Featured blog posts

I’ll see you at the bookshop!

What to Pack for a Norwegian Fjords Cruise
Cruising Julia Mitchell Cruising Julia Mitchell

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!)

Read More
Things to Do in Haugesund From a Cruise Ship
Travel, Cruising Julia Mitchell Travel, Cruising Julia Mitchell

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.

Read More
What to Do in Ålesund From a Cruise Ship
Cruising, Travel Julia Mitchell Cruising, Travel Julia Mitchell

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.

Read More
What to Do in Olden From a Cruise Ship
Travel, Cruising Julia Mitchell Travel, Cruising Julia Mitchell

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.

Read More
P&O’s Iona Cruise Ship - 10 Things I Loved
Travel, Cruising, Cruising Feature Julia Mitchell Travel, Cruising, Cruising Feature Julia Mitchell

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.

Read More