gteach Posted September 15, 2022 #1 Share Posted September 15, 2022 I am on Iona to Norway for my first ever cruise. We bought on select fare and have already booked our excursions (2). How do I make sure I make the most out of it?! How much planning and booking shall I do before? Any top tips for making sure we don’t get stuck in queues/buying items on board. What to pack and how much? Suggested items to bring onboard? Top tips for general first time cruisers? TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCFC Posted September 15, 2022 #2 Share Posted September 15, 2022 When are you sailing will help with what to pack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy v Posted September 15, 2022 #3 Share Posted September 15, 2022 Lots of planning! Research every port so you know what you want to see when you are there. Also use the excursion guide to check the places they are visiting to find things you may want to do independently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gteach Posted September 15, 2022 Author #4 Share Posted September 15, 2022 23 minutes ago, CCFC said: When are you sailing will help with what to pack Mid August Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technoman2 Posted September 15, 2022 #5 Share Posted September 15, 2022 1 hour ago, gteach said: Mid August We went in August and the first port was Bergen and it rained all day heavily . In Stavanger we stopped for a coffee at a harbourside cafe very nice but the coffee was served out of a flask, no milk, no sugar no spoons and cost 9 Euros each, we got up and left when they did not return with milk or sugar and had a Costa on the ship. Take a mixture of clothes for warm, cold and wet and brollies. The fjords are lovely but do take plenty of euros or take bottles of water and snacks off the ship if on a tight budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLad60 Posted September 16, 2022 #6 Share Posted September 16, 2022 13 hours ago, Technoman2 said: We went in August and the first port was Bergen and it rained all day heavily . In Stavanger we stopped for a coffee at a harbourside cafe very nice but the coffee was served out of a flask, no milk, no sugar no spoons and cost 9 Euros each, we got up and left when they did not return with milk or sugar and had a Costa on the ship. Take a mixture of clothes for warm, cold and wet and brollies. The fjords are lovely but do take plenty of euros or take bottles of water and snacks off the ship if on a tight budget. First time in Bergen for us was back in 2015, and it was an overnighter. It was raining when we arrived and raining when we departed, and if it did stop at any time in between I must have blinked and missed it. We went ashore in the evening with another couple. Despite having been warned by many people about Norwegian prices, we decided to go for a drink. Two half litres of a locally brewed beer and two shots of a local brandy based liqueur came to the equivalent of just over £40 - and as I said, that was seven years ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thejuggler Posted September 16, 2022 #7 Share Posted September 16, 2022 13 hours ago, Technoman2 said: We went in August and the first port was Bergen and it rained all day heavily . In Stavanger we stopped for a coffee at a harbourside cafe very nice but the coffee was served out of a flask, no milk, no sugar no spoons and cost 9 Euros each, we got up and left when they did not return with milk or sugar and had a Costa on the ship. Take a mixture of clothes for warm, cold and wet and brollies. The fjords are lovely but do take plenty of euros or take bottles of water and snacks off the ship if on a tight budget. Norway uses the Krone, so no need to pay for anything in Euros. The country is now largely cashless so have a fee and foreign exchange free credit/debit card to use. It is expensive, but on a cruise there is no need to spend anything ashore. If you do buy gifts, clothing etc don't forget to claim the VAT back. By all means plan, but always have an alternative in case its throwing it down (which it can do a lot). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fionboard Posted September 16, 2022 #8 Share Posted September 16, 2022 Don't stress about it. Just have a great time and learn the ropes as you go. Plenty of info on here (and other forums) to pick up tips. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technoman2 Posted September 16, 2022 #9 Share Posted September 16, 2022 1 hour ago, LondonLad60 said: First time in Bergen for us was back in 2015, and it was an overnighter. It was raining when we arrived and raining when we departed, and if it did stop at any time in between I must have blinked and missed it. We went ashore in the evening with another couple. Despite having been warned by many people about Norwegian prices, we decided to go for a drink. Two half litres of a locally brewed beer and two shots of a local brandy based liqueur came to the equivalent of just over £40 - and as I said, that was seven years ago... Even Dick Turpin had the good grace to wear a mask.🙂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbtablet Posted September 16, 2022 #10 Share Posted September 16, 2022 4 hours ago, LondonLad60 said: First time in Bergen for us was back in 2015, and it was an overnighter. It was raining when we arrived and raining when we departed, and if it did stop at any time in between I must have blinked and missed it. Annual rainfall in Bergen is 98 inches. If it isn't raining when you are there, ask for your money back. