LIVE from "Iceland's Natural Beauty" -- All Sailings, 2021

[ericfromri]

today is 55 degrees and sunny right now, easily the best weather in the last 4 weeks that i have been here.

[TayanaLorna]

12 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

My opinion so I am going to say this now as we are at #195 without anyone onboard yet.This is going to become very unwieldly as we go on with having it serve all of the cruises. Each cruise should have its own Live Thread.

AGREED as each one could be different too.

[SantaFe1]

We are sitting in our cabin awaiting test results.  Perhaps because it was Saturday, and perhaps because there were three planes arriving at once, it took forever at the airport.  We landed at 6 am and it took two hours to go through immigration, pick up our luggage, go through customs, and then Get out test.  Viking transfer people were right there waiting for us, and we were off in minutes in a bus with every seat full.  No social distancing there.  45 minutes later we were at the dock, and then a quick questionnaire by Viking, a temp rest, and then they take up to your muster station and one a Pat a time show you how put put on a life vest,  very strange.  Then up to our cabins to spit in a tube,  But the ship seems like it always does, and be are so happy to be aboard!  Now for a short nap.

[Clay Clayton]

5 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

We are sitting in our cabin awaiting test results.  Perhaps because it was Saturday, and perhaps because there were three planes arriving at once, it took forever at the airport.  We landed at 6 am and it took two hours to go through immigration, pick up our luggage, go through customs, and then Get out test.  Viking transfer people were right there waiting for us, and we were off in minutes in a bus with every seat full.  No social distancing there.  45 minutes later we were at the dock, and then a quick questionnaire by Viking, a temp rest, and then they take up to your muster station and one a Pat a time show you how put put on a life vest,  very strange.  Then up to our cabins to spit in a tube,  But the ship seems like it always does, and be are so happy to be aboard!  Now for a short nap.

Glad you are aboard!

[vslparis]

We are on board too but , hey, we didn’t get any donuts. Got a sandwich though . But not as exciting as a donut 🤣.

 

[TayanaLorna]

Welcome to Iceland weary travelers.  Not surprised it was crowded at airport.  There were 8 Icelandair flights arriving from US between 5:30 and 6:30 am this morning.

 

Was everyone in the airport wearing masks?  On the transfer bus?  Did you have to stand outside in the cold waiting for your test to be done?

[gramfrog]

Question to all of you who are enjoying your first day onboard:  How did dining go?  I expect that you, like all of us wannabes, made dining reservations.  But unfortunately Viking allowed only one stateroom at a time to reserve a table, whether at Chef's Table, or Manfredis, or The Restaurant, even if you are traveling with friends.  Were you allowed to have more than two at tables, and if so, how many?  Is that wonderful eight to ten person round table still available at the aft of The Restaurant? thanks. 

[vslparis]

32 minutes ago, gramfrog said:

Question to all of you who are enjoying your first day onboard:  How did dining go?  I expect that you, like all of us wannabes, made dining reservations.  But unfortunately Viking allowed only one stateroom at a time to reserve a table, whether at Chef's Table, or Manfredis, or The Restaurant, even if you are traveling with friends.  Were you allowed to have more than two at tables, and if so, how many?  Is that wonderful eight to ten person round table still available at the aft of The Restaurant? thanks. 

Too early to tell as most people are awaiting the on board test results. However I know that we will have the answers to those questions as we move forward. 

[madrone]

Once you have your negative test result and can leave your cabin, are you allowed to leave the ship and go explore Reykjavik on your own?  Are there going to be Viking shuttles into town?

[Buddysmom10]

Are the balconies full size or French balconies?

I was on a river cruise about 2014 and the balconies were too small to sit out on.  

 

I'm hoping to be able to book one of the August cruises to Iceland.   We were going to do the Ring Road on our own, I booked flights, car rental, etc (all cancellable) but then thought that two weeks of 50 degree, raining, driving, windy hiking weather was too much.    

 

Then I found this cruise a couple of days ago and the dates still work with flights that we have not cancelled.  Big hurdle is that I did not realize that my passport had expired and so I sent it (non-expedited because I thought I wouldn't be traveling overseas for awhile...) on 4/22.  Called yesterday to expedite it.  Would be a 2+ hour wait so I opted for them to call me back.  I called them at 5 pm and they called me back at 1:00 am  and left a message from an "unknown" number so I did not pick up...  I called today and they are open on M-F.  

 

So if I can get my passport expedited and a pretty solid confirmation that I will get it in time,  I will go ahead and book --as long as it isn't sold out by then since there is only one date that works.  

[gramfrog]

30 minutes ago, vslparis said:

Too early to tell as most people are awaiting the on board test results. However I know that we will have the answers to those questions as we move forward. 

Thank you!  Guess I jumped in too soon..... 

[jeremybe]

For those on board, can you post your experiences with Shore Excursions? Are you able to book them onboard/Is there more availability - Also for restaurants, how difficult is it to get reservations for those of us that missed out?

