Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our fjord adventures and services.
Yes, we’re well prepared to head out in most any weather. Our boats are sturdy, and we provide all passengers with protective goggles and water-resistant floatation suits that feature a wraparound hood. Of course, if the weather gets truly bad to the extent that it poses a safety risk to anyone onboard, rest assured that we will without hesitation cancel our departure and offer everyone affected a full refund.
Yes. We always strive to be as flexible as possible for our customers, if you would like to go on a Lysefjord Sightseeing tour at a time we haven’t presently scheduled, just notify us with your desired time and date in the submission form below and we’ll get back to you ASAP about whether we can make it happen.
Not ordinarily. Passengers customarily pick their seat when boarding. All our seats offer great unobstructed views, and we always try our best to seat groups together. If you have a strong preference for where you would like to sit, please reach out to us and we can make a note to reserve that seat for you in our systems.
It is very rare that any of our passengers get seasick onboard. Our RIB boats cut through smaller waves smoothly, minimizing the rocking motion that often leads to seasickness. The inflatable tubing around the edges of the boat also provides a significant steadying effect, minimizing swaying both when stationary and in motion. Secondly, the open design of our boats allows passengers to maintain a constant, 360-degree view of the horizon and their surroundings. This helps align the visual and vestibular (inner ear) inputs, which plays a crucial role in preventing the disorientation that can cause seasickness.
No. Our high-end RIB boats are specifically constructed to protect passengers from water splashing onboard. The hull design and inflatable tubing going around the boat act as natural fenders against sprays. You will only get wet onboard if it starts raining as there are no roofs on the boats. The protective flotation suits you will receive for your tour will however very effectively shield you in that event as they are made from water-repellant materials and feature a hood.
Our RIB boat tour is not very bumpy. In typical weather conditions, the boat will cut through most waves instead of going over them. Though on windy days, some bumps from going over waves will be unavoidable. Our captains do however take great care to ensure that these waves are absorbed as gently as possible and not experienced harshly by passengers. If bumps concern you, sitting further towards the back of the boat will significantly reduce their impact. You can also ask to sit beside the captain, this seat is the farthest back and also features extra feathering and cushioning.
The average speed of the boat in a typical tour will be between 30 and 40 knots (55-75km/h), the acceleration curve is however stable, and you will not experience any sudden fluctuations. The course itself is steady and straightforward with no drastic turns or maneuvers. You are unlikely to experience the speed of the boat as discomforting. The main thing to be prepared for is a fair amount of wind hitting your face. It is however not uncomfortable, and most will find it refreshing and part of the fun of riding in a RIB. If the wind does concern you though, you can ask to sit in the seat beside the captain, which is protected by a windshield.
No need to worry. Our boats only hold twelve people at a time, this ensures that our captains are able to maintain constant oversight and make sure everyone onboard is having a great time throughout. We tailor each tour to the needs and preferences of the present group, and always do our best to strike the perfect balance between excitement and comfort. As you will be extensively briefed on before the start of your tour, we also have a simple system in place where if anyone for any reason feels uncomfortable or scared during the tour, you simply have to raise your hand and the captain will slow down the boat and check up on you.
Safety is always our number one concern, and we pride ourselves on having been 100% accident free for as long as our company has existed. The boat and captain are without exception certified for their activity, every passenger is provided with all requisite safety equipment, and an extensive safety briefing is always held before anyone is allowed to board the boat. We always take stock of the situation on the sea, and if we are at all uncertain about the safety of embarking on a tour or continuing an ongoing one, due to weather conditions or some other factor, we will without hesitation cancel the tour and issue a full refund for anyone affected.
Stavanger RIB would advise against participating in RIB tours for the following individuals. • Persons with severe pre-existing neck or back conditions. • Pregnant women beyond their first trimester. • Individuals diagnosed with osteoporosis or other conditions that result in brittle bones. If you’re unsure about whether you should join our tours, don’t hesitate to reach out. We can put you directly on the phone with our experienced captains if necessary.
Our tours depart from Stavanger Harbor at Strandkaien 37 and return to the same location.
If you’re a cruise tourist considering joining a tour later in the day, rest assured that we are fully aware of your ship's departure schedule and are committed to ensuring your timely return. We always keep up to date cruiselists on hand and set our tour schedule in accordance with these itineraries. Furthermore, in the unlikely event of a delay that compromises our schedule and could affect your ability to rejoin your cruise in time, we will proactively shorten our tour to ensure you make a punctual return. To date, we have maintained a flawless record of ensuring all our guests return well before their cruise departure times, and it is our intention to uphold this standard.
Our tours depart extremely close to where cruise ships berth in Stavanger City. If your ship docks at Strandkaien, it’s about a five-minute walk, if it’s at Konserthuskaien, walking should take about 15 minutes. If your boat docks in Sandnes, Mekjarvik, or some other port outside the city, you will need to factor in a bit more time. A taxi from Sandnes to Stavanger takes about 20 minutes as long as you’re not stuck in rush hour. If you’re heading down from Mekjarvik, cruiselines have so far always provided complimentary shuttle buses to the city center, this drive should take about 30 minutes, though delays are in our experience likely here. Cruise tourists are the primary demographic for our Lysefjord Sightseeing tours, if you’re running late, chances are you’re not the only one. Should your boat experience a berthing delay, we will reschedule our tours for the day in accordance with the new itinerary.
Yes, there are 20 parking spots by the harbor at the Strandkaien Sør lot, you are also allowed to park camping vehicles there.
Yes, there is a public handicap-friendly restroom about 20 meters from the floating dock where our tours depart. The tour is close to two hours, so we naturally recommend you use it beforehand. Do note that this facility has a paid entry of 10 NOK.
If you’re running late for your tour, please give us a call immediately and we’ll assess the situation. If it’s only a couple of minutes, we can likely wait. If you’re a cruise tourist running late due to the delayed berthing of your ship, you’re likely not the only one on our tour who won’t make it in time. In those cases we will generally delay the departure or add a new one.
We meet all our passengers at Strandkaien 37 (4005 Stavanger), which is right by the innermost floating dock in the Stavanger city harbor.
For guests expecting to arrive in the Stavanger region on a cruise ship, in the event that the scheduled berthing of your ship is cancelled, we will offer a full refund for your booking even if the 24-hour cancellation window has passed. In the event of a berthing delay, we will offer you the option to reschedule.