I was really looking forward to this trip. When I booked a 17 hour ferry crossing from Denmark to Norway I didn’t expect anything special, so I was really surprised at what a great journey it was.
The DFDS ferry travels every afternoon from Copenhagen to Oslo, and then back from Oslo to Copenhagen. Being on a budget, I just booked the cheapest room and I was really happy with my decision. A private room for 2 people was approx AUD$130.
Luckily with Copenhagen being such a small, efficient city it was very easy and fast to get from the air bnb to the port as it only took 20 minutes. It was walking distance from Nordhavn Metro station.
Checking In
Finding the terminal was easy, as it had a bloody big branded ship parked next to it.
Once inside they had many Check In machines for easy check-in. I just needed the DFDS reference number from the booking confirmation, and then the machine printed 2 boarding passes, which were also room keys (very cool).
I was at the terminal 45 minutes before departure, which turned out to be plenty of time.
Embarking
After checking in, it was possible to just go straight onto the ship.
The staff at the entrance kindly pointed me in the direction of my room on the 5th Floor Deck.
The room was small with 2 bunk beds, a desk with a chair, and an ensuite bathroom. It was perfect!
Goodbye to Copenhagen
I then headed onto the top deck to watch the ship depart. It wasn’t very warm, but it wasn’t exactly cold either.
It was slightly later than expected, but soon we were pulling away from Copenhagen. I felt a little sad, as it was a lovely city and a great stay.
Also, it was weird leaving in “slow motion”. With a plane, you take off and in minutes the place is far behind. But with a huge ferry, you leave very slowly, so it’s easy to feel a little nostalgic as the city fades into the horizon.
On the Ship
There were many restaurants, bars, a tax-free shop and a cafe.
Dinner
I kind of knew that food on the ship was going to be expensive. So I brought a salad that I’d purchased at the supermarket in the morning.
I didn’t need a meal that cost AUD$60.
Also, I noticed a lot of people eat constantly while traveling. Maybe it’s nerves. But it certainly doesn’t look healthy.
Sunrise
As some party-people returned to their rooms at 5am, I thought it was a good opportunity to see the sunrise.
It took a while to peak through the clouds, but it was stunning.
Arriving in Oslo
The view coming into Oslo was amazing.
I picked up a coffee from Baresso Coffee for DKK30 (AUD$5.90) and sat on the bench on the Level 6 Deck. The sun was so warm… it was magical.
Disembarking was incredibly fast and well organised. Only a few minutes from the room, to standing on the footpath outside the terminal.
Overall, I loved this journey. It was a great hotel experience, with really friendly staff, very clean and fantastic scenery. Highly recommended and cheaper than flying!
