Cruising The Norwegian Fjords: Our 7 Day Itinerary
At the time of writing, the washing machine whirs with the second load of the day. We’ve made a trip to Aldi to restock our empty fridge. There’s a bulging work inbox that I’m determined not to check until tomorrow. And a pair of scales in the bathroom that I am DEFINITELY ignoring. Our Norwegian fjords cruise already seems like a distant memory. But what a memory it is. From that first on-deck prosecco after we boarded in sunny Southampton, to the glass of red wine as we fed our final dollars into the blinking slot machines in the casino.
There are plenty of blog posts on the way, including a review of the Celebrity Silhouette, what it’s like being a cruise virgin, and answers to some of those daft questions I found myself Googling before we left. So this is just a little overview of our 7 day Norwegian fjords itinerary, which will hopefully pique your interest to find out more about our trip!
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Our Norwegian Fjords Cruise itinerary
Our spectacular voyage took us from Southampton, across the open waters of the North Sea, to the stunning Norwegian Fjords – by way of a quick stop in Belgium for a morning in Bruges. We chose Celebrity Cruises simply because the price, dates and itinerary all worked for us; it was only later that we also read the mostly glowing reviews of the cruise line, and of the newly refurbed Silhouette.
There are lots of different cruise lines, offering different itineraries. A week’s cruise will usually visit four ports, with a couple of days spent at sea at the start and end of the cruise. Cruise itineraries can change though, so bear that in mind if you have your heart set on a particular port. One of our fjord stops (MĆ„lĆøy) was swapped for Bruges – a switch that didn’t disappoint us as it meant Ma and Pa Lee could get to experience yet another new country, and we could revisit an old favourite.
Want to read about our previous trip to Bruges in 2012? Find out more here!
Our 7 day itinerary
Day 1: Southampton
Day 2: Bruges
Day 3: Sea Day
Day 4: Alesund
Day 5: Olden
Day 6: Haugesund
Day 7: Sea Day
Day 8: Back to Southampton
The Night Before
We decided to travel down from Birmingham to Southampton the afternoon prior to our cruise. This meant we didnāt have to worry about traffic or any other delays, particularly as we were travelling on a Bank Holiday Monday. Mr Fletche had booked parking at the port via AB Parking; parking is around Ā£120 for a week.
We stayed at a Travelodge in Southampton, a 10 minute drive from the port. For convenience it was fine, but Iāve certainly stayed in better Travelodges. Itās located on a busy main road, but the windows have minimal soundproofing – bringing back memories of Cologne. And even if there had been soundproofing, there was an annoying chirruping from the pipes in the bathroom. Our Tinnitus Aid white noise app proved useful once more. It was much cheaper than the other accommodation options though (Ā£70) with on-site (limited) parking so for one night of slightly interrupted sleep it was acceptable.
To complete our budget pre-cruise experience we ate at an extremely insalubrious Wetherspoons. Twice. No chips at dinnertime. No eggs at breakfast. We proved to Ma and Pa Lee that Wetherspoons should never ever be an option unless in dire need. Or at an airport. We did however spend a lovely couple of hours at the Dancing Man Brewery, right on the waterfront. I think half our fellow cruise ship passengers were drinking there if the Facebook Group that Ma Lee had joined was anything to go by.
Day 1: The sail-away from Southampton
After an extremely quick and smooth checking in process, we were onboard the Celebrity Silhouette earlier than expected. Our staterooms were accessible straight away, and we were able to pick up our Sea Passes. The Sea Pass was the key to our room; our passport on and off the ship; and more importantly, proof of our Classic Drinks Package. Which meant, naturally, straight to the bar to congratulate ourselves on a successful embarkation. We’d find out where everything else was at a later date.
Our sail-away was at 4pm. It was the first opportunity to see if we really could feel the ship moving (we could) and to test our sea legs. The evening was spent – as so many were – checking out the 7pm performance in the Theatre, eating incredible food in the Grand Cuvee Main Dining Room and then supping cocktails in one of the Silhouette’s many bars. Our favourites were the Deck 3 Passport Bar, and the Deck 14 Sky Lounge.
Day 2: Bruges
A revised stop on the itinerary, we had just a few hours to explore Bruges. It’s perfectly doable to see the sights of Bruges in one morning, if you forego culture, and just stroll around the beautiful canals. We still managed to fit in a trip to an authentic Belgian bar to sample the local beer. Because of the limited time in Bruges we pre-booked a return cruise shuttle service via Get Your Guide (Affiliate Link). This cost us Ā£20pp, and could have been booked on-the-day at the kiosk just outside the cruise terminal.
Our ship left Zeebrugge at 3pm; Mr Fletche and I managed to just get back in time on the final bus from Bruges after waving Ma and Pa Lee off on the previous one. For some fellow passengers, queuing for a waffle was much more important than returning to the bus on time. A few minutes more and they would have been arranging a costly taxi to Zeebrugge.
Day 4: Ć lesund
After a Sea Day – more on that later – we dock in Ć lesund. Ć lesund is a picturesque city of Art Nouveau architecture nestled on a peninsula and spread across numerous islands. Mr Fletche and I had “enjoyed” an early alarm call at 6:30 to get our first glimpse of the famous fjords on the sail-in. Little do we know that tomorrow will be even earlier. Ć lesund is easy to get around by foot, and the centre is walkable from the ship. To get our bearings, we take the 70 minute tour on the little blue and white tourist train, direct from the cruise terminal. More importantly, it means we can get to the scenic viewpoint without climbing 418 steps.
