Norwegian Fjords Independent Excursions - inclusive of wheelchairs too

[JSR]

This is part 2B of a 3 part review

Part 1 - 5 days pre cruise Rekjavik and introduction found here:

 

Part 2A - Mini review Silversea Moon 409 Wheelchair accessible Cabin found here:

Part 2B- This section Norwegian Fjords Tours Independent - this tour information is equally applicable to able bodied and wheelchair users 

Runavik, Alesund, Olden/Leon, Flam, Bergen, Stavanger, Oslo, Aalborg

 

Part 3 - 9 days Cunard Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic - link will be posted below scroll down 

 

Norwegian Fjords – Silversea Moon Reykjavik to Copenhagen Ports with photos (Part2 B)

 

We did not take any ship tours and arranged all of our own tours. We did find out later that there were one or two accessible tours available, however, we had already made our own plans. I research extensively and write companies when I find things that interest us to find out accessibility information before booking. 

 

Reykjavik -Boarding

We arrived at the pier for boarding. There were young people around to swope up our luggage from the taxi. We went through several check points for covid tests before boarding. It was high tide and we had to ascend an incredibly steep staircase. Reykjavik port has no ramps or other means of ingress. I watched as able bodied people struggle going up the stairs and was less than happy. Long story short 4 waiters managed to get me up there. Usually, security are the ones that are trained to help people in wheelchairs so this was stressful. Luckily that was the last time we have to do that or deal with stress. 

 

Day 1 – At Sea. These were the roughest seas I had ever encountered as was the case for most people and staff on the ship. It was a major storm. I got very seasick (a new experience for me) and ended up having a shot from the medical staff. I tried the oral Dramamine, but I threw it up. I slept for 14 hours and I was never sick again. The Capitan canceled formal night as next to no one was leaving their cabins. They battened down the hatches. 

 

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by JSR
Forgot link

[JSR]

Runavik, Faeroe Islands 8 am -6 pm (11pm)

This was a surprisingly wonderful experience. We walked to town though later found out that had we wanted the tourist van would have picked us up at the exit gate had we wanted. As we walked to town there were people with signs pointing this way to town. Once there we went to a central building where we took a wheelchair accessible large tourist van for a complimentary tour of the area. We had a delightful guide and made several stops. When we came back to town we saw local dancers, which was fun and then headed to the park area for a walk. It was less accessible than I hoped. There was more gravel than I expected. It was manageable with help, and we saw a lot of wildlife. All and all a very pleasant day. The captain changed our departure time to 11 pm so we could have a formal night without the ship moving as we were still headed into the storm. 
Sorry about the sideways images. Can’t figure out how to fix. 

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by JSR

[JSR]

Alesund, Norway 8 am – 6 pm

We pre-arranged a 2 hour walking tour with Uniktur https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g190504-d14902052-Amazing_city_walk_in_Alesund-Alesund_More_og_Romsdal_Western_Norway.html

We met at the City Hall rolling distances from the ship. Going under the road was a bit steep so having a second set of hands was helpful. It was pouring rain while we waited for the tour to start as we were early, but we had long adopted the Scandinavian saying: There is no bad weather, just bad clothes. We were dressed well. The rain would dissipate as the tour went on. There were 6 of us on the tour, 4 from the Carnival ship that was also in port. Everyone was lovely and we had a good guide who was funny and informative. Alesund is a charming town with lots of wonderful Art Nouveau architecture and history. The tour was wonderful, and the guide made sure I could manage the route with one exception. We went up a very steep hill to see a church and then turned around and came back down. I would not have bothered as going up was arduous and coming down was treacherous requiring help from multiple people. 

After the tour we had fish and chips at an outdoor stand, they were excellent, and I do not usually eat any fried food. The cod was so fresh. We then walked around the town heading back to a fishing store my husband had seen. He bought a model ship which we had shipped home from the Silver Moon. We then went for coffee and to warm up inside an urban shopping mall. After that we walked around a bit more and returned to the ship.

