When we heard that Cunard used US currency, we expected most passengers to be American. We had seen movies of blue-rinsed widows spending their dead husband`s life insurance. We concluded that this would still be preferable to an English football crowd. So with some apprehension we took 7 days to the Norwegian fjords, having discovered that the QE was actually less costly than taking a flight to Bergen and the Norwegian coastal ferry. Norway must be the most expensive place in Europe and to get to the fjords by road is an endless journey down twisting narrow roads, with passing places, and ultra costly hotels.

The QE with its very high decks is certainly the best and probably least expensive way to see these magnificent southern fjords: especuially if you take a late booking. We took only one Cunard excursion, to the Briksdal glacier, because it did not seem possible to get there any other way. It is a long and steepish trek after you leave the ludicrously expensive souvenir shop, which was crowded with Japanese. It is well worth the effort and a lot of fun You can go both up and down by diesel tractor, but this quickly gets booked out.

The weather was cool and overcast with temperatures mostly just over 10C. At the glacier, we paddled rubber dinghies over gratingy ice and wrapped our parkas and hats around us. This was novel. Autumnn starts in early August on the Norwegian tundra. Bergen is attractive with much of the old German town well preserved. The accommodation for Hanseatic traders, was comparable to an English boarding school, and the guide was very well informed with perfect English.. You can walk or take a hop-on bus in Bergen. Service failed in the afternoon and we had to walk back to the ship. Both Bergen and Stavanger have unusual museums dedicated to oil extraction and fish canning. Much more interestin than you may think. Read more