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.