Cruise from England to the Norwegian Fjords
A cruise to Norway is a very successful and highly comfortable combination of a pampering mode of transportation and a breathtaking destination tour featuring wild nature of long fjords, towering mountains, countless lakes, rivers, and waterfalls alongside large cities and charming towns.
Most ports are located in the centers of cities or towns, and many tourist sites can be reached within a short walk without the need for taxis or shuttles. Most of the time you sail in quiet, mirror-smooth waters. Most of the time you will feel as if you are inside a postcard. This is an ideal cruise for nature and landscape enthusiasts.
Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world. The prices of accommodation, food, and fuel are skyrocketing. The cruise eliminates the need to rent a car, drive many kilometers on narrow and winding roads, and search for hotels and restaurants in every destination. The ship provides you with accommodation and exquisite food, and brings you to attractive destinations while cruising through long and beautiful fjords in maximum comfort. In each destination, you can go on independent tours on foot, by rental car, boat, or bicycle, or on tours organized by the ship.
The main departure ports are: Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Kiel in Germany, and the ports of Southampton, Harwich, and Dover in England.
Below is a description of a 10-day cruise on the Celebrity Infinity ship to seven destinations in Norway, departing (and returning) from England. The Celebrity Infinity ship is about 90,000 tons, designed for about 2,500 passengers, and was built in 2001.
You can of course combine a trip of several days in England before or after the cruise; it is especially recommended to combine a trip to London for a few days and enjoy the many attractions it has to offer.
Recommended hotels in London:
Cheval Three Quays at The Tower of London
A 5-star apartment hotel located near the Tower of London, overlooking the River Thames. The hotel offers modern and well-equipped apartments.
Knightsbridge Hotel
A luxurious 5-star hotel on a quiet street yet in a central location near Hyde Park and London's upscale shopping streets.
Apex City Of London Hotel
A modern 4-star hotel near Tower Bridge with rooms suitable for 2-4 guests, including family rooms.
Premier Inn London St.Pancras
A large hotel with 266 rooms rated 3 stars in a convenient location, close to Kings Cross railway station, belonging to the Premier Inn chain. The hotel also offers family rooms for four guests.
Park Lane Apartments/Shaw House
A luxury apartment hotel in the heart of Mayfair, located near Hyde Park and Oxford Street. The hotel has 10 apartments in a variety of sizes starting from one bedroom and a living room up to four bedrooms designed for up to 9 guests. The upscale apartments include a fully equipped modern kitchen with a microwave, dishwasher, and washing machine.
Information about Celebrity Cruises
This is the youngest company among the major lines. It was founded in 1989 by a Greek company and acquired in 1997 by Royal Caribbean.
Celebrity is known for its excellent meals and professional service provided to its passengers. Its ships are considered particularly elegant and feature comfortable and spacious cabins above the industry average. Almost all of the company's ships were built after 2000.
Entertainment programs in this company are more solid and include lectures in various fields, such as: economics, astronomy, photography, wine tasting, information about the culture/history/geography of the destinations being sailed to, and even politics, alongside cooking demonstrations, art auctions, and bingo.
Of course, the ship's theater hosts Broadway-style shows every evening or guest performances by singers, musicians, magicians, etc.
There are no public announcements and loudspeakers regarding the various activities in order to maintain a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere.
The ship is filled with art, with an emphasis on modern and abstract art.
There is an upgraded cabin category on the company's ships named Concierge Class where the room price includes perks such as: chilled champagne, a basket of fresh fruit and flowers on embarkation day, a unique room service menu, upgraded linens, quality patio furniture, priority boarding and disembarkation and luggage handling, and a host of other VIP treats. Suite accommodations include assistance with unpacking luggage and repacking it, personal meal ordering service, spa and other services, and even shoe shining...
The company sails to a wide variety of exotic and unique destinations, including of course the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, South America, and even the Galapagos and Antarctica.
Painted on the funnel of each of the company's ships is a large X. This is the Greek letter pronounced "Chi", which is the first letter in the name of the Greek company Chandris that founded Celebrity.
