Trip Report - July 18 - August 1, 2015 Ocean Princess to Scotland, Iceland & Norway

[wismergirl]

We were on the same cruise last year and also had 2 bad guides (older men) in Iceland.

One did not provide any commentary as he spent most of his time talking to the driver and did not know our itinerary so we wasted a lot of time looking for places we were supposed to visit.

The other had a very heavy accent and mumbled under his breath. When someone asked him to speak up, he told us the microphone is not working correctly and he can't do anything about it. Most of us did complain and got a partial refund for both excursions.

 

It sounds like in those isolated places professional tour guides are hard to come by and the tour companies probably hire temps that are not qualified for the job.

 

It's good that you at least got some money back. It's a huge domino effect: more passengers go on Princess excursions as there is not anything else to choose from, then Princess needs more guides, then even the bad ones get hired again & again. Think how much money Princess would make: $199.95 x 55 passengers = $10,997 per excursion.

[Tanumveien]

Thank you for reading my reviews! I had some problems with Photobucket as my stickers and caption wouldn't save. That's why I couldn't post until the problems were fixed. It seems OK now. Apparently some pictures in my earlier posts had the same problem.

 

Hi Marina! I've enjoyed reading your review of "our" trip to Shetland Islands and Iceland. Also, Brian's photos were great fun to see!

It refreshes the trip for me completely, plus I see I will need to go again to do some of the things you did and I missed!

Harriet

[wismergirl]

Iceland is so fascinating. The lack of trees is striking, and the story of how they are replanting is also interesting. We did a couple of ports there, but I avoided the big tours. The bathroom thing is always a huge problem. Did you see any puffins in Iceland? They managed to avoid us there, too. :)

 

Puffins pictures coming up next. The puffins brightened up our day in Seydisfjordur.

[wismergirl]

Hi Marina! I've enjoyed reading your review of "our" trip to Shetland Islands and Iceland. Also, Brian's photos were great fun to see!

It refreshes the trip for me completely, plus I see I will need to go again to do some of the things you did and I missed!

Harriet

 

Hi Harriet,

 

So great to hear from you again! It's been great cruising and touring with you! It's actually very hard to choose only a few pictures from Brian's huge selection for each post.

 

Marina

[wismergirl]

One of the reasons we booked this Princess excursion was the sighting of the puffins. At noon we arrived at this puffin paradise, Hafnarholmi, on the east coast of the fjord. Sightings of puffins and other birds were fantastic along the wooden stairs that led to the top with a viewing platform. The puffins were literally right beside us.

 

 

We were lucky to get one with a fish in its mouth.

 

The white bird was trying to the get the fish from the puffin's beak. Love this bird fighting pictuure.

 

The puffins were indeed very adorable, colourful and beautiful! Even though the ride was long and bumpy & the guide didn't speak good English, it's still worth going there, just for the puffins! So happy to complete the 2nd sighting of the puffins!

 

Before lunch, we drove past the famous turf house at Bakkagerdi in Borgarfjordur eystri.

[shredie]

Puffins pictures coming up next. The puffins brightened up our day in Seydisfjordur.

 

Those sneaky little guys. I did not see one puffin on that trip. I guess I need to go back. Those are great pictures!

[Tanumveien]

Hi Harriet,

 

So great to hear from you again! It's been great cruising and touring with you! It's actually very hard to choose only a few pictures from Brian's huge selection for each post.

 

Marina

 

Tell Brian I think his pictures are just great! I'm enjoying looking at them all!

Harriet

[caribill]

It sounds like in those isolated places professional tour guides are hard to come by and the tour companies probably hire temps that are not qualified for the job.

 

We have had some tours with Princess that had the following note in the description:

 

SPECIAL NOTES Tour is escorted by student guides.

[wismergirl]

Those sneaky little guys. I did not see one puffin on that trip. I guess I need to go back. Those are great pictures!

 

Glad you liked the puffin pictures! We have more bird pictures from the Puffin Island in Grundarfjordur.

[wismergirl]

We have had some tours with Princess that had the following note in the description:

 

SPECIAL NOTES Tour is escorted by student guides.

 

The guide we had was a senior. I don't think he's a student but maybe someone who is an amateur in guiding an English-speaking group.

