Norwegian Fjords

[kcbmarek]

DH and I are considering this cruise for summer of 2017 (yes planning ahead). Does anyone have any info on these ports and recommendations for this itinerary? Being the dates of the cruise fall over the summer solstice, DH is really excited especially if he was to see the Northern Lights.

 

Sat Copenhagen, Denmark (EMBARK) --- 5:00 pm

Sun At Sea --- ---

Mon Geiranger, Norway 7:00 am 3:00 pm

Hellesylt, Norway 5:00 pm 6:00 pm

Tue Alesund, Norway 8:00 am 6:00 pm

Wed Trondheim, Norway 10:00 am 8:00 pm

Thu CROSS THE ARCTIC CIRCLE --- ---

Fri Leknes, Lofoten Islands, Norway 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Sat Tromso, Norway 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Sun Hammerfest, Norway 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Mon Honningsvaag, Norway 8:00 am 7:00 pm

Tue At Sea --- ---

Wed Molde, Norway 10:00 am 6:00 pm

Thu Bergen, Norway 9:00 am 7:00 pm

Fri At Sea --- ---

Sat Copenhagen, Denmark (DISEMBARK) 8:00 am ---

 

 

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

[SarniaLo]

I would also be very excited to see the Northern Lights in summer but that is not going to happen. You need dark nights to see the Northern Lights, and summer is the time for Midnight Sun, which means no night. So no Northern Lights! You need to come back between September and Mid-April (above the Arctic Circle) for that.

[kcbmarek]

Very true and should have thought of that!

 

 

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[CruiserBruce]

Every one of those ports is covered on this board, with many threads. A little research will get you a lot of info.

 

Curious, what ship?

[Splinter]

Just some quick input on ports:

 

Tue Alesund, Norway 8:00 am 6:00 pm: This is the beautiful art nouveau city. Most of the city burned down in the early 1900s, and it was rebuild with beautiful facades and architecture. Easy to walk around from the ship, look at buildings, stop and have a beer in a cafe, etc. This is also where you can take an excursion from Alesund to drive up the famous Troll Road (Trollstigen) which is a long drive up a set up switchbacks for spectacular views. This would take up most of your day. If you are in great shape, you might try the 418 steps up to the top of Mount Aksla.

 

Wed Trondheim, Norway 10:00 am 8:00 pm: The original capital of Norway, home of the St. Olav Cathedral (the northernmost Gothic Cathedral in Norway). Also a nice walking town with picturesque buildings and lovely parks. A university town too, so it has that intellectual vibe, and a very nice Rock & Roll museum as well as another antique musical instrument museum on an old estate on the edge of town. You can also take an excursion out to the island which was once a monastery, then a prison, and used as a gun placement by the ****'s during WWII (Munkholmen).

 

Fri Leknes, Lofoten Islands, Norway 8:00 am 5:00 pm: Have not been to this port, but the Lofoten Islands are breathtaking.

 

Sat Tromso, Norway 8:00 am 5:00 pm: This is the capital of northern Norway, and the starting point for many of the famous Norwegian Arctic explorers such as Nansen and Amundsen. The famous Arctic Cathedral is here, and often concerts are available. There is a museum/aquarium right by the pier called Polaria which I was NOT impressed with...mostly a very small aquarium. Go instead to the Polar Museum (Polarmuseet, also nearby) which is excellent. Be sure to walk over to see the statue of Amundsen as well.

 

Sun Hammerfest, Norway 8:00 am 5:00 pm: You can stroll around this town in about 30 minutes and see everything. There is a pretty good little polar museum near the ship. Often this is where people take a bus trip from here to the North Cape if they want to have a nice drive along the fjords as part of their trip. You can also go from the next port instead if you prefer. On my trip there was also a very nice bird watching excursion from there to see puffins and other types of Arctic Birds, including the sea eagles common to this area.

 

Mon Honningsvaag, Norway 8:00 am 7:00 pm: a picturesque fishing village. Where most people take excursions to the North Cape by bus. Home to a famous ice bar (pretty expensive cover charge). Pretty modern buildings as the whole town was destroyed by the ****'s as they were leaving Norway at the end of WWII.

 

Tue At Sea --- ---

Wed Molde, Norway 10:00 am 6:00 pm: beautiful harbor with some unusual architecture (esp. the Rica Hotel). Famous for its gardens and roses. The best excursion here is to take the drive down the Atlantic Road (Atlanterhavsveien) which is a spectacular road and set of bridges connecting several islands to the mainland. The folk museum, Romsdalen, is also very interesting.

 

Thu Bergen, Norway 9:00 am 7:00 pm: Lots to do in Bergen. Take the funicular up Fløyen for a spectacular view (if it is clear). There is also (further out) a cable car up Mount Ulriken. The Bryggens is the old warehouse district along the port, with an old fort and castle to explore, a nice museum about medieval Bergen. Lots of little streets with shops and restaurants on this side of town. Further south there are beautiful parks and more smart shops and restaurants in the Ole Bull Plaza area. Out on the edge of town you can visit Edvard Greig's home Troldhaugen and Fantoft stavkirke. You can book day cruises up the Sognefjord here as well. Some people take the Norway-in-a-Nutshell trip from Bergen, but you may not have enough time to do that.

