For several weeks, my email inbox has been filled with promotions for cruises to Norway at almost unimaginably low prices. Resisting the obvious and painful puns, I can only agree that the fjords have never been more affordable.
The destination consistently wins praise and awards as the most scenic in the world, and a cruise to the region has so many benefits.
There’s departure from a UK port for a start, so no need to fly or to worry about airline baggage restrictions. A ship takes you effortlessly past rugged cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, and deep into the heart of the country along its winding waterways.
Best of all, for some, the vessel is a home-from-home, a refuge from the almost criminally high prices extorted for snacks and drinks ashore. It cost me the best part of £28 for two pints of lager and a packet of nuts last time I looked – that was a while ago and while my wallet (and heartbeat) are still recovering the price has probably gone up. And a tenner for an elk-burger? That’s cruel, even with the guarantee that it’s free of horsemeat.
Travel by cruise ship and you can take a look ashore, buy a postcard or a troll doll to take home, and be back in the cabin for room-service afternoon tea before the first hunger pangs strike.
So here are a few of those deals. Please note, they are gathered together from a selection of cruise lines and travel agents over the past few days. It is entirely possible that some deals have sold out and are no longer available. But keep looking. All fares quoted are per person, based on two adults sharing accommodation as described.
Seven nights on P&O’s Ventura for £399. Departing Southampton on May 18 and visiting Bergen, Olden, Molde and Stavanger. Fare is for an outside cabin and is P&O’s Getaway rate, which requires payment in full at the time of booking. Cabin and dinner seating allocated on embarkation. 0843 373 0111. P&O Cruises
Eight nights on Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Marco Polo for £399. Departing Tilbury on May 17 and visiting the Hardanger Music Festival for music lovers from classical to jazz. Ports of call include Eidfjord, Lofthus, Odda, Geiranger, Flam and Bergen. Fare is for inside cabin. 0844 414 6185. Cruise & Maritime Voyages
Six-nights on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas for £449. Departing Southampton on May 26 and calling at Oslo, Kristiansand and Stavanger. Fare is for inside cabin. Book a balcony cabin (from £799 pp) for RockStar Service and $200 onboard credit. 0844 488 3084. Virgin Holidays Cruises
Twelve-night cruise to North Cape on P&O’s Adonia for £549. Departing Southampton on May 8 and visiting Olden, Trondheim, North Cape, Bodo and Stavanger. Fare is for inside cabin and is at Getaway rate (accommodation and dinner seating allocated on embarkation); balcony from £649. 0843 373 0111. P&O Cruises
Seven nights on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth for £499. Departing Southampton on May 19 and calling at Stavanger, Olden, Geiranger and Bergen. Fare is for inside cabin. Balcony cabin (partially obstructed view) from £629. 0800 230 0655 cruise1st.co.uk
Seven nights on MSC Opera for £399. Departing Southampton on May 25 and visiting Ijmuiden in the Netherlands, Flam, Stavanger and Oslo. 0800 230 0655 cruise1st.co.uk
If you have a little more time to spare, look at these deals:
Fourteen nights on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas for £699. Sailing from Southampton on June 1 and calling at Cobh (for Cork), Ireland; Olden, Alesund, Flam, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Oslo, and Zeebrugge, Belgium. Fare is for inside cabin allocated on embarkation. 0800 230 0655 cruise1st.co.uk
Twelve nights on Thomson Spirit from £709. This cruise departs from Newcastle-upon-Tyne on May 21 and visits Bergen, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Sortland, Honningsvag (for North Cape), Tromso, Kristiansund and Flam. Fare is for inside cabin on Deck 3 or 4 and includes gratuities. 0871 230 2800. thomson.co.uk/cruise
Ten nights on Celebrity Infinity for £599. Departing from Harwich on July 5 and calling at Oslo, Stavanger, Olden, Alesund, Geiranger, Flam and Bergen. 0800 230 0655 cruise1st.co.uk
Fourteen nights on Celebrity Eclipse for £999. Sailing from Southampton on August 3 and heading for Reykjavik, Iceland, for an overnight stay before sailing on to Akureyri, then the Faroe Islands, Geiranger, Alesund, Olden and Stavanger. Includes a free excursion from Reykjavik. 0808 1234 118 cruise118.com
One again, apologies if any of these deals have sold out – it just shows what bargains they are!
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