[wismergirl]

Tell Brian I think his pictures are just great! I'm enjoying looking at them all!

Harriet

 

Hi Harriet,

 

Brian said Thank You! We'll be staying at the Harbourfront in Hong Kong in December, he should be able to take some great pictures with the Christmas lights & the fantastic harbour views.

 

Marina

[wismergirl]

Lunch was at Alfheimar with local fish soup & entree.

 

Then we had a brief 10-min photo stop at Njardvickurskridur (Njarovik Screes). Avalanches & mudslides after heavy rainfall occur all the time, making it a very dangerous road.

 

At 2:35 pm, we had another washroom break. There was a tourist info desk so we could ask for our location: Egilsstadir. From there we picked up some brochures for our next 3 ports in Iceland. That place was quite new and clean, but there was only one washroom for each gender. Long waiting lines as usual!!

 

As it was drizzling, the ride back to the port was not as scenic as what we expected.

 

[wismergirl]

We drove past many beautiful waterfalls.

 

 

 

 

 

The best one located right at the port of Seydisfjordur, which offered an awesome view of the very long one. We took many pictures while waiting for the last tender to take us back to the ship.

 

The view of Ocean Princess from the port was awesome!

 

I would only rate this excursion 2 stars out of 5, 1.5 for the puffins & 0.5 for the waterfalls.

[TheU]

We drove past many beautiful waterfalls.

 

 

 

 

 

The best one located right at the port of Seydisfjordur, which offered an awesome view of the very long one. We took many pictures while waiting for the last tender to take us back to the ship.

 

The view of Ocean Princess from the port was awesome!

 

I would only rate this excursion 2 stars out of 5, 1.5 for the puffins & 0.5 for the waterfalls.

 

Great pictures,

Your rate of the excursion -- FUNNY and I am sure very accurate!!!!!!

Elliott

The U

[wismergirl]

Great pictures,

Your rate of the excursion -- FUNNY and I am sure very accurate!!!!!!

Elliott

The U

 

Each of the following area receives one star:

 

1) Bird-watching (1 whole star because of the puffins)

2) waterfalls (0.5 star - not as good as Akureyri or Reykjavik)

3) tour itinerary - (0.5 star only because of the puffins)

4) tour guide (0 star)

5) value (0 star)

 

Sorry! Should have explained it earlier.

[wismergirl]

July 24, 2015 – Akureyri, Iceland

 

7:30 – met Ingi from Taxi No.17 at the port entrance (ISK 23400 or US$180 p.p. in a 4-pax 7-hour private tour); 9:00 – 20-min washroom break; 9:35 – Dimmuborgir lava field; 10:20 – off-roading on lava field; 11:20 – Namafjall Mud Pots; 12:00 – Myvatn Nature Baths; 13:10 – scenic drive in Myvatn area; 13:25 – Icelandic ponies; 15:00 – back to port; 23:00 – crossing the Arctic Circle

 

July 24, 2015 – Akureyri, Iceland

 

This was definitely my favourite day in Iceland. When we were having breakfast we could already see our tour guide waiting at the port entrance for us. He's the one in red by the white booth.

 

Europcar has an office a few hundred meters from the port entrance and we were told that there was also an Avis down the road, so renting a car in Akureyri was actually very easy & convenient. We had a wonderful private tour with Taxi No,17. The 5-seater SUV was specially rebuilt to enable better sightseeing with bigger tyres.

 

Our driver/guide, Ingimundur Robertsson (edmonddechristo@hotmail.com), was so passionate that he took us to a lot of scenic spots only licensed tour guides could go to. Since we are the adventurous type we loved the hike, the climb, the off-roading & the mud-treading. And best of all, the relaxing time soaking in the Myvatn Nature Baths.

 

We started our day early so we could beat the crowd at the famous Godafoss Waterfall. It's a pity that there was no sunshine but at least it was not windy and rainy like the Princess tours.

 

Water gushing down from the waterfall.

 

The area was beautiful with many lakes and lava fields.

 

The Dimmuborgir Lava Field is a must-see. We did an easy 30-min hike.

[wismergirl]

The thrilling off-roading began.

 

 

We had to do a little climb to get the stunning view.