There is also a boat tour which is a wheelchair accessible to Geiringer Fjord however, it was not running when we were there due to a service call. booking@geirangerfjord.no I also believe there is a hop on hop off bus option which we did not do either. 

 

[JSR]

Olden/Leon 8 am – 6 pm

We tendered in this port, and we were in Leon. Silversea is very service oriented and wants everyone to have the same experience so as long as the captain deems it safe the security crew is trained and easily lifts me in my chair on and off the tenders. This is true of all RCI cruise lines and ships. Not so of all other lines. Olden has a dock, however since we were the little ship in port, we were at anchor a short distance from Leon. Again it was raining and cold so we decided to keep it simple and do the tram. We rolled to tram which was a short distance, bought our tickets in the gift shop, took the elevator upstairs, and queued up for our turn to go up on the tram. There were interior places for warming up, alternate routes with ramps etc. and we found the whole experience accessible and fun. The tram is very steep incline and the views magnificent. It was rainy and foggy, and we might have had a bit better weather if we had gone in the afternoon, but these things are unpredictable. We bought some gloves and a jigsaw puzzle in the gift shop. We grabbed a fur blanket for me for sitting outside at one point which they have available for use. You can stay up as long as you like and when you are ready to go you just queue up for the return tram. We had warm showers and a late lunch. For sail away we went to the observation lounge and enjoyed the amazing vistas in the Fjor

[JSR]

Flam We got off the ship and it was sunny! This was another tender port. It is a noticeably short tender, and you dock right near the train station. We walked around the main town which is a manufactured tourist town with shops, drinks, and the railway station. MSC was having a staff picnic in the green space around the little town which looked like a lot of fun. We ventured out and rolled around the residential part of town some. It was lovely nestled in the mountains. We had prebooked and paid for our train tickets online in order to make sure we had wheelchair accessible space. https://www.norwaysbest.com/the-flam-railway/round-trip-with-the-flam-railway/

We had to go into the station to get our tickets which also has an extensive gift shop. The ship offered this trip, but it had a stop for hot drinks and that stop was not accessible. Probably could have worked something out with the ship to provide the train fair included but we had already prepaid and booked the accessible seating as each train can only accommodate 2 wheelchairs at a time. The ride was long and the views spectacular. We got in line to board a little early. A train employee can and got us. The staff put a ramp down and we rolled into the train car. We wanted to sit on the right and were able to as there was only one wheelchair. We did a round trip and did not get off at the top as it was complicated with the wheelchair. There are options to take a bus and boat back or bike, or hike if one chooses though these options were not wheelchair accessible. Afterwards we returned to the ship. Again, we placed ourselves on the observation deck for cocktails and panoramic views or our ride through the fjords. Do not miss this.

 

[JSR]

Stavanger There were two ships in port us, and MSC. We rolled in the rain to the boat dock which was a bit of ways but easy to find as none of these cities are that big. We did a boat tour into the Fjords. Fjord Tours Lysefjorden & Preikestolen Fjordcruise https://www.fjordtours.com/things-to-do-in-norway/fjord-cruises/fjordcruise-lysefjord-pulpit-rock/

After booking I wrote the company to alert them that what my booking number was, the date, and time of the tour booking@fjordtours.com

We learned that we could have gotten this tour included with our cruise, however, the land based special needs for Silversea said we could not. Boarding was first come, first serve so we queued up early to have the best options for viewing. We joined another family upfront and met lots of nice people from the MSC cruise. The views were exceptional. The toilet was accessible though I did not use it. Lovely cruise with great views, and good narrative. Snacks available for purchase.

