Norway Fjords...which room

For those of you who have done this cruise, which stateroom is better....portside or starboard verandah for the best views?

One stern is available but have read complaints about soot on the furniture and it's a different category than I want to book.

Neither is "best". Most fjords you get into, you will eventually turn around and come back out, thus seeing coming out what you "missed" going in. I say "missed" because you are not locked in your cabin. You will be out and about, roaming all over the open decks.

Neither is "best". Most fjords you get into, you will eventually turn around and come back out, thus seeing coming out what you "missed" going in. I say "missed" because you are not locked in your cabin. You will be out and about, roaming all over the open decks.

That's good to know. I really didn't want to book on the stern. We usually don't roam about on the open decks...we love enjoying early morning coffee on our balcony.

I may have to change my way of thinking though on the Fjords cruise.

I wouldn't overthink it based on the geography. Both sides are going to be relatively the same exposure to the scenery. Just at different times of day. Make your selection based on other aspects of the ship. And I would suggest getting up on the open deck for parts of it. You will be passing waterfalls and steep scenery on both sides that are worth going side to side now and then. I would usually spend 1-2 hours on deck after leaving the ports when the fjords are the most narrow. In our case, the Celebrity Constellation opened up the bow viewing area for a while in the evenings and it was fun to be out front looking at it coming at you.

I wouldn't overthink it based on the geography. Both sides are going to be relatively the same exposure to the scenery. Just at different times of day. Make your selection based on other aspects of the ship. And I would suggest getting up on the open deck for parts of it. You will be passing waterfalls and steep scenery on both sides that are worth going side to side now and then. I would usually spend 1-2 hours on deck after leaving the ports when the fjords are the most narrow. In our case, the Celebrity Constellation opened up the bow viewing area for a while in the evenings and it was fun to be out front looking at it coming at you.

We love the aspects of the Journey, so I'm sure we would love the Quest.

Evidently, what you don't see going up, you do see coming back down. ;)

When we cruised last May we were on the port side. I agree with most, you are cruising into the fjords and you cruise one way in and one way out, so you get to see everything. Plus you are going through the fjords for a long time.

But on the way to Geiranger, we passed the Seven Sisters Waterfall on our side. I don't think we would have seen it from our balcony if we were on the starboard side as we would have been passing in the even and would have probably been at dinner, the casino or a show. But we were able to see it nicely as it was mid morning and we were just relaxing in our room. I don't think we ported until later morning that day.

When we cruised last May we were on the port side. I agree with most, you are cruising into the fjords and you cruise one way in and one way out, so you get to see everything. Plus you are going through the fjords for a long time.

 

But on the way to Geiranger, we passed the Seven Sisters Waterfall on our side. I don't think we would have seen it from our balcony if we were on the starboard side as we would have been passing in the even and would have probably been at dinner, the casino or a show. But we were able to see it nicely as it was mid morning and we were just relaxing in our room. I don't think we ported until later morning that day.

Thank you. We are booked portside. I've seen pictures of the Seven Sisters and they are amazing. I'm so looking forward to this cruise....I only wish it weren't so far in the future. I've never booked a vacation this far out but didn't want to lose out on this one.

I hope your ship treats the Seven Sisters as ours did. We obviously passed the Sisters on the way into the port, but it was early in the morning and I was sleeping or getting ready for the day. But as we left port, they announced that we would be pausing for a few minutes at the Seven Sisters when we got there for viewing. You encounter them not too long after departing the port -- maybe 30-45 minutes or so, if I recall. Our ship came to a halt for about 15 minutes so we could enjoy the Sisters as well as their suitors on the other side. I was up on deck and went back and forth between the 2 sides of the ship several times before we moved on.

Here's a link to my day of pictures from the stop. The Sisters are near the end. And it was a foggy, rainy experience for much of the day, but still well worth it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickchapman/sets/72157631864107705/

I hope your ship treats the Seven Sisters as ours did. We obviously passed the Sisters on the way into the port, but it was early in the morning and I was sleeping or getting ready for the day. But as we left port, they announced that we would be pausing for a few minutes at the Seven Sisters when we got there for viewing. You encounter them not too long after departing the port -- maybe 30-45 minutes or so, if I recall. Our ship came to a halt for about 15 minutes so we could enjoy the Sisters as well as their suitors on the other side. I was up on deck and went back and forth between the 2 sides of the ship several times before we moved on.

 

Here's a link to my day of pictures from the stop. The Sisters are near the end. And it was a foggy, rainy experience for much of the day, but still well worth it.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickchapman/sets/72157631864107705/

Thank you for sharing your pictures. They were awesome, even though it was foggy. I think Azamara is pretty good about announcing when the ship will be sailing through key points. Anyway, that has been our experience.

It amazes me how helpful so many people can be on these forums and I do appreciate it.

You can get some inspiration from my Norwegian Fjords review at

link: http://norwegianfjordscruise.blogspot.com

I were at starboard balcony midship

Thank you, hallasam. Your video was awesome and I appreciate you taking time to share it. :) The worst part of the trip....waiting so long for it to happen. ;)

Thank you. We are booked portside. I've seen pictures of the Seven Sisters and they are amazing. I'm so looking forward to this cruise....I only wish it weren't so far in the future. I've never booked a vacation this far out but didn't want to lose out on this one.

When you come to the Seven Sisters, you're best off on the open deck where you can see both sides of the fjord. Otherwise you miss the Suitor, a waterfall with a bottle in hand because he can't reach any of the Sisters.

You can get some inspiration from my Norwegian Fjords review at

link: http://norwegianfjordscruise.blogspot.com

I were at starboard balcony midship

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous video! It is so serene - I've wanted to cruise this area for a long time -- I hope to do so someday. It does remind me of the Inside Passage of Alaska - beautiful

I've never booked a vacation this far out but didn't want to lose out on this one.

I have never booked further then a year out but I am not looking at options for 2016 as well. It is fun booking that far though because part of the fun is planning and reading up on everything you are going to do.

When we first book a cruise even at the year out we are searching all the shore excursions so we could set out budget for the trip. Then we somewhat "forget" about the trip until about 6 months beforehand. Then we start booking our excursions. Then we "forget" about the trip again until about 2 months before and start doing last minute preps. It seems to extend the vacation then with all the planning.

Good luck in your planning!

Thank you nicoleinwi...the planning is fun and I look forward to it. Meanwhile I have planning to do for next fall's cruise.

I see we are in neighboring states. We have a daugher who lives in Madison.