Iceland's Natural Beauty General - 2022

[TayanaLorna]

1 hour ago, johnnyswitzerland said:

Thank you all for your replies, and to @TayanaLorna for the link to the PDF!  This is all extremely helpful.

Plan to your hearts content.  You are welcome!

[ValarieDennis]

On 6/5/2021 at 4:15 PM, anaco_angler said:

What about post-cruise activity? Our flight doesn't leave until after 5pm and I understand we have to be off the ship early. We have booked transfers with Viking but don't really want to spend eight hours or so in the airport. I did ask Viking if they had any excursions available for disembarkation day and the answer was no. Just curious if anyone else is in the same late flight situation and what your plans may be.

We are as well. Looking at going to the Blue Lagoon, which is close to the airport. Would have to get private transportation to the Lagoon, make a reservation at the Lagoon; have to choose an arrival time and they say on their website that they have luggage storage, and then make your way back to the airport. Again, according to their website, the have a bus that you can pay/ride to the airport every hour and will call a cab for you if the timing doesn’t work for you.

 

We are going to look into this.

[Mpc524]

5 hours ago, Lugar28 said:

 

We are on the 7/3 cruise and are renting a car in Reykjavik for two weeks on the Ring Road. Sorry!

[ValarieDennis]

23 hours ago, FoggyEthan said:

 

BTI Travel offers pick up from the pier with a tour of the Reykjanes peninsula, or also with a drop-off at Blue Lagoon and later pick-up. You can leave your luggage with them in the vehicle while you're in the blue lagoon. We're doing this after the July 13th sailing if anyone might want to tag along.

 

I'm pretty stunned that Viking would just drop you off at the airport at 9AM with a 5PM flight. You may not even be able to check in for 4 to 6 hours. Definitely makes me never want to use them for transfers. At least a day room somewhere in Reykjavik.

We’re going to do the Blue Lagoon for the July 20th sailing. FoggyEthan, what address did you give them? What time are you giving them for pick up?

[dobbs36]

On 5/8/2021 at 10:04 PM, FLGators#1 said:

When we signed up for this cruise we realized we would be in the Viking bubble for tours.  However what we did not realize is that we would not be able to get on certain popular Viking tours because they are ALL SOLD OUT. Basically we will be circumnavigating Iceland and going out to dinner on a cruise ship. Not happy cruisers here.  That there is only one time slot available for some tours is ridiculous. The ship is not operating at 100% capacity.Only about 725 guests.There is no information on whether they will be adding tours. We are ready to travel. We understand and are ready to comply with the Viking bubble but not having tours available by Viking for us to go on ...is penalizing us.We will cancel if tours do not open up, because what is the point? Does anyone have thoughts or suggestions? We are on the first sailing 26 June.

I feel the same way. No point in going if you can't get excursions in every port. We are also planning to cancel if they don't relax the mask rule. No fun! 

[FoggyEthan]

2 hours ago, ValarieDennis said:

We’re going to do the Blue Lagoon for the July 20th sailing. FoggyEthan, what address did you give them? What time are you giving them for pick up?

 

The port is in their long dropdown list somewhere. Skarfabakki Harbour. 9AM.

[dobbs36]

On 6/5/2021 at 3:31 PM, BQEC said:

Our flight from PHL arrives KEF at 5 am. So I was hoping to arrange something - anything - for Day 1 - no Viking excursions. Let's hope that Viking can arrange something for those who are interested in seeing something of the city.

 

I was researching on Cruise Critic - came across from a passenger on a July Iceland cruise who received final documents:

----------------------

 

SHORE EXCURSIONS. During the initial return to sailing, guests will only be allowed to participate in excursions or activities executed and escorted by Viking-approved tour operators who maintain Viking’s level of COVID-19 controls to help limit potential exposure. Throughout the duration of the shore excursion, guests will be asked to remain with their cruise companions. There may be additional restrictions during shore excursions depending on local conditions. Noncompliance by guest or members of guest’s traveling party with COVID-19 Policies and Procedures shall be grounds for refusal to re-board after going ashore.

