Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

8 of the best Norwegian fjords cruise holidays for adventure, dazzling scenery and the northern lights

The majestic Norwegian fjords are best viewed from the water, and many cruise lines offer itineraries exploring this Norway and its scenic waterways – here are eight of the best to choose from

Marc Shoffman,Natalie Wilson
Tuesday 10 June 2025 09:54 EDT
Comments
Secure the best views of the fjords with a cruise
Secure the best views of the fjords with a cruise (Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours)

If picturesque views, magical light shows and crystal-clear waters float your boat, then a cruise in the Norwegian fjords could be worth considering for your next holiday.

There are more than 1,700 named fjords in Norway, where verdant cliffs, sparkling waters and dramatic waterfalls are the order of the day. The best views are undoubtedly from the water, and a cruise is the best way to tick off multiple incredible fjordic towns and destinations in one holiday.

You can watch the sunset out on deck in the winter or stay up later under the bewitching midnight sun in the summer. If you’re lucky, you’ll witness the natural phenomenon of the northern lights with its ethereal green tones that appear to dance across the night sky. There are clearer skies seen from a ship compared to on shore.

Passengers will visit colourful and historic villages and can opt for exciting excursions such as taking a rig boat to get up close to the waterfalls. You can even take a cable car up a mountain to experience dramatic aerial views.

Many cruise ships visit the fjords, from luxury lines and those with adult-only itineraries, to kid-friendly voyages that allow you to share the views and make memories with the family.

Here are some of the best Norwegian fjords cruises for 2025.

Read more: Best cruise deals for 2025

Best for: Scenic views

Celebrity Cruises: Norwegian Fjords & Arctic Circle

Southampton – Haugesund – Flam – Olden – Arctic Circle (Cruising) – Tromso – Honningsvag – Arctic Circle (Cruising) – Molde – Stavanger – Southampton

Celebrity Apex will visit the fjords this year
Celebrity Apex will visit the fjords this year (Celebrity)

Set off from Southampton for the Norwegian fjords via Bruges for a 12-night round trip. A day feasting on chocolate and waffles will help prepare you for a feast for the eyes once you hit the fjords.

The Nordic adventure starts in Flåm on the world’s longest and deepest fjord, and the voyage also includes a day sailing through the Arctic Circle.

This will give passengers social media-worthy pictures of both green and snow-packed mountains.

The 2,900-capacity Celebrity Apex is a great ship to experience the Norwegian fjords from, especially if you grab a table in the Magic Carpet restaurant and bar. Its glass platform goes up and down on the side of the ship, providing uniquely scenic views.

Departs 25 August 2025. From £1,079pp

Book now

Best for: Day trips

Saga Cruises: Northern Lights and Festive Delights

Portsmouth – Bergen – Ålesund – Narvik– Trondheim – Åndalsnes – Stavanger – Copenhagen – Bremen – Portsmouth

Select excursions are included in Saga Cruises fares
Select excursions are included in Saga Cruises fares (Saga Cruises)

This 18-night adventure visits the fjords and the Christmas markets of Copenhagen and Bremen en route.

Sailing aboard Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery, you will enjoy two sea days before you arrive in Bergen to explore the town’s colourful buildings, followed by the northern lights hotspot of Ålesund.

The over-50s brand includes four excursions in its fares, such as a tour of the Art Nouveau buildings of Ålesund and a search for the northern lights during a stop in Narvik.

Legendary ice skating duo Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean will also be on board to entertain guests, alongside singer and soap star Claire Sweeney.

Departs 29 November 2025. From £5,757pp.

Book now

Best for: Convenient cruising

P&O Cruises: Norwegian Fjords

Southampton – Stavanger – Ålesund – Olden – Innvikfjorden – Nordfjord – Haugesund – Southampton

Iona offers the best of British while exploring the Norwegian fjords
Iona offers the best of British while exploring the Norwegian fjords (Getty Images)

Depart from the convenient UK port of Southampton with P&O Cruises.

Many of the ships in the P&O Cruises fleet visit the Nordic region. But this seven-day sailing aboard Iona gives you the best of both worlds when it comes to the fjords.

Port stops include the former European Capital of Culture, Stavanger, and Olden, where passengers can visit the biggest glacier in mainland Europe, Jostedalsbreen. The sites and scenery of the fjords can be enjoyed on land or from Iona’s 41 metre-long luminous glass-roofed SkyDome.

The ship has four pools, a multiplex cinema and eight dining venues covering international flavours such as Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. There is even a British gastropub to make you feel at home, The Keel & Cow.

As a British brand, passengers also have the convenience of English plug sockets and being able to pay in sterling whilst on board.

Departs 6 September 2025. From £799pp.

