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On Day 4 of our Norwegian Fjords cruise aboard P&O’s Iona, we docked in the stunning port of Olden. This is a place we’ve visited a few times before but always find something new to enjoy.
Starting Our Day
The day started with a classic inside cabin dilemma, what do we wear? Without a window to the outside world, we relied on the bridge cam, but it wasn’t very helpful so we made a quick trip to our parents’ balcony and consulted the weather app, which promised rain later in the day. With our fingers crossed, we dressed for the forecast and headed out.
We enjoyed breakfast at the buffet again, which had everything you would expect, full English staples, fruits, pastries, and more. Dining later in the morning meant we avoided the big breakfast rush so we’d recommend trying this if you want to beat the crowds.
Exploring Olden
Our original plan was to visit the Loen Sky Lift, but after our parents voted for something less strenuous we decided to do something a bit more relaxed. The City Sightseeing Open Top Bus was the perfect choice. Tickets were £34 each, and we got a 30% discount on purchasing tickets for our next port.
The tour included a photoshop at a waterfall and a further stop at the glacier viewpoint. As we admired the views as forecast, it started to rain. Thankfully, the bus driver pulled the roof closed, keeping everyone dry. On the way back, we skipped the optional shopping stop and stayed on the bus until we reached the ship. While the route was familiar from past visits, the scenery never fails to amaze us.
A Relaxing Afternoon Onboard
Back on Iona, we headed to the Quays again. We think its a great spot to avoid over indulging as the portion sizes are always sensible. Laura enjoyed a chicken katsu curry, while Lizzy opted for a burger. Afterwards, we made our way to the Keel & Cow, where we spent a nice afternoon enjoying drinks and playing cards.
Olden’s Sailaway Tradition
One of the highlights of visiting Olden is experiencing its legendary sailaway celebration. Locals line the shore with flags, phone torches, and loud music, creating a great atmosphere reminiscent of P&O’s Great British Sailaway that no longer happens. We found a spot on the promenade deck to soak in the magic. The ship’s horn blasts added to the excitement as we waved goodbye to this charming port.
Evening Fun
For dinner we had our first main dining room experience in the Coral Restaurant. We both opted for a pasta dish, Lizzy had the arrabbiata pasta and Laura the lasagna.
After dinner, we headed to the Skydome for Schhh. While we hadn’t been impressed with this production on Arvia, we decided to give it another shot and found that while there were some improvements it still missed the mark for us.
To finish the night, we popped into Brodie’s for drinks and then made our way to the theatre to enjoy an fantastic performance by Harry Linacre, a talented musician with something for everyone in his repertoire.
Final Thoughts
Olden never fails to deliver a perfect mix of relaxation and breathtaking scenery. Whether it’s the friendly locals, the stunning glacier views, or the lively sailaway tradition, this port is always a highlight.
We can’t wait to share more about the rest of this amazing cruise. Watch the video below for all the details and keep your eye out for the rest of the cruise.
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