Cruise to Norway o. August - boring for kids, or no?

[Maggieminor]

I've found a great deal for August and we might go for it - but my boys are sun lovers
We decided to look for a cruise to try it out as it ticks the boxes for all of us - we may hate it but for now this is what we think we want. I know I can google temperatures but there's no substitute for the lived experience of mumsnetters.
Would anyone recommend a Norway cruise. Not a fjords one - which I really fancy , just straight up Norway.
Thoughts please ! 🙏

No. The older ones like I said hung round together all over the ship. When there were port days they would go off together too.

I spoke to one mum whose daughter had gone clubbing in Mallorca with her new friends the night before. The day I was chatting to the mum they had got up petty late and then come down to the beach together in France for the afternoon. The mum had been to Monaco for the day with her husband and left them to it.

We found cruises a great balance of together and also independence for my teens. We spent mealtimes and port days together, they also made friends and had great times on the ship after dinner and on sea days. Everyone was happy & there are many different ways for everyone to have a good time!

We did a cheap deal Norway cruise in August with children aged 9 and 11. It was 13 nights.

We passed the artic circle, got a blue nose certificate, went to the North Cape. Saw reindeer. Visited Huskies. An Ice Bar. Visited the Fjords. Went up the funicular in Bergen and walked down. Went to the top point at Alesund for the view.

And stayed up for the midnight sun.

We like a sunny day but we aren't sun worshippers. We like stuff to do and see.

My daughter said she wanted to live on Magaroya island when she grew up. She's moved from Cornwall to Liverpool...so she's on her way 😆

@Chewygummy Fair enough. I never said it was a villa holiday though if that’s your point?
Plenty of families “chill, swim, eat, walk and scuba…. Together” on cruises ( although no scuba on a Norwegian cruise)

You can get a suite that has a living area and a large balcony. You can eat there and not have to mix with anyone. Get of the ship everyday and walk/ tour / sightsee shop/ beach activities. And then sail off to somewhere new🙂

did you realise how rude you’re coming across Chewygummy? When people are patiently explaining. I agree with Chewbecca. The good thing for teens and cruising is you’ve got a choice about what you want to do. Mine loved just chilling out with us and exploring the ports. And eating. But others were hanging around together

We did an MSC Norwegian Fjords cruise last August. DS is 10 but we travelled with a family who had older teens.

It was brilliant. The scenery was incredible and there was so much to do on the ship.
The weather on was mixed. The two sea days were glorious - definitely sunbathing a pool weather.

The other days were cloudy. The day in Flaam was misty but that just made it more atmospheric.

We loved it but we knew it wasn't going to be a sun worshipping holiday so our expectations were managed from the outset.

Chewygummy, your remarks have come across as rude to me too. Certainly very negative and dismissive of other people's personal experiences.

I'm still here and sorry if I've caused debate/ arguments.
If I'm paying thousands of pounds I'd like to have a small chance I'll like it and whilst I'll cope in sun, it's not my top priority but their happiness is. So will look for warm cruise or look again at AI but not seen anything that really grabbed me. I cannot cope with turkey temperatures and not convinced of the status of ability to do GF unless a big chain hotel based on some emails I got back.

You are probably not flexible enough at the price youve found to try something different.

Our deal was a steal. 13 nights for £1800 (in 2009). Plus tips, of course. Worth a punt for the experience but you do have to go with the mind that you are going to enjoy it.

Cruise prices are way more than they used to be. You will probably need two cabins with older teens although it would be very cheap if you can all stay in one ( extra guests on sofa beds are often half price). If you do two cabins one can be a cheap inside and the other a balcony as you can share when you need to.

If you want to try a cruise try I’d suggest lcruise nation or cruise first.. Cruises are always cheaper going through travel agents weirdly …the cruise companies give them better discounts and offers than on the websites directly. So cruise nation gets unsold cabins at a bargain price and then adds a hotel stay for free to make the flights out to Med cruises cheaper.

France and Spain have the best ports for getting off and wandering around/ beach. Italian ports are often miles from the suggested location ( eg Rome/Pisa/Florence).

I can't believe anyone wants AI, eating out is so much nicer

not convinced of the status of ability to do GF unless a big chain hotel based on some emails I got back

I think most cruise lines will take dietary requirements seriously. We met a lady on a cruise (Norwegian Cruise Line) who had to eat GF. She contacted the cruise line ahead of her cruise, and when she got on board, a manager met with her to discuss her needs. At every breakfast and lunch the restaurant staff would talk her through the menu, and each evening they would discuss her choices for the following evening and prepare GF meals for her. It was taken very seriously indeed. Not sure it this is because Norwegian is an American company and they were scared of being sued if they got it wrong! But either way, she was very happy with the attention to detail that she experienced.

Like what?

Fair enough. We did 1/2 board once or twice when our DC preschooler age but never felt the need to since

I've not been to Norway, but I have been on MSC cruises with teens in the school holodays. There were so many young people on board, they made lots of friends, and had a fab time.

Felt the need kinda means the same thing 🤷‍♀️

Why split hairs after I agree and compromise?