[TLCOhio]

DH and I are considering this cruise for summer of 2017 (yes planning ahead). Does anyone have any info on these ports and recommendations for this itinerary? Being the dates of the cruise fall over the summer solstice, DH is really excited especially if he was to see the Northern Lights.

Sat Copenhagen, Denmark (EMBARK) --- 5:00 pm

Mon Geiranger, Norway 7:00 am 3:00 pm, Hellesylt, Norway 5:00 pm 6:00 pm

Tue Alesund, Norway 8:00 am 6:00 pm

Wed Trondheim, Norway 10:00 am 8:00 pm

Fri Leknes, Lofoten Islands, Norway 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Sat Tromso, Norway 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Sun Hammerfest, Norway 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Mon Honningsvaag, Norway 8:00 am 7:00 pm

Wed Molde, Norway 10:00 am 6:00 pm

Thu Bergen, Norway 9:00 am 7:00 pm

Sat Copenhagen, Denmark (DISEMBARK) 8:00 am ---

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

 

Splinter and others have offered lots of good comments, ideas and suggestions. Yes, there is lots for these various ports on these Northern Europe boards. Just use the "Search" function to gain more details and depth.

 

As detailed below in my live/blog, there are lots of visuals and aspects for what we did in these wonderful locations. We visited and enjoyed all of the location you have listed above, except for Molde. Our cruise also departed from and returned to charming and historic Copenhagen. Love that town!! Hope you have time planned to explore and enjoy this great Danish capital. Is that your plan? Need more reasons for why Copenhagen merits the time and attention there?

 

Clearly you will not, as has been noted, see the Northern Lights during this visit. Tell us more about what you most seek, like to do, have as personal priorities, etc. How much for nature, history, culture, shopping, wildlife, etc.??

 

Below are a few of sample visuals to help build up excitement for this wonderful part of the world. KEY TIP? For an area such as Geiranger/Hellesylt, be sure to get "Up Country" and see more than just what is in the port town where the ship will tender. Lots of very good history and architecture in Trondheim, etc.

 

Super glad your cruise will have a key stop in the Lofoten Islands. Those islands are a really super-star highlight for being along the scenic Norway coast. What do you want to do at and around the North Cape?

 

A FEW BERGEN NOTES/IDEAS:

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. We explored the cobblestone streets, saw its pastel-color wooden houses, bargained in some of the many artisans' workshops and visited 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.

 

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 are highly-rated with religious icons, local art, etc.

 

In the afternoon, after some of the big crowds had lessened, we took the Floibanen funicular railway 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. The Funicular Lower Station is situated 150 meters from the Fish Market. At the top of the Mount Floyen, there are hiking trails and places for lunch or dinner. The trip takes seven minutes and both cars are on the same cable going up and down. 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 completed our voyage with its dramatic backdrop of seven rounded mountains and cobble-stoned streets. It entices you to take memories and photos cherishing the land of the Norsemen. Here is the link to this rail option:

http://www.floibanen.com

 

Their good and helpful Tourism Office can be accessed on the web at: http://www.visitbergen.com/en

 

We docked at the fairly handy Skoltegrunskaien Pier. This put us within about a 10-15 minute walk of the main attractions at the market and warehouse 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 197,406 views.

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

 

 

This is the dramatic overview of Alesund from the Aksla vantage point along the western coast of Norway. 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. The canal or waterway in the middle of the town is called "Brosundet" (or the Bridge sound). That means Ale sund (sloping sound). Or, reflecting that the sound slopes through town. This is how Alesund got its name.:

 

 

 

Here is one of our first Lofoten Islands views from a stop early in the trip as we drove south towards “Å" along the A-10 highway from Leknes. We went to the end of the road as our “adventure” in the dramatic Lofoten Islands with our rental car. We stopped in a village called “A”. In their alphabet, this “A” has a small “o” above the letter. This is a simple name for a charming fishing town with spectacular scenery. We brought along box lunches from the ship and dined on a picnic table on the wooden dock with water and sights all around us.

 

 

 

Here’s a close look at these historic Bergen Hanseatic merchant warehouse building fronts, people taking pictures, etc. Super loved the charm, character, history and beauty in Bergen.:

 

 

 

Right near the Hanseatic merchant warehouse area is the Bergen Fish Market with lots of options to buy food to eat on site or just watch, enjoying the “show” as people ask questions and buy the various fresh fish items.:

 

 

 

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.:

 

 

 

After being tendered from Geiranger, we sailed out and passed by two super famous waterfalls. YES, yes, we saw lots and lots of waterfalls on this trip, but these two were among the “best of the best”. First is the “Seven Sisters”. Directly opposite in this narrow fjord, it is called several names, including “The Suitor”. The majesty for these feats of nature is pretty amazing.: