Sheer cliffs, waterfalls and tiny villages along deep, still fjords on Norway's west coast, with Bergen as the gateway. Here's what a Norwegian fjords cruise is like, when to go and how long to stay.
Norway is part of the new European entry checks, so check the rules on GOV.UK before you book. Pack layers and a waterproof, as it can be cool and wet on deck even in summer.
Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
The main fjord cruise season runs from May to September, when the days are long, the villages are open and the scenery is green. May and June are lovely, with snow still on the peaks and waterfalls at their fullest from the melt. July and August are the warmest and busiest months, with several big ships in Geiranger or Flåm on the same day. September is quieter, with autumn colours, but the weather turns. Expect rain at any time, as Bergen is one of Europe's wettest cities. The coastal ferry-cruise ships from Bergen sail all year, and winter trips north are the ones to pick for the Northern Lights.
A UNESCO-listed fjord with the Seven Sisters waterfall tumbling down one side. Ships sail in slowly, and the road up to the Ørnesvingen viewpoint gives the classic view back down.
A small village at the end of the long Sognefjord, where one of the world's steepest standard-gauge railways climbs up to Myrdal past waterfalls. Book the train ahead in summer.
The narrowest arm of the Sognefjord, only a few hundred metres wide in places, with farms clinging to the slopes. Often seen by smaller ships or on a boat trip from Flåm.
The old wooden Hanseatic wharf in Bergen, with leaning warehouses and narrow alleys. Ride the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen for views over the harbour before you sail.
A harbour town rebuilt in Art Nouveau style after a fire in 1904. Climb the steps up Aksla hill for a view over the town and the islands.
A flat-topped cliff 604 metres above the Lysefjord. The hike there and back takes about four hours, so it suits a full day in Stavanger, or take a fjord boat trip to see it from below.
Yes. Big ships have kids' clubs and pools, and the scenery, waterfalls and the Flåm Railway go down well with children. Smaller expedition and coastal ships have fewer facilities, so they suit older children and teens better.
Most fjord cruises are 7 nights, calling at four or five places such as Geiranger, Flåm, Ålesund and Stavanger. The coastal ferry-cruise route from Bergen to Kirkenes and back takes about 12 nights, or you can do just one leg.
Fly into Bergen Airport, Flesland, then take the Flybussen airport bus into the city, about 30 minutes. Many big-ship fjord cruises also start from Southampton, Amsterdam, Copenhagen or Kiel, so check where yours sets off.
Only on winter voyages that sail north of the Arctic Circle, roughly from late September to March, and even then you need clear skies. Summer cruises have light nights instead, with the midnight sun in the far north.
Put Norwegian fjords on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.