Splendor in Iceland!

[boblerm]

In the days of my "youth"*, I used to enjoy doing doing somewhat comprehensive live trip reports on Cruise Critic, with somewhat detailed information, an occasional pithy comment, and loads of visuals.  As the years go by, I find that my brain and fingers work more slowly, and doing a detailed live report takes up more time than I would like.  So lately, I have been reporting once settled in at home.   But I think that there is some value in posting about a cruise in real time, to give people who are soon to embark a chance to see what's going on onboard and to answer questions.  So my plan is to do a fairly brief report about the goings on aboard the Splendor, with a pic or 2, and then fill in the gaps with more detail and photos when I get home and have a chance to rest my weary cerebrum.

 

This cruise is a circumnavigation of Iceland, round trip Reykjavik, 8 nights with 5 ports of call including an overnight in the Faroe Islands, one sea day.  We have a post cruse night in Reykjavik.

 

I am currently in the British Airway lounge in Boston Logan, which is the lounge that Icelandair uses here.  We have a noontime flight which lands in REK this evening, and board tomorrow.

 

If any of my fellow CCers that are sailing with me are reading this, please post here and help me out!

 

*"Oh, to be young...., and seventy again."

Mrs. Odetts (My Little Margie's next door neighbor(American sitcom from the '50s))

 

[Ethereal Cruiser]

I am so stoked that you are doing another live review!

 

I question your opening with a Gale Storm reference considering all the current weather-related issues back home. 😀

[Gilly]

@boblerm thank you for extending our cruise by allowing us to join you on yours!  🙂

 

(Spendor is just sailing into Reykjavik now...she'll be there ready and waiting for you lucky people)

[May B]

What you describe is what Mr B calls being on “dial-up”, which of course is something we never could’ve fathomed, 35 years ago. And now we barely remember.

 

Bon voyage! Thx for taking us along. Next best thing to actually being there.

 

 

[lprp]

@boblerm, so happy to hear that you are reporting live from Splendor, we get on her as you depart. 
Safe travels and happy cruising 

LP

[nancygp]

 Bob,

 

looking forward to following as I’m visiting 6 Icelandic ports next summer.

 

have a great time.

 

Nancy 

 

 

[maryogreen]

@boblermWishing you and Jeannie a wonderful cruise! Herb and I look forward to reading your always delightful reports – in real time, post-cruise time or any time!

Mary

www.themodernpostcard.com

[kjbacon]

Bon Voyage, Bob! So looking forward to following along with you and hoping that you have a wonderful trip.

[boblerm]

Our Icelandair business class flight was fine for a daytime flight, but would not recommended for overnight, as seats do not recline nearly enough. We arrived at our hotel, the Hilton Konsulat at about 11PM. I had researched dining options beforehand, and the only thing that I could find open at that hour was a hotdog stand. But Icelandair kept us well fed, so we passed.

 

Walked around Reykjavík a bit this morning.

 

 

You can tell the locals from the tourists as some are dressed for the summer, and others for the winter.

 

Took a taxi to the pier. It was only about a 10 minute  ride, but the fare was (brace yourself), two thousand nine hundred and twenty krona! 
But then I did the math, and it came out to only twenty bucks. Whew! 

 

Embarkation was easy peasy. Check in started at 11:30, and we were on the pool deck by 11:45.

Strange as it may seem, I think that my favorite part of a cruise is embarkation . We love getting our first glimpse of our ship. The feeling of first stepping on our ship is an indescribable one, so I will not try. We savor our first toast (our go to is Champagne with Grand Marnier) on the pool deck. As special as these things were prior to travel being shut down by that – which – shall-not- be – named, now it is even more so! 

 Since the resumption of travel following you – know- what,  Regent no longer requires showing up for a live muster, we just have to watch a video at home (twice), then after checking in, you go to your muster station to say hi. 
This is either
great because we don’t have to spend precious on board time with a boring old muster presentation
or
terrible, because in the event of an actual emergency, people are likely to be unprepared, and will run around like chickens with their heads cut off
or
both. 
 

[lesliew]

We board the Splendor in Reykjavík in a week!  Can't wait for your updates.  Thank you. 🙂

[RELS]

5 hours ago, boblerm said:

a hotdog stand

 

Not "a hotdog stand." THE hotdog stand. It's world famous!

 

Loving your pictures. We were in Reykjavik last June. It's a wonderful city.

[Zqueeze1]

Boblerm:

 

Thanks for posting since this cruise is on our wish list.  Hope you have a wonderful time and don’t kill too many celebrum cells!

 

Z and TB

[boblerm]

1 hour ago, RELS said:

 

Not "a hotdog stand." THE hotdog stand. It's world famous!

 

Loving your pictures. We were in Reykjavik last June. It's a wonderful city.

I stand corrected, and now regret missing it! ☺️

[boblerm]

1 hour ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Boblerm:

 

Thanks for posting since this cruise is on our wish list.  Hope you have a wonderful time and don’t kill too many celebrum cells!

 

Z and TB

Thanks Z, and if only I could find a preventative! 

[captjohn]

7 hours ago, boblerm said:

Our Icelandair business class flight was fine for a daytime flight, but would not recommended for overnight, as seats do not recline nearly enough. We arrived at our hotel, the Hilton Konsulat at about 11PM. I had researched dining options beforehand, and the only thing that I could find open at that hour was a hotdog stand. But Icelandair kept us well fed, so we passed.

 

Walked around Reykjavík a bit this morning.

