Almost live Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes, July 28th 2023

[WanderingBrit]

Good morning Iceland! 

[FetaCheese]

Thanks for your live from.  Really enjoying your comments and photos.  Stunning natural beauty.

 

Following along with your voyage.  Looks like I'll add this itin., and Clay's itin. to my wish list.

 

 

[WanderingBrit]

Sailing in to Isafjordur was very scenic this morning!

[WanderingBrit]

Our excursion was kayaking across the bay. All the early departures were called to the Star Theatre, which was packed.

 

Once our group was called we disembarked and walked across the barely finished new cruise ship dock to the parking area. Our group of 9 then walked to the other side of the harbour to get kitted up four kayaking adventure.

 

It would be an understatement to say the weather was beautiful.

 

[WanderingBrit]

After a couple of hours of paddling we decided to walk the the town, which I last visited in 2008! While there is much new construction, much I remember. The clouds had started to come in by this time.

 

[CCWineLover]

Wow!  Certainly love all of your commentary and pictures.

However, I do hope that you and your wife do take some time to enjoy everything and don't spend too much of your vacation on your phone/computer!!!  🙂

 

Your wifi must be much better than ours was in Iceland last month on Saturn.  Most of the time we could barely even send a text, much less post pictures on cruise critic.  It just didn't work well.

 

Enjoy the cruise!

[Azulann]

Your pictures are so crisp and clear. I feel like I am in Iceland and on the ship at dawn.

The first picture is a perfect reason why I cruise. Nothing beats the view of the land from  the water. 🛥️😍

Edited July 30, 2023 by Azulann

[aungrl]

10 hours ago, WanderingBrit said:

Good morning Iceland! 

Gorgeous photos, especially that first one!  Thanks for taking the time to post.

[WanderingBrit]

 

Last night we chatted with the head waiter, General Manager, Executive Chef, and Chef de Cuisine for the World Cafe. They must have recognized me from my Face Ache profile picture and wanted to assure us that they were addressing the deficiencies in service I’ve noted here, and also over on FB. This was within a matter of hours of sharing my observations on an FB group that is very much for fans of the brand, suggesting that it’s monitored closely. Without prompting they knew our names and Stateroom, and the assurances seemed sincerely motivated. This reinforces advice provided earlier on this thread, to make concerns known to the staff in order that they have a chance to address them - I wish I’d been a little more confident and done so myself.

 

 

 

[WanderingBrit]

Surprise! Akureyri became a tender port.

 

Since our excursion is in the afternoon I planned to hit the Gym first thing, which I did and found quite a few already there at 06:30

 

About half way in to my workout the ship lost power, and the room went dark. Most left at that point since many of the cardio machines won’t function usefully without power. I soldiered on and completed my row, though admittedly a good bit slower than usual - too much wine yesterday.

 

The elevators were of course out so I had a slow climb back to our floor. Water was out so we had no choice but to sit and wait for about 40 minutes for it to be restored.

 

Things are starting to get back to normal, though Akureyri will now be a tender port as we didn’t have all motive systems back online to come alongside. I have to assume the lack of power and water impacted breakfast service - we haven’t been yet and were always planning a late start.

[coachma]

1 hour ago, WanderingBrit said:

About half way in to my workout the ship lost power, and the room went dark. Most left at that point since many of the cardio machines won’t function usefully without power. I soldiered on and completed my row, though admittedly a good bit slower than usual - too much wine yesterday.

Advantages of an erg😉 

I'm very much enjoying your commentary and photos. Thanks for taking all of us along. 

[WanderingBrit]

3 hours ago, coachma said:

Advantages of an erg😉 

 

A 10k is still a 10k even if I took over 45 minutes 😁

[WanderingBrit]

Akureyri is as charming as I remember from 15 years ago. We tendered ashore at around 10:30 planning to wander about before our included excursion at 1:00.

Iceland is sparse when it comes to public WCs, and Akureyri is no exception. Though there’s really nothing posted to tell you, there’s actually a nice tourist information and shop in the large circular building by the small boat docks, with a WC in the basement.

Lots of charming buildings in the old part of town

Every Icelandic town we have visited has a least one rainbow walkway

The botanical gardens are beautiful, especially on a day like today. There are 2 public WCs here, expect to wait in line. LOLOAQICI82QB4IP to quote my Dad, might be one just for the British audience 😁

 

View from high on the hill overlooking the town, from our included excursion.

