Zenlotusleaf

Good to know.  That helps us narrow down the excursion list quite a bit. Thanks @hallasm@CCJack  !

Thanks @CCJack ! We just booked the Norway cruise. Now to do some research on the ports and excursions. I noticed that there are several excursions for different Fjord cruises. Wonder if that is redundant if you are failing into a fjord on your main cruise or if the smaller boat and route makes it an entirely different experience. 

Thank you @JimmyTheSaint and @hallasm ! This is super helpful and exactly the advice I was looking for. This will be a family trip with lots of seniors and we’re all cruise newbies. Having to balance interesting/fun with suitable exertion level is a balancing act and I truly appreciate the generosity of wisdom sharing in this group!

Thanks to everyone who offered input regarding Norwegian vs Iceland Cruise. After much back and forth, our group settled on Norway. 
 

What do you thinking of this itinerary? Which ports would lend themselves to self exploration and which ones would you definitely recommend booking a tour?

Start: London (Dover) 

Bergen 

Alesund 

Molde 

Olden 

Cruise Nordfjord 

Skjolden 

Cruise Sognefjord 

Haugesund 

End: London (Dover) 

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your thoughts on both cruises, @hallasm @Essiesmomand @windsor26! You hit the nail on the head on why it’s so hard to choose between the two as both are amazing destinations with their own unique draws. 

Having a hard time deciding between the two for travel summer 2023. Could those of you who have been on either or both help share your experience to help us decide? We’ll be first time cruisers. High on our list would be a cruise with great views from aboard the ship as opposed to those sailings that rely solely on shore excursions for scenic views.   
 

Thanks!