Why a Norwegian Fjord Cruise Is the Perfect First Cruise for Families

A Stress Free Start: No Flying, Just Sail from Southampton

One of the biggest worries for many cruisers  is the pre cruise pressure of getting to the destination by air and potentially missing the cruise departure. Then there’s the airports, queues, security, luggage limits and delays. A big tick in the “pro” column for Norwegian fjords is that you can sail directly from the UK which means no airports whatsoever.

Being Bournemouth based, our journey to Southampton was incredibly simple. We loaded the car, drove to the port, parked in our pre arranged parking and that was it: holiday mode activated. Many cruise lines also offer coach transfers from various parts of the UK, which makes it even easier if you prefer not to drive.

Embarkation itself was much smoother than I expected for such a large ship. At full capacity Iona carries around 6,200 guests, yet it was still well organised. You are given a timed arrival slot, which staggers the flow of guests, so the whole process feels streamlined and surprisingly calm.

For a first family cruise, that painless start really sets the tone.

Our Itinerary: The Perfect Blend of Sea Days and Ports

Another common concern for first time cruisers is the fear of feeling rushed from port to port with no time to actually relax. Our Norwegian fjords itinerary was the opposite: a lovely, gentle rhythm that suited a family holiday perfectly.

Our route:

• Day 1: Embark at Southampton
• Day 2: At Sea
• Day 3: Haugesund 
• Day 4: Olden 
• Day 5: Flåm 
• Day 6: Stavanger 
• Day 7: At sea
• Day 8: Disembark in Southampton

 

That first full day at sea was exactly what we needed. It gave us time to unpack properly, explore the ship,  aclimitise to the rhythm of the ship find our favourite spots and settle the kids into a routine before we even reached Norway. Nothing felt frantic, and we never felt rushed. For a first cruise, especially with children, that gentle ease in is very welcome.

 

“But There Are So Many People!”: How it really feels on board

Let us talk about the thing so many people worry about: the sheer number of passengers.

I hear this all the time from clients who have never cruised before. The idea of 5,000 or 6,000 people on one ship feels overwhelming, and for some it is the main reason they have not taken the plunge yet.

I felt some of those same nerves before our trip on Iona, but a few things really reassured me once we were on board:

The ship is designed to spread people out. Yes, there are thousands of guests, but there are also multiple decks, restaurants, lounges, theatres, pool areas and outdoor spaces. Once you get your bearings, you quickly learn where to find the quieter corners, and it rarely feels like “everyone” is in the same place at once.

Daily life naturally layers people into different activities. At any given time, some guests will be in kids’ clubs, some by the pool, some at a talk or show, some napping in their cabin, some in the spa, and many ashore on port days. The result is that the ship feels more like a lively resort than a crowded shopping centre.

You can choose how social or quiet you want to be. We had evenings where we were in the heart of the action watching shows, and other times when we found a peaceful lounge or a tucked away deck and enjoyed complete calm. Having your own cabin to retreat to also makes a big difference; you always have a private space to go back to. For this reason, I also highly recommend a cabin with a balcony too so you can watch the beautiful scenery glide past whilst relaxing in your own private space.

It helps to remember that modern cruise holidays are growing in popularity year after year precisely because they work so well for a lot of different people: families, couples, groups and solo travellers. Cruising keeps growing because it offers very good value for the amount you can see and do, and the convenience of visiting multiple places while only unpacking once and dealing with very little upheaval.

If you are someone who is worried about big crowds, the right ship and itinerary choice makes a huge difference. That is exactly where I can guide you.

 

Exploring a Big Ship as First Time Cruisers

We decided to embrace the size of the ship and dedicated our first day at sea to exploring.

We checked deck plans (they give you a  map on day one), walked the length of the ship, popped into different venues and gradually started to get our bearings. Very quickly, that initial “wow, this is huge” feeling was replaced with excitement: it was like discovering a floating resort.

Highlights for our family included:

 The silent disco in the Aquadome - the twins especially adored bopping away to some old school classics. I thought YMCA was only for older generations but turns out they love it too. 

