Getting To Know Geiranger – Cruise Port Guide
Geiranger is one of the most popular stops on Norwegian Fjord cruises and our Geiranger cruise port guide is your ultimate tool for planning your perfect visit.
The village sits at the head of Geirangerfjord and it is one of the most breath-taking scenes you will ever see in your life. It truly is a jewel in Norway’s crown and something that should never be missed. In fact, it’s what we like to call a Once in a Cruise Time experience and a fjords cruise here isn’t complete without it. It has been part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list since 2005.
It’s the third largest cruise port in Norway and can see up to 200 ships call during the main tourist season. There is a terminal here, but there are also 4 anchor positions and a Seawalk. Depending on how many ships are calling in one day, you could be docked or tender ashore, but your cruise line will likely have this noted on the itinerary.
Geiranger isn’t exactly jam packed with things to do, you’re really there to admire the stunning natural beauty of the area and surrounding fjord, but if you do want to explore some local things, there’s the Norwegian Fjord Centre, Ørnesvingen (platform overlooking the fjord) and the Fossevandring Geiranger waterfall.
Norway in general is filled with incredible scenery and only those who cruise ever get the chance to really admire it at its best. In the summer months there are the Midnight Sun sailings, where the sun rarely sets, if at all. In the winter months you have the chance to go in search of the Northern Lights and in our opinion, a cruise to Norway should be experienced during both seasons. Summer days can still be quite cool in Norway and in the winter, temperatures can dip to below -20 Degrees Celsius, but it really is worth layering up and enjoying the opportunity to see so many incredible things, many of which can be viewed from the comfortable deck of your cruise ship.
Travel Tips:
The best way to explore is on foot.
Norway is very expensive, so try to take light refreshments ashore with you from your ship, especially if you plan on extensive trail walking or hiking.
There are hop on hop off tourist buses in operation when ships are calling. Commentary is available in English and the full route usually takes around 80-minutes.
Key highlights of Geiranger
- Seven Sisters Waterfall
- Geirangerfjord
- Kayaking
- Norwegian Fjord Centre
- Fydalsjuvet
- Fossevandring Geiranger
Regular cruise line visitors
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- P&O Cruises
- Saga
- Holland America Line
- Cunard
- Princess Cruises
- Viking Ocean
- Oceania Cruises
- Celebrity Cruises
- Royal Caribbean
- Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise Expert Insider 🔎 Geiranger Cruise Port by Ade Roberts
The cruise season in the Norwegian Fjords commences in May and runs through to September. Cruise lines such as Cunard, Viking, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises and Crystal Cruises all offer round trip “No Fly Cruise” itineraries to Geiranger from Southampton and Dover.
Geiranger is only a small place and you can cover most of it on foot. There is, however, a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus that takes in all the local sights (four stops) and some of the amazing view-points offering the most spectacular photo opportunities. These buses run every 30 minutes between 9am – 4pm between 1st June and 27th September when a cruise ship is in port.
Another great way to get around at your own pace is by renting an “eCar”! eMobility Geiranger offer a small electric vehicle which is audio guided allowing you to visit the sights and gives you the freedom to stop wherever and whenever you want. This also gives you the added bonus of beating the crowds to those view-points and capturing that ultimate photo without being moved on by others. Included in the rental of these vehicles are passes to the Geiranger Skywalk – Dalsnibba, which is rated as one of the top attractions to visit. It’s possible you’ll be told that the weather is not clear – Mother Nature is often unpredictable after all – which means you might not have the desired view to begin with, but take the risk and go because when those clouds clear, you’ll have the most breath-taking panoramic view of a vast expanse of snow-covered mountains, and then the valley with the water and ships .The cruise ships docked in port look like Lego pieces from here.
Another must visit is Flydalsjuvet. Again, a very popular photo spot which has a small car parking area. From here you can look along the Fjord and see the cruise ships in port. You will also find a single chair on the edge of the rocks that faces out towards Geiranger. You just have to grab that photo memory.
Want to see more of Geirangerfjord, but from water? Then head out on a RIB. These tours can often be booked on your cruise ship prior to arrival, but they do fill up quickly. If you miss a slot, it’s always worth walking around to the local Tourist Information hut only a few minutes from the where your ship will dock. Here, you’ll see a list of local tours that are available with all the timings and free spaces noted. My wife and I went straight here from the ship and booked on the first RIB boat tour of the day and well, it was amazing! We had the RIB to ourselves, so it was more like a private excursion. The boat will take you right to the base of the waterfalls and feeling the spray of the water on your face at the base of the Seven Sisters Waterfall is truly an experience not to be missed.