Your cruise at a glance
Hand-crafted highlights
Spend the Bank Holiday admiring the outstanding landscapes of the Norwegian Fjords, where you'll witness towering mountains and waterside villages as you cruise along picturesque waterways en route to two beautiful destinations in just five days on this cruise from Newcastle. Alesund is the perfect starting point for the Rauma railway and marvelling at the rugged mountains of Romsdalen Valley. Views of the city and surrounding fjordland are plentiful from the top of Mount Aksla, or join us on a tour to the islands of Giske and Godøy as you discover the history and traditions of Viking culture. Meanwhile, Briksdalen Valley and picturesque Lovatnet Lake can be visited from Olden, and Balmoral will also cruise along the scenic Nordfjord, specially timed for sunset views as you sail past Europe’s highest sea cliff, Hornelen.
Explore the Itinerary
Highlights
Fjord Scenery
The fjords of Norway showcase the country’s breathtaking natural wonders, with towering cliffs framing tranquil deep blue waters. The uniquely beautiful Nordfjord has a diverse landscape of fertile valleys, majestic mountains and tiny villages dotted along the water’s edge. Briksdal Glacier is located at the eastern end of the fjord, which you must visit on a tour from Balmoral. You’ll take a walk along a track surrounded by rivers, mountains and waterfalls to the perfect viewpoint over the glacier. Our on board teams will provide you with fascinating commentary from your ship as you scenic cruise through some of Norway’s most beautiful fjords.
Fjordland way of Life
The way of life in Norway is strongly influenced by a combination of natural surroundings and a sense of community. Nature features heavily with outdoor activities and the practise of Friluftsliv at its core. In a nutshell, it’s about enjoying nature without destroying or disturbing it and being able to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life. With this in mind, do join us on tours to experience outdoor life, such as enjoying hiking or kayaking amongst remarkable fjordland scenery.
Life On Board
Introducing Balmoral
Beautiful Balmoral is small enough to navigate some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways so guests can enjoy hours of scenic cruising. Balmoral retains a warm, civilised atmosphere and features comfortable accommodation, stylish restaurants and plenty of open deck space.
Balmoral
Beautiful Balmoral is small enough to navigate Europe’s most picturesque waterways so guests can enjoy hours of scenic cruising. Balmoral offers a warm, civilised atmosphere and features comfortable accommodation, stylish restaurants and plenty of open-deck space.
Our Signature Experiences
To make your experience even more special, our Journey Planners have designed a unique programme of Signature Experiences which will allow you to discover real insights about the culture and nature of the places we are visiting, so you can arrive in each destination fully prepared to get the most out of your visit.
We have carefully curated a programme of events to give you a deeper understanding of each of the destinations you will be visiting
Our Scenic Discoveries are designed to allow you to enjoy seeing the world from the unique perspective of our ships
Maritime is in our DNA - our history in shipping goes back almost 200 years
There’s very little in the natural world more beautiful than a clear night sky, sunrise or sunset seen at sea
We love to bring a taste of the region's food, drink, local tastes and culinary traditions to life on board
Sample Shore Tours
At each port of call on your cruise, we carefully research and hand pick Shore Tour options for you, designed for you see as many of the world's best destinations as possible.
Below, you will find some sample Shore Tours which will give you an example of what to expect on your cruise. Your Shore Tours will be available to book approximately 8-13 weeks prior to departure via your My Cruises account.
Briksdal Glacier & Troll Car
Admire the magnificent Briksdal Glacier, an arm of the mighty Jostedal Glacier, from the comfort of a troll car. If you wish to take a closer look, a 15–20-minute walk will allow you to view the ice from across the glacial lake. Afterwards, you can enjoy some refreshments at the Briksdal Inn before returning to your awaiting ship.
££££
Olden
Kayak on the Nordfjord
Experience the magnificent water on the Nordfjord, surrounded by steep mountains, cascading waterfalls and
fascinating glaciers on this kayaking adventure. As you glide across the pristine waters, your guide will share stories of the Vikings and teach you all about the valley’s dramatic history and the life of those who lived here.
££££
Olden
Catch Your Own Crayfish
After speeding across the beautiful Nordfjord on a RIB ride to the crayfish pots, help your skipper draw them in before cooking them ashore and enjoying them with bread and wine.
££££
Olden
Rauma Railway & Troll Mountains
Journey through the Romsdalen Valley on the Rauma Railway, admiring towering mountains, plummeting waterfalls and sights such as the Kylingbru Bridge, Trollveggen Cliff and the emerald green Rauma River.
