagen Denmark | Hellesylt Norway | Alesund Norway | Flaam Norway | Kiel Germany 

 

Thank you.

[janetcbl]

31 minutes ago, wrldtrvllr said:

I apologize if this has already been asked and answered but would like opinions on cruising southern Norway fjords end of September/early October vs May/June?  Would love to see northern lights. (Have cruised Alaska in May, July, and September and thought May was the best due to the most snow coverage, long days, less rain but am anxious to hurry up and see Norway and decision is between fall 2024 and early summer 2025). Looking at MSC and furthest north it goes is Alesund.

Kiel Germany | Copenhagen Denmark | Hellesylt Norway | Alesund Norway | Flaam Norway | Kiel Germany 

 

Thank you.

That far south in Norway, the answer is no Northern lights…you get sunlight many hours during the day. The only time to see Northern lights is midwinter, preferably far North. 

[hallasm]

53 minutes ago, wrldtrvllr said:

Kiel Germany | Copenhagen Denmark | Hellesylt Norway | Alesund Norway | Flaam Norway | Kiel Germany 

As janetcbl writes - you have to go further north to see the Northern Lights - within the Arctic Circle - places like the Lofoten Islands, Tromsø, Alta and Honningsvåg are popular Northern Lights destinations. Besides, it must be from September to March - maybe early April - from April to August it is far too bright during night to see the light.

[John Bull]

On 4/19/2024 at 9:25 AM, Traderboy said:

We set off in a weeks time to Haugesund, Alesund, Olden Skjolden and Stavanger.

 

I now know we are doing the lift at Olden, a boat cruise at Stavanger, a walk up to the viewing place at Skyolden. Can we easily walk around Haugesund and Alesund or do we need some transportation?

 

 

 

On 4/22/2024 at 1:25 AM, Tbird1969 said:

Is there anywhere to explore Viking history from Geiranger, Alesund, and/or Bergen?

 

 

Alesund.

We took an independently-booked full-day coach (bus) tour from the cruise pier with   https://www.norwayexcursions.com/en/tour/alesund-from-fjords-to-trolls/

Easy on-line booking, excellent tour, excellent operator, excellent guide, excellent vehicle & driver. sensible price. You can book with or without lunch - lunches were already fully booked but we were very pleased with a selection of filled rolls and fresh local strawberries at the same venue overlooking a waterfall

They accept un-booked passengers if they have seats to spare, but there were on spare seats on our coach. They also offer van / private tours, same itinerary, obviously more expensive. 

If you google "alesund to trollstigen" you'll find others with similar tours, but I have no hesitation in recommending the one we used.

 

Haugesund

We just headed into town across a bridge (the part of town with the cruise terminal is a few yards off-shore). The hop-on bus is a waste of time & money. Just the other side of the bridge there's a pleasant waterside, and one block from the waterside up the hill is the main street. Plenty of shops, bars & cafes for a lazy day.

If you want something more-exciting  you need to book for somewhere out of town.

 

JB 🙂