Beware when tendering in Isafjordur

[Steerpike58]

We had to tender at Isafjordur today.  Our included excursion was scheduled to leave from the port at 2 and we were advised to allow 45 mins for tendering.  We left the ship at 1pm to be safe ... Big mistake!

 

We got to shore by 1:10 and the wind was howling and the rain was starting.  There was no shelter whatsoever, not even a bus-shelter type of thing.  Nowhere to sit.  The walk to town was 10 minutes but didn't look inviting in the gale-force winds.  So we huddled against a wall to try to keep out of the wind.  

 

The coach arrived at 1:55 by which time we were frozen.  To cap it all, the coach was blowing cold air as if it were summer in Florida!

 

In the morning, the ship coordinated departures on the tenders but not in the afternoon.  

 

So be careful about leaving the ship too soon if you are tendering!

 

[afto]

Yikes! That sounds like a very bad start to the day! Rethinking my wardrobe options now. Thanks for posting!

[Nitemare]

Always wear waterPROOF outer layers in Iceland, and expect wind and rain.  Leave the umbrella behind, they don't work there

 

Last time we were in Isafjordur, there was a tour office near the dock that the tenders use that I would have thought you could have taken shelter in.  And there are nice shops in town, which is about a 10 minute walk away.

[sippican]

Did you have a private tour or ship's?

 

[ljandgb]

Regarding rain, I'll just second that the weather in Iceland is notoriously fickle.  Always be prepared for rain, which will likely blow sideways at you.  Good rain gear can make or break the tour.

 

Ponchos and umbrellas won't cut it.  One poster remarked that the wind ripped the pony-tail holder out of her hair.

[smithley]

There is a lovely brewery in Isafjordur, https://dokkanbrugghus.is/, that is a short walk from the dock.  If you can brave it that far you'll find some friendly folks, nice brews, and awesome free WiFi.  Also, just across the parking lot from the brewery is a little museum that would be worth whiling away some time.

[liberty176]

Seconding the windproof layers!  We were on a cruise this summer and made 8 port stops.  We actually had a lot of sunshine and fairly limited rain, but a ton of wind.  Very happy for waterPROOF and windPROOF outer layer, didn't really need the rain pants/waterproof shoes (but happy to have them), and we lost 2 hats (among 4 people).  🙂

[Steerpike58]

On 8/6/2024 at 12:35 PM, sippican said:

Did you have a private tour or ship's?

 

Ships tour; that is why this was quite annoying. In the morning, for the exact same (included) excursions, they coordinated the passengers and tenders with the coaches. But in the afternoon, they just said 'show up on the dock'. 

[Steerpike58]

On 8/7/2024 at 9:52 AM, smithley said:

There is a lovely brewery in Isafjordur, https://dokkanbrugghus.is/, that is a short walk from the dock.  If you can brave it that far you'll find some friendly folks, nice brews, and awesome free WiFi.  Also, just across the parking lot from the brewery is a little museum that would be worth whiling away some time.

We did see that (on our aborted attempt to get to downtown!).  Since it was noon, and we don't drink, I wasn't too thrilled but maybe they sell coffees, pastries, snacks, etc? 

[blloyd78]

Dokkan sell some expensive snacks and meals, but it's the beer that draws the crowds

 

https://www.journeyintodarkness.co.uk/yes-its-a-fjord-duh