ljandgb Posted March 22, 2018 #751 Share Posted March 22, 2018 You can look up historical data, but the takeaway is blustery, windy, cold, wet, sunny, breezy, or any sequence of that every 10 minutes or so. Highs around 50's F, lows in the 40's. The key is dressing in layers, with a waterproof top layer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted March 22, 2018 #752 Share Posted March 22, 2018 I've had 30s in Iceland in late August, I've also had 70 in Iceland in late August. Layers is the correct answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoBaycruiser Posted March 22, 2018 #753 Share Posted March 22, 2018 What is the weather like the end of August or the month of September? I’ve been considering a cruise that has two ports in Iceland and two in Greenland. We went out of Akureyri to Greenland in the second half of August last year. The crossing was rough and cold but okay if you have sea legs. Weather in Akureyri was cold and drizzly. Greenland had relatively mild weather much of the time... about 50. Layers is definitely the answer. It might start out chilly in the morning but if you are doing any hiking you will be peeling some layers off. The prior year we were in Akureyri in June. The port was in fairly dense fog when we left on our excursion so I bundled up. As soon as we got to the interior, the sun came out and it was downright toasty. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debiintahoe Posted April 6, 2018 #754 Share Posted April 6, 2018 After browsing through the excellent Copenhagen thread I thought about starting one for Iceland as well: I'm a regular cruiser that lives in Reykjavik, Iceland and not affiliated with any tour companies. So if you have any questions about the Icelandic ports of call and surrounding attractions feel free to ask. Main port: Reykjavik (Capital). Secondary ports: Akureyri (largest town in the north of Iceland), Seydisfjordur (a small town on the east coast) and Isafjordur (a town in the rugged northwestern part of Iceland). Hi. We will be in Akureyri for one day. We are thinking of renting a car to drive to the waterfall and lake. We have about 7 hours. Is this doable? If we pass on the rental car, is there public transportation to get to the Gooafoss waterfall? Thank you so much! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonow61 Posted April 6, 2018 #755 Share Posted April 6, 2018 We are in Isafjordur for one day on cruise ship and looking at excursions. It seems apart from more local areas the main excursion is to visit Dynjandi. waterfall. Considering that tours I've found seem to be more expensive than other ports in Iceland and the time taken for the tour is there more than just a waterfall to see? If anyone can give me some advice it would be appreciated. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jpalbny Posted April 6, 2018 #756 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Hi. We will be in Akureyri for one day. We are thinking of renting a car to drive to the waterfall and lake. We have about 7 hours. Is this doable? If we pass on the rental car, is there public transportation to get to the Gooafoss waterfall? Thank you so much! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Lake Myvatn, I assume? And Gođafoss?Yes, we have done this, and more, in a day. The falls are 45 minutes out of town, and the lake is maybe another half hour. Both are on Rt 1, the ring road. Near the lake is Dimmuborgir, a place with cool rock formations. And Hverfjall, a volcanic cone that makes for a great short climb/hike if you want to burn a few calories. The view from the top is really nice. One other tip. As you are coming back from Myvatn, before you get back to Gođafoss, there is a great view of the falls from afar, as you approach them. Don't miss it. Car rental is easy. Europecar has an "office" right at the pier. Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljandgb Posted April 6, 2018 #757 Share Posted April 6, 2018 I can't answer for sure, but I'd be surprised if there was public transportation available. On TA, every time that question comes up, the locals say no. There's simply not enough "public" to need it, and the few bus routes available go to the middle of small villages, no where near tourist sites, for 1-2 stops per day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted April 6, 2018 #758 Share Posted April 6, 2018 We are in Isafjordur for one day on cruise ship and looking at excursions. It seems apart from more local areas the main excursion is to visit Dynjandi. waterfall. Considering that tours I've found seem to be more expensive than other ports in Iceland and the time taken for the tour is there more than just a waterfall to see? If