Norway & Iceland Cruise Holidays

You might be surprised by how much Iceland’s weather varies throughout the year. In July, the temperature can reach as high as 26°C and the average is around 13°C with sporadic showers. 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. You can expect long balmy days thanks to the midnight sun, which ensures darkness never falls over this beautiful country in the summer.

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. This is thanks to the Gulf Stream, which brings warm water all the way up from the Gulf of Mexico to the north of Norway, emitting heat into the atmosphere. 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 as the weather can quickly change from sunny, to windy, to rainy and even snowy. So, don’t worry if you wake up to grey skies because you might need your sunglasses before you know it!

The Icelandic króna is the official currency of Iceland. The króna has a high numeric value in comparison to the British pound, which can make for challenging on-the-spot mental arithmetic! So, be sure to double-check your conversion before buying anything expensive. These days, Iceland is an almost cashless society. Chip-and-PIN debit and credit cards from Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted for transactions of any value – there’s usually no minimum spend. However, you may want to carry a little cash just in case. It’s also worth noting that tipping isn’t needed in Iceland as workers are paid fairly and service charges are included in the price of meals, but you can leave tips if you want to.

The Norwegian kroner is the official currency of Norway. It makes sense to bring some cash on your holiday to Norway just in case, but cards are far more commonly used by the locals. You can pay for most things with Visa or Mastercard, and many places accept Google Pay and Apple Pay. Tipping isn’t common in most scenarios in Norway, except for bars and restaurants. Here, locals will tip between 5% and 15% of the total bill if they’re really impressed by the service, but it’s not expected and you won’t be frowned at if you decide not to leave something extra.

There are two official languages in Norway: Sami and Norwegian. The latter is the most widely spoken by far and has two dialects, Bokmål and Nynorsk. The locals really appreciate it when visitors make the effort to speak a little of the native languages, but you can rest assured that English is spoken to a high standard by most of the population. Want to learn some Norwegian? ‘Hello’ translates to ‘Hallo’. See? You’re a natural! Now try ‘thank you,’ which is said, ‘takk skal du ha.’ Good luck!

Icelandic is the official language of Iceland, and it can be a little tricky to learn. However, English is widely spoken to a very high standard and the locals are always happy to converse with visitors. It never hurts to learn a few words in the local lingo though, so perhaps try saying ‘Halló’ (an easy win!), or if you like a challenge, ‘Þakka þér fyrir,’ which means ‘thank you’. Alternatively, you could shorten the latter to ‘takk,’ which is the more commonly used like ‘thanks’.

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).

The best time of year for a cruise holiday in Norway really depends on what you want to experience most. Of course, the summer months are warmer and drier, offering more favourable weather for the many outdoor activities on offer such as hiking, biking and kayaking. However, you might prefer to visit in the autumn or winter months when the mountains are snow-capped, the towns are lit up and you can go in search of the magical Northern Lights.

It will come as no surprise that Iceland gets pretty cold in winter! That’s why we offer holidays visiting in the warmer months, from May to August. During this time, you can make the most of destinations such as Reykjavik and Akureyri, which offer a fantastic range of activities in the great outdoors. From whale watching and horse riding in the wilderness to waterfall visits and foodie experiences, there’s so much to do.

The short answer is: many! We give guests the opportunity to explore all kinds of different places in every region we visit and on a Norway & Iceland holiday, you’ll have the chance to explore stunning landscapes and fascinating towns in places like Ålesund and Akureyri, as well as chic cities such as Reykjavik. One day you might find yourself bathing in the Icelandic capital’s famous Blue Lagoon, and another you could be heading out on an adventure from Skjolden to check out the Jostedal Glacier – Europe’s largest ice field.