Choosing a Ffjord cruise

[jtsbusiness]

My husband and I always wanted to cruise the Ffjords and see the northern lights and/or the mid night sun. Unfortunately he passed away last year and I am now planning to do this on my own. As it costs so much for a single cabin I am trying to talk my 35 yr old son into joining me. He has the idea that cruising is for pensioners!!!

 

My questions are:

 

Which would be the best cruise from GB and what are we likely to see?

 

When would be the best time?

 

On a limited budget which cabins will give us the most space as we would obviously need a twin room.

 

Which would be the best ship to change his perspective on cruising without being the overly over commercialised ships like Oasis of the Seas (although I doubt that would get round the Ffjords!).

 

My husband and I were on Celebrity and Sea Princess. We loved Celebrity but found Sea Princess wanting in many areas.

 

Hoping you can help me

 

Best wishes for the New Year and happy cruising

 

Jan

[TLCOhio]

My husband and I always wanted to cruise the Ffjords and see the northern lights and/or the mid night sun. Unfortunately he passed away last year and I am now planning to do this on my own. As it costs so much for a single cabin I am trying to talk my 35 yr old son into joining me. He has the idea that cruising is for pensioners!!!

My questions are:

* Which would be the best cruise from GB and what are we likely to see?

* When would be the best time?

* On a limited budget which cabins will give us the most space as we would obviously need a twin room.

* Which would be the best ship to change his perspective on cruising without being the overly over commercialised ships like Oasis of the Seas (although I doubt that would get round the Ffjords!).

* My husband and I were on Celebrity and Sea Princess. We loved Celebrity but found Sea Princess wanting in many areas.

Hoping you can help me. Best wishes for the New Year and happy cruising. Jan

 

Hi, Jan! Lots of good questions. I'll try to help you focus on your many, many great options to consider. Sorry on the loss of your husband.

 

Agree that Celebrity is wonderful. Did them for the first time in June in the Med. As you can see and link below, we did the fjords and all of the way up to the North Cape in July 2010. Click on and you can see lots and lots of details on the many port stops, etc. Feel free to ask questions on that posting series.

 

Sorry, you won't be able to see the northern lights. That's during the winter time. As we did, you can see the midnight sun, but you will need sail farther up north in order to be in the area where the sun never sets. Generally, you have to go to the Lofoten Island and higher in order to experience the midnight sun.

 

It would be nice to sail from the UK, but you might also look at your cruise options from Copenhagen (which we did) or Amsterdam. It might be closer and save time, give you better potentials to consider, etc. Copenhagen is so spectacular and I'm sure you can get good air connections from the UK. Been there?

 

On some of the luxury lines, such as Silversea or Seabourn, you might find that the mark-up for singles is less than the normal 200%. On these smaller ships, the service is more "personal" and they are very helpful for those singles traveling on their ships. On cost, the downside for the Norway Coast is that the best timing options are more narrow. Because the window is so short during the summer, plus the high-high costs in Norway, it is hard to find "bargain" cruises along this popular route.

 

On timing, July will be your best month for weather. In May and early June or late August or September, things are more risky. Maybe good, but not as certain.

 

Below are a few of my sample visuals. You can see lots and lots more on my live/blog posting from July 2010.

 

Does this help? Tell us more specifics on what you want to see and do? And reactions to this info, background???

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Back from a June 7-19 Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 54,182 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 55,835 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

Appreciate those who have “tuned in” for these two posts. Don’t be shy and feel free to comment and/or ask any questions of interest.

 

 

You go on these Norway Coast cruises for the spectacular fjords. From the journey to Flam, Gudvangen and Sognerfjord, here is one picture giving you a sampling of the skies and views for these beautiful internal coastlines of the fjords.

 

 

 

This is the dramatic overview of Alesund from the Aksla vantage point. This spot allows a nearly 360-degree view of this setting for this island city and the surrounding mountains and islands. It is at a 597’ height overlooking the five islands making up the scenic town.:

 

 

 

This picture shows the Bergen Floibanen funicular railway coming up the steep hill with the harbor, fish market, etc. in the background. On the top, somewhat right, the Silver Cloud and Costa ships can be seen in the harbor.

