We Explored Olden and Briksdal Glacier in Norway on our P&O Iona Norwegian Fjords cruise - Episode 4
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Welcome to Olden, the fourth episode of our P&O Iona Norwegian Fjord cruise series.
This is our second port of call onboard the beautiful P&O Iona as we set sail for a 7 night Norwegian Fjords. On the Norway Cruise we will call at Stavanger, Olden, Hellesylt for Geirangerfjord and Haugesund.
In this episode, we take a shuttle bus to Briksdal Glacier (Briksdalsbreen). This 3.5 hour excursion departed Olden at 9:30am. It took around 45 minutes to get to the Briksdal Glaceir, driving along the stunning Olden Lake.
The Briksdal Glacier is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Norway and even the trip along the valley to the glacier has some spectacular landscape views of the mountain waterfalls, the crystal clear reflections in the lakes, and the traditional architecture.
Once at Brikstal Glacier carpark, we hiked up to see the glacier, taking our time, this took around 1 hour, but you could do it quicker. If you are not very mobile, pre booking the Troll Cars would be recommended!
Over the years you can see that the glacier has receded, so if you can visit it, it might be worth going as soon as you can before it's too late!
This excursion was pre booked with Cruise Olden and cost 475 NOK - www.oldencruis...
Back onboard we had booked The Retreat - a premium VIP open-air deck area, with drinks and snacks, and great forward facing views - it was ideal for the sail away!
This evening dinner was in The Beach House, an informal Select Dining venue offering laid back dining with a coastal feel and international flavours.
We hope you enjoy this episode, stay tuned as in the next one we arrive at Hellesylt, the third port on our P&O Iona Norwegian Fjords cruise.
We've previously been to Olden and done the Loen sky lift, you can see that video at • P&O Arcadia - Vlog Epi...
We paid £997pp for our P&O Norwegian Fjords cruise and booked with / martinsholidayvillage - This was a Select fare and included Parking and £210 onboard credit. We also took out the P&O Ultimate Drinks Package for this cruise which costs £39.95pp, this was upgraded to the Deluxe package as P&O changed their packages, more info on the P&O Drinks packages can be found here:cruisemonkeys....
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P&O Iona was designed to invite the outdoors in. Gazing out from the stunning SkyDome, three-tier glass Grand Atrium or the brand-new Conservatory Mini-suite cabins, you're never far from a spectacular view of the ever-changing horizon on Iona's cruise holidays.
Iona, along with Arvia are the greenest members of the P&O fleet and the first British cruise ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). As an Excel class ship, she has a host of unique features including an on-board craft gin distillery, spectacular aerial shows and an Infinity Pool with breathtaking panoramas.
P&O Iona entered service in 2021, the 184 thousand tonne Iona has a normal operating capacity of 5,200 passengers..
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We have sailed on P&O Cruises, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Avalon Waterways. We'd love to try Ambassador Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Fred Olsen, Holland America (HAL), Celebrity, Disney Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Costa, Aida, Marella and Celestyal.
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I love all your videos, but this one was stunning. Love you all from Maine USA.
Olden is very beautiful I live in one of the small villages 15 mins from olden and I go to school there!
Loved this vlog. We did this excursion in May! It was spectacular! Olden is so breathtaking and the sailaway is fab! Very emotional xx 👍
Glad you enjoyed! Olden is definitely one of our favourites 🥰
Olden is absolutely beautiful, did shed a tear at sailaway 😅
Olden was possibly our favourite port. Could have done with more time but I guess we will have to go back! 😃
You guys are awesome bless you ❤
Thank you 🤩
Great seeing the glacier, we did that trek in 2014, it is outstanding. You must do the skylift in Olden that will blow your mind.
Oh fab! Oh yeah, we did that back in 2019 on P&O Arcadia, brilliant and would definitely do again!
@@CruiseMonkeys its not in olden, it's in Loen 10 mins away from there
This is one of my favourite vlog. Loved the excursion. The glacier area was amazing and a great place to take photos. Yes Norway 🇳🇴 is a spectacular place to visit.
Thanks Arthur! Glad you enjoyed it! Norway is one of those places you can go to over and over again and the scenery never gets boring, it’s absolutely breathtaking! 👌🏻
Lovely boys. That Glacier was amazing. I've seen the New Zealand ones - equally beautiful but inland. I'd love to see the Norwegian ones one day too. The food looked so yum.
Thank you! Ohh, is that Milford Sound? That’s looks fab and a bucket list for us! Food was so good on this cruise! 🤤
Soo totally gorgeous
Its stunning isn't it?!
