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!)
The best time to sail the Norwegian Fjords is the spring and summer, but I found that the weather was significantly less warm than the UK. While there was plenty of lovely sunshine, I wasn’t prepared for the cooler temperatures I would encounter in Norway.
Here is my ultimate packing guide for a Norwegian Fjords cruise, using everything I learned during my cruise with P&O.
Top tips for packing for a cruise
You don’t need to pack light!
If you’re cruising on a round trip from the UK without any flights, then there’s no need to pack light. At the time of writing P&O cruises do not have a luggage allowance, meaning that you can bring as many bags as you like as long as none of them weigh more than 23kg. It’s one of the major perks of cruising without any flights.
Once you’re onboard and unpacked, your suitcases will usually fit in the storage space under your bed, so you don’t need to worry about them cluttering up your cabin.
Make sure you also check your cruise line’s alcohol allowance if you’re hoping to bring a bottle of something with you!
Check your luggage allowance for any flights you have booked
If you do have flights booked, then you need to be a bit more careful and ensure that you stay within your luggage allowance. Remember that you might bring back souvenirs with you on the return flight, so leave a little bit of extra room for those.
Find out what facilities your ship has
It’s important to know what facilities will be available to you onboard so that you know what to pack, for example, whether the cruise ship has self service laundry facilities.
Check the dress code
This is something else that differs between cruise lines, so make sure you know whether your cruise has formal nights and what you will be expected to wear. Some lines are more informal while others will require you to dress smartly in the evenings.
For P&O, men are expected to wear long trousers in the evenings if you want to spend time in the restaurants and bars, although there are a few designated relaxed venues. The guidelines also state that men can wear tailored shorts, although my partner was turned away one night when he wore shorts that we thought would be appropriate, so make sure you bring those trousers.
For women the dress code is much more relaxed, and I usually just wore any dress I wanted whether it seemed formal or not. For course, skirts and trousers are also permitted.
Don’t forget seasickness medicine
Even if you’ve never felt travel sick before in your life, make sure you bring some seasickness medicine. Feeling ill is the worst and it will be much more expensive if you need to buy some onboard!
My Norwegian Fjords Packing List
Luggage and travel essentials
It’s important to start off strong and prepare for the journey to and from the ship.
A large suitcase: I use this one from Tripp and would recommend bringing a hard shell case as they are more durable
Backpack: Choose something comfortable that you can use during port days. I have this one from Nordace.
Packing cubes: I don’t use these personally but lots of cruisers love them! You can buy them on Amazon here.
Headphones for the journey to the cruise port. These noise cancelling ones are ideal.
Mini electric fan: trust me on this one, this is a lifesaver if you get hot on the journey
Entertainment and technology
There will be plenty of downtime on your cruise, and how you want to spend it is up to you. I recommend bringing a few things from home to keep you entertained during quieter moments.
Books or a Kindle (I have a list of recommendations on my Amazon shop front)
Portable games console such as a Nintendo Switch
Small board games or card games
A puzzle book and pen
Camera and any accessories (a Go Pro would be amazing for any outdoors activities!)
Chargers including a portable charger
For your cabin and around the cruise ship
Here are some of the cruising essentials that many people like to bring on their trip. These items are all optional, but many of them will make the trip so much easier.
Laundry bag to store your worn clothes
Daylight alarm clock (if sailing in an inside room)
Magnetic hangers: I don’t personally use these but lots of people love them for extra storage
Chair clips (to clip your towel to a sun lounger)
Bingo dabber if you intend to play bingo (you can also buy these on the ship)
Lanyard: Again, not something that I use but some people like these for their cruise card
Washing machine sheets if you plan on doing laundry (and if your cruise line allows)
A bottle of alcohol to drink in your cabin (check what’s allowed with your cruise line)
Daywear
As the weather can be variable in Norway, I recommend packing lots of layers that you can easily add or take away during the day. Make sure you bring enough of each item to cover the whole trip, unless you plan on doing laundry onboard.
Waterproof coat or jacket
Trousers and shorts
T-shirts and tops
Jumper or cardigan
Underwear and socks
Swimwear and flip flops
Comfortable walking shoes
Sandals
Evening wear
I would recommend packing a change of clothes for each day, including enough outfits for any formal nights included in your cruise.
Cocktail dress/ other formal dress
Formal shoes
Suit jacket, shirt and trousers
Belt
Tie
Socks
Clutch bag
Pyjamas
Personal Items
This non-exhaustive list includes some of the personal items that you might need while away in Norway.
Medication: including any painkillers you might need and travel sickness medicine as these will be more expensive to buy onboard the ship
Sanitary items
Shampoo and conditioner
Shower gel: if you would prefer to use your own (this is often provided)
Skincare
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Makeup
Hairbands
Glasses/sunglasses
Suncream
Umbrella
Hand sanitiser
Documents
Make sure you double check which documents are required by your cruise line.
Passport
Booking confirmation with the cruise line
Travel insurance confirmation
Payment cards
Please leave a comment if you’ve found this packing list helpful, and have an amazing cruise around the Norwegian Fords!