Iceland attracts the inquisitive and the nature lovers. It can be warm with no sign of ice in summer, and it can be challenging in winter. You need your bathers for the hot springs and a raincoat for the wind and the rain. Take a look at our Fjords Cruise tips from Norway to Iceland. Martin Clarkson sails with Havila, David Withington sails with Hurtigruten, and Jean Heard sails with P&O.
While you may miss the Northern Lights due to clouds, those in the Highlands of Scotland might see them. Norway is the same. Here are some tips.
What is a Fjord?
The first tip is don’t get into an argument with anyone about what a Ford is. It can be described as a long narrow inlet with only one way in and out. You can add steep sides or cliffs. You might suggest it was made by glaciers by global warming before global warming started. Then there is the water, is it seawater or freshwater – let us suggest that depends on which end you are at, as the water on one end is from melting snow cascading down in waterfalls and streams, and the other end connects to the sea. The thresholds above sea level are certainly fresh water. In the winter when the glaciers and snow are not melting, the water is less fresh water and more influenced by the sea. To top that the languages, treat masses of water with different definitions.
TIPS
Take a bag that you can carry on your back that your coat fits into, so you can walk around in a T-shirt. Take resilient rubber over-shoe covers for your shoes and carry them in your bag, then if it rains or snows, your shoes are kept nice. The weather can change, and you may not be able to or want to go back to your ship or hotel.
ADVANCE BOOKING
Some things that are high profile can get booked up. Ship tours will often sell out so check before you sail. The Blue Lagoon is one. As you will see from our Reykjavik blog it needs to be booked in advance, that is both entrance and transport. As you can go from the airport, and then travel from the lagoon to the hotel each journey is booked separately, and they scan the voucher on your smartphone. As you will see you can go to hot springs in Akureyri and they are cheaper and the transport is free. Planning is essential.
The Doris Visits website has more than just these few popular cruise ship stops.
REYKJAVIK, Iceland
Our main Reykjavik blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
ISAFJORDUR, Iceland
Our main Isafjordur blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
KRISTIANSUND, Norway
AKUREYRI, Iceland
Our main Akureyri blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
NARVIK, Norway
Our main Narvik blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
ALTA, Norway
Our main Alta blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
TRONHEIM, Norway
HAUGESAND, Norway
Our main Haugesand blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
FLAM, Norway
Our main Flam blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
BERGEN, Norway
Our main Bergen blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
STAVANGER, Norway
Our main Stavanger blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
OLDEN, Norway
Our main Olden blog is here, the video and highlights are below.
No independent tours are listed here, see our blog for each port to see tour options. That will explain what there is at that port. It is small and just a place to hike although the sky lift or ski lift is available. See the menu for other films.