Book now

Best for: Immersive experiences

Scenic: Norway to Portugal

Bergen – Stavanger – Skagen – Copenhagen – Kiel Canal – Scheveningen – Honfleur – St Peter Port – Vilagarcía de Arousa – Leixões – Lisbon

Smaller ships take passengers closer to the action, providing more intimate views of the Norwegian fjords
Smaller ships take passengers closer to the action, providing more intimate views of the Norwegian fjords (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Start with scenery and end in the sun on this 14-day sailing with Scenic. This voyage starts from Bergen in Norway before visiting Stavanger, where passengers can take a three-hour boat ride through the majestic Lysefjord. The cruise finishes in Lisbon via Vilagarcía de Arousa in Spain.

With capacity for 228 passengers, Scenic provides a small luxury ship experience with suites and a personalised butler service for every cruiser.

The ship’s size means it can get closer to the fjords, and you can even enjoy views from the ship’s bridge.

Departs 11 September 2025. From £11,727pp.

Book now

Best for: Nordic experience

Hurtigruten: Lofoten to the West Fjords,

Svolvær – Brønnøysund – Trondheim – Bergen

Passengers can hug the Norwegian coastline with Hurtigruten
Passengers can hug the Norwegian coastline with Hurtigruten (Getty Images)

Fancy a whistle-stop tour of Norway? Hurtigruten has four-day sailings that visit 16 ports along Norway’s west coast, including the Arctic Circle. Ships sail the local routes and offer a hop-on-hop-off service for locals, as well as the full cruise experience, cabins and restaurants serving hyper-local, seasonal dishes inspired by the destinations visited.

The packed schedule will take you to the picturesque fishing villages of the Lofoten Islands, a rarity on fjords cruise itineraries, and along the famous seascapes of the Helgeland coast.

Regular departures 2025. From £754pp.

Book here

Best for: Artistic inspiration

Fred Olsen: Scenic Landscapes of the Norwegian Fjords

Dover – Hardangerfjord – Maurangerfjord – Eidfjord – Ulvik – Lysefjord –Jøsenfjorden – Svandalsfoss Falls – Bergen – Dover

Fred Olsen’s Borealis departs from Dover for the Norwegian fjords
Fred Olsen’s Borealis departs from Dover for the Norwegian fjords (Fred Olsen)

Fred Olsen’s Norwegian heritage makes it a great brand to visit the fjords with.

This seven-night sailing from Dover aboard Borealis makes use of the ship’s Observatory lounge, offering ample spots to sit comfortably with your binoculars to stare out of view-framing windows.

Highlights of this trip include sailing by the orchard-lined Hardangerfjord and a detour along Maurangerfjord to catch sight of the impressive Fureberg Waterfall.

Departs June 27, 2025. From £1,088pp.

Book now

Best for: Family fun

Ambassador Cruise Line: Norway’s Fjords Multi-Generational Adventure

Dundee – Eidfjord – Bergen – Flam – Sognerfjord – Aurlandsfjord – Newcastle – Dundee

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition will sail from Dundee to the Norwegian fjords
Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition will sail from Dundee to the Norwegian fjords (Getty Images)

Ambassador Cruise Line is adult-only for much of the year but does offer a few multi-generational sailings so that the whole family can spend quality time together.

There is no kids’ club on board, with a focus instead on family activities. Enjoying the scenery of the Norwegian fjords is a great shared experience for all ages, and this seven-night sailing from Dundee could be the perfect summer holiday treat.

Sailing aboard Ambassador’s newest ship, Ambition, the cruise visits the towering mountains and cascading waterfalls of Eidfjord, as well as the colourful houses of Bergen and Flåm, where a trip through the mountains on the famous Flåm Railway is sure to generate multi-generational memories.

Departs 31 July, 2025. From £1,179pp.

Book now

Best for: A genuine taste of Scandinavia

Viking Cruises: Viking Shores & Fjords, Viking Cruises

Amsterdam – Skagen – Oslo – Kristiansand – Stavanger – Flam – Bergen

Passengers can end a Norwegian fjords cruise in Bergen with Viking Cruises
Passengers can end a Norwegian fjords cruise in Bergen with Viking Cruises (Getty Images)

Viking Cruises is another Norwegian brand bringing a genuine Nordic experience to fjords cruises. Its ships even have a resident historian on board, and the subjects on this eight-day sailing include lectures on the medieval defence network known as the Hanseatic League, as well as the Vikings.

That should set your imagination racing as you enjoy the historical waters that these people once sailed and the scenery they saw in places such as Kristiansand, Stavanger and Flåm.

Departs 12 August 2025. From £3,990pp.

Book now

Read more: How to experience Africa’s wildest coastline from the comfort of your balcony

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in