Oslo Fjord Evening Cruise: Shrimp Buffet, Live Music or a Three-Course Dinner?
4 min read
From June to October, the shrimp-buffet evening cruise on the wooden sailing ship is the straightforward choice; in the colder months, look at the three-course dinner boat, which sails with heated saloons. There are two kinds of evening trip in Oslo. Four are shrimp-buffet cruises run by Båtservice on traditional wooden sailing ships, all from Rådhusbrygge 3 in front of the City Hall and three of them with a live band. The fifth is a dinner on Brim Explorer’s electric boat from Rådhusbrygge 2. Whichever you take, check the starting time on the booking page, because the listings only say “check availability to see starting times”.
When they sail
The sailing-ship cruises are summer trips. VisitOSLO gives June to October as the season of Båtservice’s plain shrimp-buffet evening, and Båtservice’s own entry there marks both that cruise and the jazz and blues cruises as summer departures. The rock cruise comes from the same operator and pier; check its calendar the same way. In winter Båtservice runs a two-hour daytime fjord sightseeing trip instead, which is not an evening cruise. Brim Explorer describes heated saloons with floor-to-ceiling windows and tours that sail in sun or sleet, and it advertises a winter offer running until March 2027. If you are in Oslo between November and May, start with the dinner boat and check its dates.
The five cruises side by side
| Cruise | Length | Pier | On the menu or stage | Price | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evening cruise with shrimp buffet | 3 hours | Rådhusbrygge 3 | Shrimp buffet, soft music | €71.03 | 2,136 |
| Jazz and shrimp buffet | 3 hours | Rådhusbrygge 3 | Live jazz, shrimp buffet | €82.51 | 150 |
| Blues cruise with shrimp buffet | 3 hours | Rådhusbrygge 3 | Live blues, shrimp buffet | €82.51 | 25 |
| Rock music cruise with shrimp buffet | 3 hours | Rådhusbrygge 3 | Live rock, shrimp buffet | €82.51 | 19 |
| Three-course dinner on an electric boat | 2.5 hours | Rådhusbrygge 2 | Three-course dinner, live music | €141.30 | 516 |
The sailing-ship cruises
The three music cruises share a description: a traditional wooden sailing boat that drifts past green islands, old fortresses and the inner part of the fjord. The buffet is described as shrimp with lemon, mayonnaise, and bread and butter. Warm blankets are listed. The blues and rock pages add an on-board bar where beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks and snacks can be bought, and a toilet. The rock listing says the trip runs in rain or shine on an open wooden boat and suggests comfortable shoes and clothes, so bring a warm layer for the evening. The rock cruise listing carries a wheelchair-accessible label; ask the operator how boarding works on a sailing ship before you rely on it.
The blues listing names “children under 18 years” in its restrictions, so treat it as an adult evening and ask the operator before booking with teenagers. The jazz page lists drinks under “not allowed”, so do not plan on bringing your own, and ask the operator whether drinks are sold on board.
The plain shrimp-buffet cruise sails from the same pier, Rådhusbrygge 3, for three hours with soft music rather than a band. Its route passes Hovedøya, the Dyna lighthouse and the Bygdøy peninsula with the Maritime Museum and the Fram Museum. A bar sells hot and cold drinks, seating is not allocated, so arrive early if you want to sit together, and the trip runs in rain or shine. Bringing your own drinks is not allowed here either.
The dinner boat
The dinner cruise is a different evening. It runs on a 100% electric boat with panoramic windows and an outside deck, and its saloons are temperature controlled. The three-course meal comes from the chefs of Restaurant Einer. The listing describes a seasonal, pescatarian menu with a vegetarian option on request, tells you to report dietary restrictions at least 24 hours ahead, and says dessert is provided. Drinks are sold on board. Hosts speak English and Norwegian, and the page carries a wheelchair-accessible label, which you should confirm with the operator. Landmarks named are the Opera House, Akershus Fortress and the new Munch Museum. Brim Explorer itself calls its brunch and dinner cruises a little less child-friendly than its quiet daytime fjord cruise.
Which one for whom
- Visiting between November and May: the dinner boat; the sailing-ship evenings are summer departures.
- Couples or small groups on a summer evening: the plain shrimp buffet or the jazz cruise.
- A lively summer night with a band: the rock or blues cruise.
- A proper meal, warmth and a seat indoors: the dinner boat, in any season it sails.
- Families: the blues cruise lists children under 18 as a restriction; read each listing before booking.
- Allergies or special diets: the dinner boat is the one that asks for notice 24 hours ahead; on the buffet cruises, ask the operator.
For a daytime trip, see our fjord cruise comparison, and for stopping on an island, the island-hopping guide.
Our recommendation
From June to October, book the shrimp-buffet evening cruise if you want the classic version, and a music cruise if the band is the point. In the rest of the year, and whenever a seated meal matters more than the sailing ship, book the dinner cruise. All evening and daytime boats are on the fjord cruises page.
