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What to Pack for a Norwegian Fjords Cruise
In 2023 I set off for my first ever cruise onboard P&O’s Iona. I honestly had no idea what to expect from the holiday, but I was very keen to explore Norway and curious about how it would feel to travel on a cruise ship.
I ended up having an absolutely fantastic time and the trip ignited a love of cruising for myself and my partner. Having said that, as this was our first ever cruise, we had no idea what to take with us (and didn’t research very well either!)
Hotels Near Southampton Cruise Terminal
Southampton is a great place to start any cruise holiday, with plenty of amenities and a range of hotels to suit all budgets.
In this blog post I have selected the very best hotels in Southampton, broken down by price. While doing so, I only chose hotels that were within a 15 minute taxi ride from the cruise terminal - with so many to choose from, you really don’t have to stay further away.
One main point of advice is to ensure that you book your hotel room early, as Southampton is a busy city and this will ensure that you get the best price possible.
Things to Do in Haugesund From a Cruise Ship
The Norwegian Fjords is a gorgeous destination for a cruise holiday, served by a variety of cruise lines including P&O, Celebrity and Princess. Haugesund is just one of many possible cruise stops, located in the North Sea, in between Stavanger and Bergen.
The port here is large and able to accommodate a wide range of ships, including P&O’s Iona and Arvia, which are the largest British cruise ships to date.
How Fast Does a Cruise Ship Go? And Other Cruise Ship Facts
I answer some of the internet’s burning questions about cruising and present fourteen fun facts.
How fast do cruise ships travel, and how long do they take to build? Read on to find out the answers to these and more.
What to Do in Ålesund From a Cruise Ship
Known to be one of Norway’s most beautiful fjord cities, Ålesund is a picturesque location that begs to be explored.
The city centre is just a 10 minute stroll from the cruise port, meaning there’s no need for most people to take a taxi or shuttle. For those who would prefer not to walk, the City Sightseeing Train is available at the cruise terminal and offers 70 minute tours around the city. These are easy to book when you arrive and depart every 20 minutes when a cruise ship is in port.
What to Do in Olden From a Cruise Ship
Home to less than 1000 people, Olden is a beautiful village located at the end of Nordfjord. Disembarking the cruise ship here felt like stepping into a perfect picture postcard, which is exactly what I imagined when I planned my trip to Norway!
Bear in mind that you won’t find many shops or other amenities here, and public transport is very limited, so make sure you set out with a good pair of walking shoes and dressed for the weather. Whether you’re looking to book an exciting excursion or explore on a budget, there’s plenty of things to do in stunning Olden.
Cunard’s Queen Anne Cabin Tour
I recently disembarked a wonderful two day mini cruise onboard Cunard’s Queen Anne and I’ve been so excited to write about it.
We stayed in cabin 7174 and paid £150 each for both nights (we travelled as a couple). For us, the cabin was perfect - it was always quiet with no noise from other cabins or entertainment venues. We also hardly felt the ship moving at all, and the lack of sunlight meant I had a fantastic sleep every night.
Cunard’s Queen Anne Cruise Ship Tour and Review
I’ve just returned from a fantastic two day voyage on board Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne, and I can’t wait to show you around.
As the first addition to Cunard’s fleet for more than a decade, Queen Anne is unique compared to her sisters. Not only does she have the largest capacity to date, accommodating up to 3,000 guests and 1,225 crew, she’s also the most modern, seamlessly blending luxury with traditional features. Owned by the same umbrella company as P&O, I definitely noticed some similarities to their newest ships Iona and Arvia, while still remaining remained distinct to the Cunard brand.
Arvia Cabin Tour and Review
I sailed on P&O’s cruise ship Arvia at the beginning of 2024 and had an absolutely amazing time. Although I had initially booked an inside room, I took part in the company’s bidding scheme before sailing and managed to secure a balcony cabin for an additional £395 per person.
Was it worth it? Here are my thoughts on our balcony cabin on P&O’s Arvia (number 11317).
P&O’s Iona Cruise Ship - 10 Things I Loved
Last summer (2022) my partner and I embarked on our first ever cruise with P&O’s Iona. We travelled on a return voyage from Southampton to Norway, and were scheduled to stop in Stavanger, Alesund, Olden and Haegsund over an 8 day schedule.
Unfortunately our stop at Stavanger was cancelled due to high winds, however, we had missed port coverage as part of our insurance which meant that we were given a small sum each to cover the inconvenience. While I would have loved to visit Stavanger (and had picked out a cool bookish cafe/bar to visit) I didn’t really mind as it meant that our budget trip was even cheaper.
Things to do in Martinique During a Cruise Stop
Martinique may be a Caribbean island, but it’s currently considered a French overseas territory. Situated between the islands of Dominica and St Lucia, I stopped here on my Caribbean cruise on P&O’s Arvia and had a fantastic time. I’d even go as far to say that this was my favourite stop!
We docked in Martinique’s capital city, Fort-de-France, which has plenty of things to see and do. Here are 7 places that you need to visit during your trip.
P&O’s Arvia - Cruise Ship Tour and Review
I recently returned from a cruise around the Caribbean on P&O’s newest and largest ship, Arvia. The sister ship to the near identical Iona, which launched in 2020, Arvia set sail in 2022 and can hold a maximum of 5,200 passengers and 1,800 crew. She’s often described at P&O’s sunshine ship, with features including a retractable roof and swim up bar. You’ll often find her sailing around the Caribbean and Mediterranean, where passengers can make the most of what she has to offer, with 18 decks, 30 restaurants and 4 separate pools, Arvia really is incredible.
Welcome to Zürich’s designated literary hotel, the B2 Boutique. This is somewhere that’s been on my literary travel bucket list for a very long time, and visiting was an absolute dream come true. I’m excited to show you around!
Upon entering the hotel lobby you’ll snatch your first glance of the B2 Boutique’s coveted library. The lobby area has lots of comfy seating options and doubles up as a large coworking space, making it a great place to grab an armchair and a coffee and get some work done, or just relax with a book.