I-Cruiser

Wow I have spent the last 24 hours going through 64 pages of posts. I-Cruiser your help is downright amazing and so appreciated. There are so many others and too many to mention. We are in port 9-6 which I have discovered is enough time to do the Troll Road which was a must. I am into landscape photography and pray we have enough time to get down to the waterfront and also up to Mtn. Aksla. I wish the car could be located right when we step off the pier to save time. I have copied and pasted posts from this thread amounting to 26 pages in a Word document. It's just not posts about Alesund but also other ports we will be visiting. I am 100% norwegian but american made lol. I so wish there was a way to see the Atlantic Highway but unfortunately I just don't see a way. There aren't words enough to thank you for all your help for all of us visiting your beautiful country.

 

Linda

Linda - You write such wonderful things and all I can say is "Thank You".

I must admire you for reading all the pages in this thread. And for the huge Word document you created.

With 9 hrs in town you will have time to do the Trollstigen and a quick visit to Mt. Aksla viewpoint.

You will have time to visit the waterfront in Ålesund. It thats what you are referring to.

I-Cruiser...thanks for the info and thoughts...we are looking at June 2017 and right now there is no ship that hits it all...princess was pretty close until they dropped geringer...still waiting for a few more itineraries to come out..out of my want to do list...which is the one you would drop if you had to make a choice? Hurtigruten does not do it for us...we would have to do round trip to hit everything...we want time in ports to go off on our own. Thanks!

If I were to make a choice I would drop Stavanger and the Atlantic road.

I have done the Atlantic Rd a few times and was always left with the feeling; is this it. Yes, its very impressive but it can easily be dropped.

Parts of Stavanger is charming and a side trip to Lysefjord very different but it can easily be dropped.

Azamara has a cruise that comes pretty close to what you want.

They dont do Ålesund for the Trollroad but you can always fly non stop from Copenhangen to Ålesund in 1,5 hrs- as the Azamara cruise ends in Copenhagen. Spend a few days in the Ålesund area to do both the Trollroad and the Atlantic road. Fly back to Copenhagen and home.

Very easy and very doable.

Just a thought...;)

I-Cruiser- Cruising the Fjords: late May/June vs Late August.

Why do so few cruises include Oslo?

Late May early June is still very early in the season so many tours, roads might not be operational.

As its still early in the season the sights will not be as crowded.Spring is a lovely time here but it can get a bit cold during the evenings.

The waterfalls will be at their most powerful.

Lots of tourists. weather will still be good (fingers crossed) The waterfalls might not be so powerful and some with no water.

I think most cruise lines concentrate on the western part of Norway. From Oslo to western Norway you would need a day at sea.

We were all set with princess and they have already changed the itinerary and will no longer go to geringer...so if i go to geringer from alesund, then I won't be able to do the troll road....

Thats correct.

I am thinking of doing a land based tour instead of cruise because I can't find a cruise that will allow me to see everything I want...want to see geringer, troll road ,stavenger, alesund, Atlantic highway, lofotons and up to honnigsvag...if I flew into or out of Oslo, rent a car from Bergen and drive that area and then fly further north and rent a car again...what airport should I fly into in the north? Am I taking on too much and will it be difficult to plan?

You could fly into Tromsø in the North and drive to the places you would want to visit.

Is there no cruise visiting:

Stavanger

Geiranger

Ålesund or Åndalsnes(for the Trollroad)

Molde or Kristiansund (Atlantic road)

Honningsvåg

Lofoten islands.

Peculiar.

You can fly into Stavanger...then fly to Bergen. Rent a car in Bergen and take 3-4-5 days driving to western Norway and the fjords and leave the car in Tronheim.

Fly to Tromsø and drive to where you want to be.

Also it might be worth checking out Hurtigruten from Tromsø.

It will take a lot of planning but its doable.

Is there a "best" time of day to take the railway Flam/Mrydal return? Our Celebrity ship arrives Flam at 7.00 am and departs 5.30pm on 3rd May. We are thinking of booking the 9.45am train in the hope that it might be less busy than later on. The 12.20 train is already fully booked. There appears to be only one other ship in that day from Viking Cruises. We are hoping that Lars or someone who has already done the trip might be able to comment. Thanks.

I would take one early morning or at around 9am/10 am as you intend to.

The majority of pax might have gone earlier so you might have a more comfortable ride.

Another good point about taking a later train is that if there are fog during the early mornings it might have shifted a bit later on on the morning.

