24/07/2022 – 05/08/2022
Ship P&O Aurora
02/08/2022 Eidfjord
After two amazing days with visits to glaciers, there was a sea day before another long trip down fjords. This time it was 179km along the Hardangerfjord.
This was one of the most dramatic mornings. It is days like these why I will always have a balcony when we cruise to wake up to sites like these.
Vøringsfossen Waterfall
Vøringsfossen is one of the most famous waterfalls in Norway. It is a multi level falls which drops 182 meters, (145 metres in the final drop), from the Hardangervidda plateau into the dramatic Måbødalen Valley.
After reading that description there was no way we were not visiting the falls.
The road up was dramatic, but not as dramatic as some of the paths.
The waterfall is immense. There were viewing points all around the head of the valley
Which let you experience the full scale of the falls.
They had some signs saying don’t fall down the falls. This was a secondary falls at the other side of the valley
Looking over the falls gave a great view over the whole plateau
The main viewing platform is a bridge near the top of the falls.
There were a number of smaller falls.
Eidfjord
When we got back we went for a walk, through the village to the lake side, along the beach, then through woods and back along the top of the cliff to the ship
There were occasional breaks in the cloud
And views over the fjord and the ship
03/08/2022 Haugesund
The final stop on the cruise was a nice town, but after the scenery from the previous four ports a bit of a culture shock to be back in a town – even one with less than 40,000 inhabitants.
And a nod to the Viking heritage
Ryvarden Lighthouse
We booked to go on a trip because the photos of the landscape were unlike anything we’d seen before on the trip.
The weather was overcast but that only added to the drama of the area. There were no steep cliffs, all the rocks were rounded by the action of the sea, wind and the rain.
A few trees clung to the landscape that was bright with heather and wildflowers.
The lighthouse was short, the light was screened from shining inland.
And dotted around the coast, houses.
On the way back to the bus we did get some sun
It was a great last visit in Norway
Aurora
I think this is my favourite ship so far. It is not glitz but has a charm about the decor. A lot of the old cruising traditions remain – albeit not as strictly as once they were. But it was nice to dress for dinner, have lunch in the main dining room on sea days and talk to other passengers, and generally relax. There were different bars and places to sit and chill.
And three pools! Really popular in Norway
Sunrises and Sunsets
On summer Norwegian cruises sunrises are typically between 4 and 5, and sunsets around 22:30, so usually will be in bed or the bar.
Or just a random hole in the sky.
I would go back to Norway tomorrow.