Whats your experience with Scandinavia and Norway in May?

[happy_travellers]

Hi

Thinking of booking RCL Scandi/Russia then Norway from May 10-24, our Anniversary and Birthday's.

 

Please share any pro's or con's you experienced by sailing at this time of year. Weather, whats open whats not, experience on board the ship.

 

I don't want to through away hard earned money but at the same time this time frame , price works for us.

 

I have looked at pics on C/C and I am so excited to see this area.

 

Thanks Karen

[LHT28]

We have done both in mid June & the weather was cool to what we are having now

In May it could be much cooler & there will still be snow on the mountains in the fjords

I would look at weather network for those ports & see what the historical temps are

 

http://www.visitnorway.com is also a good source of info

[Ine]

A few years ago we sailed in May to the norwegian fjords, up to Alesund. There was some snow in some places, roads were o.k.

In Geiranger the museum wasnot open yet as was the road to the high viewpoint. Anything else was open.

The weather was cool but nice and sunny.

[happy_travellers]

A few years ago we sailed in May to the norwegian fjords, up to Alesund. There was some snow in some places, roads were o.k.

In Geiranger the museum wasnot open yet as was the road to the high viewpoint. Anything else was open.

The weather was cool but nice and sunny.

 

Did you feel that you got a true appreciation for the area at this time of year?

 

Thanks Karen

[happy_travellers]

We have done both in mid June & the weather was cool to what we are having now

In May it could be much cooler & there will still be snow on the mountains in the fjords

I would look at weather network for those ports & see what the historical temps are

 

http://www.visitnorway.com is also a good source of info

 

Could you tell me how you dressed for the cruise. We just bought Columbia "soft shells" to go under our windbreakers. We would not need our "ski jackets" would we?

 

Thanks again , Karen

[LHT28]

Could you tell me how you dressed for the cruise. We just bought Columbia "soft shells" to go under our windbreakers. We would not need our "ski jackets" would we?

 

Thanks again , Karen

We took our fleece jackets with rain jackets over them for cooler days

I would pack hats to cover your ears & mitts as well

Good waterproof shoes

 

It depends on how far north you go in Norway you may need warmer clothing

We went to the artic circle in July/Aug & we had down jackets ..it was COLD ;)

 

But if you are not going to far north you should be OK ..Layers is the key

 

Enjoy

Lyn

[TLCOhio]

Hi, Karen! Have given you some more specifics on your other question on this board. Here's more to consider on weather and how to get added, better info. It might be that May 10-24 fits for uour Anniversary and Birthday's, but it is not as good weather, for the best pictures, etc.

 

You can go to

http://www.wunderground.com

and check for the very specific weather history on many of the key towns in the world for their past temperatures in that specific area for a date in the past. Just look lower left in the page for weather history area, put in your exact dates and the year prior. You will then see what last year was like, along with recent highs and lows for that date there.

 

As an example for May 6, you will find this data for Bergen in the heart of this great area: a high of 48 °F last year with a low of 38 °F, with an average high on this date of 54 °F with an average low of 42 °F. During recent history, the high has been 69 °F (2006) and a low of 35 °F (1997) on this date in Bergen. There was no rain on this date last year.

 

As an example for June 29, you will find this data for Bergen in the heart of this great area: a high of 64 °F last year with a low of 52 °F, with an average high on this date of 61 °F with an average low of 51°F. During recent history, the high has been 68 °F (2003) and a low of 44 °F (2007) on this date in Bergen. There was no rain on this date last year.

 

Here are a few weather averages/details for these three key cities in the Baltics by looking at the 7th, 15th, 23rd days of each month from http://www.wunderground.com:

 

Copenhagen: High/low averages,

May, early: 61 high/47 low °F

May, mid: 63/48 °F

May, late: 65/50 °F

 

June, early: 67/53 °F

June, mid: 68/54 °F

June, late: 69/54 °F

 

July, early: 69/55 °F

July, mid: 69/54 °F

July, late: 69/54 °F

 

August, early: 67/53 °F

August, mid: 66/52 °F

August, late: 64/51 °F

 

Sept., early: 60/49 °F

Sept., mid: 58/47 °F

Sept., late: 56/45 °F

 

St. Petersburg:

May, early: 60 high/41 low °F

May, mid: 62/44 °F

May, late: 65/46 °F

 

June, early: 68/49 °F

June, mid: 70/51 °F

June, late: 72/53 °F

 

July, early: 72/53 °F

July, mid: 71/52 °F

July, late: 70/51 °F

 

August, early: 66/48 °F

August, mid: 64/46 °F

August, late: 61/45 °F

 

Sept., early: 55/41 °F

Sept., mid: 52/38 °F

Sept., late: 48/36 °F

 

Stockholm:

May, early: 60 high/44 low °F

May, mid: 62/46 °F

May, late: 63/49 °F

 

June, early: 66/52 °F

June, mid: 68/54 °F

June, late: 70/55 °F

 

July, early: 71/56 °F

July, mid: 70/55 °F

July, late: 69/54 °F

 

August, early: 67/52 °F

August, mid: 65/50 °F

August, late: 63/48 °F

 

Sept., early: 58/44 °F

Sept., mid: 54/42 °F

Sept., late: 51/40 °F

 

Reactions? 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 119,255 views.