Just hit the "paperclip" in the Message window.

Maximum pdf size 976.6 KB

Thank you much:):)

However, I think this file is larger then the 976,6 KB allowed as it failed to upload.

But, I learned something new!

We are looking at doing 3 days in Oslo then fly to London and do celebrity Eclipse OR

Fly to Oslo- do Norway in a Nutshell to Bergen then take Huntiguten ( 2 Nights) to Trondheim and then train back to Oslo- we would be stopping in Alesund.

Personally I think you will get more out of the experience by doing the Eclipse cruise and 3 days in Oslo. I would suggest you spend some of those days exploring the area around Oslo. Even making a trip to western Norway and more fjords or exploring inland up to Lillehammer, Mjøsa (the lake).

Its very easy to do diy.

I usually talk very warmly about Hurtigruten but on a 2 nights cruise on the ships one of the ports are during the night, two stops are only for 15 minutes and the others range from 30 minutes to 3 hrs (Ålesund)

These stops are to short to really enjoy the areas unless of course you are taking the 2 days Hurtigruten trip just to explore the scenery and are not to keen on going ashore.

Placed this post also on "Viking Ocean" link --not sure best place---We are arriving in Flam in July 2016 and are very interested in taking a tour of the Fjords, but would prefer to travel from Flam to Gudvangen if possible, as we have heard the area around Gudvangen is quite beautiful. More than happy to take the bus from Gudvangen back to Flam if feasible, as we need to be on board our cruise ship not later than 1700. Greatly prefer a larger boat over a RHIB if possible. Stopping at Undredal or somewhere else for lunch or a walkabout is totally fine as well. We could start as early as 0930 as we arrive at 0900 in Flam onboard the Star. Any tips would be much appreciated!

You really should take a boat trip to explore Nærøyfjorden. Its a stunning small fjord, just magical.

I enclose a link to the boat schedule and bus schedule for Flåm - Gudvangen.

As you can see you can leave the boat in Undreadal - stay for 1 hr - and catch the boat again.

However this leaves you where little time in Gudvangen.

Another option that will allow you more time is to take the bus from Flåm at 10:00 arriving Gudvangen at 10:20 and the boat back to Flåm at either 11.45, 12:30 or 13:20.

This way you get to see both inland and cruise the fjord.

This will as mentioned give you more time wandering around Gudvangen and/or Undreadal.

https://www.visitflam.com/globalassets/rutetider-2015/timetables-2015-flam-gudvangen.pdf

I-Cruiser:

Thanks for all your wonderful info. We are trying to decide between Norway in a Nutshell starting in Oslo or doing a cruise and just flying to Oslo for 4 days after the cruise.

i am concerned about trains, ferries and buses with our luggage. Can you share thoughts. You may email me at missmunley@aol.com

Thanks

Hi there :) I can understand the confusion as there are so many choices out there.

Norway in a nutshell will give you a few highlights of what Norway has to offer.

I personally would prefer to discover Norway on a cruise then add on - as you wanted - 4 days post cruise.

By doing a combo cruise and land you get to do a more in depth discovery of Norway and you also get to see more of the country.

As there are so many cruises to choose from you could easily do a cruise that excludes stops where the nutshell post cruise itinerary stops.

All this will give you a more richer experience.

I am not a fan of dragging luggage on trains/busses/ferries etc..

The trains and busses do have ample storage for luggage but it has to be loaded on and off.

An idea would be to only take hand luggage for 4 days with you on the post cruise trip. The remaining luggage you could ask to be stored at your hotel in Oslo or indeed at the luggage facility at Oslo airport.

Its pretty easy to drive in Norway so you could rent a car and do it diy.

Have you thought about renting a car?

Do you have a specific cruise itinerary/cruise line in mind?

Pdf sent:-)

If anyone reading this thred knows how to post the PDF as a link I would appreciate the help.

Thank you. Celebrity's website indicates that Alesund and Geiranger are tendered. I had a feeling that this was possibly not the case.

I would check with the cruise line just in case. If you get a correct answer thats something completely different:D

Ålesund will only be a anchor port if all the piers are fully booked or if Celebrity wants to cut costs. From the cruise schedule from the port authorities the Eclipse seems to be the only ship in ports on her 2 arrivals.

Does anyone know whether the Eclipse is docked or tendered in:

 

Bergen

Flam

Geiranger

Alesund

Stavenger

 

My friend is wheelchair dependent. I checked the website but we all know how accurate that information is! Thank you.

