From Oslo to Copenhagen by ship

We wanted to make the return journey from our two-week holiday in Norway an experience in its own right, rather than race along Sweden’s familiar west coast in one go or, as on the outward journey, travel through the Danish region of Jutland . We soon discovered that we could take the car ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen. We’d like to share the experience with our readers.
The DFDS ferry terminal is right in the centre of Oslo, next to the new opera house. Arriving early for boarding gave us plenty of time before the 4:30 p.m. departure and, as a result, the best seats for the views on board.
We were lucky with the weather as we sailed through the Oslofjord. Both shores remained in view for hours, until the fjord opened into the Kattegat and the Swedish coast was just a distant outline. The ship, PEARL SEAWAYS, is one of the largest of its kind, measuring almost 180 metres in length, with 702 cabins and space for 320 cars. There was something on board for all ages. The youngest passengers and their parents especially enjoyed the outdoor swimming pools. From our comfortable seats right at the stern, we watched the evening sun over the fjord as it grew wider.
The simply furnished cabin let us sleep soundly, and the next morning we were up in good time to enjoy the generous breakfast buffet from a table right at the bow. Over scrambled eggs and sausages, we passed Kronborg Castle in the Danish town of Helsingør, as the ship entered the Øresund. The setting of Hamlet has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. We also spotted the Øresund Bridge to Malmö shortly before docking at 9:30 a.m.
Poorly timed traffic lights in Copenhagen’s harbour then cost us an unnecessary thirty minutes getting out of the terminal, despite it being a Sunday.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay long at the nearby Little Mermaid because of the enormous crowds—passengers from at least 40 buses.
The trip lived up to everything we had hoped for: comfort, incomparable views and a relaxing journey of more than 500 kilometres.