Fjords Under Sail: The 15 Best Trips

1.Oslo Fjord Sightseeing Cruise by Sailing Ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,790 reviews · 2 hours · from $39Our pick

Sail Oslo Fjord for two hours aboard a traditional heated sailing ship. You’ll pass Hovedøya, Dyna Lighthouse, the Opera House, and Munch Museum, with English commentary or a 13-language app. The optional Bygdøy stop lets you visit museums before rejoining the ship at 2:50 PM.

“absolutely amazing from start to finish. can't rate this enough we can now tick another fjord of the list thanks to this amazing team.”

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2.Kenai Fjords National Park Catamaran Cruise w/Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 736 reviews · from $265

Join Major Marine Tours for a six-hour cruise from Seward through Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Your captain, often including Laura, Nicole, or Chris, searches for whales, sea otters, puffins, sea lions, and seals before bringing you near a tidewater glacier. Lunch, hot drinks, binoculars, and an onboard bar are included.

“It was fantastic! Captain Laura did everything she could to put marine life in front of us! We followed the activity of a humpback whale for 30 minutes and she often stopped to view wildlife we found along the shoreline! It was a great experience and our party of 8 was extremely happy with the entire experience! The crew was most helpful and very engaged with the passengers!”

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3.2-Hour Oslo Fjord Sightseeing Cruise by Sailing Ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 694 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $40

Spend two hours cruising Oslo Fjord from Rådhusbrygge 3, passing Hovedøya, Dyna Lighthouse, the Opera House, wooded shores, and summer cabins. Choose from several departure times, use the free Bygdøy ferry ticket when timing allows, and settle into covered or open-air seating with blankets, drinks, toilets, and English commentary.

“A great way to see Oslo from the water and learn some of the history of the city, staff are friendly and it’s a relaxing way to spend a few hours”

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4.Fjord Mini Cruise by Wooden Sailing Ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 503 reviews · 50 min · from $36Best value

Sail Oslofjord from Rådhusbrygge 3 aboard a traditional wooden ship. This 50-minute round trip passes the Opera House, Munch Museum, Akershus Fortress, Bygdøy, Sørenga, and Tjuvholmen. English commentary plays onboard, while the Oslo Fjord Guide app adds information in 13 languages. Blankets, toilets, snacks, and drinks make it easy to settle in.

“We didn’t listen to the Audio guide too much but it was such a gorgeous experience doing a quick sail around on a lovely boat we were mainly doing it for the sight seeing. Good bar and nice staff we really enjoyed ourselves.”

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5.Oslo Fjord Evening Cruise with Shrimp Buffet on a Sailing Ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 170 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $90

Meet at Rådhusbrygge 3 for a roughly three-hour evening sail around Oslofjord. You’ll pass the Opera House, Akershus Fortress, and small wooded islets aboard a traditional wooden boat. A simple buffet of Norwegian shrimp, bread, butter, lettuce, dill, lemon, and mayonnaise is served, with blankets available when the breeze turns cold.

“The trip was excellent, and the team on the boat was as well. The shrimp buffet was fresh and tasty, and the wine choice was good. Only one challenge. The first passengers occupy the tables. So if you have a family or large group of people who want to share the table, come a minimum of 30 minutes beforehand. I highly recommend spending the evening in the summertime.”

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6.Fjord and Islands Luxury Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 144 reviews · 3 hours · from $208

Set out from Tromsø on the Arctic Princess for a three-hour catamaran cruise around nearby fjords and islands. Your English-speaking captain, often Per or another local skipper, shares stories, offers fishing gear, and serves coffee, snacks, and fish soup. Thermal suits help you enjoy the deck in cold weather.

“Great trip. Just the right length of time (3 hours). Really glad we booked this trip.”

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7.Arctic Fjordcruise & Safari in Tromso with Luxury Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 105 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Spend about three hours aboard a luxury catamaran from central Tromsø, cruising toward Rya and nearby fjords. Your local captain may point out seals, dolphins, sea birds, whales, waterfalls, Fjellheisen, and the Tirpitz story. Coffee, tea, snacks, Wi-Fi, and warm suits are included. Groups are limited to 12.

“A fantastic tour of the fjords by a small catamaran. The group on board was very small and the skipper Clement was excellent and very informative. The fjords are wonderful and lovely scenery. How peaceful, would have been more than happy to stay onboard very peaceful. Saw seals in their natural environment which how it should be with all marine mammals.”

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8.Fjordcruise in a Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 77 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $269

You’ll cruise from central Tromsø aboard the Arctic Queen with only your party and captain, choosing from popular Norwegian routes. Expect about three hours on the water, warm indoor seating, drinks, snacks, and a possible stop near the former Tirpitz site when the tide is low. The boat holds up to 11 people.

