Imagine standing at the bow of a small ship sailing through a monumental amphitheatre carved out by nature. Sheer, inky-dark walls rise abruptly from the fathomless water. Your vessel glides past a thundering waterfall, which veils craggy bluffs with a rainbow-tinted mist.
Water below the ship’s hull is emerald-green and glassy – so still, you feel the urge to ripple the surface, as if trailing your hand from a rowing boat.
The shrill call of a solitary white-tailed eagle softly lingers, vibrating against the cliffs. There’s a faint smell of water that’s cleaner, sweeter than the sea. You inhale deeply… the world pauses.
While Norway’s coastline features over a thousand fjords, capturing this quiet, immersive perspective depends heavily on one decision: the size of your ship.
Smaller, cleaner
Not all fjords are equally accessible for all sizes of ships. Smaller boutique vessels are nimble enough to penetrate narrow waterways that bigger behemoths are physically prevented from sailing. They are light enough to ease into shallower harbours without risk.
Although many fjords are deep enough to handle the larger ocean-going vessels, the Norwegian Parliament mandated that ships entering its UNESCO World Heritage fjords (Geirangerfjord, Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, Sunnylvsfjord, and Tafjord) achieve zero emissions to protect these delicate ecosystems. Smaller, clean-energy-compatible expedition vessels could adapt quickly, but larger ocean liners have been given phased compliance timelines up to 2032 to allow for technological development.*
However, that deadline is still a way off, and bigger, legacy fleet vessels still cruise these arteries. For a purer immersion in Norway’s coastline and maritime lifestyle, you need to be on a ship carrying hundreds, not thousands of passengers, to benefit from bespoke excursion programmes, a more intimate atmosphere onboard, and sharing observation spaces with fewer people.
Finding fantastic fjords with our partners
You could consider HX Expeditions’ MS Spitsbergen, which offers expedition-style adventures for just 150 passengers to experience Norway as a winter wonderland. HX’s style of Arctic Norway itineraries feature authentic encounters with remote island communities; beach bonfire cookouts, inspired by Norway’s friluftsliv philosophy that spending time outdoors is good for the soul; and the revitalising Scandinavian tradition of combining a hot sauna with a polar plunge.
Or there’s Swan Hellenic’s SH Diana, with 192 passengers, which is able to navigate deep into Trollfjorden in Lofoten, a slender finger of water with a turning basin requiring ships to perform agile manoeuvres. The biggest ships will only peer in here, from the outside.
Towering rocks on both sides, you sail into an acoustic bubble, with cliffs so lofty, they cast dramatic shadows over the water. Trollfjorden is overlooked by snow-flecked jagged peaks, and with no roads, cars or villages in sight, it feels like you’ve reached the edge of the earth.
Carrying just 184 passengers, PONANT’s next-generation expedition yacht, Le Champlain calls at Skudeneshavn, a tranquil 19th-century fishing town, in south-west Norway. The nautical approach, supported by lighthouses, prevents mainstream cruise lines from docking here, forcing them to visit via an hour-long coach drive from Haugesund.
On Le Champlain, you can be out on deck as the ship glides past white-washed timber boathouses and tied-up fishing boats.
Once the anchor is dropped just outside the historic harbour entrance, the ship’s Zodiacs make short work of ferrying passengers into the heart of the well-preserved Old Town; this a delightful enclave of cobbled streets, lined with boutiques and cafes, and bursting with vibrant flower boxes.
Then there is Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride, which docks overnight in Molde, known as the City of Roses. Bigger ships tend to visit this coastal fjord town during daytime only. The extended stay for Star Pride’s 312 passengers is warranted: thanks to Molde’s west-facing position on Romsdalsfjord, its sunsets are worthy of a watercolour painting.
A golden hour best enjoyed from Varden Viewpoint, famous for its panorama of 222 peaks, or in a waterfront bistro while sipping one of the area’s full-bodied craft beers.
Jewel in the crown
Some fjords are too special to bypass, and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Geirangerfjord is one of those.
During peak season there could be as many as five ships entering the fjord. Only one ship at a time can use Geiranger’s SeaWalk pier, the rest need to drop anchor and shuttle passengers ashore using tender boats. It’s the same for nearby Hellesylt, where only one ship can tie up quayside at any one time, and additional vessels must anchor out in Sunnylvsfjorden.
Smaller cruise ships hold a few ace cards when it comes to busier transits like these. Their more flexible schedules align with quieter times of day; they secure smaller berths and more favourable anchorage spots; tendering is swift and seamless; and in many cases, they have fleets of Zodiacs onboard, to access shallow coves and untouched shorelines.
Our small ship cruise consultants know the Norwegian fjords inside out, and they can reveal those ace cards to you. Whatever time of year you want to explore Norway’s coastline, let our experts be your strategists, helping you play your hand perfectly.
About Katherine
Katherine Masters is an award-winning travel journalist, editor and writer with 20 years’ experience in digital and print publishing. She writes about the people, places and experiences that make travel meaningful, with a particular interest in positive-impact travel and human-interest stories. Her work explores the stories behind the destinations, bringing fresh perspectives and thoughtful insights to curious travellers.
Find out more about Katherine at katherinemasters.co.uk.
If this experience has inspired you, our Cruise Consultants can help you explore Norwegian voyages, choose your ship and itinerary, and plan the details of an adventure that is right for you.
Why book with Cruise Routes?
At Cruise Routes, we believe cruising is designed for exploration.
The opportunity for real discovery is the golden thread connecting every journey we recommend. From extraordinary wildlife and spectacular landscapes to meaningful encounters with the places you visit, our carefully selected expedition cruises are chosen to help you experience destinations more deeply – not simply pass through them.
If you’re considering Norway as your first expedition cruise our Cruise Consultants are here to help you find the right voyage for you.
Speak to a Cruise Consultant about your Norwegian cruise on 0203 924 8888 or enquire here.