Did you two join the Temperance league
🤣 we can be good sometimes 😇
😂
I was just in the fjords, and we had a lot of rain took! We didn’t stop in Olden, though. Did see some amazing waterfalls, though. Have you ever taken a RIB to see the Maelstrom whirlpools? Amazing! 45-minute walk up to the glacier? So pretty!
I'm dying to get to Olden - my MSC Norway cruise didn't stop here, and I always think it looks like a postcard!
Oh you really must, it’s a fantastic port! 🥰
Booked through Olden Adventures? Much cheaper than the cruise tours 😊 We did the same tour from Sky Princess in Loen (Iona pinched out berth)! Had to tender but got our first trip in a lifeboat 😊
Yes, we found them to be much cheaper - extra pennies for something else 👍 ohhh we love a tender ride, they are fun 😀
Love this thanks for sharing
Norway is also home to youtubers haraldbaldr & topi the corgi (our favs)
Glad you enjoyed! We’ll have to check them out! ☺️
That was definitely some epic scenery and the food looked amazing 👍
It really was fantastic 🥰
Olden 4 times! Glad you enjoyed this trip though! It is a bit special! Did you hear the glacier crackling?
Yeah and it won’t be the last visit 😉
No, we didn’t, or can’t say we noticed, will look out next time 😀
How do you get such clear filming through the bus window?
Hahaha it surprised us how well they came out! Luckily the windows were clean, maybe something they make sure as they know the passengers will want photos? 🥰
Still confused by the hot dog incident, don’t recall seeing it? 😂
😂 Lets just say we need to be careful where we put the plate when taking a photo 😂
Hi guys, love your videos!!
We are sailing on Iona the first week in September and really looking forward to it.
Olden is our 2nd shore stop I believe, but p&o doesn’t seem to give us the docking times other than morning/early morning.
While we’d love to do the glacier trip at 9.30, from your experiences of the past sailings, is it possible for the ship to come in later than 9am?
I know you had plenty of time on your cruise, but I’m just a bit worried of booking the trip and the ship being late, so considering the 11am instead
If anyone knows of the docking times for Olden or where to find them it would be fantastic if you could post it! Any info very much appreciated!
And by the way excellent tip for the shuttle on here in description- half the price of p&o for the same trip!
The ship is usually in early like 8. If you’ve booked independently I wouldn’t worry too much olden is very small where the ship docks the tours wait right beside the ship, if Iona is late they will be well aware.
If you’re doing the trip through p&o you have absolutely nothing to worry about at all they will sort all of it.
Check out your cruise personalizer see what excursions p&o are selling and their departing times. If p&o have trips leaving at say 8:30? 9? Or even 9:30 it will be a good indicator that you’ll be there on time.
The transfer from the ship to the glacier only takes about 45mins from memory it’s not too far away.
But as I said the tour operators will be sat on the quayside waiting for the ship so if she’s late they’ll be well aware, they literally depend on the ship for income.
Brilliant thank you!
Live the fjords you will have to do the helicopter flighted it's brill xx❤
Ohhh yeah, that trip looks fab! Know someone who had booked that but it had been cancelled which was a shame 🙁
Ah shame we'll worth doing hoping to do in 2025 again xx
We so want to do the fjords cruise. What views at breakfast. It's as green as Wales' I love the Norwegian churches. Wow what views. That waterfall is epic! The blue colour of glacial waters is amazing. Another one for our bucket list! Cheers for the heads up! That's a great photo spot for Iona. Those views were awesome. We loved beach house too, man we need to get back on a cruise! Wils had fajitas too. Top tea!! Loved that cook your own steak 9' a hot rock!! Great meal. shwmae lovely welsh lads. 🍻
Shwmae! Oh the fjords are a must, so beautiful which is why we keep going back and why we’ve chosen it as our group cruise itinerary later this year!
Oh I could force myself to sit in that glass hose for hours how gorgeous
Here watching your Iona vlogs guys! We’re hitting our first cruise on Iona on the 17th of this month down the med to ring in my 40th. Thanks both
Ohhhh fantastic! Have a great time! Here’s to bring 40 🍻
We just kept saying “oh my god” at these views! Definitely doing the glacier next time! Those fajitas are amazing! Yeah, you’ve got to save the marshmallows before you eat them! 😂😂
It was a wonderful day! Absolutely fantastic 👌🏻🎉
Was the sea rough?
Very calm seas this time of year 👍
We have just returned from our 7 Night Norwegian Fjords Crusie on Iona.
This was our first time on Iona and to the Norwegian Fjords, I just wanted to say thank you as we booked the Glacier Excursion via your link with Olden and saved a fair bit of money, Also we wouldn’t have know about this without your video’s and it made our Cruise.
