A 7-Night Northern European Sailing on the MSC Euribia

Image 1: New Nordic cuisine in Copenhagen; Image 2: Euribia LED Dome at Sea

Packing essentials

• Raincoat or waterproof jacket

• Conditioner — only shampoo and body wash are provided on board

• Clothing for theme party, gala night (formal), white night (white outfit), tropical night (colorful or floral)

The ship

Dining options:

• There are 11 dining venues and 21 bars to choose from

• All-day buffet, breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks until 1 am

• Snacks available at the Carousel Lounge before 5 pm

• Dinner at the assigned restaurant served with the same waiter/waitress every night

• Brunch is also offered at the restaurant with table service

• Room service is also available

• Special dining

• Exclusive yacht club restaurants for yacht club guests

Layout:

• Choose from Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, Suite or MSC Yacht Club

• We stayed in a balcony stateroom that included a:

  • King-size bed

  • Balcony

  • Sitting area with sofa

  • Bathroom with shower

  • Vanity with hairdryer

  • Closet

Amenities:

• Five unique pools, both indoor and outdoor, with hot tubs alongside the pool area.

• Aurora Spa includes an exclusive thermal area with a sauna, steam bath and whirlpool, a hair and nail salon and a barbershop. Spa offers a full list of massages and beauty treatments to choose from.

• 21 bars, five outdoor and 16 indoor, each offering unique experiences.

• Casino

• Shopping — a selection of boutiques from premium brands to mementos for the cruise

• Gym

Entertainment & activities

• Delphi Theater hosts Broadway-style shows, live music performances and magic shows

• Musical entertainment and game shows at the carousel lounge

• Youth club with more than 100 hours of live entertainment for kids and teenagers

• Sports center for younger guests to play sports like soccer and basketball

• Interactive cinema, Formula 1 Racers, flight simulators, video and VR games, bowling and billiards

• Waterpark

• German fest with beer and food on the dock with interactive games for everyone to join

Port calls

Image 1: Alesund, Norway; Image 2: Copenhagen Nyhavn

• Copenhagen: The city is easy to travel to with many things to see and experience. Make sure to have enough time pre- and post-cruise to visit the famous Nyhavn, Amalienborg Castle, Little Mermaid statue, Tivoli Gardens, Østegard Street and LEGO store for exclusive LEGO experiences. Ride a bike and take a tour on the canal. During summertime, visit street food markets around the city to experience local cuisine and dine at Nordic restaurants that are sure to make you go “WOW.”

• Alesund, Norway: The port is right by the city, so it's easy to walk around to see the Art Nouveau architecture and Alesund church, as well as to climb up to the Aksla viewpoint for a great view over the city.

  • Excursion: Tour to Giske and Godøy Island to visit the Giske church and Alnes Lighthouse.

• Nordfjordeid, Norway: Visit the Sagastad Viking Center for the largest Viking ships ever found. It's about a 15-minute walk through the town, which is full of white houses.

  • Excursions:

    • Briksdal Glacier. Take a bus tour along the fjords and arrive at the Glacier National Park. Take a three-kilometer hike to the glacier or buy a ticket to take the “Troll Cars” to take you there.

    • Leon Skylift: At the inner part of the Nordfjord. A cable car will lift you from the fjord to 1011 meters in just five minutes! Enjoy spectacular views of the fjord landscape from your restaurant table or while hiking in the mountains.

      

      

      

      

      Image 1: Briksdal Glacier; Image 2: The Flåm Railway valley

• Flåm, Norway: One of the most popular destinations in Norway, with many excursions to choose from, but the Flåm Railway is one of the most popular. Board the vintage train to enjoy the scenery of the Flåm Valley, which is described as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. The 20-kilometer-long Flåm Railway between Flåm and Myrdal takes a five-minute photo stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall.

  

  • Take the fully electric Fjord Cruise Nærøyfjord — no noise or emissions disrupting the atmosphere of peace and tranquility — and take in the full view of the marvelous landscape of the calm fjord, tall mountains and beautiful waterfalls.

  • Stegastein Viewpoint: Experience the spectacular architecture of the Stegastein viewing platform and enjoy the panoramic view from 650 meters above Aurlandsfjord.

• Kiel, Germany: Take a walk in the city and visit St. Nikolai church, the old town hall and market square and enjoy German street food, cafes and shops along the way.

Additional costs

• Cruise fare includes the cabin, food, live entertainment, port stops and coffee, tea and water.

• It does not include special dining or specialty drinks such as soda or alcohol, nor does it include Wi-Fi or any port excursions you'd like to go on. Interactive cinema, Formula 1 Racers, flight simulators, video and VR games, bowling and billiards are also not included.

The Norway cruise is usually offered from late April through October. Norway is all about nature and beautiful scenery, so choose the right excursion to fit your body strength and condition to ensure a great experience for each port. The MSC cruise offers a great value for the trip and I recommend purchasing the package to choose your own balcony stateroom in order to take in the beautiful fjord from the comfort of your stateroom. The cruise to Norway sails in the fjords most of the time, therefore the journey is calm even for individuals with motion sickness.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Norway. In need of further inspiration? Check out Holly Huff’s guide, 10 Days in Northern Europe by Train: From Paris to Amsterdam.