Norwegian Fjords
Norway is somewhere that always looks amazing so of course we wanted to visit. This trip we took Nana with us as a treat for her to come have some fun with us and see some amazing sites.
We needed a trip that was not only child friendly but Nana friendly too. Being able to see the Fjords from the ship and using this as a base to explore with 14 month old Zoe and 5 year old Poppy seemed like a great way to explore. It gave Nana time to rest and recoup too.
Our first cruise.
We searched around to find a good deal, we planned to explore and there was only 2 sea days so we didn’t need the likes of Royal Caribbean extras with a huge price tag so we opted for P&O cruises. When making bookings, it's tempting to opt for better rooms or more expensive packages, which can quickly escalate costs. Considering the actual time spent in the room with kids—mainly sleeping and getting ready—it's worth evaluating what's really necessary. Therefore, we chose an inside cabin, and my mum made the same choice since we had many activities planned.. We Travelled in August so it broke up the summer holidays nicely Which was an added bonus.
“Berre den som vander, finn nye vengar. ~ Only who wonders, finds new ways.”
We sailed from Southampton With P&O on Iona, parking was a freebie thrown in with the deal so now all we needed to do was play some car Tetris to get all the bags in. It all went really smoothing Parking was a breeze and we were able to get on the ship. Our bags delivered to our room and a travel cot set up for Zoe. Couldn’t fault it so far and the food for lunch was amazing at the Quays food court.
First Impression
Explore
We planned some excursions with P&O, partly because I was concerned about missing the ship, which offered us more security. Additionally, their prices were reasonable compared to organizing similar activities independently.
We selected two excursions for ourselves, and Nana chose one for herself too. Considering the needs of the young and the elderly, we opted for the troll cars up to the glacier, followed by a short, easy walk. We also planned an excursion to a waffle house by the fjords and self-guided tours at the other stops. Additionally, Nana chose to go on a waterfall cruise. A busy schedule for our week away.
Troll cars.
After Disembarking the Ship at Stavangr, we got a coach to the base point to get onto the troll cars. This was a lovely coach ride but didn’t leave much time between getting off the coach and catching the troll cars especially with little ones in tow. The area was bustling with the arrival of many coaches, which heightened the stress levels unnecessarily as crowds of people were all attempting to reach the same destination. Once on the cars though it was a lovely ride up into the mountains to find the Glacier. Passing a waterfall and getting a little wet on the way up gave us all a giggle. The walk up we all found not too challenging. We had a moment to appreciate the glacier's beauty at the summit, but during our descent, we encountered signs indicating the former extent of the ice. It was surreal to realize that such a magnificent natural feature might soon vanish. The walk down Nana struggled a bit more but we got down in good time to go grab some complimentary cake and coffee in the cafe.
Pros - A fun little adventure and a giggle on the troll cars Whilst taking in some of Norway’s natural beauty.
Cons- Felt rushed at the Glacier, too much time at the cafe before heading back (and we love coffee).
Waffle house.
One of our favourite things to do when visiting another country is trying local cuisine and getting the kids to discover new cultures and traditions. We decided to visit a quaint waffle house and explore more of the fjords, venturing deeper into Norway. Docking in Olden, a relatively developed area, made the idea of escaping into the countryside even more appealing. The coach ride was a longer one as it was a fair way from the port. Upon arrival, as is often the case with children, they were hungry. Fortunately, the waffles were prepared and ready to be served.. They come served with a soured cream and a yummy fruity Jam. Unsurprisingly, everyone dug in and found it delicious. Afterwards, we went for a stroll and stumbled upon a giant troll's hand.. We learnt that if the trolls didn’t make it home before the sun came up they were turned to stone. It was a lovely little trip and gave the kids chance to explore and learn.
Pros - Relaxing little venture with some beautiful views, adding in some culture and an informative guide.
Cons - Could have eaten way more waffles as they were so tasty.
Self guided exploring.
During our time away we wanted to explore by ourselves as well. With children, sometimes the rigidity of tours can lead to bordom, if there is not enough to hold interest at the time. It can also add stress as they don’t always fit your families needs and enable the kids freedom when needed. We ventured out in Stavangr, Hellesylt and Haugesund.
