Norwegian fjords cruise: when to go, ports and what to see

The classic season for a Norwegian fjords cruise is June to August, when Fred. Olsen Cruises says the weather is most stable and mild, with long days, but you can sail throughout the year. Spring and autumn are quieter.

Fred. Olsen Cruises calls summer (June to August) the peak season on the fjords, with average temperatures of 17 to 18°C. Ambassador Cruise Line says its own Norwegian fjord cruises run from April to September, and that it does not sail them in winter because of the cold and the limited daylight. Visit Bergen, the city's visitor site, says there is never a bad time to go on a fjord cruise, then adds that weather in Norway is a fickle friend.

So the real question is what you want from the trip: the longest days and the steadiest weather, fewer people on the quayside, or the colours of autumn. The table below sets out what the sources say for each season.

Each season has its own draw: meltwater and blossom in spring, the longest days in summer, colour and thinner crowds in autumn, and the northern lights in winter. The table gives each operator's own wording and dates, which differ slightly from one line to the next.

Ambassador says that between June and August you can expect up to 19 hours of daylight in some areas. Further north the effect is stronger: Fred. Olsen says the midnight sun, when the sun does not set below the horizon, can be seen anywhere north of the Arctic Circle, and that in Norway it is visible from mid-May to mid-July in most places.

Hurtigruten says autumn in Norway is often overlooked, that the crowds thin out and that the aurora reappears in the night sky. Fred. Olsen adds that spring and autumn are a good time to go hiking along the fjords and mountains, with some cruise deals possible. We do not quote prices on this site, so read the cruise line's own page for the sailing you are considering.

For the weather on the day, Yr is the forecast service to use. Yr is a collaboration between NRK and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, and the Institute's own site points to Yr for the forecast.

The Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord, the two on UNESCO's World Heritage List, are described by Fjord Norway as two of the most famous fjords in Norway. Fjord Norway also describes the Sognefjord, Hardangerfjord, Lysefjord and Nordfjord.

Fjord Norway explains that the fjords were formed by giant glacier tongues that shaped the landscape through several ice ages, and that the shallow threshold at the mouth of a fjord is the reason fjords are often quieter than the open sea.

The fjord landscape of the Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2005, according to Fjord Norway. You can read more on the Fjord Norway page on the most famous fjords.

Fjord Norway's list of the best fjord cruises includes trips from Bergen, Stavanger, Ålesund, Hellesylt and Flåm, and several of them run all year. These are local day trips by boat, separate from the ports your ship visits.

Stavanger is also a port for large ships. The Port of Stavanger describes itself on its own site as one of Norway's largest cruise ports, with a small, compact town centre and, in its words, everything at your fingertips the moment you disembark.

Which ports a cruise calls at depends on the cruise line and the sailing, so the itinerary on the line's own page is the only reliable list. A shore trip from a port is a separate local trip, and its operator sets the season and the departure times.

Fred. Olsen names Pulpit Rock, the Briksdal Glacier and the Flåm Railway among the sights of its fjords cruises, and Fjord Norway adds the waterfalls of the Geirangerfjord and the detail below.

• Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen)
  A viewpoint 604 metres above the Lysefjord, named by Fjord Norway as one of Norway's biggest attractions.
• Flåm Railway
  Fred. Olsen mentions riding the famous Flåmsbana Railway as part of a cruise to the fjords.
• The Seven Sisters waterfall
  In the Geirangerfjord, along with the Suitor waterfall and the abandoned farms high on the mountainsides.
• Njardarheimr Viking village
  At Gudvangen, at the head of the Nærøyfjord, with a Viking village that Fjord Norway describes as set in the UNESCO listed fjord landscape.
• Hardangerfjord by kayak
  Fred. Olsen lists kayaking on the Hardangerfjord among the things you can do on a fjords cruise.
• Flørli Stairs
  At Flørli, halfway along the Lysefjord: the world's longest wooden staircase, with 4,444 steps.

Fjord Norway says the best way to see the fjords is from a boat, that a boat trip is almost a must on the Nærøyfjord, and that there are daily fjord cruises from Stavanger during the high season.

Cruise lines list their UK departure ports on their own sites, and the lists differ: Fred. Olsen shows Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Rosyth (Edinburgh) and Newcastle, while Ambassador shows London, Liverpool, Bristol, Portsmouth, Dundee, Newcastle and Belfast.

Check the itinerary of the specific sailing before you assume a Norway departure from any of these ports.

For ports, terminals and routes across the whole UK, see our guide to cruises from the UK.

Norway follows Schengen area rules, so the passport you travel on must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and expire at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. A British citizen can travel without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

GOV.UK also tells travellers to check with their travel provider that their passport and other travel documents meet the requirements, and to renew the passport if needed. The Norwegian authorities set and enforce the entry rules, so the Norwegian Embassy in the UK is the contact if you are unsure how they apply to you. The full text is on the GOV.UK entry requirements page for Norway.

The EES replaces the old system of manually stamping passports. GOV.UK says you do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, but that the process may take each passenger extra time, so be prepared to wait longer than usual.

Norway's rules on drones, driving and hiking apply to every visitor, and GOV.UK's safety page for Norway sets out the main ones.

The full list is on the GOV.UK safety and security page for Norway.

• Can you see the northern lights on a Norwegian fjords cruise?

  Sometimes, in winter. Hurtigruten says the northern lights season lasts from October to the end of March. Fred. Olsen says the best chance is in the winter months, January especially, and runs northern lights cruises in January alongside sailings from September to March.

• Can you cruise the Norwegian fjords in winter?

  Some lines do and some do not. Fred. Olsen says you can sail throughout the year, and Visit Bergen lists fjord cruises in winter. Ambassador Cruise Line says its own Norwegian fjord cruises run from April to September.

• Do I need a visa for Norway as a British citizen?

  Not for a short visit. GOV.UK says you can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Norway, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, as a tourist or to visit family or friends.

• Will I need to register for the EU Entry/Exit System?

  You may. GOV.UK says that when you travel into the Schengen area for short stays you may need to register biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, and that there is no cost for EES registration.

• Is the midnight sun visible on a fjords cruise?

  Only in the far north. Fred. Olsen says the midnight sun can be seen anywhere north of the Arctic Circle, and that in Norway it is visible from mid-May to mid-July in most places.

• Which is the narrowest fjord in Norway?

  Fjord Norway names the Nærøyfjord as the narrowest fjord. It is about 19 km long and just 250 metres wide at its narrowest point.

• Which is the deepest fjord in Norway?

  The Sognefjord. Fjord Norway says it is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, up to 1,303 metres deep.

• What is the Geirangerfjord known for?

  Its waterfalls and its setting. Fjord Norway says it is known for the Seven Sisters and the Suitor waterfalls and for abandoned farms high up on the lush mountainsides, and that it is one of Norway’s most visited attractions.

• Where can I check the weather in Norway?

  On Yr, the forecast service run by NRK and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. The Institute’s own site tells visitors to see the weather forecast at Yr.