Norway Cruise (+Iceland/Copenhagen/Dover) TIPS (consolidated)

[booger73]

Share your Norwegian cruise tips here please - I will try to organize by section.

Special thanks to our local Disney people in the local cities, for answering questions - please see 2nd post for their names. Please respect their privacy and not overwhelm them!

Links to each sailing's Cruise Meet

May 15th, 15nt Transatlantic: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3254416
June 6, 7nt Norwegian: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3254900
June 20, 9nt Norwegian: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3254814
June 29, 11nt Norwegian/Icelandic: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3254762


Direct flights to/from Copenhagen Airport http://www.cph.dk/en

Washington (Dulles IAD) - Scandinavian airlines (codeshare) (SAS) - MWThFSa (to/from) - appx 8:55
NYC (Newark EWR) - SAS (codeshare) - M through Sa (to/from) - appx 8:20
NYC (John F Kennedy JFK) - Norwegian air shuttle (codeshare) - MF (to/from) - appx 8:20
Toronto (YYZ) - Air Canada/Lufthansa/SAS - TuThSa (to) WF (from) - appx 8:40
Chicago (O'Hare ORD) - SAS (codshare) - M through Sa (to/from) - appx 9:30
Fort Lauderdale - (FLL) - Norwegian air shuttle (codeshare) - TuTh (to) MWF (from) - appx 10:45 [interesting, I have to double check on this one, seems random]
Los Angeles (LAX) - Norwegian air shuttle (codeshare) - Wed(to) TuSa(from) - appx 11:20
San Francisco (SFO) - SAS (codeshare) - MWThFr (to) MWThFr (from) - appx 11:20pm

Direct flights (major hubs) from London (for the repo people)
Heathrow (LHR) flies east coast to EWR, JFK, BOS, IAD, BWI, CLT, ATL, MIA, MCO all nonstop
Heathrow (LHR) flies mid-country to ORD, MSP, HOU, DFW, DEN, AUS all nonstop
Heathrow (LHR) flies west coast to SEA, SFO, LAX, LAS, PHX all nonstop
Heathrow (LHR) for Canadians go to: YUL, YYZ, YEG, YYC, YVR all nonstop

Gatwick (LGW) flies direct to MCO, YYZ, YUL, LAS, YYC, YVR as well on certain days nonstop (thanks to bats)
Transfers from LGW to Central London: http://www.easybus.co.uk/london-gatwick

Travel tip: Consider flying roundtrip into London and taking a one way to CPH for the repo people
Travel tip: If you aren't worried about direct flights, consider Iceland Air for $ savings (BOS/DEN/MSP/NYC/MCO/SEA/WAS to CPH/LON)
Travel tip: Book for Europe approximately 151 days out. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/01/best-time-to-book-a-flight_n_4875266.html
Travel tip: Friends and Family Railcard for travel in London: http://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/

Websites for Airlines:
Scandinavian airlines (SAS): http://www.flysas.com/en/us/
Norwegian airlines (DY): http://www.norwegian.com/en/
(Some additional info on Norwegian Air.. I think you have to decide for yourself about...) http://time.com/7604/an-ultra-cheap-anti-union-upstart-airline-could-transform-flying/
Lufthansa airlines (LH): http://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/Homepage
Iceland Air: http://www.icelandair.us/

(to be continued)

 

[booger73]

City by city information/travel guides/websites (for excursions, next post):

*Thanks the_princess, jenrin (Copenhagen)
*Thanks bats, lolainkent (London/Dover)

Disney Magic Port Info in Copenhagen
More info to come/update - the old Copenhagen port schedule (i.e. newest excel file has the Disney Magic removed to hide it), but the old copy shows it docking at
"Oceankaj" Pier - c330-c334. Port info here: http://cruiseportwiki.com/Copenhagen Realize it maybe further away than normal