 

Thanks!!!

[Seaharvest]

On 6/25/2021 at 4:46 AM, ericfromri said:

you will get a second barcode when you signup and pay for your return covid test to the usa

 

These are great pictures. What tour did you take to get so close to the lava and how difficult was the hike? 

[TayanaLorna]

24 minutes ago, Buddysmom10 said:

Are the balconies full size or French balconies?

I was on a river cruise about 2014 and the balconies were too small to sit out on.  

 

I'm hoping to be able to book one of the August cruises to Iceland.   We were going to do the Ring Road on our own, I booked flights, car rental, etc (all cancellable) but then thought that two weeks of 50 degree, raining, driving, windy hiking weather was too much.    

 

Then I found this cruise a couple of days ago and the dates still work with flights that we have not cancelled.  Big hurdle is that I did not realize that my passport had expired and so I sent it (non-expedited because I thought I wouldn't be traveling overseas for awhile...) on 4/22.  Called yesterday to expedite it.  Would be a 2+ hour wait so I opted for them to call me back.  I called them at 5 pm and they called me back at 1:00 am  and left a message from an "unknown" number so I did not pick up...  I called today and they are open on M-F.  

 

So if I can get my passport expedited and a pretty solid confirmation that I will get it in time,  I will go ahead and book --as long as it isn't sold out by then since there is only one date that works.  

The balconies are full sized with 1 table and 2 chairs.  As this Roll Call is LIVE for people in Iceland RIGHT NOW to comment, please ask your questions on the General Iceland Roll Call or on the numerous roll calls for the specific Sky or Jupiter Iceland sailings.  Lots of people are happy to help.

[ericfromri]

20 minutes ago, Seaharvest said:

These are great pictures. What tour did you take to get so close to the lava and how difficult was the hike? 

not very diffucult, just a rental car.  the walk was maybe a mile each way and it was very hot that close but was only for the photos. the easiest way in Iceland is doing it yourself, i refuse to pay 50-60$  an hour to be driven around here. it is a socialist country so of course that means 60-80% overall in taxes.

Edited June 26, 2021 by ericfromri

[Peregrina651]

Repeating the thread guidelines for those who are new to the party.

 

This "LIVE from" thread is about what is happening right now on board the ship and nothing else.

 

If you aren't heading to the ship or on it, you are a member of the audience and are asked to refrain from posting here unless it is a specific question for those on board. Members of the audience, even those who have already sailed, are also asked to refrain from answering questions.  Unruly audience members will be reported.

 

 

 

[SantaFe1]

16 hours ago, flaladyB said:

How full does it look for the flight from MSP to REY? Y'all should be boarding soon..........

 

Flight was completely full!

[SantaFe1]

4 hours ago, vslparis said:

We are on board too but , hey, we didn’t get any donuts. Got a sandwich though . But not as exciting as a donut 🤣.

 

We got both!!

[SantaFe1]

1 hour ago, madrone said:

Once you have your negative test result and can leave your cabin, are you allowed to leave the ship and go explore Reykjavik on your own?  Are there going to be Viking shuttles into town?

Yes, to both questions.

[SantaFe1]

1 hour ago, jeremybe said:

For those on board, can you post your experiences with Shore Excursions? Are you able to book them onboard/Is there more availability - Also for restaurants, how difficult is it to get reservations for those of us that missed out?

 

Thanks!!!

As soon as we were cleared, I went to the central restaurant reservations dest, now down on 1 with floor ex, rather than in Wolrd cafe, and booked Chefs Table for the last night.  He first offered only 5:30 or 8:30, but ultimately got us a 6:15.

[DaveSJ711]

2 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

Flight was completely full!

That’s amazing. We arrived on June 14, and our flight from Seattle was no more than one-third full.

[JM0115]

2 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

As soon as we were cleared, I went to the central restaurant reservations dest, now down on 1 with floor ex, rather than in Wolrd cafe, and booked Chefs Table for the last night.  He first offered only 5:30 or 8:30, but ultimately got us a 6:15.

Can you still use the Viking app to book reservations too while on board?

[SantaFe1]

Just got back from the first port talk.  In the theater as always.  No seats blocked off.  Probably 100 people there.  All masked.  We had a glass of wine and enjoyed it, just like in old time.  We placed an order with our steward for what we wanted in our mini bar.  It will arrive tonight.

 

[SantaFe1]

1 minute ago, JM0115 said:

Can you still use the Viking app to book reservations too while on board?

Supposedly, and on the TV too.  But the app has never liked me.  For our 128 WC, I always had to make them in person.  But I may be the exception.

[SantaFe1]

3 minutes ago, DaveSJ711 said:

That’s amazing. We arrived on June 14, and our flight from Seattle was no more than one-third full.

It was so full that they were asking people in the main cabin to check their roll aboards for free because there wasn’t room for them all.