Itinerary:
Departure from the port of Harwich in England, and arrival at the following ports in Norway: Oslo, Stavanger, Flåm, Ålesund, Geiranger, Olden, Bergen. Return to the port of Harwich in England. Total of two sea days and seven varied and successful ports.
Departure from London to Harwich Port and Boarding the Ship
Booking private/shared transfers to the port/hotel from Viator:
♦ Private transfer from London airport to hotel - Private London Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport
♦ Transfer from Southampton port - Southampton Cruise Port To Heathrow Airport private transfer
The drive from London to Harwich port takes about two hours and fifteen minutes, and it is advisable to book a private transfer in advance.
It is recommended to arrive at the port around 11:00-13:00.
Upon arrival, luggage is handed over to the ship's crew, who ensure it is brought to the cabin by evening. Leave a side bag with yourself containing a change of clothes because luggage is sometimes received after dinner time. Cabins are received at 13:00. After boarding the ship, you eat lunch on the upper deck where there is a rich buffet. Usually on this day the crowd is large, but this is typical only of the first day when the other restaurants are not operating. After lunch is the best time to get acquainted with the ship. It is worthwhile to take a tour of its various parts and get an impression of the different options. Before sailing, a lifeboat drill is held in which all passengers must take part.
It is advisable to also leave swimwear because this is the day when the pools and jacuzzis are least crowded and it is very nice to watch the ship leave port (at 17:00) from one of the jacuzzis.
Every evening it is worth watching the show taking place in the main theater at the front of the ship. You can also spend time in the cafe, casino, spa, piano bar, pools, jacuzzis, stroll on the decks, and more.
Full Day at Open Sea
The second day of the cruise is entirely at open sea, and everyone chooses the activities that suit them. Every evening, leaflets are placed on the passengers' beds containing the variety of activities and their times for the next day, so it is worth reading them carefully to make the best use of time. For example, an interesting morning tour of the ship's large kitchen including explanations and answers to various passenger questions, gourmet cooking demonstrations, and of course high-quality shows.
Dinner on this day (as well as on the last port day) is a festive meal in formal attire, a tie, and a jacket. The food on the ship is tasty and varied, there is a daily changing menu alongside a fixed menu for the entire cruise with excellent dishes.
Port of Oslo
The port of Oslo is located 5-20 minutes away from City Hall in the city center.
Booking guided tours in Oslo from the successful Viator website:
Or tours including physical activity such as kayak paddling, a bike tour, or nature hiking:
You can manage to see the best tourist sites and attractions of the city in a short time and without much walking and with explanations on a comprehensive 5-hour tour.
You can start the visit at Oslo City Hall (where the Nobel Peace Prizes are awarded annually) and continue with a visit to the modern Nobel Peace Center , Radhusplassen, Oslo, located near City Hall.
This is a modern and unique building with interesting exhibitions about peace and equality fighters such as the Dalai Lama and Martin Luther King. (Open daily between 9:00-19:00).
From there, continue on foot for an exterior view of the Royal Palace Slottet (interior visits not allowed). The street leading to it abounds with shops, cafes, and street performances.
From the palace, it is worthwhile to take a taxi (or walk about half an hour from the center or take a tram) to visit the charming Frogner Park where the Vigeland sculptures are displayed in Oslo Vigeland Park, address: Kirkeveien/Middelthuns gate, 0268, Oslo.
From Frogner Park, continue by taxi (or tram) to the Bygdøy peninsula and visit the three historical ship museums:
Viking Ship Museum Vikingskiphuset,
Fram Polar Ship Museum
and the Kon-Tiki Museum kon-tiki. The museums are located close to each other at:
Bygdøynesveien 36, 0286 Oslo.
These are small and interesting museums so it is possible and worthwhile to visit all of them. Alternatively, you can visit the open-air museum on the peninsula Norsk Folkemuseum .
From there, take a ferry (the cruise duration is 10 minutes and it departs once every twenty minutes) back to the port.
Alternatively, instead of visiting the Bygdøy peninsula, you can visit the Holmenkollbakken ski jump, home to a ski museum and a successful viewpoint of the city from the top of the jump. Address: Kongevn. 5, Oslo.