Also the little hut where the ship docked in Olden made for some stunning Photos of Iona and some selfies.
Thank you, it is much appreciated the hard work and information you provide as well as a good sense of humour and Impressive drinking ability.
Also will you will be selling those caps any time soon as I could do with one :)
Thank you
Awwww thank for for this lovely comment - so glad the videos are informative and fun! Sounds like you had a fantastic time which is great to hear!
The current shop we have is teespring, but we are looking at setting up a new one with a better selections and there will be caps, so stay tuned!
Hey guys!! Great vlog!! Glad the rain went away for those epic views. That excursion looked amazing. I hear you Luke, I will definitely visit one day 😂😂😂 X Debbie
We we’re so so lucky! Although the weather wasn’t the best on this cruise we seemed to time it just right for visiting notable landmarks 😅 pheeeww…
Yes you have to visit 👌🏻😂❤️
Stunning scenery. We spent a month in Norway, Denmark and Sweden (but most of it in Norway) back in December and fell in love with the land and her people. We did not see any green, but lots of white -- and it was beautiful, too. And, yes, as soon as I saw "that" rock, even before you said anything, I immediately thought it looked like a penis.
Ohhh how fantastic, would love to visit there in the winter and have the proper snow ❄️
Wow. Guys, you make me want to visit Norway! It reminds me a lot of Alaska. It looks stunning! Oh, and the marshmallow tower...pure decadence!! Thanks for sharing!
You should! It really is stunning! Alaska is on out bucket list as it looks amazing - would love to compare them!
Oh it’s was a sugary delight 😋
Great video! It brings back so many memories of our cruise this past June. Olden was my favorite port. We are slightly mobility challenged, so we opted for the Troll car excursion to the glacier. I do highly recommend the Birksdal Glacier excursion when in Olden.
BTW we booked the troll car through the cruise ship.
Thanks for sharing! So glad the video brought back memories of your cruise 🥰
The troll car was certainly very popular excursion and good to hear you had a great time - it’s a beautiful excursion 😍
Excited now great video. We’re in Southampton waiting to board. 🎉🎉🎉
Glad to hear it helped get you excited! Now have a fantastic cruise! 🥳👍
Love you two, beautiful scenery, very informative, love watching you live your best life. Love pembrokeshire too especially tenby. Back on iona in March to canary islandsxx
Awww thank you so much 🥰 Yes, we’re lucky to live in a beautiful part of the world! Have a brilliant time on her in March!
LOL. I kept seeing my husband and me in the video. Fame at last! 😆
We so enjoyed the hike up to the glacier. We have been looking forward to it since I booked the trip, same company as yours, and it didn't disappoint. It was shocking to see how far it has retreated. Weren't we lucky with the weather? The scenery on the drive back to the ship was spectacular. I managed to take some wonderful photos in spite of being inside and shooting through a tinted window. Hope you did, too. Getting there early is a must to avoid the crowds.
The sailing out of OIden was one of the most enjoyable sail out ever. We had a cabin at the aft of the ship and we just sat there enjoying the views while letting our dinner go down; we were in Epicurean that night. We will definitely get a cabin at the back for future cruises to the fjords.
We ate at the Chef's Table on the Celebration Night and our table was behind you against the wall. We never got to the Beach House. I think we forgot it was there.
I can't wait to see what you got up to next. Cheers!
Awww love that you are watching and looking out for yourself! 😀
Olden is wonderful and Briksdal is stunning, as you say even the drive back is stunning!
You need to go back now, so that you can try the beach house 😉
Excellent day really enjoyed your filming and tips as you packed loads into the day. Good to see you try new things ………. Gavin asleep wrapped up in his blanket and Luke drinking green tea?!
Glad you enjoyed it! Was a fab day! We’re not just party animals 😇 (only sometimes 😉)
Da iawn boys. This was a good blog. Those mountains almost as good as Cymru! Excellent scenery which is worth walking to. Can you remind us which tour company you used please.
