Hello, I will be on an overnight cruise from DFDS lines, from Copenhagen to Oslo. Has anyone experienced these cruises that are prevelant in Scandinavia? Any hints or reviews on this line in particular? Also, is it cheap or expensive to drink (mostly beer) on the ship? Can you bring beer on board? Also me and my friend have a small room with a bunk bed.
Bryan
Hello Bryan
I have done the cruise a few times, the last time was in December. You can bring all the drinks and food as you like, but you can't drink or eat it in the restaurants and bar om board. Most of the indoor lounge area are either in the restaurants or bar, so there is limited space where you can actually sit and enjoy your own stuff, except for your cabin and the deck area. We had some sandwiches and a bottle of wine that we enjoyed in our cabin, but you don't want to be stuck there for the whole trip. The beers at the bar are a bit exspensive, but not too over the top. You can also buy beer at the small convinience store onboard. There are several restaurants onboard and they are in the middle of the price range at least compared to Copenhagen standards.
The cruise has a reputation as beeing a bit of a booze cruise with a fairly tacky night club onboard. There are a few nice views along the way, after about an hour or so you will pas Helsingør and Kronborg Castle on your left side and be sure to get up early to enjoy the views as you sail through the Oslo Fjord.
Actually Morten said it all. We did the same cruise last May. It's beautiful and you definitely want to spend the first 4 hours of the journey on deck as you'll be passing a lot of sights. Beer and soft drinks are expensive but not unlike anywhere else in Scandinavia. The cabin sizes are ok - quite normal for such old ferry boats. Try to pack in a way that whatever you might need for that one night is handy on the top of one piece of luggage - so you can e.g. hide everything else underneath the bed or so.
People do dress up for the night club on board. So if you're into that type of socializing bring some cool clubbing clothes as well.
The coffee on board the next morning was quite good and not more expensive than at your local Starbuck's... Have it on deck while all the others are still sleeping and enjoy the 2+ hours sail into Oslo Fjord... Also do stay on deck until the vessel has docked in Olso. It's the best place in the entire city to take picture of the Olso Opera House.
Another cool cruise on an even better ship is Fjordline from Bergen (Norway) to Hirtshals (Denmark).
Thanks for all the information. This is in our plans for the summer. It sounds like you can bring your own food and drink onboard. Are there any places close to the DFDS port that you can shop for these? We'll be making our way to there from the airport (turning in a rental car). Does anyone know how much time we should allow to get there if we use (assuming we can use) public transportation?
Lisa
Getting to the DFDS terminal from the airport is about 45 minutes by public transport. You take the metro from the airport to Nørreport st. and change to any north bound S-train there to go to Nordhavn st. and it's a short walk from there. Use www.rejseplanen.dk as a travel planner for all public transport in Denmark. There is an Aldi supermaket by Nordhavn st, but if you are looking for a larger selection look around Nørrebro st. before you change trains. The Torvehallerne food market is just nearby, where you can get deli stuff. It's a bit pricey, but very nice. The 3 zone ticket you need to get fromt he airport to Nordhavn st. is valid for 1 hour and 15 minutes, so you don't have to buy a new ticket if you board the train at Nørreport st. within that timeframe.
Scandinavian ferry's have a "booze cruise" reputation because of the duty free pricing. Scandinavian countries highly tax alcoholic beverages. Check the duty free pricing before you stock up at an on-shore state monopoly, Vinmonopolet:
http://www.dfdsseaways.us/onboard_our_ferries/copenhagen-oslo_ferries/shopping/
If you fly into Norway, you may notice that Norwegian airports have airside duty free shopping in the arrival terminal and Norwegians will stock up airside. The all seem to use the nothing to declare exit.
http://www.heinemann-dutyfree.com/oslo_arrival_no/quote
Quota to Norway You can bring a free alcohol and tobacco allowance
when you have been abroad. From 1 July 2014 was the quota for alcohol
and tobacco changed. If you do not want to introduce tobacco, you can
instead choose to take with you 1.5 liters of wine or 1.5 liters of
beer.To buy drinks with alcoholic strength above 22 percent by volume must
be over 20 years. Option 1 1 liter of spirits (beverages with an
alcoholic strength between 22-60%) 1.5 liters of wine - 2 bottles
(drink alcoholic strength between 2.5 to 22%) 2 liters of beer Option
2 3 liters of wine - 4 bottles (drink alcoholic strength between 2.5
to 22%) 2 liters of beer Option 3 5 liters of beer Option 4 1 liter of
spirits (beverages with an alcoholic strength 22-60%) and 3.5 liters
of beer In addition, you can take your tobacco / snuff or 1.5 liters
of wine or 1.5 liters of beer.