15/06/29 06:00 15/06/29 17:00 Disney Magic Oceankaj TR Shipping Denmark ApS TA
15/06/30 08:00 15/06/30 17:00 Caribbean Princess Oceankaj Maersk Broker Agency K/S Poc

Copenhagen, Denmark
Official Copenhagen tourist website: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen-tourist
Wiki travel guide: http://wikitravel.org/en/Copenhagen
The Copenhagen Card (rec by Ido)- like other 'city cards' http://www.copenhagencard.com/
Tomsportguides guide (some out of date, i.e. new pier C330, but still lots of info): http://www.tomsportguides.com/Copenhagen-09-30-2012.pdf
Copenhagen free walking tour: http://www.copenhagenfreewalkingtours.dk/
Copenhagen running tour: http://running-copenhagen.dk/

Akureyri, Iceland
Official Akureyri tourist website: http://www.visitakureyri.is/en

Reykjavik, Iceland
Official Reykjavik tourist website: http://www.visitreykjavik.is/
Wiki travel guide: http://wikitravel.org/en/Reykjavik,_Iceland
Youtube series of videos on pronunciation (#11 - drinks!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPyU5qN_ZQk

Alesund, Norway
Official tourist website: http://www.visitnorway.com/us/where-to-go-us/fjord-norway/alesund-sunnmore/
Bergen, Norway
Official tourist website: http://www.visitnorway.com/us/where-to-go-us/fjord-norway/bergen/
Geiranger, Norway
Official tourist website: http://www.visitnorway.com/us/where-to-go-us/fjord-norway/the-geirangerfjord/what-to-do-in-the-geirangerfjord-area-and-trollstigen/attractions-in-the-areas-of-the-geirangerfjord-and-trollstigen/the-geirangerfjord/
Kristiansand, Norway
Official tourist website: http://www.visitnorway.com/us/where-to-go-us/south/kristiansand/
Molde, Norway
Official tourist website: http://www.visitnorway.com/us/where-to-go-us/fjord-norway/molde-romsdal/
Olden, Norway
Unofficial Nordfjord website: http://www.nordfjord.no/cruise
Oslo, Norway
Official tourist website: http://www.visitoslo.com/en/
Wiki travel guide: http://wikitravel.org/en/Oslo
Stavanger, Norway
Official tourist website: http://www.visitnorway.com/us/where-to-go-us/fjord-norway/stavanger/

Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Official tourist website: http://www.visittorshavn.fo/?l=en

Kirkwall, Scotland
Official tourist website: http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/info/towns-villages/kirkwall-p238491

Dover, England
Official tourist website: http://www.whitecliffscountry.org.uk/Home.aspx
Port of Dover website: http://www.doverport.co.uk/
Wiki Travel guide: http://wikitravel.org/en/Dover_(England)
Getting from LON (LHR) to Dover by train (thanks bats): http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51064027&postcount=25
Accessibility in the UK: http://www.inclusivebritain.com/
Dover's train station is "Dover Priory" or DVP

Hotel suggestions for Copenhagen, Denmark
Tripadvisor's list of Copenhagen Hotels: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g189541-Copenhagen_Zealand-Hotels.html
Adina apartment Hotel (small hotel apt near cruise ship, rec. by jenrin) http://www.adina.eu/adina-apartment-hotel-copenhagen/home
Wake up Copenhagen (budget/small hotel consider 2 rm, rec by jenrin): https://www.wakeupcopenhagen.com/#/search
Cab Inn Copenhagen (budget/small hotel, rec by jenrin): https://www.cabinn.com/en/inexpensive-hotels-heart-copenhagen
Marriott Copenhagen (rec by Ido): http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/cphdk-copenhagen-marriott-hotel/
Hotel (for 5 in a family, rec by KaseyC) https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/copenhagen/rkecp/hoteldetail?qAdlt=2&qBrs=6c.hi.ex.sb.ic.cp.cw.in.vn.rc.cv.rs.ma.tc&qChld=3&qCiD=05&qCiMy=082014&qCoD=07&qCoMy=082014&qDest=Copenhagen%2C+Denmark&qGRM=0&qHtlC=rkecp&qLat=55.6763&qLng=12.5694&qPSt=0&qRRSrt=rt&qRmP=K.O.T.X.C&qRms=1&qRpn=1&qRpp=10&qRtP=6CBARC&qSHp=1&qSlH=RKECP&qSmP=3&qSrt=sDD&qWch=0&srb_u=1&PID=6146859&icdv=99613032 in this same thread, direct post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51088652&postcount=69

