Mountains, Music and Memories: Our Norwegian Fjords Cruise

September saw Charlotte, Gemma, Sadie, Taz and Claire set off on a seven-night cruise from Southampton to the stunning Norwegian Fjords. From the moment they stepped onboard, the trip was filled with laughter, spectacular scenery, wonderful entertainment, and many moments that highlighted the value of accessible travel and shared experiences.

After a music-filled journey to Southampton, and with plenty of excitement in the car, everyone arrived at the cruise terminal ready for the adventure ahead. Being dropped off right outside the port made life much easier, especially with luggage, mobility equipment and everything else needed for a week away.

A lot of planning had gone into the holiday beforehand. The cruise was booked through Hays Travel, who helped with accessibility arrangements, and specialist equipment including a hoist and toilet chair, was organised through Mobility at Sea. Although arranging the equipment required a few follow-up calls, everything was in place when it was needed.

Once onboard, everyone was impressed with the accessible cabins. The automatic doors, spacious wet-room style bathrooms and accessible balconies made getting around much easier. We had also packed a portable Ninja blender, which meant meals could be adapted where needed and everyone could enjoy the huge variety of food available throughout the cruise.

Life Onboard

The ship itself seemed to have something happening at every hour of the day. Whether it was live music, theatre shows, bingo, shopping, quizzes or simply watching the sea go by, there was always something to enjoy.

One member of staff had never been on a cruise before and was slightly worried about seasickness, especially when the ship encountered a 4.5-metre swell on one of the sea days. Thankfully, a combination of travel sickness tablets and patches did the trick, and everyone was able to enjoy the week without any major issues.

The evening entertainment quickly became a favourite part of the holiday. There were spectacular aerial performers, live musicians, tribute acts, theatre productions and even a silent disco where everyone danced the night away. The Rambling Rovers were a particular highlight and had audiences singing and clapping along wherever they performed.

The formal black-tie evening was another memorable occasion, giving everyone the chance to dress up and enjoy a special night together.

Exploring Norway

Each stop offered something different and gave everyone the opportunity to experience the beauty and character of Norway.

Haugesund

Our first stop was Haugesund, known as the homeland of the Viking Kings.

After making our way over a rather steep bridge, we spent time exploring the town and browsing the many souvenir shops. There were the usual fridge magnets and keyrings, but also some more unusual finds, including Viking drinking horns, troll statues and even stuffed bear feet and whale meat. The views across the river and surrounding town were lovely and made the climb worthwhile.

That evening, we watched a production of Greatest Days. We had expected a cheerful sing-along packed with Take That songs and were surprised when it turned out to be a much more emotional story than anticipated. It still proved to be an excellent performance.

Ålesund

Our visit to Ålesund was blessed with beautiful scenery and fantastic architecture. The town looked almost like something from a storybook, with its colourful buildings, turrets and spires.

We spent the day strolling around the harbour, browsing the local shops and taking photos before finding a bakery for a well-earned sweet treat.

Back on the ship, the evening brought an Elton John tribute show which was an enormous hit. Afterwards, the performer took time to chat with us and even gave Charlotte a Lion King keyring, a small gesture that made her day.

Olden

If there was one moment that everyone agreed was a highlight of the week, it was visiting Olden.

The weather wasn't particularly encouraging when we arrived, with low cloud and drizzle covering the mountains. We had planned to visit the Loen Skylift but wondered if the trip would be worthwhile when several people coming down told us they could barely see anything.

Thankfully, we decided to take a chance.

The clouds began to clear just enough to reveal some truly breathtaking views across the fjords and surrounding mountains. It was absolutely worth the journey. Charlotte's excitement on the cable car ride back down had everyone else laughing and smiling.

Later that evening, we stood out on deck and on our balconies as local residents waved and sang to departing ships as they sailed out of the fjords. It was a lovely moment and a wonderful way to end the day.

Cruising Through the Fjords

One of the most anticipated parts of the holiday was sailing through the fjords themselves.

Towering mountains, dramatic waterfalls and stunning scenery surrounded the ship throughout the day. The Furesbergesfossen waterfall was particularly impressive, created by meltwater from the Folgefonna Glacier.

Unfortunately, the glacier itself was hidden behind fog, but nobody felt too disappointed. There was more than enough scenery to admire throughout the day.

Taking Time to Relax

The holiday wasn't all about excursions and entertainment.

Charlotte enjoyed a spa experience where the staff were incredibly welcoming and accommodating. Later in the week, everyone enjoyed time in the thermal suite, making use of the hot tubs and relaxation areas.

These quieter moments were just as valuable as the busy days ashore and gave everyone a chance to recharge before the next adventure.

The Highs and the Challenges

Like any holiday, there were a few challenges along the way.

Charlotte experienced some seizures during the week and was particularly unwell on the Friday. Naturally, this was worrying for everyone. Thankfully, with support from the team and careful monitoring, she began to feel much better and was able to enjoy the afternoon. Seeing her smiling, joining in and enjoying herself again was a huge relief.

The support from the Fernside team throughout the trip was outstanding and ensured Charlotte remained at the centre of everything.

There were also a few practical challenges around accessibility. Lift waiting times could be quite long, particularly during busy periods, and there was limited information available about wheelchair accessibility at some ports before arrival. We also found sourcing suitable oxygen equipment for cruise travel surprisingly difficult. While the ship had a pool hoist available, we didn't feel it offered enough reassurance for safe use in an emergency situation.

That said, these challenges were far outweighed by the positive experiences throughout the week.

Looking Back

When we returned to Southampton, there was a shared feeling that the week had been a real success.

The combination of good planning, supportive staff, accessible facilities and a willingness to embrace new experiences allowed everyone to get the most from the holiday. There was plenty of good food, fantastic entertainment, beautiful scenery and lots of laughter along the way.

Most importantly, it gave everyone the chance to enjoy a wonderful holiday together, explore somewhere new and create memories through shared experiences.

And judging by the smiles, the photos and the stories that came home with us, it was a week well spent. 🚢