What To Pack For A Norwegian Fjords Cruise In May

When I first googled ‘What To Pack For A Cruise’ I realised that quite a lot of people go cruising around the Caribbean so what they need to pack isn’t really necessary when you are going to Norway…even if it is in May. 

Whilst I haven't quite nailed the itinerary choices for our trip (still debating about whether or not to go kayaking, *update* I am going kayaking)  choosing what to pack seems a much more pressing issue so I thought that I’d put together this little guide on what to pack if you are going on a Norwegian Fjords cruise in May. 

Evening wear 

In the past cruise liners had quite strict dress codes but it’s much more relaxed now and the dress code only applies to the evening. 

On our P&O cruise, there are two types of evening dress codes that apply after 6pm: evening casual and black tie.

So what exactly do you mean when you say black tie? 

Black Tie

P&O Cruises are one of the cruise liners who still uphold the tradition of black tie nights where everyone on the ship dresses up for the occasion. 

For her: 

Think glamorous evening wear: from ball gowns to cocktail dress and smart trouser suits. Dress to impress and you can’t go wrong. 

For Him:

Black tie for men normally means tuxedos and dinner jackets. If you don’t have a tuxedo in your wardrobe don’t fret because dark lounge or business suits, worn with a tie, are also accepted. 

Evening Casual 

First, they use the ambiguous term ‘evening casual’ and then to explain it the website says ‘leisure/resort wear’…yeah sure, let's just replace an ambiguous term with another one, shall we? 

For him:

Full-length trousers and a shirt or polo shirt. You can wear a jacket and tailored trousers but no shorts! Smart, dark wash denim is allowed but lighter washes are not.  

Other things to avoid include tracksuits, trainers, slogan t-shirts and football shirts

For her:

Tailored trousers and a cute blouse will work really well for this look as will smart, dark wash jeans but as mentioned for men; lighter washes are a no-no in the dining room.

If a dress is more your style go for a skater cut or a tea dress. Save the ball gown for the black tie night.

I might leave the pink tights at home this time

The ship’s dress code, as I’ve mentioned applies from 6pm onwards in most restaurants and bars, for those who are over 18. 

Flip flops, shorts, sleeveless tops and blue or worn denim are not permitted in the evenings. 

And at all times you shouldn’t wear a swimming costume in the lounges, restaurants or inside bars

Daytime 

There is no set dress code enforced on board during the day but helpful hints include wearing flat , comfortable shoes around the ship - because it's quite big you see.

And don’t forget a lightweight jacket for those cooler evenings.

Just For Norway 

From the 14th May until the 29th July Norway is often known as the ‘land of the midnight sun’ (good thing that we’ve got an inside cabin then) so whilst you might want to stay sitting out on deck watching the world go by, remember that the weather can be unpredictable with sudden cold winds and rain being quite common. 

Packing essentials

1. A waterproof, windproof jacket 
2. Layers, lots of layers. With jumpers and hoodies being a must.
3. A warm jacket like a micro-fibre or fleece 
4. Closed toed shoes with a good grip
5. An umbrella - just in case
6. Slather up the sun cream

Only a few weeks to go until I walk in the footsteps of Lyra Belacqua, I wonder if I'll meet Iorek Byrnison. 

Things you should know before going your first cruise.

Hello little blog, long time no see. 

As some of you may know, I’m going on a cruise in a month’s time, my first ever cruise and to say that I was excited would be the understatement of the century.

Choose your ship wisely

The cruise company and even the ship you choose can greatly impact your holiday as they each offer something different. Some are adult-only, others are family friendly and great for kids whilst cruises like Saga and Fred. Olsen is pretty exclusively for an older clientele. My mother, father and I are going on a P&O Cruise on the Britannia. This is a ‘Food Heroes’ themed cruise and we will be joined on board by Eric Lanlard. 

This is the perfect cruise for a foodie like myself as not only will I joining Eric Lanlard in the kitchen for a masterclass with the Cake Boy himself but will also be going on an additional baking course and have afternoon tea at the Epicurean on our final sea day.

Research the ports.

Much like if you are going on a city break or a weekend away, your time in port can be very limited. Most of the time you’ll arrive in a town in the morning and then leave in the early evening the very same day. It's therefore worth doing your research before you go and having a plan in mind. 

Our week-long cruise to the Norwegian Fjords will be stopping at Stavanger, Alesund, Olden and Bergen and I am looking forward to visiting the ‘Swords In Rock’ monument in Stavanger and Rosenkrantz tower in Bergen. 

Take ID ashore

When you go across border lines whilst on board you do not get your passport checked in real time. At least I hope not, I don’t fancy being woken up at 2am because we have arrived in Norway. 

Instead, passport checks (and sometimes bag scans) happen when you go ashore so make sure to remember your passport and all other travel documents before leaving the cabin. 

Inside Cabins are a good choice for first-time cruisers.

Picking a cabin for the cruise can be a sticking point for many. After all, a balcony has outside space and is often bigger. BUT its also a lot more expensive, sometimes three times more so than an indoor cabin!

As a first time cruiser you need to ask yourself, is it really worth it? How much time am I going to spend in my cabin anyway? 

The way I look at it there are 3 main reasons why an inside cabin is best for the first time cruiser:

1. You are only really going to use your cabin when you sleep - with so much stuff to do and explore on the ship, do you want to be cooped up in your cabin?
2. Good for those who need a blackout to sleep. - If like me, you need complete blackness to sleep then an inside cabin is best. There isn't a window so you won’t be woken up with the rising sun
3. Sit down your rocking the boat. - No seriously. Your inside cabin is going to situated in a more central part of the ship which means less rocking. Great for landlubbers and less chance of getting seasick….at least in your cabin.

You can get seasick.

*Spoiler Alert* you are on a ship and that means that you can get seasick. 

Top tips for avoiding this that I’ve seen include; 

1. looking out of the window, or failing that because you have an inside cabin and don’t have a window,
2. turn on the TV in your cabin and choose the ships camera option
3. Go to the ship’s medical centre and ask for an injection of Phenergan.

Other useful tips include:

1. Take your own tea bags, especially if you are partial to a certain type of brew. I’ve heard it said that a lot of cruise liners stock Lipton’s so if you are a Yorkshire Tea kind of gal you better pack some tea bags.
2. Bring an extension lead, this may come in handy if you have many things that you want to plug in, or if there are a few of you sharing a cabin.
3. As soon as you board, locate your life vest and try it on. Then you can ask for a replacement before it’s too late.
4. Most cruise ships will provide you with a daily program with a full list of what’s happening on board including any classes, theatre shows, discos and kid’s clubs. It's a good idea to keep this on you at all times, even when going off the ship so that you can stay in the know with what’s on.