Shore Excursions Norway

[At sea days]

Sailing on QM2 Norway/North Cape...any suggestions on shore excursions? have heard that ship board offerings are very expensive...:rolleyes:

[TLCOhio]

Sailing on QM2 Norway/North Cape...any suggestions on shore excursions? have heard that ship board offerings are very expensive...:rolleyes:

 

Most everything is more costly in Norway. That's just economic reality there. Their tax and wage structure makes it one of the more costly countries in the world. For most of Scandinavian countries this is just the way it is. The guides, services, food, etc., are all more expensive. Their tourist season is short. It means higher tour costs. Even if you do it all on your own, you will find lunch, snacks, local transport, etc., more costly there. I would suggest targeting what places are a higher priority and/or where it would be harder to do it on your own. Then, considering all that you are spending on this cruise, you'll have to choose on whether to spend a little more or miss some of these once in a lifetime opportunities.

 

I assume your cruise is the June 14 sailing going to Stavanger, Geiranger, Honningsvag, North Cape, Tromso, Olden and Bergen, right? Here are some of my notes I have pulled together on your options to consider for a few of those ports where we will be visiting during our July 1-16 cruise on another ship.

 

Tromsø: With 63,500 people, it is the seventh largest city in Norway and the largest in its northern area. It is known as the “Paris of the North”, is 186 miles north of the Arctic Circle and is located on an island. The city center of Tromsø contains the highest number of old wooden houses in northern Norway, the oldest house dating from 1789. The Arctic Cathedral, a modern church from 1965, is probably the most famous landmark in Tromsø. Its east wall is composed entirely of stained glass. The Polar Museum is situated in a wharf house from 1837, presents Tromsø's past as a center for Arctic hunting and starting point for many major Arctic expeditions. You are standing on a forest-covered island in a narrow sound, hemmed in by soaring mountains. A cable car travels up to the top of Mt. Storsteinen at 1,260 feet for views of the town, islands, mountains and water. The Polaria Arctic Center has sea life displays, an aquarium of marine life and trained seals. Its main street is Storgata with the town square opening onto the harbor. There is a daily open-air market selling flowers and crafts. Its two best dining places are Arctandria and Compagniet. Emm’a Drommekjokken get super high markets and is across from Tromso’s cathedral. For July 8, average high of 57 and low of 47; record high of 69 and record low of 42 on this date. Twenty-four hours of daylight. Latitude: 69.7° N.

 

Honningsvag (North Cape): This North Cape is virtually Europe’s northernmost point, and is billed as “the top of the world!” As you are standing in broad daylight at midnight looking out over the Arctic Ocean, it can be one of the world’s most memorable experiences. If you are lucky enough to see the Midnight Sun, it could be unforgettable. Much of this area is treeless tundra with sparse dwarf plants. It is 1300 miles from the North Pole. The ship offers tours to the North Cape Hall with a glass-enclosed viewpoint overlooking the Barents Sea. Outside is a giant iron globe. The ship offers a a safari via Zodiac seeubg giant King Crab measuring up to 6 feet between its claws and weigh as much as 24 lbs. You can book bird safaris through http://www.birdsafari.com. Latitude: 71.0° N.

 

Geiranger/Fjord: This is where Norwegians escape when they need a vacation. The most breathtaking attraction is the mighty Seven Sisters Waterfall, spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of water from an incredible 5,000 feet. Sitting at the head of majestic Geiranger Fjord, the city is surrounded by towering snow-covered mountain peaks, lush, green vegetation and winding hiking trails often enjoyed by the ambitious vacationer. This location has been named the best travel destination in Scandinavia by Lonely Planet and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its fjord is ten miles long and 960-foot-deep. Population is approximately 300. Geiranger and Hellesylt were popular destinations from an early date. The first boatload of tourists from abroad arrived in 1896. Today the Geirangerfjord is the second most important cruise destination in Norway, with well over a hundred ships calling in the summer as well as the Coastal Steamer (Hurtigruten). The area is visited by approximately 1,000 000 summer tourists.

 

 

Bergen: As the seat of Norway’s medieval kingdom of Norway for six centuries, Bergen is a former Viking stronghold encircled by deep fjords, towering mountains, and sweeping glaciers. Today's Bergen has much of the medieval flavor remaining around Bergen's harbor. Near its central harbor is its main Torgalmennignen square. Explore the cobblestone streets, see its pastel-color wooden houses and strike a bargain in one of the many artisans' workshops or visit the famous and always entertaining Fish Market. You can watch the locals haggling over today's catch and enjoy a quayside lunch of freshly caught salmon or fish and chips. Next to the fish market is a flea market, with loads of souvenirs, hand-knit sweaters, etc., with many merchants taking credit cards, Rated by Frommers as more scenic than Oslo, Bergen was the base of the medieval Hanseatic merchants. Those historic timbered houses are set around Bryggen or The Wharf, a center for crafts and workshops. Its prime row is mostly reconstructed 14th-century structures, some of which were originally destroyed by fire. Det Hansseatiske Museum depicts commercial life on the wharf in the early 18th century and is highly rates with well-preserved wooden structure. Its art museums is highly-rated with religious icon, local art, etc. Floibanen funicular railway goes to the top of a 1050-foot high peak for scenic views. This cable car has been operating for over 80 years and was refurbished in 2002. Gamle Bergen is its free outdoor historic museum for forty historic homes set in the early 19th century. Among the other options are composer Edvard Grieg's estate at Troldhaugen (with outdoor concerts there Wednesday at 7:30 pm, five miles south of town) and Gamlehaugen, the Scootish-looking castle that is a royal residence, three mile south of town. Mariakirken or St. Mary’s Church is the most outstanding Romanesque church in Norway. Bergen is Norway’s largest port and has a population of 252,000. Scenic Bergen completes your voyage with its dramatic backdrop of seven rounded mountains and cobbled streets. It entices you to take memories and photos cherishing the land of the Norsemen. The "Bergen Card" can be purchased at the express boat terminal or tourist information center at Vagsallmennigen. It sells for NOK 190 ($37.52) and gives free transportation and admission to most museums and attractions. It is a five-hundred-yard walk in an easterly direction to Bergen's other major landmark: Lille Lungegadsvann -- a small lake embedded in lush gardens and statuary, surrounded by most of Bergen's major museums. Kafe Krystall is the top rated local restaurant and has the feel of Vienna in the era of Sigmund Freud. Also highly rated by Fodors are Enhjorningen and Potetkjelleren. It is the capital for Norway’s oil industry, fourth largest in the world. For July 14, average high of 62 and low of 51; record high of 73 and record low of 44 on this date. Sunrise of 4:37 am and sunset of 10:50 pm. Latitude: 60.4° N.

Tourism Office: http://www.visitbergen.com/en

 

Hope these notes give you some ideas of options to consider.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

[kaisatsu]

You'll probably have a tough time finding private excursions, but there's a lot of information about visiting the ports on your own.

 

I recommend the Lonely Planet Norway over some of the other guidebooks, because it has a lot of detail on how to get around using public transportation (where the bus stops are, which bus to take, etc), which can save you a lot if you want to get to places that are out of town. In the towns themselves, most places are fairly walkable.

 

We did a similar sailing on the QE2 a few years ago, and there are links to the brief recap and full details of our port adventures in my signature.

 

Each of the towns in Norway tends to have a very comprehensive tourism website that I found helpful in planning. For example:

visitbergen.com

trondheim.no

destinasjontromso.no

visitsunnmore.com (Ålesund & Sunnmøre)

There are also a lot of links to regional sites from the main visitnorway.com website.