Norway & Iceland Cruise Holidays

The weather in Norway is surprisingly warm when compared to other parts of the world on the same latitude, such as Siberia, Greenland and Alaska. The average air temperature varies in relation to how far north you are but in Bergen, for example, you can expect an average of 16°C in the summer months and 3°C in winter. And whatever time of year you visit, you could experience a few different ‘seasons’ in a single day. So, don’t worry if you wake up to grey skies because you might need your sunglasses before you know it!

Almost all P&O Cruises holidays that visit Iceland do so in the summer months, giving you a fantastic opportunity to experience the country’s amazing mixture of natural wonders and outdoor activities. In July, the temperature can reach as high as 26°C and the average is around 13°C with sporadic showers.

The Norwegian kroner is the official currency of Norway, not to be confused with the Icelandic króna. These days both countries are almost a cashless society with Chip-and-Pin debit and credit cards widely accepted. It’s also worth noticing that tipping isn’t required in Iceland as workers are paid fairly and service charges are included in the price of meals. Whereas in Norway tipping isn’t common expect for bars and restaurants. Locals will tip between 5% and 15% of the bill if they’re really impressed but its not expected and you won’t be frowned at if you decide not to.

Norway has two official languages: Sami and Norwegian, with the latter being the most widely spoken by far and has two dialects, Bokmål and Nynorsk. It is appreciated by the locals when visitors make the effort to speak a little of the native languages. In Iceland the official language is Icelandic which can be slightly tricky to learn. However, you can rest assured that English is spoken to a very high standard in both countries. 

Ask a local what the weather’s like in Norway and they’ll tell you: ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!’ So, when you’re packing for a holiday in this region, be sure to prepare for all occasions. You’ll need everything from your swimmers and sunglasses to jumpers and a rain jacket. Thin, warm layers that are easily carried in a rucksack are always handy so you can adjust your outfit throughout the day to match the weather, which can be changeable.

If you’re visiting in the warmer months, which all P&O Cruises Iceland holidays do, it’s best to pack various layers. The temperature is likely to be somewhere between mild and warm, but even in July it can be windy and wet at times. So, it’s always a good idea to have a waterproof jacket in your bag, just in case.

Norway is a beautiful country with natural wonders at every turn, and a cruise holiday gives you a front-row seat to see so many of them. There are too many to list here, but some of the sights you might visit on a P&O Cruises holiday include:

·       Pulpit Rock, a flat-top cliff that towers almost 2,000 feet above the peaceful Lysefjord (from Stavanger).

·       The Troll Wall, a spectacular sight and Europe’s highest vertical mountain wall at 6,000 feet (from Ålesund or Åndalsnes).

·       The Flåm Railway, which is renowned as one of the world’s most spectacular rail rides (from Flåm).

·       Langfoss, one of many amazing waterfalls in Norway (from Haugesund).

·       Briksdal Glacier, which glistens as it flows 4,000 feet down a mountainside (from Hellesylt, Nordfjordeid or Olden).

·       Beautiful towns such as Tromsø and Stavanger, which are home to many fascinating landmarks, museums and attractions.

Iceland is rich in nature, and every destination offers you the chance to explore the great outdoors and get a feel for local life. Here are just a few of our favourite sights in this enchanting country:

·       Reykjavik’s Blue Lagoon, where you can bathe in blue ‘healing’ geothermal waters and use white silica mud as a natural beauty mask.

·       The spectacular Goðafoss waterfall, known as the ‘waterfall of the Gods’ (from Akureyri).

·       Hallgrímskirkja, an awe-inspiring church that dominates Reykjavik’s skyline and is home to a 5,275-pipe organ.

·       Breiðafjörður Bay, where a marine safari might bring you close to eagles, dolphins, whales and more (from Grundarfjörður).

·       Dynjandi waterfall, one of Iceland’s most beautiful falls (from Ísafjörður).