Chasing Midnight Sun and Waterfalls on the Scarlet Lady

I'll be honest—I almost didn't book this cruise. May in Norway seemed like it would be packed with summer tourists, and I'm the type of traveler who goes specifically to avoid crowds. But when I saw Virgin Voyages was offering the Scarlet Lady for Norwegian fjords at a price that made me do a double-take, I figured I'd at least look into it. What I found was something I wasn't expecting: the perfect time to experience Norway's most dramatic landscapes without feeling like I was herding sheep through a postcard. The moment I stepped onboard in Copenhagen, I could feel the difference between this ship and the mega-cruise experience I'd done once before (and never again, if I'm being real). The Scarlet Lady felt intimate without being cramped—around 2,800 passengers total, which sounds like a lot until you realize how thoughtfully Virgin has designed the spaces. There's no overwhelming atrium with eighteen decks of people staring down at you. Instead, the ship has this cool, modern vibe with red accents everywhere (hence the name), lots of natural light, and common areas that actually feel like adults designed them for adults, not families with screaming toddlers. I'd booked a Inside…