Cruise clean-up: how to volunteer to clean up the fjords

Every year, the Gulf Stream brings thousands of tonnes of marine debris to the Norwegian coast. Plastic gets stuck in narrow inlets where there are no roads, and cruise ships crush the debris with their waves. The answer is volunteer clean-up cruises: a catamaran drops a group off at a nameless beach, people fill nets with waste, and in the evening the cargo is returned for recycling. Get ready for the ultimate adventure, because this incredible deal offers two experiences for the price of one! You'll be thrilled by the outdoor adventures in Norway and the amazing benefits for the fjords. And that's not all – the trails you take to reach the meeting point are listed among the best national park hikes in Norway, so you know you're in for a treat.

Below is an awesome practical guide! It covers everything from choosing a cruise to sorting plastic on board.

What is a "clean-up cruise" and how does it work?

The organiser (usually the amazing NGO Hold Norge Rent, a local DNT club or a tour company) rents an electric catamaran for 10–40 volunteers. The route has been meticulously planned to ensure that 2-3 pockets of rubbish that are inaccessible by land can be cleaned up in just one day! In the morning, the boat sets sail and cruises along the fjord, with the perfect landing points marked on the navigator for you to follow. The group walks along a short path (0.5–2 km) to the beach, collects the waste in nets, weighs it, photographs it and drags it to the water. The ship picks up the bags, labels them according to type and delivers them to the port's sorting centre, and you receive a certificate with the exact weight of the fjord you have saved – how great is that?!

Where are the most popular trips?

● Hardangerfjord Clean Sweep — May and September, when storms wash up the most nets and buoys.

● Sognefjord Plastic Patrol — June: long daylight hours and light drift of debris in the narrow Nærøy and Aurlands arms.

● Lofoten Beach Beacons — April: Arctic seaweed and fishing gear are cleared before the start of the tourist season.
Each trip stops at viewing trails (Prest, Molden, Ryten): while the rubbish is being loaded onto the deck, those who wish can take a mini-lift to enjoy the panorama.

How do I sign up and do I have to pay?

Most programmes are free because they are funded by the municipality or a brand sponsor. You can register 6–8 weeks before the event. You will need a copy of your passport (needed for insurance) and proof that you are fit enough to take part. If the trip is commercial, a fee of NOK 300–600 covers fuel, gloves and lunch.

What equipment will be provided, and what should I bring with me?

On board you will find: thick rubber gloves, 120-litre nets, PFD vests (for jumping off the platform), a knife for cutting nets, and a marker for sorting. You will need: sturdy shoes, a waterproof jacket, liner gloves (for the cold), a small bottle of water and a power bank — the Litterati app requires GPS logs even when you are not connected to the internet.

What does a typical day look like?

* 8 a.m. — registration, safety and sorting briefing.
* 09:00 — first visit to the beach, 60–90 minutes of cleaning.
* 11:00 a.m. — move to the next inlet; tea, coffee and waffles on deck.
* 13:00 — second landing, often combined with a 40-minute radial trip to a waterfall or memorial farm.
* 3:30 p.m. — sorting bags, weighing, photo report.
* 5:00 p.m. — Return to port, certificates and a short documentary film about the fjord ecosystem.

What is found most often?

There are pieces of fishing nylon, plastic canisters with Icelandic markings and pieces of foam from fish traps. You can see microplastics with the naked eye. They are collected with a sieve and put into test tubes to be analysed. In Hardanger, volunteers often clear up after storms, pulling out bits of apple crates and pieces of construction netting.

Are there any age or physical activity restrictions?

The official minimum age is 12, but you must be accompanied by an adult. There is no upper age limit, so you might even encounter 70-year-old Norwegian grandmothers on the trips. The most difficult part is lifting a 15-kilogram net and walking 2 kilometres along a bumpy path with a backpack. For handbike users (see p. 22), locations with decking are chosen or a ramp is provided.

How do cleaning and hiking go together?

The people who organise the event choose places where the beach is below a popular walking trail. For example: Rimstigen (Nærøyfjord) — we climbed up to the plateau, took photos of the "frosty" fjord from above, then went back down to collect rubbish before returning to the boat. This way, you can do something useful in one day and "cover" the hiking trails of Norway without having to travel far.

What happens to the collected plastic?

The larger pieces are sent to the Plastretur factory (Bergen) and melted down into pallets for construction. Some of the nets go to the Fjord to Fabric upcycling project, where they are sewn into bags, with the proceeds financing the next cruise. The foam is used to make panels for DNT Arctic shelters.

What are the benefits besides good karma?

— A certificate with your name and the number of kilograms of plastic collected.
— A 10% discount on the next eco-cruise.
— The organiser's photo bank shares pictures: an excellent portfolio for social media.
— New friends: half of the crew are locals who are ready to share fjord legends you won't find in a guidebook.

A clean-up cruise is an amazing journey that leaves the fjord cleaner than you found it. You see the same waterfalls, the same mirror reflections, but now there is not a single piece of plastic in the photo — a small detail that changes your perception of the landscape more than any filter.

Gather a team of friends or family, sign up for the next cruise, and be sure to pack a thermos and some work gloves. Then we'd love to hear how many kilos you pulled out and how far you managed to walk between the nets. Your experience is going to be an amazing addition to the outdoor adventures catalogue, and it'll definitely inspire new travellers to experience the beauty of the fjords for themselves.