First Cruise - Norwegian Fjords

[ZXSpectrum]

I have booked my first cruise (And my first actual holiday out of the country for about 15 years) with my mum and sister for 7 days to the Norwegian Fjords in May(P&O Iona). They have been on several cruises before and love the experience and have been on this one earlier in the year.

Has anyone been? The accommodation looks serviceable (Cabin has double bed, tv, toilet and shower) and the food looks pretty good. More after a break rather than experience so not really fussed about entertainment (Will take my laptop with a load of movies on and my switch) I will get off the ship at the scenic Norwegian towns with my mum and sister for a bit.

I have watched load of videos that are on YouTube touring the ship, the food etc and it looks just what I need. One thing I have noted though is like every cruise, if i want internet then its pretty expensive. Its currently about £90 for the holiday for the "Premium" internet which apparently is fine for streaming etc, i am not too bothered about movies but do watch a fair bit of YT.

Has anyone been? Anything to look out for (apart from, don't fall overboard) I don't think i get seasick, I only really used to get motion sickness when sat looking backwards on busses/trains.

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

 

[Freakbro]

Yep, we went on Iona's maiden voyage to the Fjords. The ship is mahoosive so there is plenty to do, see and explore when travelling. The food is very good and ranges from the open buffet floor, to lots of individual 'fast food' counters to a few specialised restaurants. Pretty sure I put on half a stone in the week we were on it I didn't have the drinks package but found the drinks were very reasonably priced for this sort of captive audience environment.

The internet, I just put on my business card and think I only got the basic version iirc, enough for emails and mobile gaming

Motion sickness? Hardly felt a thing all trip, even when the decks were closed one night due to severe wind/rain, the thing hardly pitched or yawed at all.

Norway itself was lovely and picturesque and very expensive! Visited all the places we stopped at and did a few of the excursions as well. My two favourite were the hike up the glacier and the boat trip where you had lunch at a local farmstead.

This was my first cruise, though the rest of the party had been on multiple, and even though I wouldn't say cruising was totally my thing, after the Iona experience I'd certainly do more.

 

[ZXSpectrum]

Great mate, thanks for the advice, i think you was in the similar position to me. Its not something i would have considered before (I just normally take time off work and vegetate round the house) but after my mum and sister told me and showed me what it was like i thought why not give it a try. Me being a singleton its a bit expensive for me on my own.

I dont drink anymore so the drinks package isnt really appealing for me, think i will take a couple of bottles of flavoured water or pepsi max for when i feel the urge. Other than that i will just drink tea, coffee, juice or water.

Might have a curry or one of those posh burgers but that only look like they are a fiver or tenner. (Although some of the steaks look like they are about £40 )

There seems to be only about £30-40 difference with the standard and premium wifi so will look about at reviews of that.

I am not bothered about the excursions currently as i am a bit strapped for cash but will see getting closer to the date.

 

[nst68]

I did a Norway cruise on P&O Arcadia (a lot older ship), amazing scenery and a v chilled out country, definitely not cheap though!

We did one excursion on a smaller boat up a fjord, but the rest of the time we just walked around the town/city, there's normally a tourist office at the port which will help you find things, we went to a free organ concert at the Kristiansand cathedral.

The onboard internet is only really useful when you're travelling to/from Norway, the rest of the time we nearly always had 5G on EE as you tend to hug the coast.
Take an HDMI lead, I was able to hook my iPad up to the cabin TV and watch stuff I'd downloaded.

Food choice was limited on Arcadia, but Iona looks like you have lots more choice.
The buffet can be a bit manic at breakfast, but it did fried bread!
Definitely book the speciality resteraunts, we did both the Marco steak and Sindu indian, think they came to about £30 for two with drinks.

We're not big drinkers so didn't get a drinks package, but the prices are v reasonable, £7 for a cocktail like Mai-Tai or Espresso Martini.
Each of you can take a bottle spirits on board for drinks in your cabin or out and about in your "water" bottles
Drinking water was my only real compliant, they said that the stuff from the cabin taps is drinkable, but it smelled and tasted rank, you can get slightly better water for free from the buffet, otherwise you had to buy from the bars.

 

[ZXSpectrum]

Thanks for that. I will ask my sister what the drinking water is like, i am sure she said that there were filtered drinking fountains about the place that was fine.

 

[Freakbro]

The buffet did get very busy at the peak times on the Iona, with some quite long queues. Something my companions did grumble about as that wasn't their normal cruise experience, but it wasn't that big an issue.

There is one formal night (on a 7 day cruise) where people dress up in black tie/ball gown etc in the evening. We did, and I had my full penguin suit on, and though there were a lot of people dressed up it wasn't universal.

 

[ZXSpectrum]

LOL I have been told to take a jacket, shirt and tie by my mum and sister but they didnt say it was proper formal.. I will make sure i have a good movie to watch in the cabin that night.

 

[krooton]

Can't speak to the ship (I'm a Celebrity Cruises diehard), but the Fjords are my absolute favourite cruising regions, whats you ports of calls looking like? Hopefully you get to see Geiranger.