You can't leave the ship until you get your covid test result, which could be 5 hours, so I doubt excursions on day one will work. We had been hoping to rent a car and do the golden circle the first day, but now we'll spend the day in the airport or quarantined on the ship.. Assuming we don't cancel, which is likely at this point. 

[FoggyEthan]

Just now, dobbs36 said:

You can't leave the ship until you get your covid test result, which could be 5 hours, so I doubt excursions on day one will work. We had been hoping to rent a car and do the golden circle the first day, but now we'll spend the day in the airport or quarantined on the ship.. Assuming we don't cancel, which is likely at this point. 

The test on arrival will be eliminated later this month. No quarantine.

[dobbs36]

1 minute ago, FoggyEthan said:

The test on arrival will be eliminated later this month. No quarantine.

How do you know that? That would be fabulous!! Any possibility of lifting mask requirements on board? 

[anaco_angler]

We are booking the Reykjanes Geopark Tour with Gateway to Iceland for disembarkation day on July 20. Drop-off at KEF at 2:30. 

[FoggyEthan]

1 hour ago, dobbs36 said:

How do you know that? That would be fabulous!! Any possibility of lifting mask requirements on board? 

It hit the news a week or so ago. As of June 15th. Some people here are "I'll believe it when I see it' 8-), but at least the government did officially announce it.

 

https://www.icelandreview.com/travel/iceland-to-stop-testing-vaccinated-travellers/

[Mehroswitha]

Several people here and on the roll calls have written about Icelandic rhubarb liqueur. I've never tried it, but it sounds intriguing! With an abundance of rhubarb on hand, I did a bit of googling for a recipe and now have several jars of rhubarb liqueur with orange and ginger steeping in a dark cabinetI It should be ready to filter and bottle shortly before we depart for our cruise. Can't wait to try it!

[JM0115]

43 minutes ago, Mehroswitha said:

Several people here and on the roll calls have written about Icelandic rhubarb liqueur. I've never tried it, but it sounds intriguing! With an abundance of rhubarb on hand, I did a bit of googling for a recipe and now have several jars of rhubarb liqueur with orange and ginger steeping in a dark cabinetI It should be ready to filter and bottle shortly before we depart for our cruise. Can't wait to try it!

 

[philw1776]

9 hours ago, dobbs36 said:

How do you know that? That would be fabulous!! Any possibility of lifting mask requirements on board? 

I doubt it for this summer.
It will be an adjustment for us going back to masks for us having spent winter in FL and presently live in NH where masks have gone pretty much extinct. However we have signed on to back to masks for the Iceland cruise as required. If masks still this fall we'll likely cancel/postpone our fall cruise.
 

[TayanaLorna]

8 hours ago, FoggyEthan said:

It hit the news a week or so ago. As of June 15th. Some people here are "I'll believe it when I see it' 8-), but at least the government did officially announce it.

 

https://www.icelandreview.com/travel/iceland-to-stop-testing-vaccinated-travellers/

So if you arrive early, take an excursion with airport pick up, have them drop you off at the ship and then you are in the Viking bubble.

[philw1776]

We got our package for our 3 July Sky cruise. Used to getting phone # for ship in case of whatever. Anyone know the current phone # and email for the Sky et. al.?

 

Edited June 7, 2021 by philw1776

[BQEC]

1 minute ago, philw1776 said:

We got our package for our 3 July Sky cruise. Used to getting phone # for ship in case of whatever. Anyone know the current phone # and email for the Sky et. al.?

 

Great idea! On my one and only Viking cruise, a young couple not on our pre had a devil of a time locating the ship's docked location, dragging their luggage through Budapest. Dock location - changed no notice/change direction action. 

What is in your "package"? 

