Exploring the Norwegian Fjords on the Sky Princess

Enjoying this beautiful rainbow from our stateroom balcony on Sky Princess as we cruise to our next port.

The seven day itinerary begins and ends not in Norway but in Southampton, England. Our group of 15 flew in two days before embarkation day from various parts of the United States to London before taking trains and private coaches to our first hotel just a few minutes from port, the Voco Southampton. Well…half of us made it to the hotel. Four travelers were delayed by their plane’s mechanical difficulties and had to join us directly at the port to board the lovely Sky Princess (luckily with a few hours to spare before we set sail). They were very glad they had purchased coverage with my recommended travel insurance provider, Faye Insurance, and were reimbursed for their missed hotel stay and delays! The Voco Southampton is a clean, updated, modern space with a solid restaurant next to the lobby for easy breakfast and evening options. Although they do not have a shuttle to the port, taxis were constantly streaming in for pick-ups and drop-offs on embarkation/disembarkation days. They are a property that is very familiar with assisting cruise passengers.

Days one and two of the itinerary had us at sea, which gave us plenty of time to explore the ship and get used to navigating the decks and hallways. The children very quickly utilized the pool as soon as we boarded then found the small but entertaining arcade in the evening. The adults chose to peruse the various eateries, bars, and seating options to view the waves throughout the journey. We all opted to have staterooms with balconies on this journey since so much of the draw was getting to see the fjords as we cruise, and a good amount of time was spent that first afternoon and evening enjoying the fresh air and sea views. Having a sea day to start the journey is such a great opportunity to understand the value of the ship you’re on and the crew you’ll be spending your days with!

A wider view of Langfoss Waterfall after we had seen it up close

Day three of the journey had our first port of call in Haugesand. Our group decided to try a third party vendor for our group bus excursion to explore the area and reach waterfalls and landscapes further out. A must-see is the Langfoss waterfall in Akrafjorden, a dramatic 612 meter long waterfall that cuts through the steep mountainside. We also enjoyed seeing the coastline from atop Haraldshaugen, a national monument that celebrates the unification of Norway into a single kingdom.

The waters in the fjords are this stunning blue/green color due to the particles washed down by melting glaciers!

Day four brought us to Sognefjord and Skjolden. Our group decided to try some of the ship excursions offered by Princess. My family and I opted for the Urnes Stave Church & Viking Shipyard experience. The tour group was split in half with one half brought to one site while the other explored the other site, then switching halfway through. The shipyard was fascinating, with our guide explaining the history of woodcrafting techniques as well as modern and ancient ship-making practices. Urnes Stave is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a small and distinctive church on a hill with beautiful carvings and designs inside. We visited on a grey, wet day which only added to the atmosphere of the visit! The drive itself from the port to the sites was beautiful, twisting along the water as we made our way to each place.

Ships and boats of all sizes were being crafted and restored at the shipyard we toured.

The inside of the Urnes Stave, a UNESCO World Heritage site

Day five was supposed to be a major highlight–a stop in Olden with an excursion to Briksdal Glacier. Unfortunately, the weather chose not to cooperate that day, and the captain made the decision to sail around fairly bad weather and rough waters to make sure passengers and crew stayed safe. Although we were disappointed to miss out on exploring Olden and Briksdal Glacier, we were glad to be on a ship that took our safety very seriously. We also took this chance to try more of the entertainment on the ship, including the music trivia in one of the smaller lounge areas and the dramatic rock opera in the theater.

Day six had us back on track, making it early to our port in Stavanger! This is such a charming port, with a variety of restaurants, shops, and local businesses to patronize. There was an active outdoor market during our visit where we picked up various trinkets to take home. This is also the home to a medieval cathedral, traditional wooden houses with their signature roofs, as well as a well regarded Petroleum Museum (we didn’t have time to pop in for a visit this time, but the kids played in the unique outdoor park right next to the museum). Parts of the city house wonderful art pieces, and we ran into various colorful streets that matched the energy of the city. It was a charming walk and an easy exploration of local culture right off the ship.

Day seven was our last full day on the ship, spent completely at sea before returning to Southampton. We tried to sample a few things from eateries we hadn’t tried yet and played card/boardgames as a large group in one of the quieter seating areas. This was also the formal night on the ship for dinner, so everyone dressed their best to celebrate the wonderful memories made during our visit to Norway.

The Sky Princess at port in Stavanger

But the fun didn’t stop when we got to Southampton. We were already in England–why not spend a few days in London?

I arranged for our private transfer from Southampton to London by way of Stonehenge. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site crossed off our list, we enjoyed getting the chance to see this important place but also stretch our legs during the journey to London. Our driver even noticed us talking about various fruit vendors we saw when exiting the area and stopped to let us buy a few items to snack on for the rest of our journey!

Refreshed and filled with fresh summer produce, we arrived in London for our 3 night stay at The Marylebone Hotel, located in the heart of its namesake neighborhood. This was the perfect location for our group, a quieter area with easy access to the big attractions via the London Underground. With organized private group tours that drove us from place to place in a classic London Black Cab, we were able to pack in the major must-sees without the fatigue. The highlights of the time in London would have to be getting to explore the inside of Buckingham Palace’s select rooms and gardens and getting the chance to legally spray paint and leave our mark on the inside of Leake Street Tunnel.

Don’t overpack for the ship. Take advantage of the laundry rooms on board and save space in your luggage for the souvenirs you’ll purchase along the way. Pack a laundry bag to make it easier to bring back and forth, or to keep your dirty clothes truly separate from clean on your journey home.

However, pack for a variety of weather situations if you travel in the summer. It will be considerably warmer in Southampton and London, and almost certainly rainier once cruising on the fjords. Layers and quick-dry materials will be your friend.

It’s also important to remember that travel delays and changes happen, which is why it’s important to have travel insurance to cover changes an airline may not as well as tour partners that are clear about their policies. Losing out on a visit to a destination is tough enough!

For more travel inspiration and insider recommendations, check out our Cruises page.