Serenade of the “C’s” I Mean “I’s” – Ice Bergs, Iceland, Ice Caps and Ice Cream

[SailorJack]

23 hours ago, Baatman said:

 

 

Thanks for digging that out.  It helps when comparing prices from local vendors.

 

 

No problem … glad to help out.  Whichever option you choose I know it will a great experience.

Jack

[SailorJack]

Taken from the bow of the ship, this shows the width of the Sound.  Sometimes it was  little narrower, but this was about the average width.

 

 

Looks like we are heading for a dead-end.

 

 

 

 

But just before we dead-end, the Sound takes a hard left hand turn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[stevea36]

Jack,

This stuff is FANTASTIC !!!

I sincerely hope that you have enough pictures and information to keep posting until late August 2020 so I can keep my enthusiasm up for the 2020 version of this sailing !!!

Steve

[SailorJack]

On ‎10‎/‎23‎/‎2018 at 11:34 AM, SailorJack said:

 

 

Lots of waterfalls.

 

 

 

 

 

A  retreating glacier.

 

 

 

 

[SailorJack]

On ‎1‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 9:32 AM, stevea36 said:

Jack,

This stuff is FANTASTIC !!!

I sincerely hope that you have enough pictures and information to keep posting until late August 2020 so I can keep my enthusiasm up for the 2020 version of this sailing !!!

Steve

 

 

Sailing through the Sound was so stunning that I took over 300 photos (don't worry I am not posting them all!) Of all the places we have sailed this is the most picturesque (maybe with the possible exception of Ha Long Bay in Viet Nam.) You are in for a great ride.

 

Jack

[SailorJack]

Going through the Sound one sees an ever changing landscape.  Here we have temporary passed by the mountains and have entered an area of low rolling hills.

 

 

 

Still some snow, but no sign of the glaciers we have previously seen.

 

 

 

Another bend in the Sound and from the numerous ice flows a sign that we may nearing another glacier on the other side of the bend.

 

 

 

[pacruise804]

What were the temperatures like here?  Is it comfortable to be outside, or do you need full coat/glove/hat protection? 

[SailorJack]

Mile after mile all we saw was rocks and lichen.

 

 

 

 

And lots of little waterfalls from the melting snow and glaciers.

 

 

 

 

Speaking of glaciers  A little ducky.

 

 

 

 

[DavyJoneses]

Great review and photos.  Love little ducky!

[SailorJack]

The weather is warming up and the mountains we are passing now have very little snow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around the corner we pass yet another glacier entering into the sea. 

 

 

[SailorJack]

On ‎1‎/‎29‎/‎2019 at 10:16 AM, pacruise804 said:

What were the temperatures like here?  Is it comfortable to be outside, or do you need full coat/glove/hat protection? 

 

Temps were not all that bad - low 60s in Iceland and 50s in Greenland.  It was the rain and wind we had to contend with.  In Norway the wind was so strong it broke our umbrellas. It rained in both ports in Iceland as well. Weather was great in Nova Scotia - upper 60s and low 70s.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Jack

[pacruise804]

Thanks, 

 

50's in a place I've heard described in song as "a land that's seldom Green" doesn't sound too bad.  Layers sound like a good plan.

 

We had similar gorgeous weather when we were in Halifax in fall 2017.

[SailorJack]

Exactly...layering was appropriate. Getting on and off the bus resulted in multiple  changes in temperature.  

 

 

not  quite sure why this came out as a separate post and not a response to you. Oh well.

Edited February 2, 2019 by SailorJack

[SailorJack]

Ice flows tell us we are coming up on another glacier.

 

 

 

A recent calve...we are getting close.

 

 

 

Bingo!  This was a huge glacier and if you notice the bottom left you can see a section of the glacier that has just broken off and is splashing into the water.  Oohs and Ahhs from everyone on the ship.

 

 

 

A glacier  - up close and personal.

 

 

 

 

[stevea36]

Jack,

 

thanks for posting more pictures.  I was going thru withdrawal !!!

 

Steve

[SailorJack]

More snow in the distance but not so much near the water.

 

 

 

Waterfalls everywhere. 

 

 

 

 

Rugged country - you wonder how people could live here, but we are told we are coming up on a small Inuit village.

 

[SailorJack]

On ‎2‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 9:09 AM, stevea36 said:

Jack,

 

thanks for posting more pictures.  I was going thru withdrawal !!!

 

Steve

 

 

LOL.  I was on a two week cruise and couldn't post from the ship.

Jack

[BigNance]

1 hour ago, SailorJack said:

 

 

LOL.  I was on a two week cruise and couldn't post from the ship.

Jack

When do we get that review??!!

[SailorJack]

Low lying clouds added a little added attraction to the landscape.

 

 

A retreating glacier carved out a wide valley.

 

 

Open water.  This picture shows just how narrow the channel was that we were sailing thorough.

 

 

 

[SailorJack]

Our first view of Aappilattoq, an Inuit village and the only settlement on Prince Christian Sound.

 

 

DSC_5242 by Donald Maclean, on Flickr

 

The last census here counted 132 residents in the village with an average age of 31.5. It is so isolated that there are no roads leading into or out of town and the only real contact is through a government subsidized helicopter service that brings in supplies.  Obviously there is also access by boat.

 

 

 

 

Satellite service allows for internet and telephone service.

 

 

 

[SailorJack]

On ‎2‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 2:44 PM, BigNance said:

When do we get that review??!!

 

No review of that cruise. I only write a review if enough interesting things happen to make it interesting.  This last cruise was just a relaxing one with a lot of sea days.

 

Jack

[SailorJack]

Our first view of Qaqortoq, Greenland.  A lot of excitement aboard the ship as this is the first time most of the passengers have been to Greenland - including myself and Jill.

 

 

 

This is a tender port so this is where we anchored.

 

 

 

Fishing related businesses on the waterfront and the vital communications link up on the hill.  The only way out of town is by boat or helicopter - no roads lead into or out of town.

 

[Jasperdo]

23 hours ago, SailorJack said:

 

No review of that cruise. I only write a review if enough interesting things happen to make it interesting.  This last cruise was just a relaxing one with a lot of sea days.

 

Jack

I guess I should stop scanning the Princess Board for that review then . My wife and I have done the Hawaii cruise twice. As you said, they're nice and relaxing with a lot of sea days. I'm still enjoying your photos from this trip. Your Iceland and Greenland photos are terrific! 

[SailorJack]

Our ship at anchor in Qaqortoq.  Even looks cold!

 

 

The harbor where we unloaded from the tender.  Not to much here.

 

 

 

 

The first building you see after you leave the pier.  This was also the only store to buy your souvenirs.  You can imagine the crowd of nearly 3,000 passengers trying to get in here to look and buy!

 

[SailorJack]

Inuit children on the way to school.  We couldn't help wonder what impact our cruise ship visit is going to have on them.  For generations they have been somewhat isolated in a village of about 3,100 people.  Now, at least 7 or 8 cruise ships a year are going to visit this port and dump nearly 3,000 visitors at a time. A new tourist industry is going to have to spring up and will have to have an impact on their culture.  It would be interesting to come back here in a few year to see what changes have occurred.

 

 

 

Brightly colored houses contrast with the rather cold environment.

 

 

 

This is the main street of the village.  With no roads leading into or out of town there is really very little need to have a car.  We may have seen at most four or five cars during our visit.