Best time to cruise · Shoulder season
Norwegian Fjords cruises in January
Polar night lingers in Tromsø until mid-January, when the sun first edges back over the mountains; until then you get a few hours of blue twilight around midday. Coastal voyages and a handful of UK aurora cruises sail north, where highs hover near 28°F (−2°C) on the Gulf Stream–warmed coast. The southern fjords see no big-ship cruises.
- Shoulder season
- Avg high 35°F
- 5 hrs daylight
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Norwegian Fjords in January: Shoulder season
Polar night lingers in Tromsø until mid-January, when the sun first edges back over the mountains; until then you get a few hours of blue twilight around midday. Coastal voyages and a handful of UK aurora cruises sail north, where highs hover near 28°F (−2°C) on the Gulf Stream–warmed coast. The southern fjords see no big-ship cruises.
Across Norwegian Fjords cruise ports, January brings average highs around 35°F (1°C) and lows near 28°F, with about 7.3 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
- 35°F / 28°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 7.3 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 January 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 January
| 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 |
January weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geiranger | 34°F | 24°F | 10.7 in | 6 h |
| Flåm | 34°F | 25°F | 7.9 in | 6 h |
| Bergen | 36°F | 29°F | 13.0 in | 7 h |
| Stavanger | 40°F | 35°F | 8.7 in | 7 h |
| Ålesund | 38°F | 33°F | 7.8 in | 6 h |
| Olden | 33°F | 25°F | 10.4 in | 6 h |
| Tromsø | 25°F | 15°F | 4.5 in | 0 h |
| Honningsvåg (for the North Cape) | 31°F | 25°F | 2.8 in | 0 h |
| Trondheim | 32°F | 25°F | 5.5 in | 6 h |
| Oslo | 29°F | 19°F | 3.2 in | 7 h |
| Haugesund | 42°F | 38°F | 8.5 in | 7 h |
| Kristiansand | 40°F | 36°F | 5.0 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 January
- Caribbean in January
- Eastern Caribbean in January
- Western Caribbean in January
- Southern Caribbean in January
- Hawaii in January
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in January
- Panama Canal & Central America in January
- South America in January
- Galápagos Islands in January
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in January
See every destination for January, with a port weather map →
Norwegian Fjords in January: FAQs
Is January a good time to cruise Norwegian Fjords?
It can be, as a shoulder-season month. Polar night lingers in Tromsø until mid-January, when the sun first edges back over the mountains; until then you get a few hours of blue twilight around midday. Coastal voyages and a handful of UK aurora cruises sail north, where highs hover near 28°F (−2°C) on the Gulf Stream–warmed coast. The southern fjords see no big-ship cruises.
What is the weather like on a Norwegian Fjords cruise in January?
Across Norwegian Fjords cruise ports, January brings average highs around 35°F (1°C) and lows near 28°F, with about 7.3 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 January?
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 January?
January is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Hawaii.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.