RIB or fjord cruise?
The five boats on this site follow much the same route, so the choice comes down to the ride. A RIB is fast and open, and you will get wet. A catamaran is slower and calmer, and it has a warm lounge with a toilet. Fjord Xplore's covered boat sits between the two.
Three kinds of boat
All five trips leave the Vågen harbor and ride about 30–45 minutes before entering the Lysefjord, then pass the same sights. What differs is the vessel. Rødne and Helgøy use big catamarans with indoor seating. FjordEvents and Stavanger RIB run open rigid inflatable boats, where everyone sits outside in a floating suit. Fjord Xplore uses a newer design it calls an adventure boat, quicker than a catamaran but with a sun-top that can close over your head.
| Trip | Boat | Length | Shelter | Not for | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rødne, our pick | Electric catamaran | 3.5 h | Indoor seats, sun deck | Open to all ages | ~$92 |
| Helgøy | Fast catamaran | 2.5 h | Heated lounge, outdoor deck | Open to all ages | ~$89 |
| FjordEvents | Open RIB | 2 h | None, suits provided | Under 6, pregnancy, back problems | ~$124 |
| Stavanger RIB | Open RIB, max 12 | 2 h | None, suits provided | Under 5, pregnancy, back problems | ~$145 |
| Fjord Xplore | Covered adventure boat | 2.5 h | Convertible sun-top, suit provided | Under 3, wheelchair users | ~$166 |
Fares and extras are broken down in the cost guide, and the view from below the cliff in Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) from the fjord.
The big catamarans
Rødne's electric catamaran from ~$92 is the quiet option, running on electricity without engine roar or fumes. Inside are leather seats behind panoramic windows. Up top sits a sun deck, and the snack bar sells waffles and coffee. An audio guide runs in English and Norwegian, and the Wi-Fi is free. The boat is listed as wheelchair accessible. The weak points are length and pace. Some reviewers found the transit slow and felt two hours would have been enough, and several recent sailings swapped in a diesel boat.
Helgøy's catamaran from ~$89 is faster and an hour shorter. It has a heated indoor lounge and an outdoor deck, and the skipper backs the boat in to within about a meter (3 ft) of Hengjanefossen, the waterfall nicknamed Whisky Falls. A guide talks on board and an audio guide covers six languages. One reviewer pointed out that you need your own phone and headphones for the audio.
On either boat you can move inside when it rains and find a toilet whenever you need one. That matters more than it sounds on a trip of 2.5–3.5 hours. What you give up is closeness. From a catamaran deck you look across at the cliffs, while from a RIB they seem near enough to touch.
Open RIBs
A RIB is a low, open speedboat with an inflatable collar. FjordEvents from ~$124 and Stavanger RIB from ~$145 both run two-hour trips with about 30 minutes of fast riding to reach the fjord. Inside it, the pace drops for Fantahålo and Preikestolen. Then the skippers nose up to the waterfall for what FjordEvents calls a "shower", and Stavanger RIB guests can drink straight from the falls.
The suits do most of the work. Both companies hand out floating suits in all sizes (Stavanger RIB stocks 2XS to 4XL) along with goggles and gloves. In dry weather that keeps you warm. In heavy rain it does not, and several reviewers came back wet and cold despite the gear. Changing happens on the quay, which one FjordEvents guest did on the pavement in a downpour.
Reviewers name their skippers again and again. They praise the stories and the music on board. Skippers also adjust their speed to the group, so a nervous passenger can ask for a gentler ride. Stavanger RIB caps each boat at 12, which keeps conversation easy. Thrill-seekers sometimes find the ride tamer than expected, and one Stavanger RIB reviewer said there were few jumps.
The RIBs turn away children under 6 (FjordEvents) or under 5 (Stavanger RIB). They are also off limits during pregnancy or with back problems. Neither RIB has a toilet or snacks on board, so use the facilities in town before you suit up.
Two hours of spray from ~$124
FjordEvents sails every hour with no minimum group, and the suits plus goggles are handed out at the Maritime Museum.
Fjord Xplore's covered boat
Fjord Xplore from ~$166 is the newest idea on the list. Its adventure boat has spacious seats and a convertible sun-top, and it cruises at 25–35 knots (about 46–65 km/h). You still wear a floating suit, but the roof gives some cover when a shower blows through. Groups stay small, and the guide speaks English and German as well as Norwegian. The white boathouse on Strandkaien has a WC and bag storage, which solves the toilet question before you leave. Boarding takes 1–2 steps, so the boat is not for wheelchair users. Children under 3 cannot come.
When the weather turns
Rain changes the comparison more than anything. The catamarans sail rain or shine (Rødne says so outright), and the lounge turns a wet day into a view through glass. A RIB in a downpour is a different matter. Reviewers who went out in heavy rain described the ride as rough and cold. Pulling on a suit on a wet street is no fun either. If the forecast is bad and you have a choice, take the big boat. Whichever you pick, read what to wear first.
Fjord Xplore has its own fallback. If the weather turns or the boat is overbooked, it may send you one way by road instead, on a free minibus that runs through the undersea tunnel and stops at a lookout. If that does not suit you, you can take a full refund instead. Weather and cancellations covers every operator's rules.
Which boat for whom
- Families with toddlers. A catamaran. The RIBs and Fjord Xplore set minimum ages, explained in our guide to kids and access;
- Wheelchair users. Rødne or Helgøy, both listed as wheelchair accessible;
- Teenagers and thrill-seekers. A RIB. Reviewers say FjordEvents trips go down especially well with teens;
- Anyone who feels the cold. A catamaran lounge, or Fjord Xplore's covered seats;
- Close-up shots of the waterfall. Helgøy or one of the fast boats. Our photo guide explains how to keep the lens dry;
- A short port day. Two hours on a RIB. The cruise guide works out the timing;
- A slow, quiet morning. Our pick, Rødne's electric catamaran.