Country: Norway

Language: Norwegian

Currency: Norwegian Krone

Disembarking:

There’s no terminal building at this port to go through, you just walk straight off the ship. The port is in an industrial area so it’s not immediately picturesque but it’s a short walk to some nicer areas.

Disembarkation at Kristiansand port

Things To Do:

A short walk from the port is Fiske-Maren. This is a pretty tourist attraction with a nice waterfront, restaurants and bars, and access to boat tours. I had planned to spend the day there because it was described as tranquil but when I got there it was very busy and crowded with other cruise passengers who had the same idea! If you go further afield there are museums, historic sites, old churches, and a botanic garden.

Bars and restaurants at Fisk-Maren

Public Transport:

I didn’t use the public transport but there is a train station close by.

Embarking:

I found it very difficult to find the ship and got a bit lost on my way back. It’s in an industrial area and it felt a bit maze like so I would recommend dropping a pin in the map when you disembark. There was no security check on shore, it was all on the ship, so all I had to do was show my cruise card before getting on board.

Autistic Friendly?

Norway is known as an autistic friendly country and it felt tolerant while I was there. I walked past other disabled adults who were making involuntary noises and no one seemed bothered or judgemental which was nice. At Fiske-Maren there were a lot of families having fun and making noise and no one seemed to be bothered by it, which often suggests to me a more tolerant place for autistic children.

I did find the closest tourist areas to the ship to be extremely crowded and overwhelming but there are lots of places you can visit that are quieter, you just need to go a bit further to find them.