Geiranger Cruises

A Geiranger cruise with Celebrity takes you the length of one of the most spectacular Norwegian fjords, so pristinely beautiful that it’s protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sheer cliffs plunge into the deep blue water, while waterfalls cascade down rock faces and snow-capped mountains tower all around. 

At the head of the Geirangerfjord, the sleepy village of Geiranger lies surrounded by lush meadows. This serene little spot is the gateway to some of the most thrilling highlights of Norway cruises: rugged mountain scenery, spectacular hikes, kayaking on the fjord, and a number of cultural attractions. Cruises to Geiranger are the perfect way to admire Norway’s natural attractions and learn more about the Norwegian way of life.

Norwegian cuisine is closely connected to the land and sea, and is fresh and seasonal. In summer, you’ll find an abundance of berries, including cloudberries, strawberries, raspberries, and lingonberries, adorning both sweet and savory dishes. Expect a lot of fish, including salt-cured versions, and embrace the chance to try reindeer and elk, both lean, nutritious meats. For a traditional snack, you’ll find plenty of cafés serving heart-shaped Norwegian waffles topped with jam and whipped cream. Some come with the distinctive caramel-flavored brunost cheese, considered by many visitors as an acquired taste.

Geiranger is a tiny little town; there are only around 250 permanent residents, although it’s a major tourism center for the fjords. Like the rest of the fjords, this is a landscape carved by glaciers thousands of years ago; the fjords are actually inlets that flooded with seawater when the ice retreated. Until the dawn of tourism, life revolved around farming the high pastures, and you can still see a couple of old farms seemingly hanging off the cliff edges.

Norwegians living in remote areas like this have a deep connection to nature and generally live a very healthy, outdoor life, hiking and cycling in summer and skiing in winter. Midsummer is celebrated for the nearly 24 hours of daylight, while in winter, a sense of koselig, or “coziness,” is invoked with blazing fires, candles, soft light, hot drinks, and comfort food.

There’s no public transportation in Geiranger to speak of; this is a small village, and while there is a local taxi company, you’d need to book a car in advance. You can also walk around the town. A convenient way to take in some of the best views is the Panorama Bus, a one-and-a-half hour bus ride that stops at Flydalsjuvet, for fantastic views down the fjord, and Eagle Bend, from where you can photograph the Seven Sisters waterfall. A second hop-on, hop-off bus departs the cruise terminal and stops at the Norwegian Fjord Centre, Westerås Farm, and Flydalsjuvet viewpoint.

Since Geiranger is so small, it’s not hard to find the shops—just head to the main pedestrian street. Look out for local knitwear as well as troll figurines and pewter items. Cloudberry jam makes a great edible souvenir as you can’t find it in many places beyond Norway, as does the unusual brunost brown cheese. A great place to shop is Geiranger Sjokolade for homemade chocolate in unique flavors like cloudberry, as well as preserves in local berry flavors. For clothing, the shop at the Geiranger Skywalk has a good range of hats, gloves, scarves, and other knitwear.

Norway’s currency is the Norwegian krone. You’ll find an ATM dispensing Norwegian krone at the supermarket in town. There is also a place to exchange currency in the Fjordbuda souvenir shop. 

Norway does not have much of a tipping culture. Guides do not expect to be tipped (although they won’t be insulted if you do tip) and nor do restaurant staff. You could leave a cash tip on the table for good service, but 5% to 10% is the norm.

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