ALL A-FJORD
I went on a week-long cruise around Norway – with world’s most beautiful waterfalls and stunning beaches
Are you brave enough for the Stegastein viewpoint?
WHIZZING along the water holding on for dear life wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for a peaceful cruise to the Norwegian fjords.
We boarded the RIB (rigid inflatable boat) just a hundred metres or so from the MSC Virtuosa, our cruise liner home for the week — kitted out in waterproof overalls and goggles as we soaked up the views of the fishing villages and wildlife surrounding the seaside town of Maloy.
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This is just one of the dozens of excursions MSC Cruises offers on a week-long Norwegian Fjords voyage.
I’m one of 6,000 guests on board the sold-out ship — 330 metres long and 19 decks — with Kelly, my wife, and our daughters Savannah, 13, and Scarlett, ten.
We are first-time “cruisers” and I have to admit I was slightly overwhelmed when I first boarded as there’s just so much to do on and off the enormous ship.
The day trips, expertly organised by the cruise team, offer a hassle-free way to see the highlights of the surrounding areas on one of four port stops.
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And they really do make a Norwegian Fjord cruise the experience of a lifetime.
At our first stop, in Haugesund, the breathtaking Langfoss waterfall awaited us, voted one of the top ten most beautiful waterfalls in the world.
I had expected a tranquil trickle of water surrounded by tourists posing for Instagram photos.
But instead we were greeted by a ferocious torrent of water falling from 600 metres above our heads.
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For our day-long visit to Flam we jumped on a coach to the Stegastein viewpoint where tourists can walk out on a special gangway suspended some 650 metres above the fjord below.
Our final stop took us to Kristiansand which is on the southern tip of the country.
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We hadn’t booked an excursion for this stop so were free to explore solo.
Picking up a map, we headed to the local nature park.
A wrong turn paid off, leading us to most beautiful lake where swimmers were taking advantage of the good weather.
Wide of the mark
Do remember your swimming kit when you leave the boat as there are plenty of beaches and lakes to enjoy a quick dip.
The delight of a cruise holiday is that you are taken to the heart of some beautiful spots — without the hassle of airports, trains and hire cars.
All those preconceptions of cruises being for the retired are wide of the mark.
Our fellow holidaymakers were families and couples of all ages and with so much flexibility this is a perfect solution for a multi-generational holiday.
Our room on our “home from home” the MSC Virtuosa had a double bed, bunk beds for the kids and a balcony offering fresh air and incredible sea views.
Not that we spent much time there as there were five swimming pools, Jacuzzis and a staggering 21 bars to enjoy — five of them serving tipples outside.
If you do want to take full advantage of those bars it’s best to purchase a drinks package before you board as it can work out a lot cheaper.
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For dinner we were assigned to the Il Campo restaurant and to avoid overcrowding, passengers are offered one of three sitting times.
Or you can head to one of the speciality restaurants, including the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse.
Mexican, Vietnamese, tepanyaki and sushi are also on offer.
If you just fancy grabbing food at your convenience, the Marketplace Buffet serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and late-night snacks until 1am.
Evenings are spectacular with passengers encouraged to dress up for theme nights including White Night and Sunshine Night.
Attire is superp-smart for the Gala Night with some passengers even donning tuxedos and cocktail dresses.
Booking is essential for evening entertainment in Le Grand Theatre where we saw stunning singing and dancing with Abba and Michael Jackson tributes standing out.
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And special mentions go to stand-up comedian Tucker, who had us in stitches, as well as hypnotist Chris Caress, whose power of persuasion saw several guests lose all their inhibitions.
We may have been first-time cruisers this time round — but we will back for more.
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GO: Norway Fjord Cruise
SAILING THERE: MSC Virtuosa will sail to the Norwegian fjords next year from May 10 with seven-day itineraries from £749pp, departing from Southampton and calling at Haugesund, Maloy, Flam and Kristiansand.
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