Norway
The first thing we want to say was that Norway is extremely beautiful, think of where perhaps a fairy or some other mythical creature would live, we can promise you that you’ve just thought of the gorgeous forests in Norway. It’s probably clear to say that a family favourite activity of ours was to go on hikes outside of each city we briefly visited while on our trip. The crystal clear fjords were surprisingly deep and so magical to see in real life (this is where we came up with the fairy reference). We started our trip by visiting the capital of Norway, Oslo, which while it was crowded had a very calm vibe. In contrast, another town we visited was a seaside town called Eidfjord in the famous Hardanger Fjord with only 1,000 residents. As we worked our way up the country we discovered that we didn’t see ourselves as tourists, rather touring the country instead. It was confusing to understand how we all felt this way – separate from the other “tourists”. Perhaps it’s because we didn’t want to be associated with the loud, overly dressed, fannypack wearing people (whose only interaction with the country are organized excursions) that we went on the cruise with. Although to an outsider, they probably wouldn’t recognize any difference between these tourists and our family.
Cruise
The cruise was an experience we never really pictured our family partaking in. From the all-you-can eat buffets, the fancy pools, the special entertainment, and the fine dining, we couldn’t believe how everything was already planned out and ready for us. A traveler’s dream come true. Even with all the activities available, one of our favourite things to do on the ship was find a comfy place with a beautiful view of the ocean to just sit, relax, and read. Our average day often started with waking up early for a work out in the gym then meeting for breakfast (although it was hard, we made healthy choices so we could have a treat at the end of the day if we so craved). There were plenty of games for our family to play including shuffleboard and ping pong. The cruise was a great way to end our long trip with relaxation, and overall a stress-free and fun environment.