After the cruise we rolled in the pouring rain to the Petroleum Museum which was interesting and presented both the pros and cons of petroleum use. Modern and accessible. https://www.norskolje.museum.no/en/

 

[JSR]

Bergen We booked a walking tour here. https://www.martinsbergentours.com/tours-in-english/city-walking-tour-2022/

We walked to meeting local which was the other side of the water from where we docked. Took a bit of time in the rain and we did encounter some coble stones. The tour took us all over Bergen, we learned about history, the modern side, and the Hanseatic League. We covered a lot of ground and despite the rain we enjoyed learning about both modern Bergen and its history. There were a few tricky places with the wheelchair so it was nice to have help to push through some of the older sections. Accessibility was not taken into consideration. I liked this tour, and my husband found the guide knowledge of history and informative. Afterwards, It was pouring rain, so we decided to walk around a little on our way back to the ship. 

[JSR]

Oslo We arrived on the first day at 5:00 pm. We got organized and headed out for a walk, dinner, and a show.  First we scoped out where we would go to catch the ferry the next day to the museum area. We looked at some various classic boats docked in the harbor. Some quite old and on display. We walked around the lake taking in the floating saunas which can be rented. Took in the high energy urban vide around the lake area and viewed the opera house from a distance. We then found a restaurant for dinner which took some convincing to let us eat outside as they were fully reserved. I would highly recommend making dinner reservations in advance if you want a nice restaurant within walking distance. We ate at Brasserie Rivoli. https://www.rivoli.no/

We had tickets for a ballet performance on the roof of the Opera house at 9:30 pm. We had wanted to see a performance of Carmen in the main opera house however, it only performed at the matinee and our ship arrived too late. At the last minute I spotted a notice of the ballet piece on the roof and were able to get 2 tickets online by emailing as the app showed sold out. We went early to figure out how I would get to the roof since the outside ramps/walkways were too steep. In the process we met a young man at the gift shop that took us on an impromptu tour of the Main stage area which we would not have seen otherwise. He explained there were no public elevators however, when it was close to performance time a guard would escort us backstage and we would take the elevator used to move scenery. When the time came we were joined by another fellow using crutches. It was a long walk through various backstage areas which were interesting to the elevator. We were clearly the only tourists at this performance. We were lucky to observe the arts community audience. The piece was a unique blend of climate change and Midsummer Night’s Dream. The choreography was modern and the movements classical ballet. A wonderful memorable experience. After the performance the guard reversed the process. We then headed back to the ship which was a bit of a trek but we enjoyed it. 

 

The next morning was Father’s Day so the day would be spent on a maritime museum theme. We headed left from where we were docked. We walked along the various piers checking out the different period ships we missed the day before. We bought our tickets for the ferry. We boarded the ferry via ramp and off we went. We disembarked at the stop where the maritime museum was. We bought passes for all 3 museums and headed into the maritime museum. 

https://www.rivoli.no/

There are ramps to all parts of the museum. Some are steep and they will help you up and down if you need it. There are plenty of nice outdoor spaces also, if you want a museum break and a café with outdoor seating. 

My husband explored the second building of this museum while I enjoyed sitting in the sun. We then headed over to the Fram museum. https://frammuseum.no/

The very cool polar explorer boat inside that can be boarded and explored. I found one ramp I went down very steep and needed the assistance of a young man to exit it but so worth it. Loved this exhibit. After exploring the museum we headed over to the Kon- Tiki Museum. https://www.kon-tiki.no/

This museum was smaller than the other two but a lot of fun. We enjoyed exploring the Kon-Tiki though one does not board it. 

We then rolled around the green space a little while we waited for the return ferry. 

[JSR]

Aalborg This day was the true highlight of an amazing trip. We booked a private Street Art Tour with Kenneth Pinsker. Prior to the tour I asked Kenneth for a recommendation for where to have lunch. He told us we needed to have a traditional Danish Smorrebord meal. He gave a list of 3 choices within rolling distance of the ship. Hos Henius, or Den Bette Kro or Mortens Kro. We chose Den Bette Kro. The waiter helped bump my chair down a couple of stairs. Glad we got there just in time because the restaurant went from empty to full in the blink of an eye. Smorrebrod’s are open face sandwiches. It was wonderful and the atmosphere was great. It was bustling as there were families there celebrating graduations. 

