Norway Cruise: Sightseeing Ideas

Hi, we're going on a cruise to Norway departing from Dunkirk and sailing up the coast—can you share some ideas on what to visit? Thanks! Gigi

Hello,

Could you list the ports of call so that fellow travelers can give you some tips? Have a great day! Mum49

Hi! Our stops are Stavanger, Austefjorden, Geiranger, Ålesund, Flåm, and Haugesund, ending in Zeebrugge. I’m open to all suggestions for things to see—thanks!

HELLO We’d need to know how long your port stops are to give you the best tips. Generally speaking, everything’s expensive in Norway. Check out local deals when your stopover time allows, and don’t forget warm sweaters and a puffer jacket—it can get really cold even in summer!

Hi! The stops are just a short day, but where should I check for local announcements? How can I organize a few visits—could you tell me more? Thanks!

Hi, Your stops don’t match the itinerary we did (just southern Norway and Oslo). Sorry I can’t help! Mum49

Hello, our stops are Stavanger, Austefjorden, Geiranger, Ålesund, Flam, Haugesund, Zeebrugge. I’m open to all sightseeing ideas, thanks!

Hello, I’ve visited some of your stops. Here are my recommendations.

- Stavanger: Two must-sees—the spectacular Lysefjord and the hike to the top of the iconic Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock). The old town of Stavanger is also worth exploring.

- Geiranger: Take the road to the beautiful Djupvatnet lake and up to the summit of Mount Dalsnibba for an impressive view of the Geirangerfjord below. Be aware that you’ll climb to 1,500 meters, and the road may be closed if there’s still snow.

- Flam: You absolutely must take the Flåmsbana, a scenic mountain train that offers stunning landscapes.

- Haugesund: (I think this is what you meant) We explored the town on foot, where you can easily see the Norwegian national monument (Haraldshaugen), the old houses that form an open-air museum, or cross the Steinsfjellet bridge for a beautiful view of the fjord stretching to the North Sea.

- Zeebrugge: Without hesitation, take the bus to Bruges.

I’m not familiar with the other two stops. Best regards,

Thanks so much for the info—I’ll definitely keep it in mind! Did you rent a car for Stavanger and Geiranger? Gigi

... did you rent a car for Stavanger and Geiranger?

Hi there, In Stavanger, we did the Lysefjord cruise with Rødne Fjord Cruise (their boat is moored next to the cruise ships) and then the hike up to Preikestolen. The return trip was by bus, also with Rødne. Allow for 8 to 9 hours for the excursion. So, the stopover needs to be long enough, and the departure/return times need to be compatible. In Geiranger, we took the Costa excursion. We didn’t rent any cars. But at the exit of Geiranger, you could rent small green electric cars like the Renault Twizy. So, only 2 seats and open on the sides (not much protection if it’s cold or raining). Best regards

Thanks so much, I’ve taken note! How long does the disembarkation take? We need to catch a train and I’d like to book it. Thanks

How long does disembarkation take? We need to catch a train and I’d like to book it

Hi, I disembarked from the Renaissance on October 29, 2025. It was the first time (and still the only time so far) that CFC disembarked over 1,000 passengers in Dunkirk. Before boarding, no one (CFC, the agency, the internet, etc.) could give us any information about the disembarkation process—pretty inconvenient for planning our trip home. I pointed this out to CFC several times, but apparently, they weren’t too concerned. So, before leaving, I booked a hotel for the day of arrival to make sure I’d get my train to Paris the next day. We only got the info on board the day before arriving in Dunkirk. Given the amateurism and disorganization that characterized this disembarkation, I refuse to give any advice about booking a train for the same day. Best regards

Thanks, we’ll take the chance with some buffer time. For the evenings, what kinds of themes are there? Are there any activities like on MSC?

Thanks, we'll take the risk with some buffer time. What kinds of themes are there for the evenings? Are there any activities like on MSC?

Hello, With Costa and MSC, the recommended "buffer time" is 4 hours. There’s nothing like that with CFC. When we bought the Marseille-Dunkerque cruise, we were supposed to set sail at 10:00 PM. 15 days before departure, the cruise ticket showed 5:30 PM. Obviously, many couldn’t change their transportation (especially groups), and the ship had to wait. We left at 9:45 PM. The arrival in Dunkerque was also changed, but it was only by 15 minutes.

For the evenings, the "dress code" is "Casual Chic," except for one "Blue, White, Red" evening and one (or two, depending on the cruise length) "Gala" evening. There’s a minimum of activities (games, quizzes, dancing, etc.) and a movie screening every day. Best regards

Good evening! Thank you—we’ll have a nice buffer in case we need to adjust once we see our tickets. As for evenings, we’re planning to pack some nice outfits that are still practical, but we won’t overpack given the transport from Grenoble to Dunkirk. Best, Gigi

Thanks, we’ll have a nice buffer in case we need to adjust once we see our tickets. As for evenings, we’re planning to pack some nice but appropriate outfits, but we won’t overpack given the transport from Grenoble to Dunkirk.

Hi there, It’s true that for CFC, the dress code is "Casual Chic," but after three cruises, I can tell you that on board, it’s more "casual" than "chic." Have a great cruise ahead!

hi micax, I just saw that you took a cruise on the Renaissance. I’m heading out with friends on that same ship at the end of June from Dunkirk up to the North Cape (Honningsvåg). I don’t know which stops you had, but if you’ve got any tips, I’d love to hear them. There are 8 of us, and we’d prefer to explore the ports on our own rather than booking the cruise line’s excursions. If you’ve got any info at all—life on board, payment methods, internet, etc.—I’m all ears! Thanks in advance. cachou

Hi, another quick question—can you buy cigarettes in the ship’s boutique, and are they on display shelves? Thanks

Hi Cachou, I actually took 3 cruises with CFC, and over 2 years, we noticed the quality of services declining—this was before the takeover by the Ambassador Cruise Line group. I don’t know what "life on board" will be like under Anglo-Saxon management. For "payment methods," Visa, Mastercard, and cash are accepted. However, American Express cards, bank checks, and ANCV checks are not. As for "internet," I found the package a bit expensive for a connection that, apparently, wasn’t very stable. Some passengers complained that reception wasn’t great everywhere on the ship, especially in their cabins. Best regards

Hi Moongigi, You can buy cigarette cartons at the Renaissance boutique, but these purchases will be kept (like alcohol bottles) and returned to you on the last day of the cruise. However, if you need a quick fix, you can buy a single pack at the bar (usually a maximum of 1 pack per day per person). I don’t smoke, so I don’t remember the prices.

Best regards

Hi, thanks for your reply! But is it tax-free? I think it is on other ships, but it really depends on the sailing location, maybe. Gigi

Hi Gigi, Yes, the products (cosmetics, perfumes, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.) at the Renaissance boutique are advertised as "duty-free," but the prices are more or less worth it (compared to prices in France) depending on the item. Best regards

Thanks for your replies

Hi Gigi, Yes, the products (cosmetics, perfumes, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.) in the Renaissance boutique are advertised as "duty-free," but the prices are more or less interesting (compared to those in France) depending on the product. Best regards

Thanks so much