 

 

 

As we departed Svolvaer in the Lofoten Islands on a perfect, sunny day, these are two of the green, tree-covered mountains rising up from the sea that we saw with the small out-islands in the foreground.:

 

 

 

This is the super scenic view from immediately above Geiranger that shows the Silver Cloud and Costa ships tendered. A little before this picture, we were to go to Mt. Dalsnibba as a photo stop from this 4,920-foot vantage for the snow-covered surrounding mountains, icy glaciers, crystalline lakes and Geirangerfjord far below. Here is this view, at a lower level, that provided a wonderful vista.:

 

 

 

Arriving at Flam, the Captain is right there directing this process. You can see here some of the fjord mountains, waterfalls in the background. Below are more pictures and highlights from this day in the Sognerfjord that is rated as the best in all of Norway for these views. This includes a spectacular train ride up the mountain, seeing the valleys, waterfalls, etc.:

 

[kaisatsu]

I think the ship choice is really a matter of personal opinion. Cruising the fjords, one option that's a little different from most cruise destinations is the Hurtigruten coastal ferry that sails along the coast stopping at all the little towns along the way. It doesn't leave from the UK, so you'd have to fly to Norway to meet the ship, but you can book 6-day "cruises" that include the cabin and meals. It doesn't have the high-end amenities or services that a traditional cruise would, and you spend less time in each port (a few hours in the larger towns) but you get to enjoy all of the coastal scenery since the ship is never far from shore.

 

Looking at more traditional cruises, you should absolutely include either Geiranger or Flåm, since these are ports on the two most iconic, UNESCO-listed fjords. If you have to choose one or the other, I would strongly lean towards Geiranger as it has the reputation for being the most beautiful with lots of waterfalls and beautiful scenery. The sail-in and sail-out really are fantastic. Near Flåm, the famous fjord is Nærøyfjord leading to nearby Gudvangen, but many ships don't actually sail through it. It's the narrowest of the Norwegian fjords, and you can usually book an excursion on a smaller boat from Flåm (though most cruisers choose to use the port call to ride the Flåmsbana mountain train instead).

 

There are two types of itineraries that sail the fjords. The first focuses on the fjords and visits only ports along the southwestern coast. The second sails farther up the coast to cross the Arctic Circle and visit places like Trømso and Nordkapp. The ports north of Trondheim do not have the same fjord scenery, but they have their own appeal and the draw of the Arctic. (The Lofoten Islands are especially pretty with their rocky mountains sloping steeply almost right to the sea.)

[TLCOhio]

There are two types of itineraries that sail the fjords. The first focuses on the fjords and visits only ports along the southwestern coast. The second sails farther up the coast to cross the Arctic Circle and visit places like Trømso and Nordkapp. The ports north of Trondheim do not have the same fjord scenery, but they have their own appeal and the draw of the Arctic. (The Lofoten Islands are especially pretty with their rocky mountains sloping steeply almost right to the sea.)

 

Well summarized by our experienced Oslo friend. The Lofoten Islands are so, so special and unique!! On our cruise we had two days there as we were going up and back from the North Cape (with puffins, etc.). Below are a few more visuals from there to back up her point on the beauty for that beautiful area.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 55,835 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

An historic seaport and cod fishing center is Nusfjord a few miles east of the main south-bound road in the Lofoten Islands. Here is one harbor view showing its birds perched on a large rock, etc.:

 

 

 

We went to the end of the road in the Lofoten Islands. This is a charming village called “A”. In their alphabet, this “A” has a small “o” above the letter. Simple name for a charming fishing town. We had box lunches from the ship and dined on a picnic table on the wooden dock. This was our view with the busy and noisy birds.:

 

 

 

And in the other direction while in the village called "A", here is another dramatic view for the nature overlooking this harbor.:

 

 

 

These are some of the green cliffs in the Lofotens as the sun came out in a stronger manner to add drama to these sights and sites.:

 

 

 

Here are some of the many wooden racks for fish drying on these islands that we checked out during our drive south.:

 

 

 

Near the main E10 roadway in the southern part of the Lofoten Island is this historic Flakstad Kirke church that was built in 1780. It has a Russian design/look as certain of its materials were donated by those from that country.:

 

[jtsbusiness]

Thanks both of you for your very informative replies, and Terry for your fantastic pictures. Do you think you can see a reasonable amount on a 7 day cruise, or would it be better to do a longer cruise?

 

Best wishes

Jan

[TLCOhio]

Thanks both of you for your very informative replies, and Terry for your fantastic pictures. Do you think you can see a reasonable amount on a 7 day cruise, or would it be better to do a longer cruise? Best wishes Jan

 

The two quick answers are YES and YES. You can see a "reasonable amount" on a seven-day cruise, BUT, you can see much, much more by doing a longer cruise that allow a wider variety of sites and sights along that long Norway coast. If sailing from England, you have sea days getting there and back. For 2010, we battled the same question. Shorter and just the fjords, Bergen, etc. OR, the longer cruise that got the Lofoten Island, North Cape, etc., etc.??? We were not sure during the initial planning/research stages. We decided as long as you are going there, then do it right. We did and were very glad to get the "FULL EXPERIENCE". Only you, however, can determine your timing and budget potentials, flexibility, etc. How much do you like nature, wildlife, etc.?

 

Does this help? What else will aid you?

 

THANKS for the nice comments on the pictures! "Fantastic" is good, right? Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 54,491 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 55,835 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923