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplesea Posted September 16, 2022 #11 Share Posted September 16, 2022 12 minutes ago, bbtablet said: Annual rainfall in Bergen is 98 inches. If it isn't raining when you are there, ask for your money back. I have been to Bergen on three different occasions and it didn't rain when we were there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLad60 Posted September 16, 2022 #12 Share Posted September 16, 2022 32 minutes ago, purplesea said: I have been to Bergen on three different occasions and it didn't rain when we were there! Was it snowing instead? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplesea Posted September 16, 2022 #13 Share Posted September 16, 2022 2 minutes ago, LondonLad60 said: Was it snowing instead? No, believe it or not it was sunny. The first time we went it was 23C and warmer than Southampton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denarius Posted September 16, 2022 #14 Share Posted September 16, 2022 2 hours ago, bbtablet said: Annual rainfall in Bergen is 98 inches. If it isn't raining when you are there, ask for your money back. If you do not have them already, invest in a lightweight waterproof jacket and overtrousers. And make sure you take some rain resistant shoes. Then if it rains you can get off the ship and explore without returning like a drowned rat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Anarchy Posted September 16, 2022 #15 Share Posted September 16, 2022 4 hours ago, purplesea said: I have been to Bergen on three different occasions and it didn't rain when we were there! Same here. Bright sunshine each time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisemeister2002 Posted September 18, 2022 #16 Share Posted September 18, 2022 I think when you take your first cruise it's like being a kid in a sweet shop. As the saying goes "You always remember your first time " although I not convinced that related to cruising. But the general idea is spot on. Not many will I suggest not cruise again. Usually you are hooked. I have friends who I tried persuading to try a cruise but many don't realise how big cruise ships are and although people do suffer sea sickness it's really not that bad. We went through a force twelve going to the USA a few years ago and although there were a few tables in the MDR that were empty I didn't consider it that bad. Next cruise we go on will be our 17th and from our first back in 2002 when we were cruise virgins you discover either by default or through fellow passengers what suits you best. How you book, when you book, whether you book excursions through the cruise line or do your own thing. In a lot of cases it's safer to go the through the cruise line as a) For your own safety, B) because if you are late the ship won't wait. If you do your own thing as we did in New York plan your days carefully. Go further out on the first day (That is if you have more than one day in Port) and less far on the second day or on an excursion by the cruise line. We did the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ourselves and it saved 50% of what it would cost via the cruise line excursion and we could stay as long as we wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepingcat Posted September 19, 2022 #17 Share Posted September 19, 2022 On 9/15/2022 at 7:07 PM, gteach said: What to pack and how much? Suggested items to bring onboard? Top tips for general first time cruisers? hello gteach, I am sure you will love it. we took our first cruise (to the Caribbean) in 2012 and I loved it so much that I cried when the ship docked back in Southampton. Packing items apart from the usual: a torch useful for emergencies, and for visiting the bathroom at night; one of those pound shop circular washing driers with the pegs attached to hang up in the bathroom, and something to wash out a few clothes as you go along. I take seasick tablets and wear those wrist bands which appear to help. for Norway, yes, it does rain a lot so agree with advice above. Binoculars good as so much of time in Norway you are on the ship looking at the scenery as it goes by. in Bergen you could easily make your own day out, lovely to wander round, and the town mountain you can ride up and walk back down; I was there for work a while ago and so on my own and had a good day just wandering. For us one of the pleasures of cruising is that you don't need to plan so much, you can just get off the ship and see what there is (and in unlikely event the place is a dump you just get back on board and enjoy the ship). but prior homework on each port means you can have a target place to visit (museum, beach, cable car, whatever) and pay local rates to do it. We usually try and find the tourist info as their maps are usually more useful than the one provided by the ship (and they make nice souvenirs for after). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FangedRose Posted September 20, 2022 #18 Share Posted September 20, 2022 Just be aware that for a myriad of reasons you not get to the places you expected/hoped/planned to. You may end up somewhere better! Is is a fact of cruise holidays, don't pin your holiday around getting to seeing a particular place, and go with the flow and you'll enjoy it a lot more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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