We then returned to the ship, used the bathroom, reorganized our clothes and headed out to meet Kenneth. We invited a young couple we met on the ship to join us and we were all going to meet in the square. It started raining on the way. I have no idea how Kenneth knew which street we would take to the square to meet but there he was overing us umbrellas and helping push me. I needed the exercise after our lunch and we headed off to meet the other couple. The tour was amazing. Kenneth’s knowledge of the city was enthralling. He shared the recent history of the evolution of Aalborg from a seedy port town riddled with violence, drugs, trafficking to a safe city filled with college students and amazing art. The street art is produced by international artists who are invited to paint the sides of buildings. When the two galleries started the project, it took a lot to convince building owners to let their exteriors be painted by artists, now there are long waits to have a building accepted and artists come from all over the world to showcase their work. Kenneth was able to make the art come alive by telling us stories about each piece, the style, the materials used, the artist and the history. We saw at least 40 or more of the 80 pieces in Aalborg. Kenneth is also very knowledgeable about WWII history and shared stories from both the perspective of collaboration and resistance. He was very funny as well and a wonderful guide. Patient too with us running into another shipmate who joined in too. I want to go back to Aalborg and spend a day with Kenneth. Do not miss the opportunity if you are there. 

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g189529-d12127801-Reviews-or10-Aalborg_Tours-Aalborg_North_Jutland_Jutland.html

This walking tour was the best ever! If you do nothing else take a tour with Kenneth. Mention Jean on wheels sent you. I like him so much I want him to know I am thinking of him. 

 

 

[JSR]

That concluded the Porte. Next up QM2, Hamburg, Southampton, Arriving in NYC. I will post the link soon. 

[JSR]

Here is the pre cruise Reykjavik the above link is incorrect. 

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by JSR

[kitkat343]

Norway is so special!  I was there with a child in a stroller and noticed how well it was designed for people with disabilities.  I'm so glad you had such a wonderful cruise, and also that you took the time to help other travelers with disabilities.  

 

I did want to note that we docked (not tendered) at both Flam and Olden so depending on the number of ships in port that might be an option.

 

Also, we were initially denied a tender ticket in Geiranger by Cunard, who insisted that our 2 year old needed to pass as step test independently to tender.  We offered to carry him (because there was no way we'd let him climb into the tender by himself, but the people in charge of the tender test weren't aware that Cunard's rules allow parents to carry children in the step test.) After an hour, the front desk finally issued our family a tender ticket, and the Cunard employees picked up our 2 year old and carried him over just like they did on Princess, where there is no step test for tender.  I would assume based on our experience that people with disabilities might have difficulties on a Cunard tender.

[JSR]

Yes, I only sail with Cunard for transatlantics as there are no tenders or ports for that matter. 

[mlbcruiser]

Thank you, JSR, for creating this very informative thread.

 

We are thinking of doing a cruise to Norway in a few months. Although my husband can walk pretty well, and generally a fairly good distance, he had a stroke over seven years ago that compromised his right leg and arm.

He can walk on his own, often for some distance, and he can even climb a flight of stairs. Very uneven terrain, and hills cause problems, however. And physically, some days are better than others. 

 

A couple of years ago I got him a folding travel scooter that weighs about 50 pounds. It is the size of a medium rolling suitcase when it is folded up. Although he probably will not always take it off the ship, there will be times when it could be very handy, I am sure. However, I am worried about the amount of rain and how likely it would be to get caught in a downpour. That definitely would not be very good for the scooter and could really damage it. I know weather changes constantly and no one can predict exactly what it will be. Do you think it’s quite likely that the rain will often be heavy or does it more often tend to be light drizzle, often just damp and misty, or are heavy rains and downpours, quite common on most days from what you have experienced? 
 

I’d appreciate hearing anything you have to say 

regarding  the weather and rain,  and whether or not you felt it impacted your experience negatively. Thanks again for the good information you are providing for so many! 
 