Hotel discussion thread (DIS) for London, England: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3371174

Travel tip: Avoid London bridge area this summer (2015) due to construction, etc. (Thanks Disney Fantasy)

(to be continued)

 

[booger73]

Excursions by city and other Miscellaneous info

US Passport information: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html

CDC travel information for Norway: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/norway

Exchange rate US $ to Danish Krone: https://www.google.com/#q=exchange+rate+us+to+dkk&safe=active
Exchange rate US $ to Norwegian Krone: https://www.google.com/#q=exchange+rate+us+to+nok&safe=active
Exchange rate US $ to British Pound: https://www.google.com/#q=1+us+dollar+to+gbp&safe=active

Disney website direct link to ports: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/northern-europe/ports/

Disney excursions link - some now Live (1/29/2015)! http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/shore-excursions/search/

Port profiles at some Norway cities (credit link to DahliaRW, on another thread here): http://www.avidcruiser.com/port-profiles/europe/northern-europe/norway/

Roxy84 talks about Toshavn, Reykjavik, Bergen, Alesund with pictures here on DIS: http://http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3255090

Specific excursions mentioned by people...
Copenhagen, Denmark
Stromma sightseeing in Copenhagen (HOHO boat/bus, Dining cruise) http://www.stromma.dk/en/copenhagen/
Copenhagen "City Sightseeing" (another HOHO): http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/denmark/copenhagen.htm
Copenhagen Netto-Boats (different Canal tour): http://www.havnerundfart.dk/canaltours/index.php?page=forside.php
Tivoli (Walt's inspiration for DL): http://www.tivoli.dk/en/
What would you do if you only had 1 day? http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51064964&postcount=28
What would you do if you had 2 days? http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51069615&postcount=41

Akureyi, Iceland
Akureyi Port Manual (warning, large PDF file): http://www.port.is/files/8/new_port_manual.pdf
Reykjavik, Iceland

Alesund, Norway
Bergen, Norway
Geiranger, Norway
Kristiansand, Norway
Molde, Norway
Olden, Norway
Oslo, Norway
Stavanger, Norway
Pulpit Rock is evidently the "#1 place to hike" in the world: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g2416812-d317604-Reviews-Pulpit_Rock-Forsand_Municipality_Rogaland_Western_Norway.html

Kirkwall, Scotland

Dover, England

 

[SZ2016]

Wasn't sure if I could post this here but just wanted to let you know so it could be added to the list, British Airways is about to start (or just recently started) a new non-stop from Austin, Texas (AUS) to LHR and vice versa, AND it's on one of their 787 Dreamliners!

 

[JoyB-UK]

Maybe you should change the title to Norway cruise tips, as I passed the thread by several times without looking because I thought you were talking about Norwegian cruise line.

 

[nabi]

Me too

 

[booger73]

@JoyB-UK, @nabi - done and done.. thanks!
@SZ2016 - added.. thanks!

 

[tajz90]

Thanks.

 

[WDWMaggie]

This is great! Thanks so much for putting this together!

 

[the_princess]

If anyone has questions about Copenhagen or Denmark, feel free to ask. I live there

 

[booger73]

@the_princess Thanks so much for the offer! I think it'll be very appreciated and useful

Any particular information you think we should know about other than what's in the tourist website?
DCL's port schedule isn't up yet so I have no idea which dock they'll be at.. as I understand a new one's being built too?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

WOW! You have gathered a lot of information in a short amount of time. Great job!!!