££££
Ålesund
Your Guest Speakers
We’ve arranged for some wonderful guest speakers to join us for this cruise. They will be delivering a programme of insightful talks and activities to deepen your cultural, artistic and historical understanding of the destinations we will be exploring, well as helping you to enjoy the natural beauty of the places we visit.
Dr. Tony Pont
Having graduated with an honour’s degree in Geography and Geology and been to Norway many times Tony Pont is the ideal guest speaker to be delivering a talk on the Norwegian fjords, waterfalls, valleys and skerries.
Jeanette Yuile
Jeanette boasts over 40 years of Upstream Oil and Gas experience. A local Norwegian, she splits her time between Norway and the UK. On your cruise, Jeanette will be hosting a series of talks on Norway’s culture and way of life.
Treats & Pastimes
In addition to our Signature Experiences, we have a selection of lovely Treats & Pastimes for you to enjoy when on board. Just check your Daily Times each day for full details.
Cabins, Prices & Offers
Cabin Options On Your Cruise
* Prices correct as of 05:00 26/04/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on two people sharing a twin cabin. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.
* Prices correct as of 05:00 26/04/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on sole occupancy. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.
Cabin Grades
Balcony Junior Suite (BJ)
Balmoral's Balcony Junior Suites have a large cabin area and private balcony
| Freedom Fare | From £1,699 pp |
|---|
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Balcony Cabin (BA)
Located on Deck 8 & 9, Balcony Cabins have a private balcony and spacious cabin area
| Freedom Fare | From £1,599 pp |
|---|
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Ocean View (F)
Two portholes in Balmoral's F Grade Ocean View cabins offer ocean views
Solo traveller offer available
| Saver Fare | From £799 pp |
|---|---|
| Freedom Fare | From £899 pp |
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Interior Cabin (I)
I Grade Inside cabins on Balmoral offer everything you need on a cruise.
Solo traveller offer available
| Saver Fare | From £699 pp |
|---|---|
| Freedom Fare | From £799 pp |
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Single Interior Cabin (N)
N Grade Single Interior cabins are located on decks 3 & 6
| Freedom Fare | From £1,299 pp |
|---|
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Balcony Junior Suite (BJ)
Balmoral's Balcony Junior Suites have a large cabin area and private balcony
| Freedom Fare | From £3,228.10 |
|---|
360°
Balcony Cabin (BA)
Located on Deck 8 & 9, Balcony Cabins have a private balcony and spacious cabin area
| Freedom Fare | From £3,038.10 |
|---|
360°
Superior Ocean Fully Obstructed View (CO)
CO Grade Superior Ocean View cabins have a fully obstructed picture window.
Solo traveller offer available
| Saver Fare | from £999 |
|---|---|
| Freedom Fare | From £1,648.50 |
Interior Cabin (H)
Balmoral’s H Grade Interior cabins offer all the features you need on a cruise
Solo traveller offer available
| Saver Fare | from £1,285.75 |
|---|---|
| Freedom Fare | From £1,485.75 |
360°
Single Interior Cabin (N)
N Grade Single Interior cabins are located on decks 3 & 6
| Saver Fare | from £999 |
|---|---|
| Freedom Fare | From £1,299 |
360°
Cruise Offers
What's Included
SO MUCH ALREADY INCLUDED
As well as our Signature Experiences, there are a host of other treats to enjoy on board our ships.
Dining & Lounges
- À la carte breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Daily buffet dining options
- Late night Supper Club
- Afternoon tea
- Self-service tea & coffee
- In-cabin dining & snacks
Treats & Pastimes
- Evening shows
- Live music & dancing
- Dance classes
- Lectures & talks
- Cookery demonstrations
- Traditional deck games
- Daily games & quizzes
Relaxation & Fitness
- Swimming Pools
- Jacuzzis
- Fitness Centre
- Fitness Classes
Enhance your cruise
Each of our cruises has been carefully designed for you to get the very best out of your time on board; and now you can enhance your cruise to make it even more special.
Need Some Help?
Take a look at our FAQs
The handy checklist below has been created to assist in making sure you remember all the important things to pack for your cruise.
Visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you check with a professionally qualified source and comply with such requirements. UK passport holders will need visas for certain Fred. Olsen cruise holidays and will advised at the time of booking. Your cruise booking information will also detail any requirements applicable to your holiday.
On certain sailings we offer two types of cruise fares; Freedom and Saver Fares.
Our single guests feel right at home on board our ships; Fred. Olsen have the reputation of sailing the friendliest fleet afloat.
Disembarking when your ship's at anchor is a very different experience to when it's docked portside. Getting ashore in this instance often involves the use of the ship's tender, which is accessed via the steps of a secure gangway.