Edited July 31, 2023 by WanderingBrit

[WanderingBrit]

Seydisfjordur gave us the weather welcome we expected for all of Iceland, but it stayed dry.

 

A really charming little town with some delightful eccentricities, it’s the only ferry port for the entire country. Included excursion was a 35 minute walk around town followed by a music and food reception in the community centre. Saga and Windstar were both in port, and neither of them were treated to the community centre reception 😎

 

Residents repaint their rainbow street every May, with paint supplied by the community council. Our guide offers simple guidance on how to be accepted in Seydisfjordur: “don’t be an *****”.

 

Iceland is struggling a little to balance the explosion of tourism - towns routinely see up to 10x their population in visitors in a single day - with their own quality of life. Harbor operators make big fees from cruise ships, as do tour bus operators, but I have the sense relatively little makes its way to the residents whose homes become the object of so much curiosity. It’s a stunning country, with an admirable history of doing the right thing for as many people as possible.

 

[BluebonnetTexan]

@WanderingBrit thanks for such great reporting on your trip. Quick question, about what time did the ship arrive in Seydisfjordur?

[WanderingBrit]

12 minutes ago, BluebonnetTexan said:

@WanderingBrit thanks for such great reporting on your trip. Quick question, about what time did the ship arrive in Seydisfjordur?

According to the time stamp on my photos, we were coming alongside at 07:30. Our itinerary showed 08:00 as our arrival time.

[SJD117]

@WanderingBrit Correction: Seydisfjordur isn’t the only ferry port in Iceland. It’s the only international port. Domestic ferry ports include Stykkisholmur to the Westfjords and Heimaey Island in South Iceland. We’ve had the pleasure of taking both trips.

Edited August 2, 2023 by SJD117

[LindaS272]

There is also a ferry from Árskógssandur, northeast of Akureyri on Eyjafjordur, to the little island in the fjord called Hrisey. Additionally, a little farther up the road at Dalvik, there is a ferry to the island of Grimsey, just north of the Arctic Circle. We took the ferry to Hrisey in 2021, & contemplated taking the ferry to Grimsey, but weren’t keen on possible seasickness.

[WanderingBrit]

Today was a sea day, and because the distance from Iceland to Faroes isn’t all that far we’ve wallowed along at barely 8 knots. A bit of a swell but nothing uncomfortable, just as well because the stabilizers are great at this speed.

 

We had our blue nose ceremony, a bridge tour, a special meal by Chef Kasi of World Cafe, and a movie under the stars!

Not much of a view

Pool to ourselves because we got there early for a pre ceremony pool morning

Festivities begin

Our booked bridge tour

 

Edited August 2, 2023 by WanderingBrit
Move pictures

[WanderingBrit]

Torshavn isn’t much to look at from the pier, but the town has some charming little buildings. Perhaps spoiled by our chats with welcoming Icelanders and their dry wit, the Faroese we’ve met have been taciturn and unforthcoming.

 

[duquephart]

14 hours ago, WanderingBrit said:

Today was a sea day, and because the distance from Iceland to Faroes isn’t all that far we’ve wallowed along at barely 8 knots. A bit of a swell but nothing uncomfortable, just as well because the stabilizers are great at this speed.

 

We had our blue nose ceremony, a bridge tour, a special meal by Chef Kasi of World Cafe, and a movie under the stars!

Not much of a view

Pool to ourselves because we got there early for a pre ceremony pool morning

Festivities begin

Our booked bridge tour

 

 

"blue nose ceremony" ?????????????

[WanderingBrit]

49 minutes ago, duquephart said:

 

"blue nose ceremony" ?????????????

As Google will confirm, it’s to mark when a sailor crosses the Arctic Circle, which we officially did Jul 30th at 8:30pm. Splashed with ice water, blue paste on your nose, and a shot of aquavit marks the occasion. Every passenger received a certificate.

[LindaS272]

Yes, we know what the Blue Nose ceremony is. But others of us who have been on a similar itinerary from Iceland to Faroes & vice versa did not experience it.

[duquephart]

Not to mention we weren't sailors, just passengers.

[duquephart]

1 hour ago, WanderingBrit said:

As Google will confirm, it’s to mark when a sailor crosses the Arctic Circle, which we officially did Jul 30th at 8:30pm. Splashed with ice water, blue paste on your nose, and a shot of aquavit marks the occasion. Every passenger received a certificate.

 

Isn't it a naval forces thing? Sounds like Viking getting a little hokey. I suppose a free nip of aquavit made it worthwhile. Is the certificate "suitable for framing?"