[BQEC]

10 hours ago, dobbs36 said:

You can't leave the ship until you get your covid test result, which could be 5 hours, so I doubt excursions on day one will work. We had been hoping to rent a car and do the golden circle the first day, but now we'll spend the day in the airport or quarantined on the ship.. Assuming we don't cancel, which is likely at this point. 

Thank you. Waiting for 6/15 Iceland announcement to book arrival day tour, if we do not have to test/quarantine for results. And considering tour transfer off the ship on the last day, rather than a day at the airport.

[MS52]

10 hours ago, dobbs36 said:

How do you know that? That would be fabulous!! Any possibility of lifting mask requirements on board? 

The test is being stopped at the airport on June 15th but not by Viking.  If you are required to be vaccinated and tested before you get on the ship, I think the mask requirement is silly (even though I’ve been wearing a mask religiously for 18 months).  

[gramfrog]

8 hours ago, JM0115 said:

 

If you'd like to try a great and different Icelandic liqueur , pick up Björk at the Keflavik airport. I is made from birch, and has a trademark branch  inside the bottle.  BTW, alcohol is SO expensive to purchase by the bottle in the country (our Icelandic tour person told us that was to keep people from drinking too much...) that you need to purchase your bottles at the duty free in the airport on the way home.  Leave room!!!  

[Peregrina651]

45 minutes ago, philw1776 said:

We got our package for our 3 July Sky cruise. Used to getting phone # for ship in case of whatever. Anyone know the current phone # and email for the Sky et. al.?

 

 

Phil, when you say package, are you talking the package of luggage tags or something else?

 

We are supposed to receive the rest of the documentation digitally about 2 weeks before we leave.

[Peregrina651]

The last two roll calls opened up over the weekend. Here is the complete list.

 

First Round:  Viking Sky

June 26:

July 3:

July 10:

July 17:

 

Second Round: Viking Jupiter

July 13:

July 20:

 

Third Round (in date order)

 

Viking Sky, Icelands Natural Beauty July 24-31

July 27, 2021, Iceland's Natural Beauty

Viking Sky, July 31 - August 7, Iceland's Natural Beauty

Viking Jupiter - Aug 3 - 10, Iceland's Natural Beauty

Viking Sky 7 Aug-14 Aug 2021

Viking Jupiter - August 10 -17, 2021 Iceland's Natural Beauty

Viking Sky - August 14-21, 2021 - Iceland’s Natural Beauty

Viking Jupiter - Iceland August 17, 2021

Viking Sky August 21-28, 2021 Iceland’s Natural Beauty

August 24-31, 2021, Viking Jupiter, "Iceland's Natural Beauty"

Viking Sky August 28 to September 4, 2021 Iceland’s Natural Beauty

Viking Jupiter August 31 - September 7 Iceland’s Natural Beauty

September 7, 2021Viking Jupiter Iceland's Natural Beauty

[Clay Clayton]

12 minutes ago, gramfrog said:

If you'd like to try a great and different Icelandic liqueur , pick up Björk at the Keflavik airport. I is made from birch, and has a trademark branch  inside the bottle.  BTW, alcohol is SO expensive to purchase by the bottle in the country (our Icelandic tour person told us that was to keep people from drinking too much...) that you need to purchase your bottles at the duty free in the airport on the way home.  Leave room!!!  

It is my understanding that you can also purchase at the duty free on arrival.  That’s what I’m planning on doing (unless we decide to get Silver Spirits)

[gramfrog]

Just now, Clay Clayton said:

It is my understanding that you can also purchase at the duty free on arrival.  That’s what I’m planning on doing (unless we decide to get Silver Spirits)

We could not purchase and then drink it in Iceland in January 2020 (just before everything shut down).  Things could have changed.... 

 

[philw1776]

14 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Phil, when you say package, are you talking the package of luggage tags or something else?

 

We are supposed to receive the rest of the documentation digitally about 2 weeks before we leave.

Received luggage tags + iPad sized case & phone battery empt from TA
To prepare mentally for the cruise I'm now wearing my red Viking sticker on my forehead