One of the multitude of delights of spending a few days exploring Norway aboard a ship is that you will get an evening sail on at least one of its 1,700+ fjords. Fjords are long, narrow, and often deep, sea inlets. They are typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley.

These photographs are in Romsdalsfjorden. It took around five hours to travel the 55 miles or so after leaving Åndalsnes before we found ourselves back at sea. The reason – Queen Mary’s speed was restricted by the obligatory pilots who took us all the way out.

As you scroll through the slideshow below you might notice in the photographs I took after 9pm several islands and skerries. These were all in a shallower area at the ocean entrance; they shelter the fjord from the Atlantic. Skerries (skjær in Norwegian) are small rocky islands or islets, usually too small for habitation. The word comes from the Old Norse word sker meaning an isolated rock in the sea.

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There have been cruise ships bringing tourists to Romsdalsfjorden, Norway’s ninth longest fjord, since the 1880s and until the 1940s it was also a major transport corridor. I didn’t stay out on deck for the whole 55 miles but I was outside for a while. The changing light was fascinating. and at times I was further north than I had been in Åndalsnes.

At 8:08pm on 20th August 2025

25 thoughts

      1. After our first trip we returned on 4 more occasions. Crossed the Arctic Circle 4 times and travelled to the far north of Norway and round the Lofoten Islands amongst others. In and out of many isolated and narrow fjords and surrounded by high mountains. Many favourite places, far too many to mention. But if I can, i would recommend if making a return trip, a cruise is ideal…but choose a smaller cruise ship as it will take you closer and into places the big ships cannot go. Often these cruises also take in the Shetlands and Orkneys which we found as a bonus. (just as a side comment:- my son and wife flew to Stavanger then took the long train ride to the far north. After a few nights they then returned via the Hurtigruten Postal Boat. Now that really did visit places off the tourist route.
        ,,, a different cruise ). Iceland is also a great experience. The message is. .Just go back, see the real Northern Lights ns visit the Sami people 🙂

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        1. wow, sounds incredible and yes was thinking a smaller ship or the postal boat. I will have to investigate further 🙂

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