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Norway in a nutshell suggestions.

I will be spending 4 nights in Oslo arriving 2 Aug 2015. Planning on doing the "nutshell" on the 4 Aug (same day round trip). Now trying to decide whether to see the fjords by the state ferry or by taking the small high speed inflatable boat at Flam. Just checked and tickets are available are still available for train and boats. I feel pressured to book my itinerary a sap; don't want to be shut out. Thanks for any suggestions!

Posted by
1203 posts

Do it, do it, do it!!! I did Norway in a nutshell and it was great!!! I did it the end of July 2004 and I still remember it and it was a highlight and a real adventure! I took a high speed ferry in Norway to get to the place to do the Norway in a Nutshell and got seasick. No one else seemed to but me! And I have been on cruises, but the water was very rough as it was a high speed ferry. I did take nice easy ferries to see the fjords and found that to be very enjoyable. I tend to get sick on high speed ferries. We did one in Ireland on the RS tour in 2010 and it did not sit well with me. But that is me. I like nice slow ferries ( take the SI ferry for years and years, no problems). Sailboats most of the time, no problems. Loved the trains and boats we took for the Norway in a Nutshell. Hurry up and don't be shut out, it is the best!!! Have a wonderful trip. ( make sure you layer and take a rain jacket with a hood). We just took a knapsack with our overnight clothes so that we had our arms and hands free as you climb stairs to get on trains and ferries. Hand held luggage or luggage on wheels is a big no, no. It is too difficult to take on all the modes of transportation you use. Camera around your neck! Loved the trains, loved the scenery and loved the whole trip. Worth every penny! Have a safe and wonderful trip.

Posted by
5835 posts

The "Nutshell" tour is a scenic sampler. The fjord boat leg is via a small car ferry and very stable for the inland fjord cruise. For the time spent the basic ferry leg of the tour is time well spent.

And when you say same day round trip you are actually getting back to Oslo the next morning.

Posted by
8141 posts

We're going on Norway in a Nutshell in a few weeks from Oslo to Bergen. We're flying home from Bergen.

Ann: How are we supposed to get our luggage from Oslo to Bergen?

Posted by
5835 posts

David. For a one way Nutshell you would bring your luggage with you. Trains have overhead racks and small luggage areas for oversized bags and skis. Plenty of room on the ferry and bus has an under floor luggage compartment. Self service, no porters.

Posted by
7 posts

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Still trying to decide between the state mega ferry or the small (6 person) high sold boat. Any opinions?

Posted by
51 posts

I'd do the mega ferry if you have time. It goes slow so you can enjoy and take photos at leisure. We saw speedboats zooming in and returning. I'd do that only if I am short on time.

Posted by
177 posts

In reply to David re luggage. We used Porterservice.no to transport our luggage from Oslo to Bergen-Hotel to hotel. About $25.00 per suitcase but worth it to us. Trains and buses were crowded. Glad we used the porter service.

Posted by
3 posts

We, too, used the Porter Service. They were reliable, charged our credit card when they picked up our bags (at 6am!), and we had no problems. It would have been such a hassle to deal with the luggage on all those connections. I saw other people dealing with all that and thought to myself how glad I was to have done it.