Sailing the Fiords-- Opinions Please

[ksc1984]

For those of you who have "been around" enough to compare: what cruise offers the most fantastic fiords?

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

IMO, I like the Chilean fiords first, the Scandanavian fiords second, and the Alaskan fiords third. Would like to see those in New Zealand sometime.

[jmkennett]

Geiranger and Flaam fjords, in Norway, are spectacular! Highly recommend a trip that includes those. I know several lines combine those fjords with Bergen, the British Isles and Iceland. You don't have to do an all Norway cruise to see them.

[Mary Ellen]

We've loved all the fjords we've been privileged to visit. The only area that left us underwhelmed was Chile. However, that could have been because they were socked in by clouds. We'd also just come from Antarctica, which FAR exceedes any other place we've been. We'll have to go back to Chile and hope for better weather.

 

Milford and Doubtful Sounds in NZ are beautiful and it did seem strange to see palm trees and fjords. Norway was absolutely lovely sailing down a long fjord watching the wake from an aft balcony with friends. Iceland doesn't have the elevation differences from sea level to the mountains, but it is Iceland with geology so different from any other place. Alaska is so nice, we've been there multiple times.

 

So, pick one, hope for good weather, and enjoy! Then, select another and continue. ;)

[the2ofus]

I second Mary Ellen's plan! So far have only visited New Zealand and Alaska fjords. Both were beautiful but very different. The rest are still on my to-do list.

[celle]

We've loved all the fjords we've been privileged to visit. The only area that left us underwhelmed was Chile. However, that could have been because they were socked in by clouds. We'd also just come from Antarctica, which FAR exceedes any other place we've been. We'll have to go back to Chile and hope for better weather.

 

Milford and Doubtful Sounds in NZ are beautiful and it did seem strange to see palm trees and fjords. Norway was absolutely lovely sailing down a long fjord watching the wake from an aft balcony with friends. Iceland doesn't have the elevation differences from sea level to the mountains, but it is Iceland with geology so different from any other place. Alaska is so nice, we've been there multiple times.

 

So, pick one, hope for good weather, and enjoy! Then, select another and continue. ;)

 

Just to clarify: those were ferns, not palm trees!

 

I'm glad you enjoyed all the fjords. :)

[Mary Ellen]

Just to clarify: those were ferns, not palm trees!

 

I'm glad you enjoyed all the fjords. :)

Sorry. :o They looked different than the tree ferns we saw elsewhere in NZ.

[celle]

Sorry. :o They looked different than the tree ferns we saw elsewhere in NZ.

 

No problem! No offence taken. NZ does have more than one type of fern.

 

Generally (as you probably already know ;)), palm trees need a much warmer climate than NZ's South Island provides.

[Mary Ellen]

Generally is the operative term. I know of one place in Norway (near Stavanger) that does have palm trees. Some varieties can take the colder climates and are near fjords. :)

[JayS]

My ratings

1) Greenland Prins Christiansund , if it qualifies as a Fjord

 

2) Chile

 

3) Alaska

 

4)NZ

 

but all are great.:D

 

Norway next year:)