For my 25th birthday, I was looking for a new and exciting destination. My mom and I were looking for a place to celebrate in style, so we decided to visit here on a coin flip. Norway. Just a few weeks later we were on a Norwegian fjord cruise.
Living in Australia, there are very few places to choose from remotely. So I wanted to be able to sit back and relax once I arrived and let someone else do the hard work of planning and executing my trip. So we decided to venture into the Norwegian fjords on an eight-night cruise, exploring and adventuring during the day and relaxing and pampering at night. Talk about finding balance!
Cruising the Norwegian fjords with celebrities
I went on my first cruise over a year ago and believe me when I say I was the most shocked of all because we had such a great time. Until many months ago, cruising was a form of luxury travel available only to the wealthiest guests, but cruising as we know it today invites everyone on board to travel the world in style, sophistication, and with incredible perks.
For those who have never been on a cruise before, when you book a cruise, you pay an all-inclusive price that includes accommodation on board, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), onboard entertainment (evening theater shows and live music), and transportation to and from each port. With all of this included in one package price, I was surprised to learn that cruising can be a fairly affordable way to travel, allowing you to sleep in one city and wake up in the next (meaning you cut down on long travel days and have more time to explore each destination).
Itinerary: 8 nights in the Norwegian fjords
Our cruise to Norway started in Southampton, England, giving me an excuse to visit London and show my mom around one of my favorite cities (anything goes!). We took the 1.5 hour train ride from London to Southampton, then boarded the boat and set off.
The first and last nights of the cruise were spent at sea to and from Norway. This gave me a great opportunity to overcome jet lag and adapt to the new time zone as quickly as possible, allowing me to leave immediately and start work right away when I arrived in Norway.
The first port of the cruise is bergen, Norway’s second largest city, known by many as the gateway to the fjords.
Our second port of call was rafta small but charming village, and a first insight into life within the fjord.
The next day we arrived at Geirangeranother small village but packed with breathtaking views and hikes to photograph this narrow fjord, acclaimed as one of the most beautiful in all of Norway.
Leaving the fjord and returning to the coast, we stopped at the following locations: ÅlesundEnjoy stunning city views and charming Art Nouveau architecture.
The final destination of the cruise was stavangerNorway’s third largest city is full of intricate alleyways and small streets to stroll through.
life on board
Anyone who has ever been on a cruise knows that when you go on a cruise, you have two journeys: one on land and one on board. While exploring on foot during the day, you can spend all day at sea in the morning and evening, enjoying the refreshing breeze of sea life.
The best thing about cruising for me is the ease of travel. You only check in and out once during your vacation, you can travel overnight (so you have more time to explore when you arrive), and wake up in a new city even though you sleep in the same bed every night. bliss!
In-flight service is almost always an irresistible temptation. A delicious buffet with every item imaginable, an all-day buffet, and a three-course meal every night when you book a dinner set. The menu changed every night, and we sampled flavors from around the world and struck up conversations with fellow cruisers and waiters from all over the world.
The onboard entertainment was surprisingly my favorite highlight and deserves special mention for the talent alone. Each night we watched an evening performance by a special fly-in act or cast ensemble performing live theater. It was the latter that I found most enjoyable, as many of the cast were Broadway-quality performers (and if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know I’ve seen a lot of shows!).
During our day at the beach, I had my mom and I get manicures at the spa. We sat there giggling and talking about how we could get used to being pampered and well looked after on holidays. As someone who is used to overnight train travel, Google searches for vegetarian food in new cities, and living out of a suitcase, traveling with Celebrity Cruises and spending my birthday trip was the ultimate luxury. I’m actually on vacation!
I traveled to Norway as a guest on Celebrity Cruises. I can’t thank you enough for making my 25th birthday so memorable.