Highlights outside of Ć lesund include the aquarium Atlantic Sea-Park, the Stranda ski resort, and a full-day excursion to the beautiful “Troll Road” and Stigfossen waterfall. With shore excursions offered by Celebrity being pretty costly we preferred to explore the city ourselves, strolling along the waterfront, snapping photos of the brightly coloured buildings. Sailaway is 7pm. Mr Fletche spends the time chasing light and shadows for some photographs whilst I accompany Ma & Pa Lee to the Theatre for an incredible show by a Rock Pop vocal group called Rebel. Sunset is just after 11pm so we spend hours claiming how light it is.
Day 5: Olden
It’s another early start – 5am to be precise. The helipad at the front of the ship is opened up to passengers for the spectacular sail-in to Olden. It’s a small village, but it certainly packs a punch. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe just how beautiful the landscape is. Once we disembark, we book a shuttle bus to the Briksdal Glacier with Olden Adventure (475NOK, approx Ā£35pp), and from there we take a fun troll car tour (return costs 260NOK, approx Ā£19pp) to the foot of the glacier (or about a kilometre away). Mr Fletche and I walk to the glacial Briksdalsvatnet lake, 350 metres above sea level, the glacier itself seeming to tumble down the cliff-face. Ma and Pa Lee take in the views from a slightly lower but no less spectacular vantage point.
After lunch, we stroll around the town, paying visits to both the Olden Old Church, and the picturesque red New Church. There are some souvenir shops too, and a convenience store. If you are lucky enough to visit Olden, make sure you’re on deck for the most incredible farewell from the locals.
Day 5 ends with us getting our boogie on at the silent disco. I can only assume that my fellow dancers were in awe of my angel-like vocals as they stopped and stared.
We’ve visited a glacier before! Find out more here about our amazing trip to the Columbia Icefield in Jasper, Canada!
Day 6: Haugesund
We arrive in Haugesund earlier than expected, and we’ve docked by the time we wake for breakfast. No scenic sail-in this morning. It’s the least attractive of our three Norwegian stops, not quite having the charm of Ć lesund, nor the breathtaking scenery of Olden. Instead of lush green hillsides and silky fjord waters there’s a large shipyard and lots of cranes. Haugesund definitely has more of a working city vibe; it’s clearly not here simply to please the tourists. This is a town for local people. We stumble upon a school marching band parade and contest, and are immediately invested in picking a team to root for.
We take a Hop On Hop Off bus to give us a flavour of the city, booking direct at the kiosk at the cruise terminal. There’s also a tourist train, run by the same company that we used in Ć lesund. There’s lots of viking history in the area, once home to prominent Viking kings. The city also celebrates Harold Fairhair (Harald HĆ„rfagre), Norway’s first king and the bloke responsible for the unification of the country.
A couple of hours is sufficient to see Haugesund, although there’s plenty of shopping available if that floats your boat (no pun intended) and you’re eager to spend your kroner. We spend a relaxing afternoon aboard before the 4:30pm departure. We have a more upscale meal planned for our Day 6 evening, a reservation at one of the Silhouette’s speciality restaurants, the Tuscan Grille.
Day 3 & Day 7: Sea Days
Our sea days were the perfect opportunity to explore the ship. With a full itinerary of activities and entertainment, we could participate as much or as little as we wanted. But for once, we weren’t on the clock. Our only challenge was finding that perfect little spot to spend our mornings. Preferably not too far away from the bar.
Our favourite reading and relaxation nooks on the Celebrity Silhouette were the Hideaway on Deck 7, and the daybeds on Deck 12, a sheltered area in between the outdoor pool and solarium. For intense Rummikub tournaments we liked the Sky Lounge, where we could also take part in the afternoon quizzes. Never let it be said that we don’t participate in organised fun.
Day 8: Back to Southampton
We’re back in Southampton at 6am. The Silhouette is off on another trip to Scandinavia. Sadly, we are not. By 8am we’ve disembarked for the final time and heading back to the car for the two and a half hour drive north.
Final thoughts
I wasn’t sure if a cruise would be for me. Mr Fletche and I prefer to get to know a location through early morning strolls and enjoying it’s nightlife. Setting our own schedule. And picking the perfect accommodation is part of the fun. But without spending an achingly large amount of money, a cruise surprisingly seemed to be the most affordable and convenient way of seeing the fjords.
I enjoyed the pace of the cruise. Bruges had the tightest schedule but once we reached Ć lesund on the third day, we could choose whether to explore and fill our days off the ship, linger over breakfast, or return early and soak in the views with a cocktail in hand. Sea days went remarkably quickly. Like pool or beach days on a more traditional summer holiday, it’s tiring doing nothing.
Did I say brief overview? Considering I kept on saying there were no words to describe the trip I think I’ve definitely found a few here…
I would love to do a Norwegian fjord cruise! We were booked on one last year but it was cancelled (in 2022!!! They were still cancelling things!!). There’s one leaving Edinburgh in August but it’s soooo expensive compared to the Southampton ones, so between that and a lack of cover at work and now separate plans being made for that weekend, we’ve decided against it. š I’ve never been too keen on cruises either, but it does look like the best way to see the fjords. Your pics on social media have been amazing too!
Honestly, I might just be a convert! It wouldnāt work for us for all destinations- I canāt imagine visiting a city like Barcelona or Lisbon and only having 8 hours to explore! But it might work for destinations we may never have considered exploring independently. Chris has discovered that their are cruises to the GalĆ”pagos Islands so now we just need to win the lotteryā¦
Haha a Galapagos one would be amaaaazing! I definitely think they’re best for island hopping or otherwise inaccessible nature, rather than cities etc.