Cruise to Norway with Royal Caribbean - which itinerary

[kev_chua]

My family (wife + son) would like to do a cruise to Norway in Aug 2013 with Royal Caribbean, but we cannot decide which itinerary (and ship to go with).

 

Option #1 is with Adventure of the Seas, and the itinerary is as follows:

 

SouthamptonCruisingAlesund, Norway Skjolden, Norway Flam, NorwayStavanger, NorwayCruisingSouthampton

 

Option #2 is with Vision of the Sea, and the itinerary is as follows:

Coperhagen, DenmarkOslo, NorwayStavanger, NorwayAlesund, Norway Geiranger, Norway Bergen, NorwayCruisingCoperhagen, Denmark

 

Adventure of the Sea seems to be a bigger ship with lots more of activities to do, and living in the UK we can just drive to Southampton.

But the itinerary on the Vision seems to be more interesting.

 

Any advice from anyone?

[TLCOhio]

My family (wife + son) would like to do a cruise to Norway in Aug 2013 with Royal Caribbean, but we cannot decide which itinerary (and ship to go with).

Option #1 is with Adventure of the Seas, and the itinerary is as follows:

Southampton, Alesund, Skjolden, Flam, Stavanger, Southampton[

Option #2 is with Vision of the Sea, and the itinerary is as follows:

Copenhagen, Oslo, Stavanger, Alesund, Geiranger, Bergen, Coperhagen,

Adventure of the Sea seems to be a bigger ship with lots more of activities to do, and living in the UK we can just drive to Southampton. But the itinerary on the Vision seems to be more interesting. Any advice from anyone?

 

YES! you have summed it up very well with "Vision seems to be more interesting". Being able to see and do Coperhagen, Oslo, Alesund, Geiranger and Bergen would be a major plus, plus!! In the Baltics and for Norway, a nice ship is OK and good, but it is more about what you are going to see and do that makes the big, big difference.

 

Flam is nice and very good, but as shown below, Geiranger can be spectacular. Love Copenhagen and Bergen as BOTH so interesting, charming and historic. Read my full live/blog connected below for added details and lots more pictures.

 

As the seat of Norway’s medieval kingdom of Norway for six centuries, Bergen is a former Viking stronghold encircled by deep fjords, towering mountains, and sweeping glaciers. Today's Bergen has much of the medieval flavor remaining around Bergen's harbor. We explored the cobblestone streets, saw its pastel-color wooden houses, bargained in some of the many artisans' workshops and visited the famous and always-entertaining Fish Market. You can watch the locals haggling over today's catch and enjoy a quayside lunch of freshly caught salmon or fish and chips.

 

Rated by Frommers as more scenic than Oslo, Bergen was the base of the medieval Hanseatic merchants. Those historic timbered houses are set around Bryggen or The Wharf, a center for crafts and workshops. Its prime row is mostly reconstructed 14th-century structures, some of which were originally destroyed by fire. Det Hansseatiske Museum depicts commercial life on the wharf in the early 18th century and is highly rates with well-preserved wooden structure. Its art museums are highly-rated with religious icons, local art, etc.

 

In the afternoon, after some of the big crowds had lessened, we took the Floibanen funicular railway to the top of a 1050-foot high peak for scenic views. This cable car has been operating for over 80 years and was refurbished in 2002. The Funicular Lower Station is situated 150 meters from the Fish Market. At the top of the Mount Floyen, there are hiking trails and places for lunch or dinner. The trip takes seven minutes and both cars are on the same cable going up and down. Mariakirken or St. Mary’s Church is the most outstanding Romanesque church in Norway. Bergen is Norway’s largest port and has a population of 252,000. Scenic Bergen completed our voyage with its dramatic backdrop of seven rounded mountains and cobble-stoned streets. It entices you to take memories and photos cherishing the land of the Norsemen.

 

Their good and helpful Tourism Office can be accessed on the web at: http://www.visitbergen.com/en

 

We docked at the fairly handy Skoltegrunskaien Pier. This put us within about a 10-15 minute walk of the main attractions at the market and warehouse area.