The mini cinema complex: four small screens showing different films throughout the day, with options for a range of ages. This became a firm favourite with my lot. Top tip: for the most popular showings, aim to arrive at least 40 minutes before the start time, especially on a sea day.

The outdoor infinity pools and the AquaDome style covered area: the children loved swimming, splashing and simply being outside in the fresh air, even when we were still sailing towards Norway.

Endless corners to discover: quiet lounges, coffee spots, live music venues and open decks for wave watching and sunset spotting.

 

For anyone wondering if you will “get bored” on a sea day, I can confidently say: not on a ship like this, especially with children or teens. There's lots of workshops going on to appeal to different interests and your daily guide Horizons offers you the timings of all of the events so you can plan carefully where you need to be and when. 

Vocal workshops, Saints at Sea football coaching, Art talks, Crime talks the list is endless!

 

Family Friendly Cruising: Why Iona worked for us

We chose P&O deliberately because of their family friendly reputation, and they did not disappoint, particularly for younger children.

On our summer holiday sailing there were around 1,500 children on board, so families were very much in the majority. For us that created a relaxed, easy going atmosphere and meant the programme of activities for kids and teens was impressive.

For children roughly in the 3 - 6 age range, there was always something happening: 

Dinosaur themed shows 

Meet and greets with Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep 

Crafts, games and supervised kids’ club activities outside of the kids club.

And the best bit – all of this was included as part of your cruise fare.

The children had plenty to keep them entertained, and we could enjoy some grown up time knowing they were happy, busy and safe.

The silent disco I have to say was a big hit too!!! My twins loved the opportunity to bop around to some old school classics!!

If holidaying alongside lots of other families is not your thing, there are definitely other cruise lines and itineraries I can recommend that feel more adult focused, but for family cruises and multi generational trips, this kind of ship works brilliantly.

 

Sailing into Olden: A 5.30am memory I will never forget

Everyone talks about the early morning sail in to Olden as a highlight of a Norwegian fjords cruise and they are absolutely right.

I set my alarm for 5.30am, crept out while the rest of the family slept, and went out onto my balcony with a coffee. The fjord was wrapped in low hanging mist, the water almost glassy, and mountains loomed slowly out of the haze as we glided past. It was quiet, mysterious and completely beautiful.

That peaceful sail in, with the rest of the ship seemingly asleep, moving silently through the mist, is one of those moments I will never forget. It felt like Norway was slowly revealing itself just for us. For a first cruise, it really brings home how special it is to arrive somewhere by sea.

 

Shore Excursions: From gentle wandering to big adrenaline rushes

Another worry I sometimes hear from cruise averse clients is: “What if I do not want to be herded around on big coach tours?” The good news is that Norwegian fjords itineraries are incredibly flexible.

You have three main options in each port:

1) Book shore excursions through the cruise line: These range from gentle, historic and cultural tours to more active adventures. Popular choices in the fjords include:

 

• Trips to glaciers and glacier visitor centres 
• Scenic journeys on the Flåm Railway 
• The Loen Skylift, which whisks you up to phenomenal viewpoints 
• Fjord cruises, kayaking and rib ride boat trips 
• Guided hikes and panoramic coach tours

 

2) Head out independently: Most fjord ports are relatively small and very walkable. You can simply step off the ship and:

• Browse beautiful independent shops and cafes 
• Sample local treats 
• Meet the warmth and gentle hospitality of Norwegian people.

You can always book your own tours but you do run the risk of not returning to the ship in time and if it's an independent tour, the ship will NOT wait for you.

3) Stay on board: Quite a few guests treat port days as semi sea days and enjoy a quieter ship while others explore.

 

For us, our standout excursion by far was in Flåm. 

We combined several elements into one unforgettable morning:

• The famous Flåm Railway for jaw dropping views of waterfalls and valley scenery 
• The Flåm Zipline, the longest in the Nordic region, which was a total adrenaline rush 
• Mountain biking downhill back to Flam village, taking in the landscape in a more active way

This particular combination was only for adults, so it became our special treat. The scenery was utterly breathtaking, and if you are a thrill seeker, the zipline really is a must do. It was one of the absolute highlights of my trip and showed me how a cruise holiday can still give you that big “wow” adventure moment.

