Norwegian Fjords Cruise

I recently travelled with my Mother to the Norwegian Fjords onboard a Celebrity Apex Cruise

Our itinerary

Day 1: Check in and chill. The staff delivered their safety briefing of the ship and advised us of our muster station.

Day 2 - Cruising at Sea day onboard Celebrity Apex, mostly basking in the sun

Day 3 – Stavanger

We disembarked the ship and opted for the hop off/hop on a bus tour as the weather was not great. Visit Stavanger and be stunned by the beautiful landscapes including fjords, mountains and white beaches. The city also has an extensive historical background which is portrayed through the city‘s large number of museums. Stavanger is also Europe‘s oil and energy capital. Begin your tour at the first stop, the Strandkaien Cruise Terminal, for the full experience. The tour continued to the Tourist Information Station, where passengers can hop off and walk to Stavanger’s Cathedral. The cathedral is a stunning work of architecture of this city and its interior is equally as beautiful. One of the tour's most notable spots is the Petroleum Museum which has become one of the coast's most memorable landmarks. Located on the Port of Stavanger, its unique architecture makes it stand out from the crowd and its history inside is just as intriguing. If you prefer a museum more focused on natural and cultural history, hop off at the 9th stop. There’s also a museum for art lovers at stop 10. The museum boasts extraordinary artwork, now totalling over 2,600. Another recommended stop to hop off at is stop 11 – the Ledaal Royal Residence. This wonderful building is the official residence of the King of Norway. From the top deck of the tour buses, you get brilliant photos of this famous building. 1) Stavanger Concert Hall (Temporary Stop) 2) Breiavannet / Stavanger Cathedral 3) Stavanger Cathedral 4) Petroleum Museum 5) Skansekaien 6) Petroleum Museum 7) St. Petri Church 8) Museum of Archaeology 9) Stavanger Museum 10) Mosvatnet Park 10) Museum of Art 11) Ledaal Royal Residence.

Day 4 Gerainger Another day off the ship and we opted for the hop-off/hop-on bus tour as the weather was not great. We did get to experience the incredible mountains and lakes of Gerainger aboard this City Sightseeing hop-on, hop-off bus. Discover wonderful attractions, including the Norwegian Fjord Center, where you can learn more about the history and culture of the city and discover why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pet small animals at Westeraas Farm, including llamas and goats, and then go for a walk in the mountains. Take stunning photos from the Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint, and enjoy a picnic or drink as you soak up the impressive views for as long as you want. Avail of the free Wi-Fi to keep connected and share your memories in real-time. Bus Stops: 1) Cruise Ship Terminal 2) Norwegian Fjord Center 3) Westeras Farm 4) Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint

Day 5 Flam A short Trip from Flåm to Lærdal: Borgund Stave Church & Stegastein. The organised trip through Get Your Guide, Venture into an unforgettable guided bus trip towards the most distinctive and well-preserved stave church in Norway. Start your adventure in the charming village of Flåm, nested at the end of the Aurlandsfjorden. This journey takes you through E16´s longest road tunnel, submerged in an underground darkness that makes way for the beautiful Lærdal valley. On the other side, the first photo stop is at the Borgund stave church. There, enjoy the outside view of this terrific building, the fresh mountain air and the sound of the flowing Lærdalselve river. After hopping inside the bus, a rest stop is made at the picturesque village of Lærda where you can also catch a glimpse of the Sognefjorden. Fastening your seatbelts once again, drive across powerful mountains and breathtaking sights over the Aurlandsfjorden, one of Norway´s best scenic roads. Before you get tired of the twists and turns, admire from above where two impressive arms of the Sognefjorden meet, at the Stegastein viewpoint. The trip ends at the meeting point in Flåm, after driving down the last meandering section of the Aurlandsfjorden. We returned to Apex for our evening onboard.

Day 6 Haugesund We disembarked Celebrity Apex and opted for the Hop on Hop off Bus to explore the Nordic city of Haugesund with a 1-day hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour. Board the sightseeing bus at the cruise ship terminal after getting off your cruise ship. Then, discover city highlights like the Visnes Mining Museum, Haraldshaugen National Monument, Byparken and Dokken Museum and more. Hop off at the Visnes Mining Museum, a window into the past situated on the site of an old copper mine that was once one of the most important industrial sites in Norway. Next, visit the Viking Village of Avaldsnes, one of Norway's most important Viking locations. It was here that King Harald Fairhair united Norway for the first time. See how legendary warriors lived in the Viking Village, an important centre of power in Viking Norway. Continue to Haraldshaugen National Monument, another reminder of the area's Viking past. Erected in 1872, it marked the thousandth anniversary of Norway's unification by Harald Fairhair. Tour Stops 1. Cruise Terminal 2. Tourist Information/City Center 3. Visnes Mining Museum 4. Avaldsnes Viking Village 5. City Hall 6. Var Frelses Church, Folk Museum, and City Center 7. Haraldshaugen National Monument 8. Byparken and Dokken Museum 9. Cruise Terminal.

Day 7 - was a sea day, a rather gloomy trip with high winds cruising back to Southampton. Celebrity Apex for the facilities and entertainment was outstanding, with plenty of restaurants, and no shortage of food. Our cabin was cleaned daily by housekeeping.

For more information on a Cruise or to view some of the activities available onboard, do contact me, I have pdf itineraries to show you.

Follow my Facebook page for more cruise photos. Lisa Kendall at Designer Travel