 

 

You can tell the locals from the tourists as some are dressed for the summer, and others for the winter.

 

Took a taxi to the pier. It was only about a 10 minute  ride, but the fare was (brace yourself), two thousand nine hundred and twenty krona! 
But then I did the math, and it came out to only twenty bucks. Whew! 

 

Embarkation was easy peasy. Check in started at 11:30, and we were on the pool deck by 11:45.

Strange as it may seem, I think that my favorite part of a cruise is embarkation . We love getting our first glimpse of our ship. The feeling of first stepping on our ship is an indescribable one, so I will not try. We savor our first toast (our go to is Champagne with Grand Marnier) on the pool deck. As special as these things were prior to travel being shut down by that – which – shall-not- be – named, now it is even more so! 

 Since the resumption of travel following you – know- what,  Regent no longer requires showing up for a live muster, we just have to watch a video at home (twice), then after checking in, you go to your muster station to say hi. 
This is either
great because we don’t have to spend precious on board time with a boring old muster presentation
or
terrible, because in the event of an actual emergency, people are likely to be unprepared, and will run around like chickens with their heads cut off
or
both. 
 

Hi, we will be boarding in a week and taking the same flight from Boston. Any problems getting into Iceland ?

John

[boblerm]

50 minutes ago, captjohn said:

Hi, we will be boarding in a week and taking the same flight from Boston. Any problems getting into Iceland ?

John

The flight was great, on time, smooth, excellent service and good food. 

As mentioned, it was comfortable enough for a daytime flight of this duration, I think that you will be pleased. 

[boblerm]

Update to muster /safety:

When first turning on your in-suite TV, a 16 minute safety video has to play before you can view anything else. 

Also, at 5:45, the CD came on the ship wide PA system with a 15 minute talk, covering pretty much the same stuff. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[forgap]

We board in a month!  Reading your posts in anticipation!

 

[Gilly]

BTW anyone who encounters Julius, the guide wearing 'mellow yellow' in one of their tours might like to ask about his son, featured in an Icelandair in-flight TV offering with his band Kaleo 😉

[cAPS lOCK oN]

5 hours ago, Gilly said:

BTW anyone who encounters Julius, the guide wearing 'mellow yellow' in one of their tours might like to ask about his son, featured in an Icelandair in-flight TV offering with his band Kaleo 😉

I know that band! Their song "Way Down We Go" pops up in movies and TV shows.

[boblerm]

5 hours ago, Gilly said:

BTW anyone who encounters Julius, the guide wearing 'mellow yellow' in one of their tours might like to ask about his son, featured in an Icelandair in-flight TV offering with his band Kaleo 😉

Do you recall which port this was? 

[boblerm]

Góðan daginn!

 

Dinner last night was at Prime 7. Jeannie had crab cake to start and the seafood sampler. I had the beef tartar and the bone in- rib steak. I asked to add a couple of crab legs to make it a surf and turf. We thought that the starters were very good, but the entrées just OK. My steak had good flavor, but was on the tougher side. My wife's lobster tail was somewhat overcooked. There was some service issues as well, they seem to be understaffed. We finished well with my favorite dessert south of the North Pole, the Caramel Pop Sundae!

 

The show last night was Welcome Aboard Variety Showtime, featuring a sampling of all of the ship's on- board entertainers. There were numbers by the Regent Signature Orchestra; the Observation Lounge piano player, Ray; the Splendor Lounge performers, the Dial 2 Duo (2 gents). The production team did a short tribute to Queen. If this is any indication of what we have in store for us, I have very high hopes for a great entertainment experience, as they were all excellent. In addition, cruise director Margaret did 2 songs as well as acting as MC. This is the first time that we have cruised with her and my first impression is very positive in terms of her talent and personality. 

 

Today we are anchored off Grundarfjörður, we tendered in and had a tour called "Highlights of Snæfellsnes. We drove through some nice scenes, with several stops showcasing some beautiful vistas. So much of touring is dependant on the weather, and today we hit the jackpot. It was 16C/61F, calm and clear as a bell. Our tour guide told us that this was highly unusual for this region. Sadly, the forecast ahead is not do great, but we surely too appreciate what we had today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

As mentioned, it is my intent to post some details and more photos when I am at home. 

[Gilly]

40 minutes ago, boblerm said:

Do you recall which port this was? 

It was in Grundarfjörður, Bob...and we did exactly the same tour as you did today in slightly less favourable weather (but not too bad!).  He also popped up in Reykjavik on our last morning.  I think that, like we've seen before, the same guides operate in several ports.

 

52 minutes ago, cAPS lOCK oN said:

I know that band! Their song "Way Down We Go" pops up in movies and TV shows

He told us that it achieved Platinum discs and was clearly very proud of his boy - I hadn't heard of the band but it sounded familiar when he played that song to us.

Edited August 24, 2023 by Gilly

[boblerm]

3 hours ago, Gilly said:

It was in Grundarfjörður, Bob...and we did exactly the same tour as you did today in slightly less favourable weather (but not too bad!).  He also popped up in Reykjavik on our last morning.  I think that, like we've seen before, the same guides operate in several ports.

 

Duh! 

Yes, I am did read that blog entry, but that was, like, a, whole 3 days ago! 

Can't remember everything! 😂

[CruiserFromMaine]

@boblerm following along, thanks for your thread! We’re doing a similar itinerary next summer, also on on Splendor. 
 

Interestingly, when we on Splendor for a B2B in January, there was an in-person muster for each segment, although we got to skip the second one.