Iceland Shore Excursions

[buhbyenow]

We are booked on the 8/02/24 sailing of Star Pride.  Has anyone booked/participated in any excursions so far this season? I am especially interested in tours booked for Akureyri and Grundafjordur.  Thanks for sharing!

[Seminole1975]

We are sailing on August 23 on the Star Pride.

 

In Akureyri, we booked an excursion through Get Your Guide-Akureyri, Godafoss, Laufas and the Christmas House Tour.  They also have a Hop On Hop Off bus that runs when the ships are in port.

 

In Grundafjordur, Explore Grundarfjorour-through Get Your Guide-Snaefellsnes Peninsula 1/2 day tour. 

 

I would also check Rick Steves and the Cruise Critic Ports of Call.  There is also a good website: What's in Port that has good information too. 

 

I see you are coming all the way from Hawaii! Nice!

 

 

[buhbyenow]

Thanks Seminole1975,

I have used Get Your Guide and Viator extensively in the past and I guess I will do so again.

What's in Port does have useful information.  You'll enjoy those tours!  Fingers crossed we both get to see multiple displays of the aurora borealis!  Aloha!

[milepig]

I'm sure they change, but all our WS excursions were excellent  great guides.

[CruiseOrLand]

You may wish to read my review from 2023.

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=702974

 

Some of the destinations for this cruise are so remote (like Akureyri) that there may be few local service providers or not even a taxi company. Grundarfjordur is the opposite, a busy destination. But Grundarfjordur is also one of the few that has a world-class (and Game of Thrones) waterfall that can (barely) be reached on foot. We are generally satisfied with the Windstar proprietary tours. Since one Windstar tour in the East (Seydisfjordur) was delayed by a mountain-pass snowstorm (in JULY!), it's not so bad to know that ship will wait for a late return.

 

I would note that there is much more than you can see in a day (even in your own car) on the Snaefelenes peninsula, so I would research exactly where an excursion you are considering is going to go. To pick a dumb example, the "Golden Beach" was only special for Icelanders, since we have been to dozens of cream-sand beaches in the US and the Caribbean.

[buhbyenow]

23 hours ago, CruiseOrLand said:

You may wish to read my review from 2023.

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=702974

 

Some of the destinations for this cruise are so remote (like Akureyri) that there may be few local service providers or not even a taxi company. Grundarfjordur is the opposite, a busy destination. But Grundarfjordur is also one of the few that has a world-class (and Game of Thrones) waterfall that can (barely) be reached on foot. We are generally satisfied with the Windstar proprietary tours. Since one Windstar tour in the East (Seydisfjordur) was delayed by a mountain-pass snowstorm (in JULY!), it's not so bad to know that ship will wait for a late return.

 

I would note that there is much more than you can see in a day (even in your own car) on the Snaefelenes peninsula, so I would research exactly where an excursion you are considering is going to go. To pick a dumb example, the "Golden Beach" was only special for Icelanders, since we have been to dozens of cream-sand beaches in the US and the Caribbean.

Thanks for the information 😎

[PandaBear62]

On 6/24/2024 at 9:51 PM, buhbyenow said:

We are booked on the 8/02/24 sailing of Star Pride.  Has anyone booked/participated in any excursions so far this season? I am especially interested in tours booked for Akureyri and Grundafjordur.  Thanks for sharing!

 

I am sailing on the Star Pride around Iceland a few weeks after you (depart Aug. 23).

If you are able, I'd love t see menus, hear about excursions and anything else a newbie might appreciate!

 

Thank you and have a wonderful trip.

[Charleen2]

On 7/21/2024 at 9:24 AM, CruiseOrLand said:

You may wish to read my review from 2023.

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=702974

 

Some of the destinations for this cruise are so remote (like Akureyri) that there may be few local service providers or not even a taxi company. Grundarfjordur is the opposite, a busy destination. But Grundarfjordur is also one of the few that has a world-class (and Game of Thrones) waterfall that can (barely) be reached on foot. We are generally satisfied with the Windstar proprietary tours. Since one Windstar tour in the East (Seydisfjordur) was delayed by a mountain-pass snowstorm (in JULY!), it's not so bad to know that ship will wait for a late return.

 

I would note that there is much more than you can see in a day (even in your own car) on the Snaefelenes peninsula, so I would research exactly where an excursion you are considering is going to go. To pick a dumb example, the "Golden Beach" was only special for Icelanders, since we have been to dozens of cream-sand beaches in the US and the Caribbean.

Amazing! Just read this post and discovered we were on the same cruise. I had wondered what the divers were doing that was taking so long and did not hear. Thanks!