Cruising is becoming more and more popular every year. In Britain and Ireland alone, 1.7 million passengers booked cruises in 2022 – up from 479,000 in 2021 (source: CLIA).
With the potential to eliminate the hassle involved in booking a holiday and planning a lengthy travel itinerary, it’s no wonder cruising is getting so popular. Besides, cruising is a relaxing way to travel, enabling us to visit several destinations in one trip, in addition to enabling us to visit otherwise inaccessible locations, which cannot be reached by road or rail.
While the Caribbean remains one of the dream cruise destinations for many cruise enthusiasts, several destinations are now reporting more cruise bookings than ever before. Take Norway, for example. With the second-longest coastline in the world, Norway has always been an attractive choice for cruise holidays. Last year, however, there were 20% more calls at Norwegian ports than in 2019, with figures expected to soar in 2023.
So, why is everyone so keen to book a cruise to Norway? Here are several reasons to consider cruising to Norway this year.
Why you need to cruise to Norway this year
Marvel at the magnificent Norwegian fjords
Cruising to Norway offers the ideal opportunity to admire the spectacular Norwegian fjords. Traversing through awe-inspiring valleys and passing enormous cliffs, rushing waterfalls, and gigantic glaciers as you go, you’ll be well-placed to capture those all-important photo opportunities.
You’ll find several different itineraries available for Norwegian fjords cruises, with highlights including the likes of Nærøyfjord – a narrow, 17km-long UNESCO fjord crouched beneath the mountains – and Sognefjord – Norway’s longest, deepest fjord; with a southeastern mountain range rising up 2,000 metres over the fjord, covered by Europe’s largest glacier, Jostedalsbreen. Spend some time reading up on the Norwegian fjords, and then decide what route or itinerary appeals to you most.
Explore as much of the country as possible
Booking a cruise to Norway is thought to be the best way to see as much of the country as possible, in as little time as possible.
As one of the largest countries in Europe, Norway offers a vast range of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy. However, Norway’s roads are fairly narrow, and you’ll frequently encounter bridges, tunnels, mountain roads, car ferries and toll gates. Often, it’s not unusual for traffic to travel at speeds of as little as 30-50 miles per hour. For this reason, cruising to Norway is widely regarded as the most practical way of exploring the country, versus other modes of transport.
Visit Norway for less
Not only can booking a cruise to Norway help to reduce the amount of time you’ll need to spend travelling once you arrive in the country, but it can also help to cut the cost of your entire trip, too.
While you might assume cruising is an expensive way to travel, you’ll be amazed at the cruises deals you’ll find once you start looking – especially if you’re prepared to cruise off-season. Plus, when you consider the potential costs you’ll incur if you travel via an alternative form of transport, suddenly, cruising to Norway doesn’t seem like such a bad idea at all.
Booking a cruise to Norway means your itinerary will largely be taken care of for you, saving you the hassle of arranging airport transfers; making hotel bookings; and deciding where to eat and drink, for example. When travelling to Norway by plane, train, ferry or even car, however, you’ll still need to think about booking airport transfers, arranging vehicle hire, making hotel bookings, deciding where to eat and drink, and so on. You’ll be surprised at just how quickly the costs can add up!
Explore iconic Norwegian towns and cities
Besides marvelling at the Norwegian fjords, a cruise to Norway offers the ultimate opportunity to explore some of Norway’s most iconic towns and cities, and quaint coastal villages. Famous for its colourful houses, Bergen is Norway’s top cruising destination. However, Ålesund, Tromsø, and Stavanger are popular ports of call too. And if, like me, you’ll be travelling with food in mind, be sure to visit Trondheim for traditional Norwegian food, and contemporary Nordic cuisine – with three Michelin Star restaurants to its name, this is known as the “food capital” of Norway, with good reason.
Usually, the cruise ship will dock up for a few hours at the port, leaving you free to explore until it’s time to get back on board. While you might prefer to wander around at your own pace, if you prefer to be led by an experienced local guide, or to benefit from the convenience of arranged transport, consider booking a designated shore excursion instead.
Improve your chances of seeing the Northern Lights
If you’ve got your heart set on seeing the Northern Lights during your trip, booking a cruise to Norway is a great way to increase your chances of spotting auroras.
As sailing on a cruise ship means you’ll be likely to encounter dark, cloudless skies, with minimal light pollution, provided the auroras are active, you’ll be almost guaranteed to see the Northern Lights!
Choose from different departure ports and itineraries
One of the reasons that cruising to Norway has become so accessible in recent years is that, usually, you can depart from a range of ports, in addition to choosing from different lengths of itinerary.
While many Norwegian cruises depart from Bergen or Oslo, a number of cruise lines offer the option to board elsewhere in Scandinavia such as in Copenhagen, alongside the Netherlands, Germany, or from several UK ports instead. Additionally, you can also choose how long you’d like your cruise holiday to last for, usually ranging anywhere from two nights, to 250+ days.
There is no shortage of reasons to book a cruise to Norway. Ultimately, however, the best way for you to travel to Norway will largely depend on your own personal preferences and needs, your budget, and the options available to you. So, spend some time thinking about what your dream trip to Norway might look like, before deciding whether cruising is the best option for you.
What would you advise travellers thinking of booking a first-time cruise to Norway? Leave a comment to share your hints and tips.
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