Geiranger is considered by many to be the prettiest spot in the whole of Norway. In fact, it exists only because it is such an idylic spot – the town itself has a population of only 200 permanent residents, a number which swells to well over a thousand in the summer months to cater for the influx of tourists.

It’s a deep fjord, and the big cruise lines make good use of that fact. On the same day as our visit to Geiranger, we were joined by two Costa ships. It’s no Barcelona or Southampton though, and while we were able to smugly walk ashore using the recently-installed “Sea Walk” (an extendable floating walkway), the Costas dropped anchor half a mile away and tendered their passengers to and from the quay-side.

Kit and I spent the morning kayaking on the fjord with a charming young Dutch couple from the Eclipse, two American girls who were staying in a local hotel, and our Spanish guide.

And despite the rain, it was a blast! We got totally soaked, but while we were moving, we didn’t really feel the cold, and it was only after we returned to dry land that we realised quite how wet through the rain and splash off the fjord had left us.

Kit and I paddled together in a tandem kayak, and – a first for me – it was equipped with a rudder which meant I was able to steer with my feet. It had been a couple of years since we’d done anything similar, and perhaps only my third ever experience of kayaking, but we took to it right away and were even complemented for our fitness at the end of the paddle. Apparently, most parties don’t make it as far as the Seven Sisters – the biggest waterfall in the area and very photogenic from below.

After returning to the ship to dry off and refuel, we headed out to explore Geiranger on foot. It’s easy to see why it’s such a popular destination – the views would obviously be spectacular when not obscured by low cloud. But obscured by low cloud they were as we hiked up through the town and into the hills… so I guess this is one destination for our “requiring of a return visit” list.