What is the best month for cruising Norwegian fjords?

[skipperismydog]

I am planning a 14 day Princess Cruise of Norwegian fjords in June 12 or August 21, 2021. It is round trip from Southampton, going up to the Arctic Circle. I am wondering which date would have best weather. Would love to hear feed back from others who have done similar cruises. Of course the weather is unpredictable. 

[capriccio]

We did the "Land of Midnight Sun" cruise on the Sapphire Princess last June over the summer solstice (June 21).  We were above the Arctic Circle for 4 days and the sun never set!  The weather was excellent; we had only one day (out of 14) with steady rain and that was more of a steady drizzle (it didn't stop us from renting e-bikes in Tromso).  In other ports we had long sleeve or light fleece jacket weather.  At the North Cape (furthest northern point in Europe) it was cold and windy but we were only there for an hour or so (long enough to take in the view and the visitors center).  It was one of our favorite cruises.

[hallasm]

I’ll recommend a June rather than August - more snow on the mountains in June - depending on how fat North also possible more nights with Midnight Sun - which ports and dates within Arctic Circle?

[CruiserBruce]

Agree on June or August. More daylight, generally better weather, but weather is not that predictable.

[Kate P.C]

June, July and August are good months to visit the north. But, you can never be sure of the weather, since mother nature is always surprising us. Even more so in the past decade.

[paul929207]

1. I would vote fr June. But remember, weather is never guaranteed. 

[MCC retired]

June = Longer Daylight .

[VMax1700]

June without a doubt.  Sailing on June 12th you would be as far north on the longest day (summer solstice) and the sunshine at midnight is amazing.

[evandbob]

We booked our Norway Fjords cruise for this mid June, right over the summer solstice, should have great viewing late at "night" during the longest days of the year.  Will probably lack sleep and have about no chance of seeing an aurora at this time though.

 

BTW, did you hear about the bomb cyclone that hit Iceland last week?  Yikes!!

 

https://watchers.news/2019/12/12/bomb-cyclone-spawns-severe-blizzard-in-iceland-on-course-to-hit-britain/

 

https://grapevine.is/news/2019/12/13/icelandic-farmer-bravely-saves-horses-from-freezing-after-the-storm/

 

https://grapevine.is/news/2019/12/13/icelandic-farmer-bravely-saves-horses-from-freezing-after-the-storm/

Edited December 15, 2019 by evandbob

[kaisatsu]

High season ends in mid-August, so a sailing that starts in late August is definitely shoulder season. It may see less crowds, but also faces the beginning of seasonal closures and the summer tourism industry has started drawing to a close.

 

Since the crowds that come from the cruise ships typically overwhelm the smaller ports anyway, I don't think there's a tremendous advantage to traveling shoulder season on a Norway cruise, so my vote also goes to June. You don't have to worry about seasonal closures, and the possibility of seeing the midnight sun is a unique advantage. If you have a clear night, it's well worth staying up until midnight to watch the sun dip and start back up without setting. And being on a cruise, the view over the sea gives you a clear sight line to the horizon.

 

Weather-wise, there's not a significant difference. They're about the same on average, so yearly variations will have a much bigger impact on the weather than monthly climate. Some years I've seen August be much cooler, and some years I've seen it be much warmer. And rain is to be expected and prepared for any time you're visiting the Norwegian coast! There's a very real reason that Norwegians say "There's no such thing as bad weather; only bad clothing."

[cruising in mn]

We are actually going in May. Wondering if you can see northern lights then?

[capriccio]

1 hour ago, cruising in mn said:

We are actually going in May. Wondering if you can see northern lights then?

 

Doubtful since May is late spring and the northern lights are a mostly late fall and winter phenomenon. 

[hallasm]

7 hours ago, cruising in mn said:

We are actually going in May. Wondering if you can see northern lights then?

Really not much chance to be able to see Northern lights in May. There might be solar activity but the sun barely sets in northern parts of Norway, so it never really gets dark enough to see the light.

 

For northern Norway the best time for Northern Lights is between late September and early April.

[just_dont]

June will have much better waterfalls in the fjords with the snow still melting.
Definitely June.

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