Norway Cruise Lines

It’s almost half ironic that if you’re looking for a phenomenal cruise to Norway, the Norwegian Cruise Lines doesn’t service cruises within the country for which they’re named! Still, if you’re booking a trip to Norway and you want to cruise through fjords between sheer cliffs standing hundreds of feet tall or if you want to enjoy a relaxing cruise along the many port villages of the country to observe the untouched culture, there are cruise lines that can accommodate your desire. There are two well reputed companies that offer cruises in Norway: depending on the type of vacationing experience you like, you may opt for one over the other.

Hotspots to Cruise in Norway

Because of terse competition, regardless of the company you choose for your cruise, you’ll ultimately be seeing many of the same destinations on your cruise. While there are key differences between cruise lines of Norway, the demand of tourism has kept the cruise lines operating along the most frequented ports and the most scenic boat routes. If you’re unfamiliar with Norway’s ports, here’s a list to assist you when selecting your cruise package. Often times there will be specific “fjord cruises” as well that specifically take routes that will ensure your maximum exposure to these wonderful geological landscapes. This list is simply a description of ports through which you may travel in order to go sightseeing on your fjord tour.

Tromso – This town is the throughway to the Arctic Sea and it is widely considered comparable to the city of Paris. If you’re planning a Polar expedition for field work or for the sheer thrill of seeing one of the world’s poles, Tromoso will be your most local port.
The North Cape – This area of Norway is where the most breathtaking views of landscapes are. Similarly to Hammerfest, there lies a village that holds a record as the northernmost village in the world, (Hammerfest is the northernmost town). This village is called Honnigsvag.
Trondheim – This is the first capital of Norway. It is entrenched in Norwegian culture and history. While there, be sure to check out the Stiftsgarden Palace!
Bergen – If you’re going on a fjord cruise, you’ll most likely be here at some point. It is considered the entryway to the fjords region.

Picking the Right Cruise Company

The two competing Norwegian cruise companies are Hurtigruten and Fred Olsen. Both companies are natively Norwegian, though there are key differences. Hurtigruten has no more than one-thousand cabins on any given cruiser. Fred Olsen has reportedly better ships but their crew is from the Philippines rather than natives of Norway. Hurtigruten hires only Scandinavians so you’ll gain a better sense of the culture and people through them.

Finding Fantastic Fjord Cruises

If you’re certain you’re going on a fjord cruise but you haven’t decided on which one yet, there are sites that can help. Fjordtravel.no has plenty of useful reviews. Costacruise.com offers fjord cruises in addition to Hurtigruten and Fred Olsen – check their site for details!