anyone can give me some advice it would be appreciated. Thanks Depends on how much time you have. You can do Isafjordur to Dynjandi and back (and yes, it's worth it) with an hour at the waterfall in about 5 hours. If you have 12 hours total you can continue past Dynjandi to Latrabjarg, which are the cliffs with massive numbers of puffins, as that's another 3 hours each way. Also worth it. Alternatively you can do a tour to Vigur Island where there are also Puffins and Eider Ducks and Arctic Terns, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted April 6, 2018 #759 Share Posted April 6, 2018 I can't answer for sure, but I'd be surprised if there was public transportation available. On TA, every time that question comes up, the locals say no. There's simply not enough "public" to need it, and the few bus routes available go to the middle of small villages, no where near tourist sites, for 1-2 stops per day. Correct. Definitely no public transport to tourist attractions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BPCruiser Posted April 8, 2018 #760 Share Posted April 8, 2018 We will be on a cruise July 2018 Silver Wind to various Icelandic Ports. Would greatly appreciate help with tour recommendations for the ports of Isafjordur (12N-6P), Akureyri (8A-4P), Seydisfjordur (9A- 12MN). Prefer to book excursions independent or as a small group from our Roll call but our Roll call is practically non-existent for our cruise. Typically we do not like the overpriced cruise ship excursions which only last 2-4 hours at best. I have spent much time on TA reviewing the recommendations and the ones we like are cutting it close with our Port time or just not calling out to me. Any recommendations from past travelers to these Ports would be greatly appreciated. Just hubby and I traveling together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoBaycruiser Posted April 9, 2018 #761 Share Posted April 9, 2018 We will be on a cruise July 2018 Silver Wind to various Icelandic Ports. Would greatly appreciate help with tour recommendations for the ports of Isafjordur (12N-6P), Akureyri (8A-4P), Seydisfjordur (9A- 12MN). Prefer to book excursions independent or as a small group from our Roll call but our Roll call is practically non-existent for our cruise. Typically we do not like the overpriced cruise ship excursions which only last 2-4 hours at best. I have spent much time on TA reviewing the recommendations and the ones we like are cutting it close with our Port time or just not calling out to me. Any recommendations from past travelers to these Ports would be greatly appreciated. Just hubby and I traveling together. Not sure if you have enough time but we had a fantastic tour from Akureyri with a group organized from our ship. https://www.iceak.is/iceak-s04 We enjoyed just walking around town in Isafjordur. There were excursions to see birds and wildlife, but we felt this was our chance to taste some local food and drink some Icelandic beer. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljandgb Posted April 9, 2018 #762 Share Posted April 9, 2018 Be aware that Isafjordur has a population of 2,600, and Seydisfjordur has a whopping 700. There will be fewer options than your average European port excursions. Akureyri, the second largest city in Iceland, has 18,000, with more options for things to do. Try the TA Iceland forum to look for recommendations, particularly for the smaller ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare dronnygirl Posted April 9, 2018 #763 Share Posted April 9, 2018 We are also visiting Iceland in July and have done quite a bit of research. We decided to book FAB tours as the reviews are excellent and also they use 16 seat mini buses rather than the large coaches used by the ship. I emailed them with a couple of questions and they got back to me quick quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted April 9, 2018 #764 Share Posted April 9, 2018 We used West Tours out of Isafjordur for a boat tour to Vigur Island. Not sure if the times work for you but it was a great tour we did on our land vacation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downundermatt Posted May 17, 2018 #765 Share Posted May 17, 2018 (edited) I have just returned from the Celebrity Eclipse and felt to compare to share my positive experience with Saga Travel. We enjoyed a fantastic six hour tour from Akureyri Port to Lake Myvatn for 18 passengers. I decided to arrange a group through Cruise Critic, and initially Saga wanted me to pre pay for 18 people, which I was reluctant to do. (the price around USD85 - very reasonable for the region, compared to the same tour offered by the ship) After some too-ing and fro-ing Saga sent a link for