Bergen, Ålesund and Stavanger the ship docks.

Flåm - usually docked but if to many ships in port it could be tender.

Geiranger is usually a tender port even tho the last few years Celebrity/Royal Caribbean family of ships has been using a "seawalk" or floating dock.

For cruise calls in 2016 the schedule does not indicate weather the ships are using the seawalk or will be tendered.

http://www.seawalk.no/geiranger.html

Unfortunately you have to choose between either the Trollstigen or Geiranger as you will not have time to do both by car.

The only way you could do both is by contacting a company called 62Nord and have them fly you with helicopter from Ålesund to Geiranger and to Valldal where you could have a car waiting so you can drive the Trollstigen.

It has been done:)

You will not have time to do the Atlantic road from any of the ports you have listed.

Stacy,

1: The road to Øye is open year round.

But as the road crosses a mountain range it will close when there are avalanches or if there are dangers of avalanches.

2: I have heard lots of great stuff about the el mobility car tours. It has proven to become a very popular and fun way to discover Geiranger. Its a breath of fresh air from all the dreadful pollution in the area du to cruise ships, tour busses, private cars etc.

The el cars are very easy to maneuver and the gps very easy to understand.

So, our other stops would be Bergen, Stavenger, Flam, Trondheim, Lofoten and Honnigsvag......I want to do the Trolligsten winding Road and Atlantic Hwy on our own...renting a car. I guess if we stay with this cruise we would do Geringer from Alesund....though over 2 hours, is the ride itself pretty direct and easy to follow? Thanks for your help!

I am not sure if I understand but you are stopping or not in Ålesund with the ship or do you plan to do Trollstigen and the Atlantic road on your own before/after the cruise?

The Trollroad can only be done from the ports of Ålesund/Geiranger/Åndalsnes/Molde.

The Atlantic road can only be done from Molde and Kristiansund.

The drive to/from Geiranger is pretty easy and includes a ferry.

Norangsdalen valley to Øye (Oye)

Christmas:

Northern Lights:

Some out of season pictures from the area.

towards the Geirangerfjord:

Ålesund and Brosundet:

Sunrise:

Hi Lars!

 

Let me start with a HUGE THANK YOU for all of the information provided in this thread. I have taken so many notes from your comments and suggestions - and now my head is spinning! Should we rent a car, ride a train, walk around town, take a boat ride, etc. etc. etc. I decided that I would love to see your best suggestion for each port that we'll be stopping in. Our goal is to see as much as we can - we typically avoid the cruise ship tours. We love either walking or driving around (so that we can spend as much time or as little time as we want) and photographing the beautiful parts of this world that we live in. We are not big museum go-ers ... unless the museum is an absolute must see. Here's our itinerary:

 

Tuesday, May 3: Alesund (8:00 - 6:00)

- Would definitely like to go to Mt. Aksla for pictures; Was also interested in renting a car to do one of the drives, but not sure if we are too early in the season due to road closures?

Wednesday, May 4: Geiranger (7:00 - 5:00)

- Looks like this port also could be a possibility for car rental, however, again not sure if we are too early

Thursday, May 5: Flam (9:00 - 7:00)

- Interested in the possibility of taking the railway and/or a fjord cruise

Friday, May 6: Bergen (7:00 - 5:00)

- Interested in the funicular and/or a fjord cruise

 

I've saved lots of links for the above options, however, would be interested in your suggestions based on the time of year that we will be in Norway and our goal of seeing as much as possible.

 

Thanks, in advance, for any and all suggestions that you have!

 

Stacy and Scott

Hi Stacy and Scott - Thank you:)

You are visiting very early in the season so options of drives to Trollstigen etc limits itself as the tourist roads are most probably still closed.

We can never be 100% sure before a few weeks before May but I think its safe to say most of them will be in the process of being cleared for opening.

I will of course post the opening dates here as soon as I know.

As for your itinerary my comments in red.

Tuesday, May 3: Alesund (8:00 - 6:00)

- Would definitely like to go to Mt. Aksla for pictures; Was also interested in renting a car to do one of the drives, but not sure if we are too early in the season due to road closures?

I would suggest you explore the town. Walk the steps to Mt. Aksla. You could do the hop on/off as it also stops at the open air museum outside town. If its a sunny day its a lovely place to spend some time.

