Destination

Norwegian Fjords & Northern Europe Cruises: what to pack

Dramatic scenery, changeable weather and some of the best cruising you can reach directly from a UK port. Pack for rain, wind and sunshine – sometimes all in one day.

Build my Norwegian Fjords & Northern Europe listRead the full packing list

Updated

This page contains paid links to Amazon, marked “(paid link)”.

Photo: Tom Donders on Unsplash

Packing priorities

  1. A waterproof jacket with a hood – the single most important item.
  2. Layers – a base layer, a fleece or warm mid-layer, and your waterproof on top.
  3. Waterproof shoes with good grip – trails and quaysides are often wet.
  4. Hat and gloves – scenic cruising on an open deck can be cold, even in summer.
  5. Binoculars and a camera – for glaciers, waterfalls and wildlife.
  6. An eye mask – around midsummer, nights in the far north stay light.

Where Northern Europe cruises go

“Northern Europe” covers several quite different itineraries:

Itinerary What to expect Packing emphasis
Norwegian Fjords Changeable weather, steep scenery, wet trails Waterproofs, layers, grippy shoes
North Cape and Arctic Norway Cooler temperatures, midnight sun in summer Warm layers, hat and gloves, eye mask
Iceland Wind, rain and rapidly changing conditions Windproof and waterproof outer layer, thermals
Baltic capitals City sightseeing, milder in summer Walking shoes, light layers, a compact umbrella
British Isles Mixed weather, lots of walking tours Waterproof jacket, layers

For what to wear month by month from May to September, and which jacket and shoes to take, see our full Norwegian Fjords cruise packing list.

Documents to check

Norway and Iceland are not EU members but are in the Schengen area, so Schengen passport rules apply to travellers using a UK or other non-EU passport, and the EU Entry/Exit System may apply depending on where you board and leave the ship. Itineraries can include several countries with different currencies and healthcare arrangements. Check GOV.UK foreign travel advice for every country on your route.

Guides for this trip