The next destination was Hellesylt, a charming village nestled in the fjords. We trekked up a steep hill to enjoy a panoramic view of the waterfall and to cross the bridge above it. Using the buggy that day turned out to be a significant workout for the hamstrings, but it was worthwhile as the views were breathtaking. After taking in the scenery, we continued our exploration and came across a church tucked into the mountainside. It was a picturesque church, and Poppy was eager to explore. We then made our way back down to the town, feeling it was the perfect time to return to the ship for some lunch and a relaxing dip in the ship's pool. It allowed the kids to have some freedom we had packed some drinks and snacks to keep them going but they were superstars and their intrigue to explore powered them on. We like to in areas where appropriate let the girls decide which way to go Poppy always has more interest if she’s part of the decision.
Stavangr was home to beautiful white houses which we ventured through stumbling across a park much to Poppy’s delight Zoe got to have a little wander too with some help. It was pleasant nosing into the tourist shops which were filled with troll trinkets and many gifts to tempt the children.
Upon disembarking in Haugesund, we obtained a map for a town-wide scavenger hunt. The trip was an adventure for just the four of us, which meant we could move at a quicker pace and cover a little more ground. We enjoyed the variety of items we discovered as Poppy lead the way through little side streets finding boats and flags and other gems along the way. The reality of traveling with children hit us hard today. We forgot to repack a change of clothes in the day bag, and, inevitably, Zoe ended up ruining her outfit. However, it did mean a swift visit to a Norwegian baby shop, where we were faced with the delightful dilemma of choosing from an array of adorable outfits for her. We decided on a onesie before continuing our exploration. Poppy blew of some steam at another park before we grabbed some donuts and sat and enjoyed the view. After fuelling up for our walk back we headed back ready for some down time before dinner and met with Nana later in the day to enjoy an ice cream, cream tea at Ripples on board. It was a very tasty experience but they do only have so many aboard so don’t leave it too late in the trip as you may be disappointed.
Pros- It was far more relaxing as we could stop and start at our own pace, find our own little gems and added a few parks for the kids.
Cons- We hadn’t purchased the Wi-Fi package as our mobiles worked in Norway on our European countries included but on the ship signal wasn’t great unless in port so it meant looking things up the night before was a little more challenging. Luckily we had done some research prior to leaving but something to consider.
Final impressions
We loved Norway and could have spent so much more time exploring and delving a little deeper. The cruise gave us a great taste of Norway but left us wanting to go back to see more. We were split on if we would cruise again or not. James more inclined to try again where I am more of the opinion of not just yet as the rigidity of excursions and time in port limited what we could do with a young family. For an easy way to see beautiful scenery we couldn’t fault the price or the ship or the experience we got for this. Food was great and there was lots to choose from for evening entertainment. Over all a great experience. If your not a fan of crowds or have neurodiversity to consider the ship can feel very busy inside on sea days. The decks are a great place to grab a break on if you just need some time to decompress.
What did we learn?
This was a completely new experience for us and a new way of exploring so there was a lot to learn.
Cruise ship cabins are small compared to any hotel room we have ever stayed in. Be prepared to shower the kids in the tightest of spaces especially if you’ve got a young one you need to take in with you.
Motion sickness wasn’t a problem for all but the first 24 hours and it was only me who was effected luckily but pack motion sickness tablets just in case. they came in handy.
Coffee is our best friend but even we struggled to hit up the costa on board enough to make the most of the alcohol free drinks package.
Things can fill up fast so if there’s something you want to do or a show you wish to see book early. Sea days are especially busy and difficult to get into everything.
With P&O you can log into the app without having to purchase the P&O Wi-Fi so don’t worry you can still book tables for food and entertainment.
Look up things before you go there’s loads of information out there on YouTube if you want to see room sizes or what the ship looks like. We watched several videos to show the Kids what it's like on board, to help prepare them for the upcoming experience and alleviate any worries they might have.
We still overpacked! We took far less than we did to Greece.
Baby carrier and buggy combo were a great idea to make the most of all available.
Walking laps of the cruise ship to get Zoe to sleep is a very peaceful way to do it. The laundry room for white noise also worked a treat.
P&O have a free laundry on board I may have come home with suitcases full of clean clothes be warned the last sea day a lot of people have the same idea.