Close to the piers, you can visit the "Akershus" Fortress Akershus Festning, address: Fesningspl., Oslo. This is a 17th-century fortress where important city events and the royal house take place to this day. The fortress has charming gardens and offers a spectacular view of Oslo and the fjord and of course the ship!
If you are interested in a guided tour of the city, a successful tour organized by the ship is called: Oslo Highlights.
The port of Oslo is located at the end of the "Oslofjord". From the ship's deck, you can view the beautiful landscape passing by as the ship leaves port. You pass fishing villages, coves, etc.
♦ Stavanger
On the fourth day of the cruise, you are at the port of Stavanger. The most successful tour in this port is a 3-hour cruise in the Lysefjord to Pulpit Rock, one of the most impressive natural sites in Norway. On the way to Pulpit Rock, you see beautiful views of the steep and high mountains of the fjord, remote villages, islands, waterfalls, seals, and more. The sight of the Pulpit Rock cliff from below is very impressive. In the pictures, the rock is marked with an arrow and zoomed in to show human figures on top of it.
Booking guided tours in Stavanger from Viator:
Pulpit Rock and human figures at its peak:
For the rest of the time, it is recommended to stroll through the old town, right next to the pier where the ship docks, which features low white-painted wooden houses with small gardens and flowers. In the heart of the old town is located the Canning Museum. In the past, the city's economy was based on the sardine factory, which is located in its original building, and the guided tour of the factory with a description of the processing and packaging stages and working conditions is fascinating and highly recommended!
It is also worth walking through the streets of the new city which are paved with stones and decorated with colorful flower baskets along their length. The houses are painted in vibrant colors different from each other, and the streets are clean and well-maintained.
Close to the city center (about a 10-minute walk from the ship) is located the impressive Petroleum Museum, part of which is above water. The museum features an impressive display of many models of drilling rigs, service platforms, service ships, deep-sea drills, and various other equipment. There are explanations on how drilling is done, the source of oil, extraction methods, and more.
♦ Flåm (on the fifth day)
Flåm is a tiny town (with 400 residents) but very popular among travelers and considered the fourth largest cruise port in Norway. The meaning of the town's name: "Small place with high mountains". This is a picturesque and charming town that is fun to wander around on foot or tour by bicycle along the fjord near the ship or along the river, about 4 km away towards the local church where the ancient founders of the place, the Flåm family, are buried.
The pier where you dock is a few minutes' walk from anywhere in the town. Near the pier in the old railway station building lies the visitor center where you can rent bicycles, get information and maps, and also a small railway museum. Near the pier, there is a unique pub where you can taste for a fee 5 different types of beer from the brewery near the port Aegir Brewery.
The most successful and popular tour offered by the ship is: Flåm Railway & Hiking the Flåm Valley.
The journey on the Flåm railway is considered one of the steepest and most scenic train rides in the world. It passes for 50 minutes to its final destination in Myrdal (over less than 20 km) through 20 tunnels, near waterfalls, a river, and a charming valley.
Flåm is located at the end of one of the longest fjords in the world, and leaving its port at the end of the day is filled with beautiful views of steep mountains, waterfalls, islands, and more, and it is recommended to view them from one of the decks or indoor areas with large windows.
♦ Ålesund (on the sixth day)
The port is located in the center of the city built in the Art Nouveau style.
Information about the port of Ålesund on the website: www.alesund.havn.no
The most successful tour from Ålesund is "The Path of the Trolls", this is an excursion of about eight hours whose highlight is driving along one of the most famous, scenic, and winding roads in the world.
Booking tours in Ålesund from Viator tailored for cruise passengers - pickup and dropoff close to the port entrance:
♦ Booking the tour to Trollstigen and the fjords -
Ålesund Shore Excursion: From Fjords to Trolls
An 8-hour guided tour with an option for lunch.
♦ Ultimate guided tour of Ålesund -
Ålesund Shore Excursion: The Ultimate Sightseeing Tour
A guided tour of 4.5 hours with an option for lunch.
