Just coming to the end of our 3½ weeks tour of Norway. We only registered with ferry pay and its been fine, no problems.
Just a note for future Norwegian tourists:
1. Pre book the dinner buffet on the Emden to Kristiansand ferry and get in there as soon as it opens at 5.30pm. It includes as much as you can drink beer, red and white wine as well as an excellent choice of food. You can stay there until 8.30pm.
2. If you intend to get the ferry down the fjord from Lysebotn you MUST BOOK IT IN ADVANCE. Its a very small ferry and is always full.
3. It is better to pre book the ferry from Bodo to the Loften Islands, there are limited places for "casual" places.
4. DO NOT use ULVIK Camping, its crap.
I'm happy to tell anyone where we stayed and will make a list when we get home.
Good and valid points here.
If I may, I will take the liberty and add some comments to #3, the ferry to/from Lofoten (Bodø-Moskenes).
Booking in advance is indeed tempting, and may calm the nerves.
But keep in mind:
- The booking system register full and block for further booking when only 50% of available capacity is sold.
- The price of the reserved ticket is twice the price of showing up without prior reservation.
- Thus, if you show up without any prior reservation you may use the Ferry pay system,
- A reserved ticket is locked to the specified booking, and is none - refundable.
- It is my impression that most tourists tries to select a ferry where they are able to book ticket in advance, hence, the chances are fairly good that the remaining unbookable capacity of 50% is hardly ever filled up.
I have done the journey to/from Lofoten several times, and I have yet to experience that any bikes have been left behind, And I am a chepskate, so I have never paid the double price for a reserved ticket (besides, the journey has always been 'fully booked').
So what I am trying to say is: If your journey of choice is fully booked. go to the ferry anyway. Show up in advance (for July, make it 1 hour ahead of departure time), you will most likely make it anyway.