From the peak of Mount Hoven, you can see snow-capped mountains, the tiny village of Olden (centre) and the cruise ship on Lake Lovatnet.— Photos: PAK YEW PUN
My family and I went on an eight-day cruise to the Norwegian Fjordlands in June, sailing from the English port of Southampton.
The ship was called Iona, and upon boarding we promptly registered for the Behind-the-Scenes tour package. Limited to only 20 people out of the over 5,500 passengers, we had missed this particular tour during our first cruise in 2023 so we were determined to make it this time around.
On the first day of sailing we mostly just familiarised ourselves with the ship, using its many amenities and checking out the pools. In the evening, we watched a magic show by the Twin Tricksters.
The writer (left) and his family exploring Haugesund on e-bikes.
The Behind-the-Scenes tour took place on the second day. No cellphones and cameras were allowed on this tour; all 20 guests had to undergo body scans by security personnel to detect any audio-visual recording devices.
During the three-hour tour, we got to see the ship’s crew-only sections like the laundrette, kitchen, engine control room and the mooring dock where the massive anchors, chains and mooring lines were kept.
In the ultra modern kitchen, we were told that the ship uses more than 60,000 eggs during the entire cruise!
The highlight of the tour was an exclusive visit to the Captain’s Bridge where we got to meet the officers-in-charge.
For dinner that night, all guests were required to be dressed in formal black tie attire. The “Celebration Night” fine dining menu was specially created by popular British chef Marco Pierre White.
On the third day we ported at Stavenger, Norway. Known as the “Cradle of Vikings”, Stavenger is the gateway to the Norwegian Fjordlands. This small city has a history that dates back to 872, when it is said the Viking King Harald Fairhair founded the Kingdom of Norway in nearby Hafrsfjord.
We rode in a high-speed rigid inflatable boat on the Lysefjord, and marvelled at the majestic mountains and the thunderous waterfalls that surround the area.
We stopped briefly for photos at Preikestolen, better known as the Pulpit Rock. It’s a breathtaking rock formation that’s about 60m above sea level.
The next day we ported at Olden, a village located on the southern end of Nordfjord, as well as the entrance of the Oldedalen Valley. Here, you will find one of the biggest glaciers in Europe, Jostedalsbeen.
We took the public bus and stopped at Briksdal Inn, where we hiked for nearly an hour to get to the viewpoint of the magical Briksdal Glacier.
Later, we hopped on another bus to village of Loen. Along the way, we enjoyed the scenic landscapes, and caught the sight of Stryn Lake. At Loen, we took a cable car to the peak of Mount Hoven, where we saw our cruise ship in the far distance down below.
Another port stop was Hellesylt, a Unesco World Heritage Site that has a population of fewer than 300. The place is surrounded by ancient farmhouses, most of which have been restored, snow-capped peaks and a waterfall.
Its most famous building is the Sunnylven Church, which is said to have been built in 1150.
The writer (second from right) with his wife, son and daughter-in-law at the ship's black-tie Celebration Night.
We also visited the Seven Sisters waterfall, Bridal Veil waterfall, Suitor Waterfall and De Syv Sostre waterfall. We were told to keep our eyes peeled for wildlife such as porpoises, seals and whales. Alas, we only saw porpoises and seals.
One night, passengers were treated to stunning views of the Sunnylvsfjorden, Stanfjorden and Geiranger on the ship’s open top deck at night. We had no problems taking pictures as it was summer and the sun only set after 11pm at the time.
At Haugesund, the homeland of the Viking kings, we hired electric bicycles to explore the town.
We started at the vibrant shopping street of Haraldshaugen, saw the fisherman and Marilyn Monroe statues, as well as the statue of King Fairhair, and Virgin Mary’s Sewing Needle, one of Norway’s tallest pillars.
We visited Norway’s only National Monument, which is an ode to King Fairhair. It is strongly believed that he was buried in the vicinity although historians do not know the exact spot.
The idyllic village of Haugesund which is the homeland of the Viking kings.
As this was our second cruise after my retirement in 2022, a few friends asked if I would consider going on another cruise in the future. My reply is a definitive “Yes”.
As senior citizens, my wife and I enjoyed the many user-friendly facilities and activities on the ship, the excellent food choices, the safety features in place for elderly guests and of course, the superb service of the well-trained crew.
The views expressed are entirely the writer’s own.