“It was a great boat ride with some outstanding views of the fjords. The fish soup was truly outstanding that the Captain made, and the conversation with the Captain on his experiences were very memorable ... I highly recommend this trip.”

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9.Tromso Luxury Sailing Yacht Polar Fjord Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $348Top rated

Set out from Tromsø at 10 a.m. for a four-and-a-half-hour small-group cruise through Balsfjorden aboard a warm, comfortable yacht. Captain Kenneth and guide Sachi may point out wildlife and local scenery, while you enjoy reindeer soup, hot drinks, and fresh bread. An optional hot tub and polar plunge add a bold Arctic twist.

“INCREDIBLE! MEMORABLE! Truly, a CORE MEMORY. We had an incredible time. The views of Tromsø from the water are hard to beat. During our tour we saw seals! They provided binoculars as well for better viewing. The food was incredible, the reindeer soup is one you won’t forget. It was warm and cozy inside the boat, you could curl up and take a nap it was so nice. We booked the hot tub as well, totally totally worth it. We even opted to jump in the fjord before using the hot tub! Can’t think of a better polar plunge. A trip I will carry with me for a lifetime.”

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10.Fjord Cruise by Luxury Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 39 reviews · 3 hours · from $236

Spend three hours aboard the Arctic Queen, a small yacht carrying up to 11 people from Tromsø. You’ll pass Grindøya, Håkøya, Eidkjosen, and Sørbotn, with time for fishing and a turn at the wheel. Thermal suits, coffee, tea, snacks, and fish soup are included. Guide Kurt has earned praise for hosting and cooking, but comfort and service can vary.

“Après-midi super géniale ! Conducteur du bateau super cool , notre enfant a apprécié faire le capitaine depuis le toît du bateau et pêcher des poissons , souvenirs inoubliables en plein milieu des fjords ! Merci merci et merci encore , Tusend Takk !”

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11.Oslofjord Dinner Cruise on a sailing ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 38 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $80

Sail from Akershusstranda at 6:30 pm aboard S/S Legend or S/S Vega for a three-hour evening cruise on the Oslofjord. You’ll see islands, summer cottages, bathing houses, green hills, and Oslo’s waterfront while enjoying an all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet. Drinks, live guiding, and guaranteed sailing conditions are not included.

“The ship although is not a sailing ship she had some history attached. Captain was friendly ,food was plentiful. The scenery was pretty. The weather was super. All in all a pleasant trip”

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12.Fjord Cruise with Luxury Catamaran in Tromso

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $214

Leave central Tromsø at 2:00 pm for a three-hour cruise aboard a small luxury catamaran. With up to 12 people, you can expect close mountain and island views, coastal fishing, hot drinks, light refreshments, lunch, and warm fish soup. Skipper Per may share local stories, and cod caught aboard can go straight into the soup.

“My family and I had an incredible experience on board. Skipper Per was extremely professional and kind. We managed to catch a few cod and enjoyed the freshest, most delicious fish soup. Even though the weather wasn't ideal for sightseeing, Skipper Per made the trip fulfilling by sharing his passion for the area and telling us Norwegian folk stories. My 9-year-old son says it was the best activity of our trip to Tromsø. It was a welcome break from our city life in Singapore. The boat is stable, clean and well mantained. There is a toilet on board. Light refreshments including hot beverages were provided. Overall we rate it 5…”

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13.Fjord Dinner Cruise on Sailing Ship w/ Seafood Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 20 reviews · 3 hours · from $68

Board near Akershus Fortress for a three-hour evening cruise on a historic sailing ship. You’ll watch Oslo’s shoreline and landmarks from the water while eating a traditional Norwegian shrimp buffet with bread, mayonnaise, lemon, and dill. English and Norwegian hosts are available, drinks cost extra, and warm clothing is essential.

“o passeio é legal, mas o buffet bem fraco de comidas.”

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14.Oslo Fjord a Mini Cruise by Wooden Sailing Ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $36

Set out from Rådhusbrygge 3 for a 50-minute guided cruise through Oslo’s inner fjord. You’ll pass Akershus Fortress, the Opera House, Munch Museum, narrow sounds, small islands, and summer homes. A speaker provides English commentary, while an app offers 12 more languages. Blankets and a restroom are provided.

“It was quite enjoyable. The crew and team lovely friendly helpful and fun. It made all the difference. Wish it was 15 minutes longer but it is what it is. Had a great time 👏👏👏”

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15.Fjordcruise – Luxury Yacht Arctic Queen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $241

Set out from Tromsø at 2 pm aboard the Arctic Queen for a three-hour cruise past Håkøya, Eidskjosen, Sørbotn, and Grindøya. Captain Kurt Arild Larsen and his crew share local stories, serve lunch, coffee, tea, and snacks, and may stop for fishing. Stay warm inside or use the deck and onboard climate suits.

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