NORWAY - Scandinavia - page 485

Reservations: At the busiest part of peak season (July-Aug), the Oslo-
Bergen train —especially the segment between Oslo and Myrdal—can fill up
well in advance: It's very important to reserve a seat at least a week ahead.
Do it as soon as your itinerary is set: Dial 81 50 08 88 or 23 15 15 15 (from
the US, call 011-47-81-50-08-88 or 011-47-23-15-15-15), press 9 for English,
and book with a credit card. It can be difficult to get through to this number
in peak season—keep trying. Once connected, you can buy a ticket (which in-
cludes a seat reservation) or, if you have a railpass, you can make just a seat
reservation. You can also buy tickets online at www.nsb.no (but railpass hold-
ers cannot make seat reservations). Note that some credit cards are only ac-
cepted by phone. Ask about cancellation policies before you book.
The Flåmsbana train is tricky: If several big cruise liners come into Flåm,
a few departures of this train can sell out—but likely not the ones you'll need
for a Nutshell connection. You can only buy Flåmsbana tickets for a specif-
ic departure at one of the Flåmsbana train stations (i.e., in Flam or Myrdal).
The only exception is for those buying the Nutshell package, which includes
a Flåmsbana ticket for the departure you'll need. (For details, see here . )
It's smart to reserve ahead for the Flåm-Gudvangen fjord boat trip (see
here ) . You don't need a reservation for the Gudvangen-Voss bus.
Tips for Cruise-Ship Passengers Arriving in Flåm
Tiny Flåm—in the heart of Nutshell country—is an increasingly popular des-
tination for huge cruise ships. If your cruise is stopping in Flåm, you can do
the middle part of the Nutshell loop in a day, but it helps to know a few point-
ers:
• Plan your day in advance (using this chapter), disembark as early as pos-
sible,andheadstraightforthetrainstation(ashortwalkfromthedock).Many
ships arrive around 8:00; Flåm's TI and train-station ticket office both open
at 8:15; and the first Nutshell fjord boat sets sail at 9:00—leaving you a nar-
row window of time to confirm schedules and book tickets. Stragglers may
get stuck in long lines and (literally) miss the boat.
• The Nutshell loop is practical for cruisers only if done counterclockwise:
Flåm-Gudvangen boat, 9:00-11:25; Gudvangen-Voss bus, 11:40-12:55; Voss-