Norwegian fjords & Iceland on Royal Caribbean
Brilliance of the Seas ticked every box…ample space in our cabin, great food options, fantastic entertainment, shore excursions and a kids club with brilliant facilities.
Norway is very picturesque…..Our first port of call was Bergen “The gateway to the Fjords of Norway” where we took the Floibaren funicular located in the city centre to the top of Mount Floyen where we enjoyed fantastic views over Bergen. We also stopped in Alesund and took a tour with a very informative guide taking in the Atlantic Sea Park just in time to see a diver in a huge tank hand feeding the fish and on to the Saga Islands, stopping at various points of interest for photos.
Geirangerfjord was just amazing, part of the UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most visited tourist sites in Norway. Activities here include fishing, hiking, kayaking and RIB boating. We took a tour along the winding roads to the top of the mountains passing wild waterfalls including the two most notable, the Seven Sisters and the Suitor (bottle shaped) which are opposite each other. The scenery is just breath taking as you may have seen in photos but the real thing is so much better. The port of Geiranger is bustling when ships are in, with quaint cafes, gift shops and a chocolate factory where you can sample handmade chocolate with unique flavours of blue/brown cheese and berries.
Enroute to Iceland, passengers were invited to take part in the blue nose ceremony which celebrates crossing the Arctic Circle and involved the Captain pouring a ladle of ice water down each guests back and painting noses blue which was surprisingly very popular. With an overnight stop in Iceland there was plenty of time to take it all in, with a whale watching trip and visit to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa which is a must if in Iceland.
We chose my time dining which allowed us the flexibility to dine when we wanted in the Minstrel dining room, we also ate in Izumi serving Asian cuisine including sushi, sashimi and hot rock plates. With so many options we were spoilt for choice….The Windjammer café was great for a quick lunch or informal evening meal, Chops Grille serving steaks and seafood dishes, Rita’s Cantina with a Mexican option, Park Café, Chefs table and Latte-tudes for speciality coffees….not forgetting 24 hour room service!
When not in port there was plenty to do from table tennis competitions, crazy golf, basketball, rock climbing, a well-equipped gym, running track, waterslide, daily quizzes, dance lessons, cup cake decorating, outdoor movie screen…the list was endless! And for those wanting to be pampered a great spa. The Centrum was the hub of the ship with many daily activities taking place there including dazzling aerialist performers and party nights and with views from every deck there was always a great atmosphere. The theatre was host to an array of shows to suit all tastes with a full house most nights, the hypnotist was particularly amusing. There were plenty of bars from the Colony Club, Schooner bar, Vintages, King and Country pub, R Bar all with some form of entertainment and a nightclub for the night owls. Alternatively there was a cinema showing recent movies several times a day and a well-appointed casino which was always buzzing.
This really was a memorable trip with something for everyone. If you would like to hear more about it or are looking to visit the Norwegian Fjords & Iceland, please get in touch.