Seasickness and kids on a Lysefjord boat trip

How rough is the water?

Fjords are long, narrow inlets with steep walls, and the Lysefjord is well protected from the North Sea swell. Inside it the water is usually calm, often glassy on a still morning. The bumpier part comes first. Every trip on this site starts in the Vågen harbor in central Stavanger and spends roughly 30 minutes crossing more open water before it reaches the fjord mouth, and the same crossing comes again on the way back. On a windy day that stretch can have a chop, while the fjord itself stays much quieter.

Wind is the thing to watch, more than rain. A gray, drizzly day can be perfectly smooth, while a bright day with a strong breeze can make the crossing livelier. Our weather guide covers how the operators handle rough days.

Big catamaran or RIB for a sensitive stomach

The big boats are the safer choice if you get queasy. A catamaran rests on two hulls and rolls less than a single-hulled boat, and both big boats have indoor seating where you can sit low and central. Rødne's electric cruise from ~$92 is quiet and free of fumes, which helps anyone whose nausea starts with the smell of diesel. Rødne reserves the right to swap boats, and a few recent guests found a diesel catamaran waiting where they expected the electric one.

The RIBs are a different ride. Each one runs about 30 minutes at speed to reach the fjord, and you feel every wave through the seat. Reviews suggest it is less wild than people fear. One Stavanger RIB reviewer called it a regular speedboat with few jumps, and FjordEvents skippers are praised for adjusting their speed to the group. Telling the skipper at the start that someone gets sick helps. Our RIB or cruise boat guide compares the ride on each boat in more detail.

Tips for avoiding motion sickness

• Eat something light an hour or two before. An empty stomach is as bad as a greasy breakfast;
• Sit low and near the middle of a big boat, where the movement is smallest;
• On a RIB, ask for a seat toward the back. The bow lifts and drops the most;
• Keep your eyes on the horizon or a distant cliff, not on a phone screen;
• Get fresh air on deck if you feel it starting, and stay out of any engine fumes;
• If you use motion sickness tablets, take them before you board as the packet directs, and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.

Children: ages and fares

Every trip has its own age rules, and they decide more than price does. The big catamarans take babies, the RIBs set a minimum age, and the GetYourGuide booking page shows the price for each age group once you add travelers.

On its own price list Rødne charges NOK 445 for a child aged 4–15 and lets children under 4 ride free. Helgøy also sells a separate senior fare for guests 65 and over, plus a student fare with ID. Our price guide sets out every fare category.

Which trip suits which age

Toddlers and young children do best on the big boats. There is room to move, an indoor lounge when they get cold, and on Rødne's boat a snack bar with waffles and cinnamon buns. The goats are a hit with small children, since Rødne's pair often come down to the shore to meet the boat in spring and summer. Three and a half hours is long for a four-year-old, so Helgøy's 2.5-hour trip can be the easier fit.

Teenagers tend to love the RIBs. FjordEvents reviewers mention how well the trip goes down with teens (there is music on board). Stavanger RIB reviewers call their skippers good with kids. Children need to be at least 6 on the FjordEvents RIB from ~$124 and at least 5 with Stavanger RIB. Fjord Xplore takes children from age 3. Small children also feel the cold faster on an open boat, and our clothing guide covers how to dress them.

Wheelchairs and limited mobility

Two trips are listed as wheelchair accessible. These are Rødne's electric cruise and Helgøy's catamaran from ~$89. One Rødne reviewer wrote that the crew helped their companion in a wheelchair aboard without fuss. Because Rødne sometimes swaps in a different boat, contact the operator before you book to confirm the boarding arrangements for your date.

The other three are not suitable. Boarding Fjord Xplore's boat involves one or two steps, and its listing says it is not for wheelchair users. The RIBs are open boats where you hold on through the bumps, which rules them out for wheelchair users and for anyone unsteady on their feet. Cruise passengers with limited mobility should also check the walk from the berth, which our port day guide describes.

Pregnancy and back problems

Both RIB operators say their trips are not for pregnant women or people with back problems, because the hull slams on waves at speed. Fjord Xplore's listing does not name pregnancy among its limits, but at 25–35 knots it is still a fast boat, so ask before booking. The big catamarans are the comfortable choice here.

Toilets on board

The big catamarans have toilets, which makes them far easier with young children or anyone who needs one at short notice. On the RIBs there is nothing between the quay and your return two hours later. Our photography guide has tips for keeping a phone safe if you do choose a RIB, and the sights guide shows what you will pass on the way.