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

[kaisatsu]

Weather in May is hugely variable. I sailed the fjords in May 2012 and we actually had warm enough weather one day that I was in short sleeves, but a few years before that it snowed on May 17 (the Norwegian national holiday).

 

On average, a good fleece under a windbreaker should be fine, since that should work down to freezing temps or just below. However, you're tolerance and comfort level are of course up to you!

 

What kind of softshell is it? I have a number of softshells, and there's a huge variety in how much thermal protection they offer. You'll want something that has a bit of warmth to it, and the windproofing should be less of a concern because you'll have the windbreaker as your outer shell. (I assume that's a waterproof layer? Because you can definitely expect a bit of rain in the fjords.)

 

I would definitely suggest a pair of light gloves and a hat, because the breeze on deck can make it a bit chilly even in warmer weather. Hat and gloves are easy to pack and make a huge difference.

[dsrdsrdsr]

Presumably if you're only in Norway for a week, you'll be sticking to the southern half. I was there in May 2010, and my photos show plenty of clear blue skies, especially Stavanger and Flam which both had not a cloud to be seen. We still needed a woolly jumper or coat, though, it wasn't tropical. No rain that time. The waterfalls may be slow, or they may be in perfect condition in full spate - depends how fast the snow in the mountains is melting.

[happy_travellers]

Presumably if you're only in Norway for a week, you'll be sticking to the southern half. I was there in May 2010, and my photos show plenty of clear blue skies, especially Stavanger and Flam which both had not a cloud to be seen. We still needed a woolly jumper or coat, though, it wasn't tropical. No rain that time. The waterfalls may be slow, or they may be in perfect condition in full spate - depends how fast the snow in the mountains is melting.

 

Thank you so much. This is when I can go and when I can afford to go. 50-60 degree weather is something we can handle. We are from Canada!

Karen

[happy_travellers]

Hi, Karen! Have given you some more specifics on your other question on this board. Here's more to consider on weather and how to get added, better info. It might be that May 10-24 fits for uour Anniversary and Birthday's, but it is not as good weather, for the best pictures, etc.

 

You can go to

http://www.wunderground.com

and check for the very specific weather history on many of the key towns in the world for their past temperatures in that specific area for a date in the past. Just look lower left in the page for weather history area, put in your exact dates and the year prior. You will then see what last year was like, along with recent highs and lows for that date there.

 

As an example for May 6, you will find this data for Bergen in the heart of this great area: a high of 48 °F last year with a low of 38 °F, with an average high on this date of 54 °F with an average low of 42 °F. During recent history, the high has been 69 °F (2006) and a low of 35 °F (1997) on this date in Bergen. There was no rain on this date last year.

 

As an example for June 29, you will find this data for Bergen in the heart of this great area: a high of 64 °F last year with a low of 52 °F, with an average high on this date of 61 °F with an average low of 51°F. During recent history, the high has been 68 °F (2003) and a low of 44 °F (2007) on this date in Bergen. There was no rain on this date last year.

 

Here are a few weather averages/details for these three key cities in the Baltics by looking at the 7th, 15th, 23rd days of each month from http://www.wunderground.com:

 

Copenhagen: High/low averages,

May, early: 61 high/47 low °F

May, mid: 63/48 °F

May, late: 65/50 °F

 

June, early: 67/53 °F

June, mid: 68/54 °F

June, late: 69/54 °F

 

July, early: 69/55 °F

July, mid: 69/54 °F

July, late: 69/54 °F

 

August, early: 67/53 °F

August, mid: 66/52 °F

August, late: 64/51 °F

 

Sept., early: 60/49 °F

Sept., mid: 58/47 °F

Sept., late: 56/45 °F

 

St. Petersburg:

May, early: 60 high/41 low °F

May, mid: 62/44 °F

May, late: 65/46 °F

 

June, early: 68/49 °F

June, mid: 70/51 °F

June, late: 72/53 °F

 

July, early: 72/53 °F

July, mid: 71/52 °F

July, late: 70/51 °F

 

August, early: 66/48 °F

August, mid: 64/46 °F

August, late: 61/45 °F

 

Sept., early: 55/41 °F

Sept., mid: 52/38 °F

Sept., late: 48/36 °F

 

Stockholm:

May, early: 60 high/44 low °F

May, mid: 62/46 °F

May, late: 63/49 °F

 

June, early: 66/52 °F

June, mid: 68/54 °F

June, late: 70/55 °F

 

July, early: 71/56 °F

July, mid: 70/55 °F

July, late: 69/54 °F

 

August, early: 67/52 °F

August, mid: 65/50 °F

August, late: 63/48 °F

 

Sept., early: 58/44 °F

Sept., mid: 54/42 °F

Sept., late: 51/40 °F

 

Reactions? 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 119,255 views.

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

 

Hi

I know we are OK with the weather temperatures. There really is only a 7 degree swing from end of May until July so that does not worry us. I have checked some Norway sites and there season starts mostly mid May so most things are open.

 

We are skiers and have lived in Thunder Bay Ontario very close to Minnesota so if dressed properly we can enjoy most days.

 

I think if we prepare properly we can enjoy this cold weather region when it is most convenient and affordable for us.

 

Thanks Karen