This was our first ever cruise
This was our first ever cruise — for both me and my partner — and overall we had a really lovely time sailing the Norwegian Fjords with P&O Cruises.
When we first boarded, things did feel quite unorganised. The staff seemed unsure of what was going on and gave us the wrong information a few times, which was a bit frustrating. We also found that the table service from the bar staff was very slow, even when it wasn’t busy, and when they did eventually come over, the service wasn’t the best.
That said, we absolutely loved the ship itself. We had a balcony cabin, which was so worth the extra money — it was amazing to sit out privately and watch the sea. The room was also very quiet; we couldn’t hear other guests in nearby rooms or even in the hallway, which made it really relaxing.
We really enjoyed the food on board, especially as they catered well for vegetarians and vegans, and there was a good variety of places to eat. The free food options were great, and we also liked browsing the nice selection of shops on the ship.
The stops in Norway were absolutely beautiful, and it was easy to get on and off the ship at each port. They made it clear how long we had at each stop, which helped us plan our days without stress.
We booked a couple of shows during the cruise, but were quite disappointed when the one we were most looking forward to — a Take That musical — was moved and then cancelled last minute with no replacement, which was a shame. On a positive note, we did visit the cinema one evening which was a fun addition to the trip.
We did end up paying £140 for WiFi so we could keep in touch with family and friends back home, especially since it was my birthday while we were away. Given we’d already paid over £2,000 for the cruise, we thought this was quite steep. In the end, we just bought it for me for the duration, and my partner used my phone when needed.
Most of the staff were absolutely lovely. We especially want to give a shout out to Anthony and Vikum in the Coral restaurant — their service really stood out and made our dinners extra special.
Overall, we’d rate this cruise 4 stars. There were a few hiccups along the way, but it was an amazing experience visiting different parts of Norway without having to worry about travel or accommodation. It was beautiful, relaxing, and something we’ll always remember.