payment to each individual to pay the company direct, which every did within days. This really worked well. Everyone showed up and I did not risk being out of pocket. I would I recommend the tour and the company without reservation. Hope this info is useful, didn't want to break any rules but to share some recent info, about a seemingly obscure port Edited May 17, 2018 by downundermatt spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloha3 Posted May 18, 2018 #766 Share Posted May 18, 2018 I have just returned from the Celebrity Eclipse and felt to compare to share my positive experience with Saga Travel.We enjoyed a fantastic six hour tour from Akureyri Port to Lake Myvatn for 18 passengers. I decided to arrange a group through Cruise Critic, and initially Saga wanted me to pre pay for 18 people, which I was reluctant to do. (the price around USD85 - very reasonable for the region, compared to the same tour offered by the ship) After some too-ing and fro-ing Saga sent a link for payment to each individual to pay the company direct, which every did within days. This really worked well. Everyone showed up and I did not risk being out of pocket. I would I recommend the tour and the company without reservation. Hope this info is useful, didn't want to break any rules but to share some recent info, about a seemingly obscure port Thank you for your review. I would love to do this tour on my upcoming trip. I have had a look on their website but I can not see a tour similar to yours around that price. Was it especially created for group and did you have to guarantee 18 passengers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downundermatt Posted May 19, 2018 #767 Share Posted May 19, 2018 (edited) Hi Aloha3 Saga Tour tailor made a tour based on our 1030 arrival and each couple payed 17,100 ISK direct to Saga in advance (USD164 for two) This was based on 18 pax , They also quoted for twelve pax but the cost was much higher (still much cheaper than the ship) I found it really easy to get 18 pax, I liked the fact people payed direct because it took the pressure of me (people changing their minds) and put the responsibility on each party. (I wasn't trying to locate 18 people on board for stressing over payment) I suggest you email them - tomorrow is what they sent me, and we had a great day. Good Luck Service: Private Lake Mývatn from Akureyri Port Pick up: Akureyri Harbour @ 10.45 Departure: @11:00 Duration: 5 - 6 hrs Highlights: Goðafoss Waterfall ● Skútustaðagígar Pseudo Craters ● Dimmuborgir Lava Formations ● The Rift Between the Eurasian & American Continents ● Mt. Námafjall Witness the Wonders of Lake Mývatn We begin our day by stopping at Goðafoss Waterfall on our way to Lake Mývatn. Goðafoss plays an important role in the Icelandic history, particularly in connection with the introduction of Christianity. We keep on going to the mystic Dimmuborgir Lava Fields (Dark Cities) full of lava-pillars and formations that are rich of mystic sagas and tails. We come to the warm underground river in Grjótagjá Rift and head to the geothermal area of Hverir with boiling mud pools, steaming fumaroles and sulphur pits. We then return back to Akureyri in time for your ship’s departure. Included ● Fully guided private tour ● Transport Not included: ● Refreshments Edited May 19, 2018 by downundermatt more info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloha3 Posted May 19, 2018 #768 Share Posted May 19, 2018 Many thanks for the info. I will follow it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted May 19, 2018 #769 Share Posted May 19, 2018 We will be in Akureyi soon and have joined with a group from our rollcall to use Traveling Viking Tours...Lot's of research has been done on this tour company...very excited for this port call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsar65 Posted May 19, 2018 #770 Share Posted May 19, 2018 After browsing through the excellent Copenhagen thread I thought about starting one for Iceland as well: I'm a regular cruiser that lives in Reykjavik, Iceland and not affiliated with any tour companies. So if you have any questions about the Icelandic ports of call and surrounding attractions feel free to ask. Main port: Reykjavik (Capital). Secondary ports: Akureyri (largest town in the north of Iceland), Seydisfjordur (a small town on the east coast) and Isafjordur (a town in the rugged northwestern part of Iceland). Loved Iceland. Went in May 2016 and drove the circle tour around the island. Seydisfjordur was great. What a view from above! Only disappointment was the restaurant we planned on having lunch was closed. Just ate at a gas station nearby. Looking forward to this cruise in 2019. Want to see Akureyri