scdreamer

Am just at the beginning stages of planning a trip for this coming summer. Usually by this time, I would have been three quarters through with all the plans, but we are expecting a new grandson in four more weeks - his older sister (now two and a half) was born with unexpected complications, involving a long period of extra care before repair surgery could be done, so we are waiting to see if we can leave or should stay to help our daughter and son-in-law.

In the event that this baby is fine (yes!), here is what we would like to plan for:

Late July - we would like to see the Norwegian Fjords. There are cruises that could take us from Southampton UK round trip to see the fjords, and that could be a consideration. Not sure if there is a better way to tour the fjords - it seems that viewing them from the sea inlets would be the most spectacular.

We are in our mid 60s, and enjoy walking and moderate hiking. We are beyond the days of "rustic" accommodations and transport. The idea of unpacking only one time is very appealing, but we can certainly travel light enough to look at other options. Anyone have suggestions?

After the fjords, the plan is to travel to London, stay a day or two (have stayed in London in the past) and rent a car to drive to the Cotswolds, where we would like to rent a cottage to use as a base for driving to villages and walking. Not sure whether to hire guides or do the day walking on our own. I know there are many self-guided walks available, and that's likely what we would prefer.

We live in California - so would be flying either to London or to the continent to begin this trip.

Any advice or ideas - for either segment or both - would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

thursdaysd

Recommend looking at the Hurtigruten "cruises". They use smaller boats and are a ferry and delivery service for the local people as well offering cabins and (good) meals.

https://www.hurtigruten.com

For somewhere to stay in the Cotswolds you might look at the cottages offered by the National Trust or English Heritage.

Best wishes for a healthy grandchild.

menachem

I've done both Hurtigruten and a dedicated cruise. While I liked the "it's also public transport" aspect of Hurtigruten, most stops are very short. Did a HAL cruise of 10 days out of Rotterdam. I suspect that's much the same as your Southampton cruise. It gives you all the highlights and full days in port. Our Itinerary was Eidfjord - Geiranger - Ålesund - Bergen. Knowing what I know now, I would have organised some tours myself. But the excursions that were on offer were mostly nice. However, all cruise stops have tours on offer that you can also pre book, so that might be an idea.

You might do shorter stretches on Hurtigruten and stay a few nights in any one city you choose. That's perfectly doable, and if you are already traveling light, it would give you more time in a city without being chained to a cruise's itinerary.

janisj

I think a Norwegian cruise and a week or so in the Cotswolds would be an idyllic vacation.

>> Not sure whether to hire guides or do the day walking on our own.<<

There is absolutely 100% no reason to hire a guide in the Cotswolds. There are hundreds of miles of very well (and a few not so well) signposted footpaths covering every corner of the region.

I'd rent a cottage in one of the larger villages or market towns to give you options re meals, shopping and pubs. Burford, Chipping Campden, Stow on the Wold, Evesham or Tewkesbury are all good locations.

historytraveler

If you can afford it, National Geographic offers some really great tours of Norway, fjords etc. www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com. Otherwise I'd probably go with Hurtigruten.

Get some good maps for the Cotswolds that show specific walking trails, footpaths. For renting cottages try www.manorcottages.co.uk

janisj

Manor cottages, the National Trust, and the Landmark Trust (some REALLY remarkable properties - but they do book up early) are all great.

Also check Cottage in the Country

https://www.cottageinthecountry.co.uk

ESW

I agree with all the previous suggestions of Hurtigruten. They are all very much working boats carrying local people and cargo and you call in at all sorts of small settlements that the cruise liners wouldn't dream of visiting. (Berlevag at midnight springs to mind...)It is a voyage of discovery rather than a cruise if you understand the difference.

Pick your ship carefully as the experience on one of the 'traditional' boats is very different to that on the bigger and modern boats. The traditional boats (Lofoten and Nordstjernen) are much smaller with just over 100 passengers. They also sail closer to the coastline. They have a crane which is used for loading and unloading all cargo and you use a gang plank rather than the ramp. Cabins are smaller and most of them have bunks. When we have been on them, there has been access to the deck wings and you have been able to visit the bridge whenever you want - as long as the officers are happy. Dress code is a lot more casual.

People either love or hate them - we love them.Most travel agents automatically book you on one of the big boats and we have come across people who have really regretted not picking a traditional boat.

There's lots of information about the ships here.
https://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/our-sh...eader&asc=true

Plan on at least an extra day in Bergen which is a wonderful city and there is excellent walking on Fløien (ask for a map at the the ticket station). Also spend a day doing Norway in a Nutshell which is marvellous.
https://www.norwaynutshell.com/origi...in-a-nutshell/

scdreamer

ESW - thank you so much for the information about Hurtigruten. This looks like the way we would prefer to travel. But we would definitely want to stay in ports more than just for a stop.

In looking at the website, I am a little confused (probably just me) - I can't seem to figure out how often each of the ship makes its "transit." Is it a 24-hour loop? Or a couple days? If we were to take this trip, say for a week or ten days, would we reserve a cabin for a night, then stay on mainland for a day or two, and then repeat the booking for the next port we wish to visit? Do you book the entire itinerary - or just keep booking and rebooking?

Perhaps we need a travel agent - something we don't have. Are there travel agents in Norway who would help with this? Or would we choose an agent in the US, as that is where we live.

thursdaysd

A different ship leaves each day. It takes five or six days for south to north or north to south (forget exactly). Most of the ports really don't require much time. I can see stopping off in the Lofoten islands, and spending an extra day in Bergen, but that's about it.

You do not need a travel agent, assuming you could find one who knew anything about Hurtigruten and didn't want to sell you a "regular" cruise. You can book directly with Hurtigruten. If you are doing a short hop that doesn't include an overnight I doubt you would need to book ahead.

For my trip start here (links at the top):
https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...e-kong-harald/

menachem

as thursdaysd already wrote: any hurtigruten port gets a north going ship daily and a south going ship daily. for stretches under 24 hours you can even book at the hurtigruten office in port.

menachem

so, suppose you wanted to stay in Ålesund for a few days, doing a local tour of Geirangerfjord and Geiranger etc.

You'd book an individual stretch Bergen - Ålesund, going north. There's a departure every day from Bergen. You don't need to book a cabin for this stretch, and opt for a travel ticket only.

You've booked a hotel in Ålesund and do your exploring locally. You can book a new stretch online, or go to the Hurtigruten office directly and buy a ticket there. Again, there's a departure north from Ålesund every day at the same time. So from there you could do Trondheim, also under 24 hours, stay overnight in Trondheim, or take an additional night. Trondheim is on the train system, so that gives you additional options. Or, go up to Trondheim by train, from there do Hurtigruten stretches. I think the thing to remember is that Hurtigruten is primarily the local, public transport that made north Norway accessible with a twice daily service. So that's how you can use it too, and that's how many people in Norway still use it, especially up north.

If I had the opportunity to do Hurtigruten now, again, I'd fly to Tromsø from Oslo, and do stretches there, to include Lofoten, down to Trondheim and take the train to Oslo from there.

tl;dr: you can book individual stretches, and mix and match to do your own itinerary.