 

[ZXSpectrum]

According to the itinerary these are the ports. Stavanger, Olden, Innvikfjorden (cruise-by), Nordfjord (cruise-by), Alesund, Haugesund

 

[neilw]

I went on Iona in late summer 2022, wasn't sure if I'd like it but it was really good. The ship is so big and quiet most the time you didn't know you were moving

I would bother with the drinks package, you have to drink loads to make it worth it, and drinks are well priced anyway. Some of the pay extra restaurants are really good "Sindu (Indian) and The Beach House (US/Mexican) If you want to go to theses it's probably worth booking them in advance before the cruise. The Olive Tree on Iona is good and and that's included as is the street food bit tho that can be a little busy and loud like the buffet bit. The buffet closes at about 9ish but re-opens at 11pm if you want late night food. Breakfast in the main dining halls is good. On formal night (I call it James Bond night) the food in the main dining rooms is of an even higher standard, we got half a lobster, so I'd avoid the pay extra restaurants on that night. You don't need a tux/suite. Shirt and tie with smart trousers and shoes is fine. If your really not into that the buffet has no dress code that night so you can still go there. We didn't go to the posh formal dining bit, I think it's called The Epiquarium.

You have to book your dining on an app, you can book well in advance but don't panic if you want to book at the current time and open it up and it says there are like 40 people in the queue, if you join the queue it generally pinged to say your table was ready within 5 mins, so be ready to go.

Iona has filtered water stations dotted about, there is also a free self service laundrette on each cabin deck.

Andersons bar is nice and relaxed, It's where the have the gin distiller, lots of people go there to play board games, you can get a gin tasting tray there. The Glass House does a nice wine tasting selection. Broadys is the big pub/sports bar and casino area. The cocktail bar above the bridge has great views if you can get a table at the front.

There is always somewhere on the ship that is quiet. For example if you want to use one of the hot tubs (There are about 18) go after breakfast you'll have one to yourself, go at 5pm they'll be rammed. Lots of the Fjord stops have walking trails, you can get a map from the reception on the ship. Try and be on deck (shore side) when you leave Olden, the locals put on a good show.

The excursion they sell onboard are expensive, We paid about £40 to go to a glacier, but you could have just got on the local bus to it for 4 euros. I've not used the onboard internet connect so can't comment on that, make sure your phone is in flight mode though, mine connected to the special maritime phone network and it cost a lot. the cabins are nice and modern and a decent size. If you've got a balcony cabin leave the curtains open on the days your going into the Fjords, you'll wake up and look out and just see cliffs going past the window.

I live in Southampton so it's super convenient, we get from our house into our cabin in less than an hour. I'm going on MSC Euribia for a week in Feb.

 

[ZXSpectrum]

Thanks, that’s some great information and advice.

I am not a drinker so I have no interest in the drinks package.
As this is the first time I have been away for years I am just after a relaxing time. Due to health issues I am not able to do the glacia excursion, maybe if I go again.

As it was a Black Friday deal, we have internal cabins so no balcony I am afraid.

I will see how flush I am towards the date if I can get the internet package. I will take my switch and laptop with a load of movies on so hopefully that will suffice.

 

[drakulton]

Say hi to Slartibartfast.

 

[Capt Doufos]

We are thinking of this for this year. I see there are different itineraries, is one particularly better than the other?

Stavanger​

Flam​

Aurlandsfjord (cruise-by)​

Sognefjord (cruise-by)​

Olden​

Innvikfjorden​

Nordfjord (cruise-by)​

Haugesund​

or

Stavanger​

Olden​

Innvikfjorden (cruise-by)​

Nordfjord (cruise-by)​

Hellesylt​

Geirangerfjord​

Sunnylvsfjorden (cruise-by)​

Storfjorden (cruise-by)​

Haugesund​

 

[krooton]

I'd say the second, as I think geiranger beats out flam in terms of picturesque ports.

 

[Capt Doufos]

Good to know, thank you.

 

[killsta]

Following this thread....as a Norwegian Fjord cruise is on our bucket list since when went on holiday to Norway and did Oslo/Tromso. Amazing scenery!

 

[slinxy]

Sorry for the pivot.. but anyone been on a cruise on their own?
Never been on a cruise before, most of my holidays have been land based staying in a restore but I like the idea of being able to go to muliple places. Just that it's very likely that I would have to go on my lonesome.

Thou it would have to be a cruise in a warm region, as much as I love the nordic people that I've met and the countries do look beautiful... I'm very much a summer bunny.

Thanks in advance..

 

[killsta]

Seems like the perfect thing to do on your own!

 

[Doughnut007]

Sorry for the pivot.. but anyone been on a cruise on their own?
Never been on a cruise before, most of my holidays have been land based staying in a restore but I like the idea of being able to go to muliple places. Just that it's very likely that I would have to go on my lonesome.

Thou it would have to be a cruise in a warm region, as much as I love the nordic people that I've met and the countries do look beautiful... I'm very much a summer bunny.

Thanks in advance..

I have been on a cruise but not on my own.
It would be fine to do solo. There is tons to do and the crew are very friendly.

 

[krooton]

Sorry for the pivot.. but anyone been on a cruise on their own?
Never been on a cruise before, most of my holidays have been land based staying in a restore but I like the idea of being able to go to muliple places. Just that it's very likely that I would have to go on my lonesome.

Thou it would have to be a cruise in a warm region, as much as I love the nordic people that I've met and the countries do look beautiful... I'm very much a summer bunny.

Thanks in advance..

I've only ever cruised with other people, however every single cruise I have been on I have made at least a handful of friends with randoms on board. Really will vary by brand and destination though, a Med cruise on TUI/AIDA you'd probably struggle as the majority of guests would be German, but something like Royal Carribean/Virgin/Celebrity/NCL would be a bit more eclectic. Or go P&O/Cunard if you want to be with mainly other Brits.