Has anyone done the post-Homelands extension from Stockholm to Iceland??

[moatenote]

We've booked the Homelands cruise from Bergen to Stockholm for July 12-26, 2024 and are considering taking this post-extension too.  We've never been to Iceland and this trip sounds good.  Would appreciate any information you may have about it.  Thanks in advance!

[Spurlady]

We are doing the Homelands Stockholm to Bergen this summer with the 3 day Iceland extension.  I can give you feedback in late July.  It really is only 2 to 2 and 1/2 days days as our flight from Bergen doesn’t arrive until 5 pm on day 1.  

[duquephart]

And it's pretty much just Reyjkavik, as nice as that is, unless you count the hokey man-made tourist trap. Probably a nice, quick look-see - but the way to do Iceland is the complete circle.

[TayanaLorna]

I would do a separate Iceland circumnavigation cruise as the country is magnificent!

[duquephart]

8 minutes ago, TayanaLorna said:

I would do a separate Iceland circumnavigation cruise as the country is magnificent!

 

Or land based Ring Road tour.

 

[Peregrina651]

HOWEVER, if you are afraid that this might be your only chance to see Iceland, then I suggest that you do it on your own if you can, staying yet another night or two and choosing a hotel that is closer to the center of town (were there will be plenty within walking distance). 

 

We stayed on, on our own, in Iceland for a couple of nights after we did  Viking's circumnavigational cruise. We found a hotel near the Hallsgrimm Church. We booked two day trip tours with GrayLine. We did not rent car (which was one reason for staying in the downtown area). I wish we could have stayed even longer.

 

The Hilton Nordica is truly not well located at all. My brother stayed there on his Viking extension and did not like it. There is nothing to see in the neighborhood, no window shopping.To walk anywhere, there are major roads to be crossed. In the event of rain (a real possibility in the summer), there are no restaurants close by and you are limited to whatever is in the hotel. Plus you will need a cab to get anywhere further  -- and there aren't a lot of cabs in Reykjavik.

 

If you do choose to do the Viking extension, then consider skipping the Day 2 Blue Lagoon, etc. and use the day to take an all day tour either to Snaefells Peninsula or to the Black Beaches (Trip Advisor can help you find a daytrip that meets your needs). If you really must do Blue Lagoon than do it on your own on Day 1 as you leave the airport.

 

Whatever you do choose, rain gear is a must. Better to take it and not need it, than to not have it when you need it.

[ropomo]

We did the same thing, Bergen to Stockholm with the Iceland extension pre-Covid in 2019. We are extremely glad we did it. We were lodged at the Hilton Canopy in the center of downtown Reykjavik (some extensions stay at the Hilton a good distance from downtown). The location was great. We arrived early afternoon on day one and spent the afternoon exploring the city. The food in Reykjavik was outstanding, some of the best seafood we have ever had. There were about 35 of us on the excursion and they divided us up into two groups and assigned us to two 40 ft. coaches which allowed us to everyone that wanted a window seat to have one. The comments of a previous poster are not correct. The second day was a trip seeing sights around Reykjavik, lunch on our own in Reykjavik and the afternoon at the Blue Lagoon, then back to the hotel. The third day was the golden circle tour which included stops at most of the iconic locations along with a very good lunch at a nice restaurant. It was a good balance of escorted tours (not just panoramic drive bys) and free time at locations and in the city. We were quite fortunate with our timing and the the lupine were exploding in bloom and the coutryside was purple (see below). If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.

 

 

Edited April 30, 2023 by ropomo
punctuation

[duquephart]

Doing this extension and saying you've been to Iceland (while technically true) is like visiting the Alamo and saying you've been to Texas (also technically true).

[Eastporter]

HI

 

We did a self guided Iceland visit to Reykjavik/South Iceland (Golden Circle and as far as Vik and the glaciers) last summer after a Homelands cruise ending in Oslo (after the post extension from Bergen).   There is a daily Icelandair flight from Bergen to Keflavik.   We lived in Iceland for 3 yrs (US Navy at Keflavik) and have vacationed there several times since, so we are quite familiar with Iceland and have been to many parts of this country.  We will be visiting again next summer after a British Isles Explorer cruise ending in Bergen.  We will do Akureyri, Husavik (remember the movie Eurovision), Myvatn  and the North Coast then. 

