Norway by Sea: Photo highlights from my cruise adventure Part 2
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
After a perfect first stop in Haugesund, we were ready for what felt like the Norway we’d dreamt of: dramatic fjords, sleepy villages, and mountains that looked like they’d been pulled straight from a painting.
By this point, we’d found our rhythm onboard. Dinner around 6 or 7 pm, followed by a drink from the bar before heading to the theatre. It was easy to forget we were even on a ship — the Headliners Theatre felt oddly similar to our local panto venue, despite one being in the middle of the sea.
The next leg of the cruise brought us to two of Norway’s most iconic spots — Olden and Flåm — with some jaw-dropping scenic cruising along the way.
After the show, we’d usually stop by the casino (where my brother would reliably lose money), and then my fiancée and I would head to the Grand Atrium. We’d sit on the second deck and just take in the live piano music floating through the space — a quiet, lovely way to end each night.
Most evenings, we’d pre-book entertainment in the theatre. Some acts were great, others… not quite what we expected. It was hard to tell if we’d misread the descriptions, or if the shows just weren’t clearly explained — maybe a bit of both!
We settled down for the night, heading back out of the Fjord and around to the next port, boat rocking and making you feel tispy even if drinking only water. We must have dozed off around 1 am, but it was hard to tell without looking at your phone, as, whilst the sun did ‘technically’ set each evening, the sky remained a constant light, just dim. You could go out onto the balcony at 2am and see everything around in clear.
Olden was at the top of my list for places I was excited to visit. Olden itself felt like a postcard brought to life. Our balcony was starboard side, meaning we woke up to a view of the Fjord, clouds rolling in, with beautiful snow topped mountains in the distance. We headed to grab breakfast and get off the cruise as quick as possible.
Whilst the rain (more like mist) covered the surrounding mountains, the air itself was crisp – the whole place had the peaceful vibe that made it hard to believe such a place would exist. I genuinely say this, whilst walking Olden, and looking around, I found a sense of peace (or whatever you would call it) for the first time in some time. We spent the morning walking around the village, and I found a local shop and had them recommend some chocolate (it tasted amazing).
We had a bus ride through Olden and to the Briksdalsbreen glacier. On our way there, the weather decided to change, and whilst the rain only added to the Twilight-esque vibes, it was a problem as I had not brought a waterproof coat. As soon as we got there, I went to the tourist shop, and let’s just say, I have a nice and big umbrella with the Norwegian flag on, sat in my home.
The glacier itself was stunning — tucked between towering cliffs and feeding into crystal-clear waters that looked almost too perfect to be real. It was the kind of place you just stood and stared at, trying to take it all in before the rain soaked you through (which it did). We were drenched by the time we got back on the bus, but it didn’t matter — it felt worth it.
Once we were back onboard, we warmed up, got changed, and headed out onto the open decks to wave goodbye to Olden. Locals stood by the roadside and on balconies with little Norwegian flags, waving as we slowly pulled away from port. It was oddly emotional — like being sent off by a town we’d only just met.
Looking back, Olden gave me something I hadn’t realised I needed: peace. With no phone signal and barely any screens unless you went looking for them, it was just us — walking, talking, surrounded by nature. For a while, it felt like the noise of the world had finally gone quiet. Just the mountains, the mist, and the sound of the shutter on my camera.
The next morning, we arrived in Flåm — another small village with a big backdrop. Flåm was beautiful — almost too beautiful. It felt a bit like a mock-up village built to charm tourists, with its aesthetic buildings and shops, souvenir stalls, and cafes. It gave off the vibe of a theme park version of Norway — not in a bad way, just… curated.
It wasn’t until we boarded a little road train and trundled a bit further out that we got a glimpse of the real Flåm — a few homes, locals out walking, and that quiet, lived-in feeling that was missing from the main port area. That made it feel more grounded, more human.
Even if the port area felt a bit dressed-up, the food and coffee were genuinely good, and the views — towering mountains, still water, and the surrounding fjord landscape — were impossible to fault. We also popped into the small museum near the railway, which was surprisingly interesting and gave some extra context to the area.
We wandered around for a while and ended up seeing the ship from a different angle. Even after four days, we were still amazed by how this massive thing floats — and how it manages to fit so precisely into these narrow fjords.
As we sailed away from Flåm later that afternoon, I found myself staring out at the landscape, already missing it — and wishing the trip didn’t have to end. Still, one final stop awaited us: Stavanger.
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