T4TS

Can only answer for Iceland and the 4 ports FO have on our itinerary, but lots of choice on offer. Hope this helps 🙂: REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND Tour name Golden Circle Panoramic Reykjavik Relaxing in the Blue Lagoon Whale Watching Puffin Paradise Lava Tunnel Adventure Glacier Adventure Volcano Hike with a geologist Volcanoes & Glacier Flightseeing Geothermal Landscapes of Iceland ÍSAFJÖRÐUR, ICELAND Tour name Fishing Culture Vigur Island The Deserted Village of Hesteyri Secluded Valley Life Dynjandi Falls Valagil Hike AKUREYRI, ICELAND Tour name Natural Highlights of Akureyri Scenic Akureyri Mývatn Nature Baths Whale Watching Waterfall Flightseeing Discover the Birds of the North Whale Watching with a Marine Biologist SEYÐISFJÖRÐUR, ICELAND Tour name Seyðisfjörður Walk Explore Eastern Iceland Waterfall Walk Skálanes Nature Reserve Boat Trip to Skálanes Bird Cliff Horse’s Nature & Storytelling

Thanks for the replies. We are hoping to go to some other baths on our trip instead of the actual Blue Lagoon as have been told they'll be less busy, less touristy/ more authentic and gives you the same type of bathing experience with a landscape view for less cost. The last time we tried to cruise on FO to Iceland the itinerary included 2 days in Reyjavik which was much more sensible and attractive to us. When that was cancelled and they offered an alternative I was really disappointed the itinerary only included 1 day in Reyjavik and overall therefore a 1 day shorter sailing but asked a lot more for the trip. Such a shame that they are losing their loyal customer-base, I hope they can turn things round and the old FO charm can return. Wish there was more choice to cruise out of Scotland direct, especially now with the farce of flying, but at least alternatives are out there with Ambassador/ reincarnated CMV returning to regional ports next year.

Yes I appreciate the high cost in Iceland. But it was more for things like £125 for a hike with no entrance fees to pay, yes a guide but that divided between however many in the group would be minimal compared to the end cost being charged to user... Comparable packages from local tour operators (which probably are who FO are using as local suppliers anyway) charge much more reasonable prices including coach, guide, entrance fees etc and it works out about 1/3 - 1/2 cheaper so the upsell from FO I therefore feel is unreasonable. Of course they give you all the 'only the ship's tours guarantee to get you back to the ship in time' etc but I doubt the local operators will fail to deliver you back in time unless there's a real emergency. But I suppose like you said FO are trying to recoup some of their lost revenue so feel justified in charging such high prices. For us though it has meant we simply looked elsewhere for shore excursion providers whereas ordinarily we would have supported FO if they'd been less pleonectic. We have tried other cruise operators but like the smaller size of ship and the gentler pace of FO so will stick with them for now, and dream of one day affording the more luxurious small ship operators with everything thrown in!

Having just seen the shore excursions and prices for the Fred Olsen Iceland trip in August, wondering if anyone else thinks the charges are exceptionally high this year eg a 4 hour trip to the Blue Lagoon is £165 per person or a 3.5 hour hike towards Valagil £125 each! I wouldn't mind forking out if it was just for a couple of us, but taking extended family and therefore paying over £1000 for a half-day excursion seems excessive and like we're being fleeced. FO will ultimately lose out in our case as will source our own trips and arrange our own hikes, but feel like they're taking advantage when we've already paid substantially more than the current listed price for similar cabins and was wondeirng what others views were.