 

While I can't comment on the location of your Viking post extension hotel, I can say that Reykjavik is a fascinating and compact city.  If not walkable and you need a cab, the hotel desk (or restaurant) can easily call one for you.  They also have the typical Hop On/Hop Off bus system with stops at most of the city sights.  The main shopping street is Laugavegur (find a list of shops on the Web) at the bottom of the hill down from the cathedral.   Everyone speaks English (as only 400K people in the world speak Icelandic).  If I were in Iceland for the first time and for only a few days, I would spend one day in Reykjavik and take the Golden Circle tour on another day (either offered by Viking or a local tour provider).  This tour will take you to the "real" Iceland - waterfalls, geysirs and history.    I am conflicted on the Blue Lagoon.   It is somewhat hokey and a tourist trap, but how can you visit Iceland and not do it.   Everyone does.  If it prevented my only opportunity to spend time in Reykjavik, I would pass on it.   Otherwise - I would go.   It's like visiting NYC and going to Times Square.  Your friends back home will expect it.  

 

Dining in Reykjavik, recommend the Fish Market (Fiskmarkadurinn) at 12 Adalstraeti - near the Parliament Building (the Althing).   The restaurant features both seafood and Asian fusion.   Reservations (online) required. 

 

Enjoy your trip. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

provider).  

[duquephart]

Is Bergen to Keflavik direct or via Oslo or Copenhagen?

[Eastporter]

Daily nonstop (summer months anyway) at 3:30pm - about 2 1/2 hrs.   You can connect in Keflavik for direct flights to many large US cities.

[duquephart]

We had to go via Copenhagen. We went through KEF on the way to Stockholm for Homelands.

[duquephart]

On 5/1/2023 at 9:27 AM, Eastporter said:

HI

 

We did a self guided Iceland visit to Reykjavik/South Iceland (Golden Circle and as far as Vik and the glaciers) last summer after a Homelands cruise ending in Oslo (after the post extension from Bergen).   There is a daily Icelandair flight from Bergen to Keflavik.   We lived in Iceland for 3 yrs (US Navy at Keflavik) and have vacationed there several times since, so we are quite familiar with Iceland and have been to many parts of this country.  We will be visiting again next summer after a British Isles Explorer cruise ending in Bergen.  We will do Akureyri, Husavik (remember the movie Eurovision), Myvatn  and the North Coast then. 

 

While I can't comment on the location of your Viking post extension hotel, I can say that Reykjavik is a fascinating and compact city.  If not walkable and you need a cab, the hotel desk (or restaurant) can easily call one for you.  They also have the typical Hop On/Hop Off bus system with stops at most of the city sights.  The main shopping street is Laugavegur (find a list of shops on the Web) at the bottom of the hill down from the cathedral.   Everyone speaks English (as only 400K people in the world speak Icelandic).  If I were in Iceland for the first time and for only a few days, I would spend one day in Reykjavik and take the Golden Circle tour on another day (either offered by Viking or a local tour provider).  This tour will take you to the "real" Iceland - waterfalls, geysirs and history.    I am conflicted on the Blue Lagoon.   It is somewhat hokey and a tourist trap, but how can you visit Iceland and not do it.   Everyone does.  If it prevented my only opportunity to spend time in Reykjavik, I would pass on it.   Otherwise - I would go.   It's like visiting NYC and going to Times Square.  Your friends back home will expect it.  

 

Dining in Reykjavik, recommend the Fish Market (Fiskmarkadurinn) at 12 Adalstraeti - near the Parliament Building (the Althing).   The restaurant features both seafood and Asian fusion.   Reservations (online) required. 

 

Enjoy your trip. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

provider).  

 

Fish Market is outstanding. Another "do not miss" is Messinn.