I would like to see information regarding hotels near port and city tours that might be available.

 

[the_princess]

@the_princess Thanks so much for the offer! I think it'll be very appreciated and useful

Any particular information you think we should know about other than what's in the tourist website?
DCL's port schedule isn't up yet so I have no idea which dock they'll be at.. as I understand a new one's being built too?

There are one big cruise port in CPH. So my guess is, that DCL will use this, since this can take the big ships.It's called Langelinie and are placed north of CPH, but have easy excess with bus from the center of CPH and from the airport.
http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/langelinie-gdk414235

I haven't heard anything about a new dock, but Langelinie was build a couple of years ago, so maybe that's what you heard.

 

[luvavacation]

As a person that really enjoys researching my future trips, I have to thank you so much for this thread, booger73!

 

[the_princess]

Excursions in Copenhagen:

Free walking tour (tip the guide): http://www.copenhagenfreewalkingtours.dk/ (I highly recommend this)

Bus tours: http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/denmark/copenhagen.htm (I see these busses all the time, so they must have a lot of trips to offer)

Running sightseeing: http://running-copenhagen.dk/ (If you want to run and see the city at the same time)

Canal boats: http://www.havnerundfart.dk/canaltours/index.php?page=forside.php (See CPH from a boat - Very cheap)

As a Disney fan, you have to visit Tivoli: www.tivoli.dk (This inspired Walt to buid DL)

 

[booger73]

Thanks for the infos.. I will continue to try to update the first couple of pages

Scouring the web for important/interesting info...

 

[ldo]

If you want personal tips--My experience in Copenhagen:
I got the Copenhagen card at the airport (kids are free, I think), good for train into town (easy), and good for all buses, Tivoli, musuems, etc. It's a 24 hr card, so we got it at 6pm and used it until 5:45pm the next day. We used it both days for Tivoli. We also went to Rosenslat Castle (it's in town, easy to get to). We stayed at the Marriott. $250 for room that slept 4, got a rate that included breakfast for 2 (kids just ate bagels in the room). You can walk from the train.
We ate dinner #1 at Wagamama right at Tivoli--you can enter without a ticket from the street side. Similar to Oodles of Noodles--very kid friendly, #2dinner was sausages in Tivoli.
We ate lunch from the supermarket--meat, cheese, fruit, yogurt milkshake.
We went in 2 days early--so we had 1 night and 1 full day of touring.
Easy to get a cab to the pier from hotels. No need to book in advance unless big party.
Dover--plan to stay at least an extra day or two in London--so much to do and see. I like staying in the Victoria area. Easy tube or bus connections to Westm Abbey, Big Ben, Tower of London, walk to Buckingham Palace.
have fun everyone! Elaine

 

[disneymath]

Booger73 ... thanks so much for putting this together!

 

[lgajohnson]

This is FANTASTIC! Thanks so much for doing this!

For those of you that live in Copenhagen or have been before, can any of you recommend a hotel or apartment that will sleep a family? I know European hotel rooms are smaller in comparison to American hotels rooms.

I would be looking for one that really was in the middle of everything and that had plenty of room for a family.

How many days would be good to see just about everything?

Love the planning of trips like this!!

 

[jenrin]

@lgajohnson.

I live in Copenhagen. Hotels here typically do have smaller rooms than in the US. Depending on your budget a good place could be Adina Apartment Hotel - they have apartments for short term rent. Located within walking distance of the cruise ship pier.

Another option could be to rent two rooms a one of the budget hotels - there are two options really close to the city centre (Tivoli Gardens, Town Hall Square etc). Wake Up Copenhagen and Cab Inn. Both of them have really small rooms (like tiny rooms), but they are relatively cheaper than "normal" hotels making it possible to have several rooms instead of just one.

Feel free to ask again or PM me if I can be of further assistance.