Day 5 – Gorgeous Geiranger Fjord

The Norwegian coastline is deeply indented, making the total coastline about 25,000 km long, the longest in Europe. That coastline is characterized by deep fjords where steep mountains rise out of the water. A cruise is considered the best way to admire this natural phenomenon. And that's true. The fjords are at their best from the water or from the air. But it is above all practical. To overcome these incisions by road, one must drive through a network of tunnels and bridges and more tunnels and more bridges. It is so time-consuming.

It is so nice to wake up after a good night sleep in .... Geiranger Fjord, without a lot of trouble. We are awakened by the continuous foghorn of the ship. There is currently not a lot of visibility because of fog. The ship is anchored in front of the village of Geiranger which is situated at the end of the Geiranger Fjord. In the village itself there is not much to see, the highlight of this day is the fjord itself. But that's only for tonight as we sail through the fjord  towards the next destination. This day is a pampering day on board. After a delicious breakfast of eggs benedict, the fog lifts and the sun comes out. After my  computer workshop, we spend the morning by the Sea View deck where we have a wonderful view over the fjord. The sun feels like heaven. This should be celebrated with a mimosa. We take lunch at the New York Deli and Pizza and do an afternoon nap. The nights here are very short, literally and figuratively. There is always so much to do on board. By 5 pm the Koningsdam lifts the anchor ... or not really.

In his daily chat the captain makes it clear that lowering the anchor  is not an option in Geiranger fjord given the great depths. Today we are faced with yet another strong piece of technology on the ship. The trusters of the ship were led by an advanced GPS system that caused the ship to remain in place.

We leave the fjord for several hours of scenic cruising. Geiranger Fjord is known as the most beautiful fjord in the world. And it is indeed a beautiful fjord. Hundreds of waterfalls formed by meltwater from glaciers on the summit.

But the highlight follows a few minutes after the start of our sailing as we approach the magical waterfalls of the Seven Sisters. These waterfalls are among the 10 most beautiful in the world and are known as one of Norwegian natural wonders. As the name suggests, these are actually seven waterfalls side by side which together provide a magnificent spectacle. 

So everyone can see this, the captain makes a special turn here. The waterfalls turn up on starboard upon which he turns the bow into the falls to create enough space to turn the ship so that the passengers can enjoy it also on port. It is for these special maneuvers that Captain Darin Bowland is at the helm. If Koningsdam  travels later in the season to distant places, the actual captain Erwin De Vries will take back the helm. With Bridal Veil, another waterfall can be found here. Hundreds of meters of water falls down into the fjord. We see beautiful mountain formations with snow or ice, one already bigger than the other. The fjord widens and narrows again. Another surprise behind every corner.

"A life is not measured by the count of breaths you take, but by the moments and places your breath is taken away."

Sometimes you see a  farm in solitaire. Who lives here on earth? No roads lead up to it. Just a jetty and the rest is climbing. We enjoy the glissening of the sun on the water. It will be late when the sun sets here, but anyway it will not get dark. We dine a little later today to enjoy all this beauty. The headliner at the World Stage is the Australian guitarist Patrick McMahon, who brings a jumble of rock and pop classics.

The ship's theme is music, so entertainment takes an important place on board, with several stages. The World Stage is constructed in such a way that you have a fantastic view of the stage from every seat. Further, a screen of 270° can be used. Then there is the BB King Lounge where the BB King All Star Band plays  jazz and blues and everything  in between. I've already talked extensively about the Billboard on Board, clearly our favorite. Otherwise, there is also the Lincoln Center Stage where every day a couple of times classical music is played.

After midnight, the sun sets below the horizon, but it is still light. These are the white nights. The Koningsdam continues its voyage nothbound.