We wish to cruise around the Northern Coast of Norway on a working cruise ferry, but I understand the North Sea can be moody. I am prone to seasickness when it's rough, but I very much want to see the fjords. Where can I find information on the sea conditions for North Sea around Norway, and which is the calmest possible time of year? - Zaman Barakzai, Sutton, Surrey

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: The Norwegian Sea certainly has its angry moments, which despite its infamous capriciousness, the Norwegian Metrological Institute (www.met.no) does its best to predict. However, the weather and shipping forecasts only look a couple of days ahead and of course a lot is down to luck anyway. Even in the winter months, you could sail into calm waters and clear skies. In general though, your best chance of plain sailing is in the summertime.

A ship leaves Bergen daily, bound for a string of settlements up as far as the Russian border, were it retraces its route. The company operating the sailings was known as Norwegian Coastal Voyages, but now goes under the suitably Scandinavian sing-along name of Hurtigruten (0208 846 2666 www.hurtigruten.co.uk).

Much of the route lies north of the Arctic Circle, where the coastline is particularly wild and spectacular, but also where the winter seas can be churning. Another good reason for choosing a summer cruise is that it will be easier for you to stroll on deck for some fresh air and seasickness soothing horizon-gazing. And the midnight sun will helpfully light you a horizon to focus on, even in the dead of night.

It might not feel much of a consolation if you are clamped to the stern rail, but the Hurtigruten ships sail close to the coast for much of the time, so it would be worse far out to see, and you¹ll have land views of the land to concentrate on too, rather than endless waves.

All except the two traditional ships ­ which you should definitely avoid - have stabilisers, but to maximise your chances of smooth sailing, ask for one of the newer ships in the fleet, which are bigger. And when choosing a cabin, plumb for something amidships to minimise motion.

That said, the first thing that you should do really, is see your GP. He or she can talk through your seasickness and make sure to test out the medication on land first, in case it doesn¹t suit you are there are side effects.

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