Diolch! Glad you enjoyed it! Oh there’s certainly some connection there, the beauty 🥰 We pre booked with Olden Adventure (they are on they quayside too) www.oldencruise.com/shore-excursions/briksdal-glacier-shuttle-bus/
Great vlog, I loved Olden we did the Troll cars and would definitely love to go back. Beach house was one of my favourite meals on Iona too followed closely by the Olive Grove. Rise was certainly one of the strangest things I have ever had the pleasure of watching. It was so bad it was funny. Keep up the good work, can’t wait for nexts week’s video ❤
Thank you! We really do love Olden! Completely agree, rise was very strange! Glad we’d had a few drinks first!😀
Another great video, we loved Olden and did the landtrain but have booked iona again in 2025 and will defo do the glacier. The beach house steak was our BEST EVER meal...loved it! Looking forward to the next installment
Thank you! The glacier is worth it, pre book if you can to be sure (cruise Olden cheaper). We were so surprised how good beach house was 🤤
The best I could describe the glacier...was being in like a movie set. You look at the frozen part and it doesn't seem real. I went in the troll car up here which was fun but honestly I'd prefer to walk it as you got to experience more at your own pace. And driving round the narrow bends at the hands of someone else on the way down was terrifying 😂. The shop at the bottom is nice to and we got cakes and brews included which was needed after walking . Also the bird show in the sky dome was borderline weird i just couldnt grasp or get comfy with it...youngest enjoyed it though lol x
It really did feel surreal - stunning beauty you have to experience in real life! Hahahaaha, yes, it was a weird show 🤣
Wonderful Norway 🇳🇴 sad the Glaciers are melting 😢 an honour to see them , 3 weeks to go on Iona 😊
Yes, very sad to see that it’s slowly disappearing! A wonderful experience visiting there 😀 Have a wonderful time on Iona!
That glacier has receded quite a bit from when I was there in 2017 but it still is the most stunning scenery 😊 told my OH I still need to bring him here 😊
Yeah, it’s receded quite a bit apparently! Definitely need to go see it asap!
Loved this. The scenery looked stunning and I’m sure, as you say it’s even better when you are there. We loved beach house too, but my goodness that steak looked big enough to feed four 😂. Definitely have to do the Fjords one day and this video has reinforced that 👍❤️
Thank you, so glad you loved it! Oh you must try the fjords, stunning! 🤞
Oh that fondue looked perfect. The scenery was amazing, how far up do the troll cars take you up?
It was delicious 🤤
Norway is absolutely stunning, they troll cars drop you around 700m or around 10 minutes or so. You do need to book in advance, when we arrived there was a sign saying the next available car was 3pm
Gavin and the marshmallow 🤣 would have done the same! Great vlog guys 👌🏻
Had to be done! So good! Thank you ☺️
Absolutely beautiful!…thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching! 😀
Olden was definitely one of our favourite ports we visited in the fjords.
It’s just stunning isn’t it 😍 hope you boys are good?! 👍
Ooh, scones, tea that beautiful scenery and a hot tub! Yummy Prosecco too. Nice to be in the Retreat!
Yes it was the perfect way to sped the afternoon ☺️
The views were amazing. Didn't event look real.
💯 even there it felt like a dream
That juicy steak looked immense.😋
It was 🤤
We only came back a week ago and it seems ages... we also loved the briksdal hike ... its all so stunning .... rise was 45mins of my life I'll never get back again ... weird 😂 ... but Triboo was good ... thanks for the vlogs, as usual 😊 xx
Thank you, hope the vlogs bring back great memories too!
Hahahah, yeah risk was definitely a ‘what the hell is this’ moment? Agree, Triboo is better 😀
@@CruiseMonkeys they definitely bring back the memories 😊❤️ xx
I loved olden, we took the troll cars up, great fun
Oh fab! We love Olden! Hope you had a great cruise 🥰
Was there in may never had any rain vewes epic can't wait to go again
Fantastic - we could keep going back, stunning!
That waterfall is amazing!
It really is 🥰
Hi gavin and Luke it looked amazing fantastic scenery, who did you book it threw and how much was it per person please 😊
It was fab! We pre booked with Olden adventure www.oldencruise.com - there are located just outside the security gate so easy to find. The shuttle was 475nok so around £35. They also do troll cars if you don’t fancy walking the whole thing.
@@CruiseMonkeys Thank-you guys I go back on Iona next August with Family , can not wait . Love your vlogs
Of fab! 🥳 We’ve done this, the double decker, the tractor train and the skylift, recommend them all!
Lovin your work see you later?
Thank you both! Yes, hopefully join for the second hour 👍
Love the Fjords ❤.. If you had to choose though! Iona or Sky Princess?
Oh that’s a tough choice! Iona has lots going on and is huge! Princess is a bit more refined. Princess would be more so if money was no object, princess. But you can’t go wrong with either.
@@CruiseMonkeys aw thanks guys! Thinking of trying Iona 👍.. Was on Sky a couple of weeks back and it was amazing… Look forward to next weeks video ❤️
@denisecooper4519 oh if you’ve given Sky a go, give Iona a try, variety is the spice of life! If you look at Britannia instead, that’s more Skys size as they are the same ship class
@@CruiseMonkeys defo! Thanks 😊 x
U make me enjoy watching this on my birthday tho xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ah cheers mate! Hope you have had a fantastic birthday 🥳