Best time to cruise · Shoulder season
Norwegian Fjords cruises in December
Bergen builds Pepperkakebyen, a whole miniature city of gingerbread made by local children and residents, and Christmas markets open in Bergen and Oslo. North of the Arctic Circle the sun doesn’t rise, but the snowy blue twilight and aurora make up for it. Christmas and New Year sailings on the coastal ships fill early.
- Shoulder season
- Avg high 37°F
- 5 hrs daylight
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Norwegian Fjords in December: Shoulder season
Bergen builds Pepperkakebyen, a whole miniature city of gingerbread made by local children and residents, and Christmas markets open in Bergen and Oslo. North of the Arctic Circle the sun doesn’t rise, but the snowy blue twilight and aurora make up for it. Christmas and New Year sailings on the coastal ships fill early.
Across Norwegian Fjords cruise ports, December brings average highs around 37°F (3°C) and lows near 30°F, with about 7.7 inches of rain over the month and roughly 5 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- Shoulder season
- Season
- May to September for fjord cruises; coastal voyages and northern lights sailings year-round
- Average high / low
- 37°F / 30°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 7.7 in
- Daylight
- About 5 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7 nights for the southern fjords; 12–14 nights to the North Cape; 12-day coastal round trips
What to pack: proper cold-weather layers: thermal base layers, a warm insulated waterproof jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof footwear. It's one of the wetter months, so bring a compact umbrella or rain jacket.
How December compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Good time to go
- Jun: Best time to go
- Jul: Best time to go
- Aug: Best time to go
- Sep: Good time to go
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Shoulder season
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Norwegian Fjords weather in December
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 351 | 352 | 384 | 447 | 5311 | 6016 | 6418 | 6418 | 5815 | 499 | 415 | 373 |
| Low °F (°C) | 28-2 | 28-2 | 30-1 | 351 | 436 | 5110 | 5412 | 5412 | 5010 | 426 | 352 | 30-1 |
| Rain in (mm) | 7.3186 | 6.0153 | 5.2132 | 3.897 | 3.9100 | 4.6116 | 5.4136 | 6.2157 | 6.4162 | 6.9174 | 6.2158 | 7.7196 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 5 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 5 |
December weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geiranger | 36°F | 27°F | 11.2 in | 5 h |
| Flåm | 36°F | 28°F | 8.2 in | 6 h |
| Bergen | 38°F | 33°F | 13.7 in | 6 h |
| Stavanger | 42°F | 38°F | 9.1 in | 6 h |
| Ålesund | 40°F | 35°F | 8.0 in | 5 h |
| Olden | 35°F | 27°F | 10.6 in | 5 h |
| Tromsø | 28°F | 19°F | 4.7 in | 0 h |
| Honningsvåg (for the North Cape) | 33°F | 28°F | 2.9 in | 0 h |
| Trondheim | 34°F | 27°F | 5.7 in | 5 h |
| Oslo | 31°F | 23°F | 3.3 in | 6 h |
| Haugesund | 44°F | 41°F | 9.5 in | 6 h |
| Kristiansand | 43°F | 39°F | 5.6 in | 7 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in December
- Caribbean in December
- Eastern Caribbean in December
- Western Caribbean in December
- Southern Caribbean in December
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in December
- Panama Canal & Central America in December
- South America in December
- Galápagos Islands in December
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in December
- Antarctica in December
See every destination for December, with a port weather map →
Norwegian Fjords in December: FAQs
Is December a good time to cruise Norwegian Fjords?
It can be, as a shoulder-season month. Bergen builds Pepperkakebyen, a whole miniature city of gingerbread made by local children and residents, and Christmas markets open in Bergen and Oslo. North of the Arctic Circle the sun doesn’t rise, but the snowy blue twilight and aurora make up for it. Christmas and New Year sailings on the coastal ships fill early.
What is the weather like on a Norwegian Fjords cruise in December?
Across Norwegian Fjords cruise ports, December brings average highs around 37°F (3°C) and lows near 30°F, with about 7.7 inches of rain over the month and roughly 5 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
What should I pack for a Norwegian Fjords cruise in December?
Pack proper cold-weather layers: thermal base layers, a warm insulated waterproof jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof footwear. It's one of the wetter months, so bring a compact umbrella or rain jacket. Check your cruise line's dress code for evenings.
When is the best time to cruise Norwegian Fjords?
May to September for fjord cruises; coastal voyages and northern lights sailings year-round. The best months are usually June, July, August.
Where else can I cruise in December?
December is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Mexican Riviera & Baja.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.