[JSR]

On 2/15/2023 at 8:58 PM, mlbcruiser said:

Thank you, JSR, for creating this very informative thread.

 

We are thinking of doing a cruise to Norway in a few months. Although my husband can walk pretty well, and generally a fairly good distance, he had a stroke over seven years ago that compromised his right leg and arm.

He can walk on his own, often for some distance, and he can even climb a flight of stairs. Very uneven terrain, and hills cause problems, however. And physically, some days are better than others. 

 

A couple of years ago I got him a folding travel scooter that weighs about 50 pounds. It is the size of a medium rolling suitcase when it is folded up. Although he probably will not always take it off the ship, there will be times when it could be very handy, I am sure. However, I am worried about the amount of rain and how likely it would be to get caught in a downpour. That definitely would not be very good for the scooter and could really damage it. I know weather changes constantly and no one can predict exactly what it will be. Do you think it’s quite likely that the rain will often be heavy or does it more often tend to be light drizzle, often just damp and misty, or are heavy rains and downpours, quite common on most days from what you have experienced? 
 

I’d appreciate hearing anything you have to say 

regarding  the weather and rain,  and whether or not you felt it impacted your experience negatively. Thanks again for the good information you are providing for so many! 
 

The weather is so hard to predict. Using a manual chair I can sometimes hydroplane on wet surfaces. For he most part it only rained really hard once in Iceland and in Bergen but it did not last all day. Other places it rained medium and light on and off all day. Other places it was sunny and clear. We were there during a major storm front that followed us from the East on our journey so you never know. I would think you could make some sort of plastic rain poncho for the parts of the scooter you were concerned about and then wipe it down when you got back to the cabin but that is just a thought as I have no first hand experience. I do know that rain pants are a most when seated because water pools in your lap quickly. A poncho is also useful. No bad weather, just bad clothes was our mantra. 

[mlbcruiser]

Thanks so much for the information, JSR. (I was a bit late in reading your reply it as we were gone for almost 3 weeks on a cruise and visiting my brother. I pretty much stayed off of the net most of that time.)  

 

Great suggestion about trying to cover parts of the scooter, but I fear it would be quite a feat  as there electrical parts in the steering column, dash, and floor of the scooter. I thought of bringing a very large garbage bag, and if it starts to rain heavily, folding up the scooter and putting the garbage bag over the top, then trying to get to cover. DH isn’t the type that likes to prepare for any situation. I am the opposite. You’re always unexpected things that arise when traveling and so much boils down to attitude when things aren’t going just right. Glad you enjoyed your trip in the rain didn’t really hinder you or your enjoyment.

 

once again, thank you for all of the information you have gone to the trouble to put on here to help the rest of us.

[JSR]

@mlbcruiserhave you considered discussing the rain issue with the manufacturer about the scooters limits in terms of water and what they suggest? 
 

hooe you had a lovely time on your cruise and visit. 

[mlbcruiser]

Yes I have. I definitely will before deciding to book the cruise. I am certain that anything that is the slightest bit complicated or isn’t super easy, DH will veto! Even getting him to wear rain pants will be next to impossible. Maybe he will just have to use a cane and get drenched or stay on the ship when I venture off. Sound mean, don’t I? I guess the amount of trouble a person is willing to go to is often connected to how badly they want to do something. Thanks for the advice.

[JSR]

Couldn’t agree more! I am super motivated in new places. I noticed the last few times we were in the Caribbean I did a lot of go ahead honey, I’ll be comfortable her on the ship whenever you get back. 
 

A rain poncho is easy and small to throw in a bag. He can use it or not. But by all means go for it! It is beautiful. Some of the vistas while sailing  in and out of the fjords are worth the journey. You can also do the ship bus tours and he can get off the bus or not. Seems you have a plan to March to your own drummer if need be. Have fun whatever you decide. 

[mlbcruiser]

Thanks. I’m sure it’s beautiful.