​Back to wonderful Norway. May 2025 
This time we went in search of the stunning fjords of the west coast.  We went in May. Sadly we missed the famous midnight sun and the beautiful Northern Lights.
We did have late nights but it did get dark. The senary was amazing.

Friday 9th May 2025
Our trip started with a short flight to Southampton. Taxi to the Moxy hotel. Which was near the ports. Moxy done the job.
At night we had dinner in the Duke of Wellington. Good Pub grub.
After that we had a few drinks in the Titanic bar. Perfect place before you go out on the high sea s. Band in the pub here was very good.

Titanic bar

Sat 10 May 2025                         
16:00 We left Southampton
​First night on MSC Virtuosa. Chance to get our bearings. The ship
was big. Very big. 6300 fellow passengers. You only feel that amount of people is it at the buffet. That night we ate at the main dining room.
Which we did that most nights. I thought the food was good but Mrs B was not so pleased.

Sunday was a day at sea. Which means exploring the ship.
​Every floor is named after a composer or music writer.
We stayed on Wagner Deck. 8th Floor.
Stopping for drinks and soaking up the sun. All good fun.

Our home for 7 days

There are links to all the ports we visited.

We walked over Bridge over the Karmsund strait

​Haugesund   Mon 12th 
Loved Haugesund. We walked for miles. Right along the coast. Easy walking. Right to The Rising Tide Sculpture. It was created by artist Jason DeCaires Taylor. Very cool. ​

The Rising Tide Sculpture

On route back we found the Haraldshaugen, or the National Monument of Norway. Pictured below.  

Haraldsstøtta

<<<<<<Haugesund

Maloy Tuesday 13th
We booked the West cape tour. Which took us to the most westerly point in Norway. Maloy its self had not much to offer. The main street 
​was dugged up when we were there.

<<<<<<Maloy

On the Flam train .

Flam 14th May
​This was the highlight of the cruise. We had prebooked the famous train trip. Not cheap but It didnt let us down.The 20 km long Flåm Railway between Flåm and Myrdal

Girl below is the Huldra, an elusive forest spirit from Norse mythology. According to local folklore, she lures men into the woods to seduce them. The train stops to let you see Huldra.

You will see many waterfalls on the route.

Waterfall express

Back in town for lunch back on the ship.Back out to the town for a couple of drinks. 

Enjoyed two beers here.

<<<<<<Flam

Sail away
​Back on MSC Virtuosa.
We sailed out onto Aurlandsfjord and then on to The Sognefjord. Nicknamed the King of the Fjords. It is the longest and deepest fjord in Norway. 

  Kristiansand 15th May
Never knew the city before I left the ship. Mrs B always give my a row for calling the ship a boat. Nice town.
We took the silly wee train in to the town. We thought it was a tour which would tell us info as we travelled along. No. It was transport   into the city centre. 15 quid wasted.      

<<<<<<<Kristiansand

Day at sea 16th May.
​Lovely dinner. Tradition on Italian cruise ships to celebrate the last night. This is from the Opera restaurant. MSC Virtuosa 
After dinner we had our last beer in the Masters of the sea.
​Finished the night with a small supper up at the Market place.

<<<<<<Norway

Homeward bound.
We arrived back in Southampton at breakfast time. Problem was our flight was not till 6.00pm. We walked to the Standing order pub and had breakfast and a few drinks. In the Afternoon we took the train to the Airport.