FJORD FIESTA

ADD A NORWEGIAN CRUISE TO YOUR BUCKET LIST, SAYS KATHRYN WILLIAMS

- KATHRYN WILLIAMS

CRUISING into the heart of the Norwegian Fjords has always been a dream of mine. Mesmeric green cliffs, dazzling blue waters, thundering waterfalls - and with many of the best views obtained from the deck of a ship, what could be more thrilling?

Last summer my partner Geraint and I embarked on a nine-night sailing from Liverpool to Norway and around the towns and villages of Kristiansund, Hellesylt and Olden with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

Planning every day to maximise the experience at all of the ports of call, we booked a hike to a glacier, a cable-car ride for some wow-factor aerial views, and kayaking in a web of craggy fjords, so we had lots to look forward to.

Not only that, we had four blissful days at sea where we had time to relax, eat, drink and make the most of what MS Bolette had to offer.

The company's flagship, Bolette - named after Fred's great-grandmother - heads up a fleet of ships that are relatively smaller than some cruise vessels and built this way to manoeuvre easily through the fjords.

Bolette has 690 cabins and carries around 1,300 passengers and 645 crew. So if one of your reservations about cruises is that the ships seem overwhelmingly huge, I can confirm this one is very manageable.

Our first stop was our room, a suite, with a living area and a lovely balcony. The space was light, airy and open and the outdoor area was perfect for relaxing, breathing the fresh, clean air and taking in the rolling views.