Please find our most frequent questions answered here:
Capacity on board canal boats
M/S Henrik Ibsen is certified for 99 passengers.
M/S Telemarken is certified for 137 passengers.
M/S Victoria is certified for 180 passengers.
During summer season 2021 we will probably have capacity restrictions connected to infection control and Covid-19.
Strollers or prams on board
Smaller, foldable strollers are free to bring on board, and you will not have to make a reservation (but you do need to make a reservasiton for the child, whatever age). Larges buggies or prams have to be stored separately and must be reserved at NOK 100,- (reservation to be made with the booking).
Clothing
Our season starts in May and lasts all the way through October; hence the ewather may be unpredictable. We recommend you pay attention to the weather forecast for the area you are visiting and dress accordingly. We recommend everyone to bring robust shoes, windbreaker, warm undergarments and sunscreen.
Onboard services during scheduled sailings
You will find food & beverage outlets open during the whole sailing. No food or beverages are included in ordinary tickets. The canal boats are licensed to sell beer and wine on board.
There is no need to pre-book food & beverages on board. However, today`s lunch can be booked online together with your ticket on M/S Victoria and M/S Henrik Ibsen. We recommend reservation of meals for groups of more than 10 persons. Table reservations are not possible on board.
Passengers are not allowed to bring their own food or beverages on board.
Ticket reservation: Is pre-booking recommended?
Yes, absolutely. Without a pre-booked ticket, you risk being left behind at the pier. Book your ticket at www.telemarkskanalen.no. If you book by phone or on board the boat you will be charged a fee of NOK 65,- per person.
Payment
For individual travellers, all payments are charged at time of booking (Bank Axcept, Visa and Master Card). Tickets are to be booked online at www.telemarkskanalen.no.
If you book by phone or on board the boat you will be charged a fee of NOK 65,- per person. For groups, separate conditions apply.
Seniors, companion, student
The trip is free for companions by presenting a certificate (Norwegian).
Except for the above and children there are no dicounts on the canal boats.
Dogs on board
We allow passengers to bring their dog on board the canal boats. However, we advise you to respect your fellow passengers. It is not possible to disembark to walk det dog during your trip. The dog must stay on deck - and on a leash - and always be watched by the owner. The ticket for dogs is NOK 300,- regardless of the length of the travel ( guide dogs travel free of charge). On the strech Lårdal-Dalen the price for a dog is NOK 150,-. Ticket for dogs must be purchsed on board the boat (cannot be booked online).
Please mark: If you plan for a combined trip (boat & bus), the bus operators cannot guarantee that the dog can come along because of other passengers with allergies. The best solution for guests travelling with a dog, is to do a round trip by boat. That is possible as a daytrip on the following legs: Skien-Lunde-Skien, Ulefoss-Lunde-Ulefoss, Akkerhaugen-Lunde-Akkerhaugen, Dalen-Kjeldal-Dalen.
Canal bus
The canal bus operates corresponding routes allowing you to combine boat and bus to get back to your starting point. Link to daytrips.
Do you have to pre-book the canal bus??
Yes, you book your canal bus tickets together with your boat trip. Link to daytrips.
Parking your car
If you are travelling by car you have access to free parking possibilities at all ports of call along the Telemark canal.
At Hjellebrygga pier in Skien, you need a parking ticket to be placed visible in your windscreen. Parking tickets can be collected on board the canal boat prior to departure at 08.10, on the canal bus prior to departure at 12.00 or at the service center at the pier which is open from medio June to medio August. If you are travelling on other times than 08.10 or 12.00 please contact us in advance.
Oveview over all ports of call with allnecessary information to be found here: list of ports of call.
Car parks are not secured or guarded and you park your car at your own responsibility. Please pay attention to signs and information on-site. There may be other car parks, not facilitated by the Telemark Canal, with other restrictions. We advise everyone to respect private property.
Wheelchair/mobility impaired
The passenger boats on the Telemark canal are all veteran ships, meaning they are not universally designed or specially adapted to fit the needs of passengers with special needs or mobility limitations. Nevertheless, the landing walkways do have room to accomodate manual wheelchairs, but not electric ones.
We recommended that mobility impaired passengers use the ports where you embark or disembark in a lock chamber, as these will normally be easiest accessible. Out of experience we do recommend Ulefoss and Lunde.
Please mark the all the boats have relatively steep staircases to enter the restaurant/café and no elevator, hence these are not very easily accesible. M/S Henrik Ibsen has a HC-WC on deck. The other two ships do not have this facility.
Smoking
We advise those of our passengers who smoke to respect all other passengers. The use of cigarettes is limited to the area at the back end of the deck.
Safety & Security
All the canal boats are certified according to current Norwegian Maritime Authority regulations. They all have vests and life rafts for all passengers and all crew members are certified and trained according to Norwegian standards.
For our passengers` safety we recommend that caution is shown on board the vessels. We advise against running onboard (especially children), and we emphasize that all hands and fingers are kept off the railings when the vessels enter lock chambers. No climbing or standing on benches or chairs allowed.
Vests for children are not mandatory on the canal boats. Should you wish for your children to wear vests you will have to bring your own. We strongly advise parents to keep children in sight at all times during travel.
Please mark: Embarking and disembarking the vessels in any other way than by the landing bridge is strictly prohibited and can cause serious danger.
Bicycle / bicycle trailer / canoe / kayak etc.
You can bring bicycle, bicycle trailer, canoe and kayak on board the canal boats. Due to limited space, we recommended to pre-book.
Your bicycle, bicycle trailer, canoe, kayak or similar must be free of luggage and made ready close to the boarding area. The equipment is lifted on board the boats manually at the roof of the boat and must be as light as possible. Owners must be present on board and if needed assist in loading and unloading.
Rental of bicycles, canoes and kayaks
Bicycles, canoes and kayaks can be rented on request by Telemark canal camping: phone +47 915 75 421. www.kanalcamping.no
Rental of motorboat
Motorboat can be rented on request by Norsjø Ferieland: phone +47 35 95 84 30
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