Since the ship is in the port of Ålesund from 10:00 in the morning until 22:00, you can rent a car in the city center and drive independently on breathtaking scenic roads all the way to Trollstigen and back on a magical circular route passing among fjords, steep cliffs, countless waterfalls, ancient bridges, and an abundance of breathtaking viewpoints.
Alternatively, if you do not want a long drive, you can take the tourist train BYTOGET traveling between points of interest throughout the beautiful city. The tour duration is about 60-70 minutes, including a stop for a panoramic view of the city from its highest point at Fjellstua.
The train departs from Dronning Sonjas (a few minutes' walk from the pier) at hours: 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:30.
Afterwards, you can travel on the shuttle of the company operating the train to the successful aquarium of Ålesund Atlanterhavsparken, considered the number one attraction of the city and one of the largest aquariums in Northern Europe.
More information on Ålesund on the official city website: www.visitalesund-geiranger.com
♦ Geiranger (on the seventh day)
Geiranger is located at the end of the Geirangerfjord, which is considered a UNESCO heritage site and one of the most beautiful fjords in the world.
Successful tour from the ship: Kayak on Geirangerfjord.
Alternatively, if you prefer a land tour including amazing scenic viewpoints, a successful tour from the ship: Geiranger Highlights.
It is nice to rent electric bicycles (there are many inclines in the town) and tour the charming town independently where there are plenty of stunning viewpoints of the fjord and numerous waterfalls. If you prefer to expend less energy, you can take a local tour (which can be purchased at the visitor center) among the magical landscapes near Geiranger. It is recommended to take a tour that also includes a drive to the high and impressive Dalsnibba viewpoint (only if the weather is clear).
The cruise from Geiranger port along the fjord out to the open sea is extremely impressive and passes through breathtaking landscapes! Passing the Seven Sisters waterfalls, additional waterfalls, and cliffs.
Video of the fjord cruise:
♦ Olden (on the eighth day)
Guided tours in Olden from Viator:
The pier is located about 700 meters from the center of the small town (about a ten-minute walk). There is not much to do in the town itself, so it is advisable to take a tour from it.
The most successful tour of all from the ship is a trip to the Briksdalen Glacier. You travel by bus to the glacier area. On the drive, you pass by landscapes of lakes and mountains reflected in them.
From the parking lot, continue on foot for about 45 minutes towards the vicinity of the glacier. On the way, you pass an impressive waterfall. Part of the outbound way is a moderate ascent. For those interested, there is also paid transport in cute carts. Tour duration is 3.5 hours.
♦ Bergen (ninth day)
The port is located a short walking distance from the city center and the Bryggen district Bryggen (which is the old pier of the city currently serving as a UNESCO heritage site) and the fish market Torget i Bergen, of Bergen.
Booking guided walking tours in Bergen:
Or kayak, bus, and surrounding area tours:
It is recommended to take the funicular up Mount Fløyen. The view from the mountain is spectacular. It is worth walking down an easy scenic path passing among berry bushes from which you can pick. The funicular operates between 7:30-23:00.
Address: Fløibanen AS, Vetrlidsallmenningen 21, N-5014 Bergen.
On this evening, dinner is festive with formal attire, the menu is more generous, and there is also lobster for those interested.
Tenth Day - Sea Day on the Ship
On this day, you spend time on the ship, each according to their preference and in accordance with the diverse activities offered on this day. In the evening, you pack your suitcases and place them outside your room near the door before 23:00. You receive them the next morning on the pier when disembarking the ship.
Day 11 - Arrival in England
The ship arrives early in the morning back at Harwich port. Disembarkation from the ship is well-organized, with disembarkation according to tags with different colors and numbers. Several days before the end of the cruise, passengers are asked to fill out a form stating whether they want to disembark first due to an early flight, etc., or whether it doesn't matter to them when they disembark. Based on this, you receive numbered colored tags in your cabin matching the desired disembarkation time and stick them on your luggage.
From the port, it is advisable to book a private transfer to London in advance as written at the beginning of the article.
