Why a Norwegian fjords cruise is the perfect family holiday
Above all else, a Norwegian fjords cruise is about sitting back and lapping up the spectacular scenery. So you might well think it's not ideally suited to a family trip.
However, there are good reasons to consider taking the children on a trip along Norway's long and indented coastline.
With land usually in sight, often on both sides of the ship, there is much more to look at when on board than on most cruises. And the passing views of spiky mountains, cascading waterfalls and quaint waterside settlements can engross the most restless children, particularly if you've taken binoculars with you.
You can be active at ports of call. Hiking and kayaking excursions are widely on offer – and in that respect a fjords cruise arguably works better with older children. And you don't always need to sign up for expensive organised outings. In Bergen, for example, most ships dock in easy walking distance of the base of a funicular, which takes you up a mountain to hiking trails through pine woods.
And talking of cost, for the British market most fjords cruises set sail from a UK port, avoiding the extra expense (and hassle) of flights. And with prices on land for food and accommodation in Norway eye-wateringly expensive, a cruise is an ideal way to take the family to see a stunning slice of Scandinavia relatively affordably.
All that said, before committing to a cruise along Norway's long and indented coastline, do give careful thought to the weather. In the summer months – peak season for fjords cruises – it can be warm and sunny, but you should also be prepared for rain. Bergen is one of Europe's wettest cities.
Not deterred? To maximise your chances of ending up with a fjords-loving kid instead of a bored one, we've picked out a selection of family-friendly cruises to the region in the 2019 school summer holidays.
Disney magic
The Norwegian fjords served as the inspiration for Disney’s animated film Frozen, and on a fjords cruise on Disney Magic you can visit a replica village and meet Anna, Elsa and Kristoff, characters from the blockbuster.
On board you can expect a cornucopia of high-quality entertainment led by other Disney characters, supervised children's play areas and a trendy teen lounge.
The seven-night Norwegian Fjords Cruise on Disney Magic departing from Dover on August 25, 2019 starts from ￡1,656pp (0800 169 0742; disneyholidays.co.uk/disney-cruise-line).
Kayaking and glaciers
Cruise on P&O's flagship Britannia, visiting Stavanger, ?lesund, Bergen and the village of Olden, from where you can hike to the magnificent Briksdal Glacier or kayak on Nordfjord's glacial waters. Britannia has highly-regarded, age-specific kids' clubs, family pools, a teen deck and sports arena.
The seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Britannia departing from Southampton on August 10, 2019 starts from ￡857pp (0345 355 5111; pocruises.com).
Geordie shores departure
A fjords cruise from Newcastle means shorter North Sea crossings than from more southerly ports. A keenly-priced voyage on the fun-packed Marella Explorer visits impossibly pretty Fl?m, where you can take one of the world's steepest and most scenic train rides.
The seven-night A Taste of the Fjords cruise on Marella Explorer departing from Newcastle on July 7, 2019 starts from ￡910pp (0871 230 2800; tui.co.uk/cruise).
For a thrilling RIB ride
Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess, highly-rated for its kids' clubs and activities, packs in five ports of call in its week-long fjord cruises. Excursions that should thrill families include a high-speed RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) ride around the very scenic Geirangerfjord.
The eight-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Sapphire Princess departing from Southampton on August 10, 2019 starts from ￡799pp (0344 338 8663; princess.com).
Education, as well as entertainment
If you want your children to learn something on their cruise, consider booking with Celebrity. Its ships offer the free on-board Anturus Explorer Academy, with educational activities such as creating a weather station, compass and shelter.
Exciting excursions on offer on Celebrity Silhouette's fjords cruise include a RIB adventure from ?lesund in search of seals and eagles, and a hike to the famous Pulpit Rock, near Stavanger.
The seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Celebrity Silhouette departing from Southampton on August 25, 2019 starts from ￡899pp (0800 441 4054; celebritycruises.co.uk).
For a Danish/Norwegian combo
This fjords cruise, to Stavanger, Bergen, ?lesund and Kristiansand on Royal Caribbean's lively Serenade of the Seas (kids' clubs, rock climbing wall), departs from Copenhagen. Add on a night or two in the Danish capital, and you can take in the delights of Tivoli Gardens amusement park.
The seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Serenade of the Seas departing from Copenhagen on August 18, 2019 starts from ￡1,150pp (0844 493 4005; royalcaribbean.co.uk).
For a voyage north of the Arctic Circle
Hurtigruten's fleet of civilised, comfy but unflashy small-scale ships offer coastal trips between Bergen and Kirkenes, way above the Arctic Circle on the Russian border, making multiple stops en route to pick up and drop off cargo and local passengers.
Though the atmosphere on board is grown up, children are welcome, and the most family-friendly ship, MS Finnmarken, has a heated outdoor pool and hot tubs, and a complimentary Young Explorers' programme of daily on-board activities focused on Norwegian themes.
The six-night Classic Voyage North on MS Finnmarken departing from Bergen on various dates in August 2019 starts from ￡1,447pp (0203 553 1682; hurtigruten.co.uk).
For a longer, more varied trip
Sail on the mid-sized Norwegian Spirit – one of the older and more traditional ships in the NCL fleet – on a fortnight-long circuit of northern European waters. You'll visit scenic fjords not only in Norway but also in Iceland, and also stop off in Dublin, Belfast, Amsterdam and the Belgium port of Zeebrugge (for Bruges).
The 14-night Mystical Fjords cruise on Norwegian Spirit departing from Southampton on July 7, 2019 starts from ￡2,119pp (0333 241 2319; ncl.com).