again. Still thinking about what to do in Reykjavik. Glenn Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyQuinn Posted May 19, 2018 #771 Share Posted May 19, 2018 We're staying in Iceland for 5 days/4 nites after a Norway/North Cape cruise. We're all set for tours to Golden Circle, South Coast and Reykjanes Peninsula but we're debating some other options for a full day in Reykjavik. Specifically we're looking at the Express Puffin Tour operated by Whale Safari. It's a RIB tour direct to the puffin grounds and doesn't include any whale-watching. Has anyone done a puffin tour in mid-July? Comments? We're also considering the Reykjavik Food Walk, which is pretty expensive for a short food tour but gets excellent reviews on Trip Advisor. Does anyone have first-hand experience? Many thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise kitty Posted May 20, 2018 #772 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Hi Aloha3 Saga Tour tailor made a tour based on our 1030 arrival and each couple payed 17,100 ISK direct to Saga in advance (USD164 for two) This was based on 18 pax , They also quoted for twelve pax but the cost was much higher (still much cheaper than the ship) I found it really easy to get 18 pax, I liked the fact people payed direct because it took the pressure of me (people changing their minds) and put the responsibility on each party. (I wasn't trying to locate 18 people on board for stressing over payment) I suggest you email them - tomorrow is what they sent me, and we had a great day. Good Luck Service: Private Lake Mývatn from Akureyri Port Pick up: Akureyri Harbour @ 10.45 Departure: @11:00 Duration: 5 - 6 hrs Highlights: Goðafoss Waterfall ● Skútustaðagígar Pseudo Craters ● Dimmuborgir Lava Formations ● The Rift Between the Eurasian & American Continents ● Mt. Námafjall Witness the Wonders of Lake Mývatn We begin our day by stopping at Goðafoss Waterfall on our way to Lake Mývatn. Goðafoss plays an important role in the Icelandic history, particularly in connection with the introduction of Christianity. We keep on going to the mystic Dimmuborgir Lava Fields (Dark Cities) full of lava-pillars and formations that are rich of mystic sagas and tails. We come to the warm underground river in Grjótagjá Rift and head to the geothermal area of Hverir with boiling mud pools, steaming fumaroles and sulphur pits. We then return back to Akureyri in time for your ship’s departure. Included ● Fully guided private tour ● Transport Not included: ● Refreshments Hi, thank you for your post, would you mind sharing how much it would have been for 12 people, I would appreciate it. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downundermatt Posted May 21, 2018 #773 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Hi - the amount they quoted was ISK 133900 for twelve pax (USD128) just bare in mind this was quoted in February and I think there has been some currency adjustments over three months. Good Luck - this tour was truly a highlight at a great price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise kitty Posted May 22, 2018 #774 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Hi - the amount they quoted was ISK 133900 for twelve pax (USD128) just bare in mind this was quoted in February and I think there has been some currency adjustments over three months. Good Luck - this tour was truly a highlight at a great price. Thank you so much for the info. I am currently agonizing over whether we should just book a rental car & go ourselves, or book a private tour, we enjoy hiking & I worry that on a guided tour there won't be enough free time to hike up to waterfalls, etc. First world problems, right? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jpalbny Posted May 22, 2018 #775 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Thank you so much for the info. I am currently agonizing over whether we should just book a rental car & go ourselves, or book a private tour, we enjoy hiking & I worry that on a guided tour there won't be enough free time to hike up to waterfalls, etc. First world problems, right? ;)Akureyri is easy on your own if you don't mind driving. There is way more to do than you can fit into one day but you can try... We like to DIY so we can spend as much or as little time as we want in places, and remain flexible. Europecar has a rental office right at the Akureyri pier so pickup and drop off are easy. We've done this port twice and rented both times. The first time was 2008 but I don't have my pictures uploaded anywhere. The second time was August 2014 and I have details and pictures in my cruise review (link also below). Enjoy, whatever you decide. Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts