Just Back from Norwegian Fjords Cruise

[jane01jp]

it was fantastic!

Highlights:

Pulpit Rock hike
Kayaking in Geiranger
Freezing the Night Away deck party
Daylight almost all night.

Low points:

MDR dinners

(this was my thirteenth DCL cruise, and the food was really bad, particularly fish entrees).

Future cruise sales - I got a misquote for a 5 night Bahamas cruise - $13,890. The only way to get it fixed was to stand in line for an hour. The staff member had inadvertently assumed that the July 9, 2017 date I had selected was for a British Isles your leaving the same day - even though I had checked the Bahamas box and the Port Canaveral box.

 

[Sytrace]

Welcome back! Sounds like an good trip overall.

 

[Terapin]

We were on the previous sailing and the fish was awesome! I had snapper, cod, salmon. Flaky and moist. Sorry your experience was different.

 

[Ofinn]

it was fantastic!

Highlights:

Pulpit Rock hike
Kayaking in Geiranger
Freezing the Night Away deck party
Daylight almost all night.

Low points:

MDR dinners

(this was my thirteenth DCL cruise, and the food was really bad, particularly fish entrees).

Future cruise sales - I got a misquote for a 5 night Bahamas cruise - $13,890. The only way to get it fixed was to stand in line for an hour. The staff member had inadvertently assumed that the July 9, 2017 date I had selected was for a British Isles your leaving the same day - even though I had checked the Bahamas box and the Port Canaveral box.

I'm glad you had a great time. Norway is beautiful. We were on the cruise before you, also our 13th. I'm glad you said this about the food because I thought it was my imagination. The food was meh. The breakfast in cabanas was eww. I've don't know how you can make eggs taste that bad. As per usual I lost a couple of pounds on this cruise. I obviously don' t cruise for the food.

 

[anricat]

I too hate the eggs in Cabanas. Since I'm a fan of eggs, I tend to go for MDR breakfast when possible to have fresh cooked eggs.

 

[jubjubrsx]

what was the weather like? im leaving on sunday if you dont mind me asking?

 

[jane01jp]

Day 1 - rainy when we boarded. Clear for sail away.

Day 2 - overcast.

Day 3 - Stavanger -light rain.

Day 4 - Alesund - partly sunny until about 2, then rain.

Day 5 - Geiranger - overcast, with light intermittent rain late in the day.

Day 6 - Bergen - overcast early. Heavy rain starting at about noon. Clear for Freezing the Night Away deck party.

Day 7 - partly cloudy.

Debarkation - heavy rain with driving wind. Cleared up in the early afternoon.

 

[Momof2inCT]

We're on the July 23th out of Copenhagen. Do you think packing an umbrella is a good idea or just raincoats? Thanks!

 

[Birdie dog]

Day 1 - rainy when we boarded. Clear for sail away.

Day 2 - overcast.

Day 3 - Stavanger -light rain.

Day 4 - Alesund - partly sunny until about 2, then rain.

Day 5 - Geiranger - overcast, with light intermittent rain late in the day.

Day 6 - Bergen - overcast early. Heavy rain starting at about noon. Clear for Freezing the Night Away deck party.

Day 7 - partly cloudy.

Debarkation - heavy rain with driving wind. Cleared up in the early afternoon.

We did the 9 night in 2015 and had gorgeous weather. It was chilly and rainy in Copenhagen but in Norway (with the exception of Alesund which was cold) we wore sweaters and jeans and had pretty much no rain.

 

[jane01jp]

it was fantastic!

Highlights:

Pulpit Rock hike
Kayaking in Geiranger
Freezing the Night Away deck party
Daylight almost all night.

Low points:

MDR dinners

(this was my thirteenth DCL cruise, and the food was really bad, particularly fish entrees).

Future cruise sales - I got a misquote for a 5 night Bahamas cruise - $13,890. The only way to get it fixed was to stand in line for an hour. The staff member had inadvertently assumed that the July 9, 2017 date I had selected was for a British Isles your leaving the same day - even though I had checked the Bahamas box and the Port Canaveral box.

I forgot to mention - hop on/hop off in Geiranger provided a good view, but was exorbitantly expensive (200 krone - around $30 per person). This compares to about $12 US for canal tour in Copenhagen, which we thought was much better.

 

[stacieberry]

Pulpit Rock hike
Kayaking in Geiranger

I would love to know more about these port adventures! We are on the Norwegian Fjords cruise for 2017.

I want to do the Pulpit Rock hike, but I am very nervous about it because I heard it's very difficult and rushed. I don't exercise at all, so I am planning to train for it by hiking up steep hiking trails where I live before the cruise. What was your experience like? What do you recommend to be prepared, and what would you do differently? Was your view at the top of Pulpit Rock obstructed by rain clouds?

For Geiranger, was it too hectic to do both kayaking and another sightseeing bus tour? The sightseeing tours have nice views and picture opportunities, but I would rather do something adventurous or active like kayaking. It would be great to do both, but I am worried it will be too exhausting.

 

[jane01jp]

We did the Pulpit Rock hike. I am in pretty good shape, although I am in my mid fifties. My wife, twenty year old son, seventeen year old daughter, and I all did the hike.

Both my wife and I fell on the way down. Neither of us had any serious injuries, but one poor fellow in our group broke his leg and had surgery in Alesund.

Having said all of that, the Pulpit Rock hike was still among our favorite activities of all time, including Angel's Landing at Zion, Yosemite Falls, and many others.

 

[Birdie dog]

BTW when we did the cruise in 2015, we did the RHIB in Alesund. We were the only people on the RHIB! It was amazing. I now Alesund is cold, but the views were fantastic. We saw puffins, seals and a ton of sea birds. I'd definitely recommend that.

 

[EllinK]

BTW when we did the cruise in 2015, we did the RHIB in Alesund.

What's RHIB?

 

[Birdie dog]

Rigid hull inflatable.

 

[linetbo]

We are doing that itinerary in 2017 and looking for private excursions.

 

[ldo]

we were also on the 6/29 sailing. Kayaking is G was DH's fav activity. DCL was booked up, so we Geraingerfjordservice or something like that for kayaking and also bus tour up to Mt. Dilsnibba (?). DH/DS did kayaking and DD and I did bus. Both were excellent and I would recommend both (but, due to timing, cannot do both). You could do earlier sightseeing bus to lower points and then kayaking or reverse. They also handle all the sighseeing boats, which could easily be done together with either bus ride. We DIY the 400 step walk to lookout in Alesund (not too tough, many had 5 yr olds with them) and DIY walk of Bergen and Hanseatic Museum, Fjord boat in Stavanger thru rodne.no. Our food was excellent in MDR. Pool food was just OK and eggs were cold and yuck-worst I have had on any cruiseline. I give that cruise a 9+ out of 10, even with the weather!