 

Weather, Packing and the joy of no luggage limits

Norway in summer, much like England, can be mixed. We were lucky and enjoyed blissful sunshine every day, but this is absolutely a “four seasons in one day” destination.

The key is packing smart:

• Think layers rather than one big coat 
• Include a lightweight waterproof 
• Comfortable trainers or walking shoes 
• A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, even if you are expecting cooler temperatures

 

The great news, and another reason I am such a big advocate of cruising, is that there is no strict airline luggage allowance to worry about on a no fly sailing. You can pack generously for all weathers, bring the extra outfits that make family life easier, and still close the suitcase without stressing about weight limits. For family cruises in particular, this is a game changer.

Let’s Talk About Value

Cruising has been one of the fastest growing ways to travel in recent years and when you look at what is included, it is easy to see why. For many families, the hesitation is not just about crowds or ships, it is also about cost and whether a cruise really represents good value for money.

From our experience, a Norwegian fjords itinerary from Southampton can be excellent value when you consider everything you get:

• Your accommodation travels with you
  Instead of paying for multiple hotels and transfers between them, you have one cabin and the ship takes you to each destination. You see several ports, but only unpack once.
• Most meals are included
  Breakfast, lunch, dinner and plenty of snacks are part of your fare in the main restaurants and buffet. With a family of five, that makes a huge difference compared with eating out three times a day on a traditional land holiday. Of course, if you want to indulge in the Speciality restaurants, you can do so but there is an extra cover charge for these.
• Entertainment and activities are built in
  West end style shows, live music, kids’ clubs, cinema screenings, quizzes, pool time, talks and classes are included. There is no constant drip drip of extra spending every time someone wants to be entertained.
• No surprise luggage fees
  On a no fly cruise, there is no airline baggage charge and no weighing suitcases at check in. You can pack everything you realistically need for changeable Norwegian weather and family life, without worrying about kilos.
• Multiple destinations with minimal upheaval
  In one week you might visit ports such as Haugesund, Olden, Flåm and Stavanger. To do that on land, you would be packing and unpacking, booking several hotels and organising all the travel between them. On a cruise, the logistics are simply taken care of for you.

Of course, there are extras you can choose to spend on, like Speciality dining, spa treatments, drinks packages and certain shore excursions. But the core holiday already includes so much that it often compares very favourably with a land based trip visiting the same number of places, especially when you factor in convenience and all the built in entertainment for children and teens.

For many of the families I work with, that combination of value, convenience and variety is exactly why, once they have tried a cruise holiday, they so often come back to it again.

Why Norwegian Fjords make such a good 1st Family Cruise

Looking back on our own experience, a few things really stand out that make this type of cruise so perfect for a first time family holiday at sea:

 

• Easy, no fly departure from Southampton 
• Balanced itinerary: just the right mix of sea days and ports so nothing feels rushed 
• Incredible scenery from the ship and ashore 
• Family friendly ship with plenty for children and teens 
• Flexible shore days: from gentle wandering in pretty ports to big ticket adventures like glaciers, Loen Skylift or the Flåm Railway and zipline 
• The ability to see several places while only unpacking once, with very little upheaval compared to moving hotels 
• No stress about luggage allowances, especially helpful when packing layers and all the extras that come with travelling as a family

 

Most importantly, it gave us quality time together in an environment that felt safe, organised and genuinely relaxing.

 

Ready to Plan Your First Norwegian Fjord Cruise?

If my experience has sparked ideas for your own first cruise, especially if you are considering a family cruise or travelling as a multi‑generational group, I would love to help.

I can talk you through:

 

• The best time of year to sail 
• Which ships and itineraries would suit your family and your crowd comfort level 
• Cabin choices that work well for families of five or more 
• Shore excursions that match your interests and activity levels

 

I will take the time to understand your worries as well as your wishes, so we can create a Norwegian fjords cruise that feels exciting rather than daunting, and memorable for all the right reasons.

Contact me today to start planning your first Norwegian fjord cruise.