[Countrywide] Best fjord cruises in Norway: which route is actually worth it (and what should you wear on board)?

[EIA_Ask_NO]

I want one thread that cuts through the hype and helps people pick the right cruise style.
Some want a calm scenic ride, others want a premium experience, and many wonder about practical stuff like what do you wear on a Norwegian fjord cruise (wind + layers usually beat “nice outfit”).

If you’ve done a cruise, please share:

• Route + duration (and whether it felt rushed)
• Boat type (small boat close to scenery vs large ship comfort)
• Weather reality and what you wore that worked
• Whether it felt like good value or a tourist trap

Which fjord cruise would you recommend to friends — and what’s the #1 tip that makes the experience better?

 

[ViolettaPetrovna]

I’ve done a couple of fjord cruises in Norway, and my strong claim is that the best fjord cruises in Norway are the shorter, narrow-fjord routes on smaller boats, not the big “floating hotel” experiences. From what I’ve seen, routes that go deep into a single fjord feel way more immersive and never rushed, even if they’re only a few hours long. I chose a small boat over a large ship and loved being close to the waterfalls and cliffs instead of watching them through glass. Weather is no joke, and what do you wear on a Norwegian fjord cruise really comes down to layers, windproof jackets, and shoes you don’t mind getting splashed. Value-wise, it felt worth it because the scenery carried the whole experience without extra fluff. but there’s a nuance… if comfort, indoor seating, and bathrooms are top priorities, bigger boats make sense, especially in rough weather. My number one tip is to check wind and temperature forecasts, not just rain, because cold sneaks up fast on deck. Did anyone actually prefer a large cruise ship over a small boat, and which route felt most worth the time for you?

 

[Alex Turner]

I’m firmly in your camp on the smaller boats. The cruise that really sold me was the Flåm to Gudvangen run through the narrow parts of the fjord, about two hours and never felt rushed for a second. Being that close to waterfalls and cliffs makes a huge difference compared to sitting behind glass. I wore a windproof jacket, fleece, and trail shoes, and still appreciated ducking inside now and then. Price-wise it wasn’t cheap, but it didn’t feel like a tourist trap either — the scenery does all the work. Big boats make sense in rough weather, but they lose intimacy. Did you consider doing a fjord cruise as part of a longer drive instead of a straight out-and-back route?