Norway – Mostraumen Fjord Cruise
The oceans and fjords are such an important part of Norwegian culture that going on a fjord cruise while in the country is an absolute must-do. I did two fjord cruises while in the country – one from Flam and the Mostraumen cruise from Bergen with Rodne. Each gave a stunning view of the surrounding countryside or cities from their respective bases. Perhaps not as visually spectacular as the Flam cruise, I found the Monstraumen cruise to be extremely well organized, informative, and a fantastic way to explore Bergen. If you are unable to make into the Fjordlands, I recommend making an effort to see Bergen and one fjord area by water on the Rodne Mostraumen Fjord Cruise.
Choosing this as a thing to do in Bergen
Once the largest city in Norway, Bergen has historically been a port city and an important trading center. It is so important that the German Hanseatic Society set up an entire mini village along the main entrance to the city – the Bryggen. Although it is important to learn the history of the city and participate in cultural activities, I thought it was particularly interesting to get out on the water and see the city as the seamen and traders once did. It is also a great opportunity to see the fjords from the middle of them if you are not going to have a chance to further explore in the center of Norway. I’ve written a post on all of the things I did in Bergen, but keep reading for my experience on the Mostraumen cruise.
This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commissions help support Moderately Adventurous stay alive and kicking. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
The Mostraumen Fjord Cruise
You board the vessel in the middle of the downtown area of Bergen. When standing next to it, it is a stunningly large speed boat. We boarded in the rain and found seats on the right side of the boat. The spacious interior has maybe 100 seats facing toward the front of the boat. It almost felt like an airplane with three seats on one side, about four or five in the center, and three on the other side. There were tray tables and a couple of informational brochures in the seatback pocket. I was a bit concerned about the rain, but I figured it would be nicer to experience the rain from inside the boat than walking around Bergen!
We began to back out of our spot promptly at 2 pm. Rodne offers one cruise each day in winter and two in spring, summer, and fall. Moving through the Bergen bay was one of my favorite parts of the cruise. It was fun to see the city via the water and look at all the other massive boats. Our passenger speedboat seemed tiny in comparison. I could also imagine what it was like for the traders coming to the city and seeing the Bryggen for the first time. Once we cleared the city, we picked up considerable speed heading north. For about 30 to 45 minutes we sped along. Every now and then a twinkling song would come on and a woman would explain something significant in the area. Every time we heard that twinkling song, everyone would wake up and begin looking around.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars – would do it again if I had some time in Bergen!
- Intensity: Cute, warm layers
- Location: Flåm, Norway
- Cost: 650 NOK per person with Rodne
- Restrooms: Onboard the vessel
- Timing: 3 hours, directly from downtown Bergen
Highlights:
- Explore the Bergen waterways and fjords
- Do a fjord cruise in an international city.
- See the changing weather as you move north
Sights on the Monstrauman Cruise
After the initial speedboating, the surrounding hills began to get closer and we would slow down to look at various items. There is an entire spacious upstairs with a few chairs and two platforms surrounding the captain’s steering room. As we moved north, the rain lightened up and we had spots of clear sky and spots of rain. This caused everyone on board (probably around 50 people) to move upstairs when there is something to look at, then warm up again at their seats. Not everyone left their seats and opted to see the sights from the warm indoors.
Along the way we saw:
- The beautiful Osterfjord
- An idyllic small schoolhouse on a green lawn
- The darling town of Mo, which sits at the very tip of the Mostraumen
- Waterfalls galore!
- A rainbow or two
We made it all the way to Mo at the very top of the fjord, where we floated close to one side where there was a trickling waterfall. This must have been a deeper part of the Fjord as we turned around facing the waterfall. I could only imagine what it would be like when the waterfall would be heavily flowing. We were close enough to the side of fjord that you could reach out and touch the waterfall.
I wanted to spend my entire time on the upper deck of the boat, but eventually, the wind or rain would get to me and I would need to go back downstairs. I got quite windblown and a bit wet, but the views were too fantastic to pass up! Also, due to the weather, there were times that I had the upper deck completely to myself. I even went up one last time when we were coming back into Bergen to see the city and Bryggen from up above. I was the only one up there and loved it!!
