SCandinavian Cruises - 2026
Tuesday 12 May'26 - Olden (Norway)
We docked at 0700 & another beautiful day . An early breakfast and then we headed ashore. As the ship was moored mid channel, it meant we were tendered ashore. Now this ship is designated an Edge Class, meaning it has an external "floating" area (it is an elevator that normally moves between Deck 2 & 14), usually for dining and a bar but when in a port where tenders are required, it lowers to Deck 2 and becomes the "tender wharf". Once on land , we checked in for the 1st tour, which was to Loen Skylift. Shuttle buses run from the cruise terminal to the village of Loen, some 10 minutes away on it's own little inlet. The Skylift goes from Loen, at sea level to Mt Hoven, some1'011m above it. Spectacular views of the area (here's a link to their 24 hour "Sky Cam") and it is a favourite launching pad for a number of mountain hikes. After admiring Mother Nature at her best, sitting in the sun and drinking a great hot chocolate, it was time to head back down...
After the obligatory exit through the shop, where another little trinket was obtained, onto the shuttle bus and back to the terminal area. As the next tour wasn't due until 1200 and it was just on 0930, a walk through the town in the sun was time well spent. We found a little supermarket that also had a small "deli" that offered a variety of snacks, so given yesterday, where we didn't get to eat until around 1530 due to the tours we were on, we decided to grab a bite. Some retail therapy and then back to the meeting point for the next adventure. We boarded a bus for Briksdalsbreen (Briksdal Glacier). 30 minutes later, after a picturesque drive along the edge of Oldevatnet (a lake), we reached the "base camp". From there, we were transported via "Trolley Car's" to the base of the glacier, with a further 700m climb (the 1st 200 being at close to a 40 degree incline). The glacier has been receding quiet dramatically over the past 100 years. In the past 15 years alone, it has melted from the area of the lake in the photo in front of it to its present position. Time to head back into Olden, as the last tender left the wharf at 1615. After 11,000+ steps today it was well and truly time for a little rest before dinner at The Cosmopolitan, followed by trivia then off to bed for a well earned sleep.