Hi my lovely readers!

Norway is a special country. Some might even argue it is the most beautiful country in the world and taking a cruise through the fjords is the best way to explore Norway for so many reasons.

Its landscape is stunning, pure and ever changing. Locals are super friendly and the food is delicious and mostly sourced close to home, which makes it sustainable and super fresh.

We all love the scandic style and the feeling of hygge that Norway is famous for. The feeling of coziness, comfort and contentment.

What is not to love?

Apart from getting close to the fjords and being able to take in the breathtaking and remarkable views, there are plenty of good reasons why exploring Norway by cruise might be the ideal way to see and experience the country.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Most people associate Norway with the Northern Lights. Norway is located close to the Arctic circle and as a result the chances of spotting the Northern Lights is high. They can best be observed from October to March.

During a cruise you will have unobstructed views of the lights from the ship, at least with Hurtigruten. You can go to the upper deck and be under the sky directly.

This is such an advantage compared to being on land and having buildings and even lights from houses impacting the visibility and view.

POLAR NIGHTS

Another interesting experience is linked to the Polar Nights, the nights that promise total darkness. During the winter months, villages and towns close to the Arctic circle and further up North are engulfed in total darkness, when the sun basically does not rise over the horizon for more than 24 hours.

A cruise takes you easily and without any effort from the South such as Bergen to the North where you are able to experience this phenomenon.

MIDNIGHT SUN

On the one hand we have the Polar Nights of total darkness, but on the other hand we have the Midnight Sun, the time of more than 24 hours day light.

This phenomenon can be experienced between late April and late August and can again be observed in villages and towns close to the Arctic circle and in the northern places.

Can you imagine being in a place where the sun does not set or rise? Either scenarios are definitely interesting and extraordinary and can be easily admired from a cruise ship.

BEAUTIFUL SCENARY

As already hinted in my introduction, Norway offers stunning scenery throughout the year. It does not matter what time of the year you travel, it is always beautiful.

The landscapes, glaciers, mountains, wildlife, waterfalls and of course fjords are a masterpiece of nature and there are not many landscapes and countries that can compete with those in one spot.

A cruise allows you to see those places easily as they become accessible. By adding shore excursions you can enhance your holiday experience and see even more of Norway.

LOCAL FOOD

Of course Norway is famous for its fish based cuisine and I must say it is excellent. I am not a fish eater at all, but I tried a few fish dishes on board the cruise ship and as part of a shore excursion and they were all delicious.

Other delicacies include game such as reindeer and moose, of course stock fish, stews, bakery and cheese such as the sweet and caramelised brown cheese.

As the majority of villages and towns are rather small, it is easy to find a food outlet or cafe and give the Norwegian cuisine a go when you visit different ports. Often cruise lines will also offer some dishes on board that correspond to the region they sail in, which allows you to get a taste of the country.

MEETING FRIENDLY LOCALS

Norwegians are very open and friendly people, they are proud of their country and happy to share their knowledge of sights and so on with visitors. Almost all Norwegians speak English, which makes communication much easier.

Go and speak to locals when you visit all the different ports.

BEST WAY TO GET TO SMALLER VILLAGES

Travelling the country by car might take you some time and often tourists will only visit the bigger and more known cities such as Alesund, Oslo, Tromso and so on.

By cruise, you will be able to visit smaller villages and communities that you will not normally visit or even think about. You get to see the real Norway and not just the touristy cities.

BEST WAY TO SEE THE FJORDS

Exploring Norway by cruise gives you an excellent opportunity to admire the landscape from a different angle and perspective.

You actually will be able to go through the fjords, you get closer to them and you will be able to appreciate them more than viewing them from land. You will feel as if you are part of the landscape.

GOOD TRAVEL OPTION FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE

It is difficult or at least more challenging for handicapped people to travel to certain countries and destinations. They are often restricted in what they can see and experience.

People who are bound to wheelchairs cannot always get of and on the ship in certain ports and miss out when an attraction is located far away from the port and inland.

However, with Norway this does not necessarily apply as the scenery is often what draws people to visit Norway, that is the main attraction of the country. This can be admired easily from the comfort of the ship and the “floating hotel” allows you to see more and get you to more places.

COSTEFFECTIVE WAY TO SEE NORWAY

Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world. It certainly is the most expensive country I ever visited. I paid around £9,00 for a sandwich. A sandwich! That did not include a drink or anything else, it was really just a sandwich and it was not even a special one.

So yeah, Norway is expensive and a cruise is an economical way compared to booking flights, hotels, paying for food and drinks, sightseeing and so on to see Norway.

SEEING A LOT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME

Cruising is the best way to see a lot in a short period of time. No other form of travel/holiday allows you to explore a new port/city almost every day.

The scenery changes contentiously, especially in Norway. The Northern landscape and vegetation is different from the Southern and a cruise through the fjords allows you to be in one port one day and be at a different one the next day.

RELAXING WAY TO TRAVEL

As most villages and towns are spread throughout the country, it can be difficult to reach them easily. You might have to book an internal flight or rent a car and drive for hours.

In the winter, it might actually be impossible to reach certain towns and villages up North due to the weather conditions.

Therefore, travelling by cruise is stress free and absolutely relaxing. All you have to do is sit back, relax and watch outside to take in the views. You do not have to worry about how to get from A to B, the captain will take care of that for you and you take your “floating hotel” with you.

PHOTOGRAPHERS PARADISE

Norway is a photographer’s paradise. It is so visual, there is so much to see and picture opportunities are endless.

Cruises get you easily to the majority of ,as the kids nowadays say, insta photo spots. And of course a cruise ship is always a nice motif in a picture in itself.

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Would you want to take a cruise to Norway through the fjords?