You could rent a car to the island of Giske and Godøya for the lighthouse at Alnes. Its a very different scenery out there - very wild and rugged and I am sure you will love it.

Wednesday, May 4: Geiranger (7:00 - 5:00)

- Looks like this port also could be a possibility for car rental, however, again not sure if we are too early.

The road to Mt. Dalsnibba will most probably be closed.

Its a small village so easy to walk around for 40 minutes or so. Do the waterfall walk. Visit the Church.

If you rent a car you can visit the Eagle road and across the mountain to Eidsvatnet lake. Its one of my favourite places and we often rent a log cabin by the lake.

Instead of renting a car you could do a hop on/off bus/tour bus.

Normally I would suggest a visit to Westerås Farm/cafe but not sure if it will be open in early May. You could follow them on FB for updates.

Thursday, May 5: Flam (9:00 - 7:00)

- Interested in the possibility of taking the railway and/or a fjord cruise.

If they operates tours to Nærøyfjord I would suggest you do that. Stunning fjord as long as you enjoy sceneries. If you think a fjord is a fjord (and you will visit a few on your cruise) I would suggest you the railroad for a different scenery. I am not sure you can fit both into your schedule.

If you are into beer then Flåm has a fantastic brewery.

Friday, May 6: Bergen (7:00 - 5:00)

- Interested in the funicular and/or a fjord cruise.

Again, I would suggest walking around Bryggen/Hanseatic area of Bergen. Take the funicular Fløybanen.

Sjolden is a relatively new cruise port used by the cruise lines.

Its situated at the end of Sognefjord and I suppose its used for tours to the glaciers and national park.

This port is a cheaper option for the cruise lines compared to Flåm, Olden and in your case Geiranger.

Driving from Skjolden to Geiranger will take at least up to 3 hrs each way.

From Olden to Geiranger at least 2:40 hrs each way if you dont miss the ferry from Hellesylt to Geiranger.

From Ålesund to Geiranger at least 2:15 hrs each way.

What other ports are you visiting in the area close to Geiranger?

Personally Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord are the most important/beautiful port in Norway.

If the port is high on your must visit list you should maybe consider changing itinerary.

Which cities/ports on a Norwegian cruise would be good for purchasing sweaters for gifts? Thanks...

As many has said previously you have a better chance to find a bargain in the larger ports.

You should know that you might be able to pick up some "cheap" (ish:D) sweaters but they are usually not made in Norway.

For the real hand knitted wool sweaters you will have to pay a fair price for the handcraft.

Hello Lars,

I just want to say THANK YOU for all of your help and good information you provide on this thread. I've just started doing some research for our upcoming cruise.

 

I am very grateful to find your posts and also the posts from Ssislandgirl.

 

To all the CC members who take the time and effort to help other travelers, THANK YOU!

 

Bobbie

Bobbie - Thank you so much for your kind words. They are very much appreciated.

If you need some help for your cruise you know where I am :D

Lars:)

My DW and I will be in Alesund in July. Is the pier in a location where we can walk around on our own? Is the town small enough to just spend a relaxing day strolling and appreciating a sight and place that few Americans get to see?

 

Thanks.

I am not sure if you have search this thread but here is a wealth of info as to what to do in Ålesund.

The cruise pier is as you can see in the picture where the Celebrity ship is docked.

Where the white building is there are a few tents selling tickets for the hop on/off bus and the tourist train.

Its a easy and convenient way to see the town at least if you plan to visit Mt. Aksla viewpoint and dont fancy climbing the over 400 steps up. Also its a good option for the open air museum just outside the town.

If you want to explore on foot you can not miss the Brosundet - The canal running through the town - this is a must. Also explore Apotekergata toward the Scandic Hotel and further to Moloveien with its small wooden houses, artists workshops etc.

You should also visit the Ålesund Church, the Jugend Museum and Ålesund Museum. All with provide you with an excellent experience.

Thanks Lars for your quick reply. I like the idea of asking for payment before I purchase the tickets. I think that will solve the problem.

 

Susan

Anytime:)

From experiance I know that paying upfront solves a few problems.

Another option is to make perfectly clear that if someone cancels after you have booked all the tickets they have to pay their share. As a group leader you will have their full name and cabin number:)

Last option is to get the group to go online and get their own tickets. This can work too as you will have the departure time from Flåm and Myrdal.

Tho I think option one is the best.

Lars

We'd appreciate receiving the same information.

 

Thanks

 

hbabcock1 at rogers.com

done:)