We are planning 2 week trip to norway this summer with our two teenage daughters. We are interested in a 4 or 5 day cruise, but don't want a big cruise ship. We prefer small expedition type ship, where shore excursions aren't just the normal "touristy" side trips. What are the alternatives? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. cathy

Take a lokal express boat to some unknown Island and see if its was worth the trip.<BR>North of Bergen: http://www.fylkesbaatane.no/<BR>South of Bergen: http://www.hsd.no/hsd/indexEng.nsf<BR><BR>The ferry Bergen-Stavanger is used by locals as well as tourists. Its the best way not having a car.<BR>

Maybe the local express ferry to Maaloy, Nordfjoreid and Aalesund is worth checking out. Not what I would call a tourist route. Lots of possibilities going on from there. http://www.ruteinfo.net/Ruter/t/23-531.htm<BR><BR>Lots of sightseeing boats going from Bergen, don't necessarily all that touristy, except the one to Flom (a real tourist trap, but can understand why).<BR>

Cathy, I also started researching this question. Our situation is that my sons and I are going on a 14 day Baltic cruise and then 6 days later are meeting up with my husband and friends for a 10 trip of Scotland. As these are 2 hectic trips I was looking for a relaxing cruise of the fjords where for a few days we could do very little except sit on a ship and watch the fjords go by.<BR><BR>I found this website http://www.5stars-of-scandinavia.com/ which may be soemthing that would interest you.<BR><BR>This was a couple of months ago and I seem to remember that there are small ships which cruise the fjords during the day and then stop at verious ports where you spend the night in a hotel.<BR><BR>One of the ships I looked at where you actually stayed on board was built in 1888 and there were no bathrooms in the cabins, you had to go down the hall. I can't see teenage girls getting excited about that scenario!<BR><BR>There did seem to be one option where you could board a boat at any port and stay on it for as many days as you like. It may be on this site that I mentioned.<BR><BR>I'm sorry I can't be more specific but it has been a few months since I looked into this and then I put it on hold.<BR><BR>If you dont' mind, would you post what you find or e-mail me at [email protected]. Sometimes psots get buried and are hard to find.<BR>Thanks.

Check out Norwegian Coastal Voyage. MY<BR>wife and I took one from Bergen all the<BR>way up the coast and enjoyed it. You could check (Hurtigruten.com) to see if<BR>there are partial trips? I know the locals use the ships like a local bus to get from one town to the other.