 

Alesund’s architecture is characterized by its turrets, spires, medieval-romantic frontages . and other whimsical touches that give this town its distinctive style. It is like something from a fairytale. On the night of January 23, 1904, the town, built largely of wood, was totally destroyed at night by gale-aided flames. Only one person died, but more than 10,000 people were left without shelter. Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm vacationed nearby and sent four warships with materials to build temporary shelters. The town was rebuilt in stone, brick and mortar in Jugendstil or Art Nouveau, the architectural style of the time. This design reflects a “romance with the past” and highlights Nordic mythology along its winding streets. To honor Wilhelm, one of the most frequented streets of the city is named after him. The town has an unusually consistent architecture, most of the buildings having been built between 1904 and 1907.

 

More Alesund area info at:

http://www.visitalesund-geiranger.com/en

 

Below are just a few of my sample pictures. More on the live/blog. Reactions and added questions??

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 85,084 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

This is the super scenic view from immediately above Geiranger that shows the Silver Cloud and Costa ships tendered. A little before this picture, we were to go to Mt. Dalsnibba as a photo stop from this 4,920-foot vantage for the snow-covered surrounding mountains, icy glaciers, crystalline lakes and Geirangerfjord far below. We went there, but it was totally “socked in”. It was so thick, you could barely find your bus on this day on top of the big mountain crowded with lots of buses from the Costa ship. But this view, at a lower level, makes up for that problems and provided a wonderful vista.:

 

 

 

After being tendered in Geiranger, we sailed out and passed by two super famous waterfalls. YES, yes, we saw lots and lots of waterfalls on this trip, but these two were among the “best of the best”. First is the “Seven Sisters”. Directly opposite in this narrow fjord, it is called several names, including “The Suitor”. The majesty for these feats of nature is pretty amazing.:

 

 

 

This is the dramatic overview of Alesund from the Aksla vantage point along the western coast of Norway. This spot allows a nearly 360-degree view of this setting for this island city and the surrounding mountains and islands. It is at a 597’ height overlooking the five islands making up the scenic town.:

 

 

 

Copenhagen’s Tivoli looks so special at night with its famed building designs, water features, gardens, flowers, rides, people, entertainment, etc.:

 

 

 

Here’s a close look at these historic Bergen Hanseatic merchant warehouse building fronts, people taking pictures, etc. :

 

 

 

Right near the Hanseatic merchant warehouse area is the Bergen Fish Market with lots of options to buy food to eat on site or just watch, enjoying the “show” as people ask questions and buy the various fresh fish items.:

 

[Keith1010]

I like the Visions Of The Sea.

 

If you go with that cruise spend a few days in Copenhagen before the start of the cruise. Lots to see and a very pretty city.

 

Keith

[Albert Bell]

I'd go for Vision of the Sea, we just got back from a cruise around Norway and Iceland it started and finished in Copenhagen.

 

We had a week in Copenhagen before the cruise and wished we had more time there, Alesund and Bergen are must sees.

[kaisatsu]

Adventure of the Seas: Southampton; Cruising; Alesund; Skjolden; Flam; Stavanger; Cruising; Southampton

 

Vision of the Seas: Coperhagen; Oslo; Stavanger; Alesund; Geiranger; Bergen; Cruising; Coperhagen

 

My vote is definitely for Vision. Even without Copenhagen and Oslo, I would choose Bergen and Geiranger over Skjolden and Flåm. Flåm is nice, especially, if you're interested in the railway, but Bergen and Geiranger are usually considered the two biggest highlights of the Norwegian coast. It would be a shame to do a Norwegian coastal trip and miss both of them.

 

And when it comes to a choice of Geiranger vs. Flåm (they're the two UNESCO-listed fjords), I choose Geiranger, because you sail right through the narrow part of the fjord on the ship. In Flåm, the UNESCO-listed area is actually Nærøyfjord, a small branch that leads off the Sognefjord to Gudvangen before you reach Flåm, so unless you do a boat tour during the port call, you don't actually sail through the most dramatic part of that fjord.

 

Oslo and Copenhagen on top of all of that definitely tips the scale towards Vision.

 

I've sailed on Vision three times now, and you're right that she's a smaller/older ship, but she's not bad by any means. You only have one sea day on that itinerary, so surely you could occupy yourself by the pool in the solarium, in the spa, reading a book in a lounge, etc. There's still a rock wall if you want something more active, but keep in mind that unless you're very lucky with the weather, in this climate you probably won't be doing too many activities outside (besides enjoying the scenery - bring a hat and gloves in case it's windy). To this end, you should compare the ships' inside amenities. I've never been more bored on a cruise than sailing Voyager of the Seas in cold weather, because so many of the ship's bells and whistles were actually outside and closed because of the weather!