Snacks on Board
Once we turned around, we made our way back out of the narrow area of the fjord and began speed-boating back to Bergen. I decided it was time for a snack. I was pretty chilled from all of the wind and also had a bit of a sweet tooth. I got some tea, hot chocolate, and warmed Norwegian waffles with jam at the little snack bar that a woman operated. The tea and hot chocolate were PERFECT for my mother and me to warm up our hands. The hot chocolate was super rich and sweet. The warm waffle also warmed our insides. I love how the Norwegian waffles are heart-shaped! The woman who operated the snack shop would also open up doors on the seating level to the boat’s bow. This only happened at particular times, like at the turnaround waterfall. This made it clear that we were not allowed to be out there the rest of the time, likely for our own protection and not to soak everyone inside.Best Photos
My favorite photos from the Mostraumen fjord cruise were from the back of the boat and the upper deck. I recommend trying to get one of the platforms facing forward to yourself if there is an opening. Don’t be afraid to get up and walk around when you feel comfortable. My mother and I didn’t experience any kind of seasickness (I normally do not), so it was very easy to walk around, even in the rain. You’ll definitely want to be upstairs when you slow down and start seeing the sights and narrower fjord sections. Overall, try to be patient. You’ll never know when the clouds or lighting change, and you’ll get a beautiful view. I did notice that when we were at higher speeds and the surrounding islands were further away; they seemed particularly far away in the photos I took. The better photos were when the fjord was narrow, with more to look at in the background. I also enjoyed taking my waffle on a mini photoshoot :).WHAT TO PACK FOR A NORWAY FJORD CRUISE
The weather in Norway is variable, especially so in autumn. I ended up bringing many light layers so I could adjust to the various weather conditions and wind while on the fjord cruise. Here are a few items that came in handy:- Rain Jacket and/or windbreaker, especially for the fjord cruises where it’s extremely windy at the front of the boat. You can see that I’m wearing my rain jacket because it was sprinkling, but also for the wind!
- Puffy mid-layer that packs up small like the Patagonia nano-puff jacket. Or, for something a little more casual looking, I’m trying out the Patagonia pack-in jacket.
- Wool layering long sleeve, like this one from Smartwool. Or consider a tank top to wear UNDER your cute sweaters for extra warmth.
- Leggings – athletic ones are always great to have, but also consider bringing a base layer with wool to wear under your pants.
- Lightweight fleece gloves were handy (pun intended)! I ended up wearing them on the fjord cruises and in Bergen, where it was cooler. These ones from REI are supposed to allow you to touch the screen through the gloves – that would have been amazing because I kept having to take one glove off to take photos.
- Cute fleece-lined beanie.
- Extra large scarf or scarves! H&M typically has some cute chunky scarves each fall.
- Boots that you can comfortably walk in but also keep your feet warm. The ones you see in the photos look good but are often not warm enough! Consider some cute but functional boots from Clarks or Sorel.
- A handy dandy refillable water bottle is ALWAYS a good thing to bring with you.
Full Transparency
My mother and I received complimentary tickets for this fjord cruise and I wanted to discuss how that could have impacted my experience. To be completely honest, I do not think I would have done this experience if this opportunity did not happen. We likely would have passed because we were already planning to do the Fjord cruise from Flam. However, I am SO GLAD that we also did this cruise. Not only did I love taking cruises in Norway (I could have taken one every day and be happy as a clam), but once we were on board the Mostraumen cruise, I found it fascinating to compare our cruising experiences.
I found the entire Rodne crew to be extremely professional and organized. The different roles were evident and well-tended. This confidence in the crew allowed the guests to be calm and safe. Everyone on board was pretty quiet and conscientious, which was a stark difference from the tour groups on the Flam cruise. Perhaps that is because this is cruise is not part of the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour. Also, since this is a scheduled tour that we joined, your experience would likely be the same, except for different weather. I did pay for our yummy snacks!
Though I said it before, this was such a cool way to see Bergen and see the surrounding area via the water. It is one thing to see the fjords or drive alongside them but is another thing entirely to snake through dark water with landmass on either side.
Overall Thoughts: Bergen Mostraumen Fjord Cruise
Seeing Norway by water is a fantastic way to see Norway. This holds true in the Fjordlands, lakes, and in Bergen. From Bergen, the Mostraumen fjord cruise allows you to see the city, small towns, and surrounding lands in a lovely 3-hour tour. Bergen gets more rain that the interior fjord regions, but this cruise is a great way to get out of the rain. With changing clouds, sunlight, and scenery, this was my absolute favorite afternoon in Bergen and an activity I would readily recommend to visitors to the city.
Other things to do in Bergen:
- Edvard Greig Lunch Concert
- Sights of Bergen
Where have you taken a scenic cruise? This was such a fun and different way to experience the fjords that I cannot wait to take more scenic cruises in the future. Let me know in the comments below where you recommend cruising!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