 

 

Beautiful cinder cones.

 

 

Approaching the Namafjall Hot Springs area.

[shredie]

Great pictures. You take me back. :)

[CJSANDFS]

Excellent report. Thanks so much. I'm thinking about Iceland next year.

[wismergirl]

Great pictures. You take me back. :)

 

Without the pictures, I couldn't possibly write this trip report. Huge thanks to DH for his huge collection!

[wismergirl]

Excellent report. Thanks so much. I'm thinking about Iceland next year.

 

The Princess itinerary was very good, but I think I'd prefer to drive around the whole island for a couple of weeks to enjoy Iceland's natural beauty more thoroughly.

[ontheweb]

I looked at the itinerary for this cruise for next summer, and saw there were 5 sea days. I was wondering if you found enough to do on those days.

 

We were on the sister ship, Ocean Princess, on a 7 day British Isles cruise in 2014. So, I know it is a small ship without many of the bells and whistles of the larger ship.

 

We did find things to do. My DW was one of the few to swim. I participated in every trivia contest. We both attended dances and took the few dance lessons. I would assume the Pacific Princess has the same type of wonderful library as the Ocean did. And of course there is always food. Still 5 sea days on that small ship seems a lot. So I'm wondering how you spent your time those days.

[wismergirl]

I looked at the itinerary for this cruise for next summer, and saw there were 5 sea days. I was wondering if you found enough to do on those days.

 

We were on the sister ship, Ocean Princess, on a 7 day British Isles cruise in 2014. So, I know it is a small ship without many of the bells and whistles of the larger ship.

 

We did find things to do. My DW was one of the few to swim. I participated in every trivia contest. We both attended dances and took the few dance lessons. I would assume the Pacific Princess has the same type of wonderful library as the Ocean did. And of course there is always food. Still 5 sea days on that small ship seems a lot. So I'm wondering how you spent your time those days.

 

 

You are so right that there was not much to do on sea days. We basically slept till 11 am so we could do brunch. It's too cold to swim in the outdoor pool (look at the temperature I posted in each place). The only place you could swim was actually Dover & that's it! We spent lots of time in the library, doing jigsaw puzzles, sudokus, etc. I did some sewing to make my formal wear fit better. DH spent his time looking at the thousands of photos he took on the computer & resizing them for Facebook postings. We also visited the spa a few times.

 

We made many friends on board so we were always chatting with them somewhere on the ship, mostly in the Tahitian Lounge, during afternoon tea time in the MDR, happy hour in the elite lounge & in the buffet area after dinner & entertainment. We also spent about half an hour each night in the casinos to do the slots, and it ended up that we only spent $20 each for all the time we stayed in the casino.

 

We knew it was not the Oasis or Allure, so we didn't plan on doing much on sea days. The dances were good and we had fun doing the line dances and enjoyed the Oldies there. Just set your expectations differently & you'll enjoy the sea days a lot more.

[wismergirl]

The colourful mud pools in the Namafjall geothermal area that were boiling relentlessly were must-sees in the Myvatn area. Our guide was so thoughtful to offer us shoe coverings to protect our shoes from the sticky & muddy soil. There was only a slight smell of sulphur in the air, so even for someone like me who has asthma found it okay to walk around.

 

From the parking lot to the mud pools.

 

There was steam everywhere.

 

 

The beautiful boiling mud pools.

 

 

[wismergirl]

The Myvatn Nature Baths were the highlight of this tour. Usually the 7-hour tour would not have included this site but we requested it specially. We were so happy to have made the correct decision of skipping lunch in order to include this in our itinerary. Our guide helped us get cheaper tickets for ISK 3,400 each (a saving of ISK 300 per person). If there were 10 in the group, the entry fee was only ISK 2,900 per person. Seniors were even cheaper, ISK 2,700 each (US$21). Blue Lagoon charges 45 Euros (US$50), so it’s twice as much. But Myvatn was almost empty when Blue Lagoon was at its full capacity. We had some friends who went to the Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik on July 26 just to find out that they could not get in because there was no more room:mad:

 

Before we entered the change rooms, there was a corridor with shelves for our shoes. We could sit down to take our shoes off comfortably.

 

Then there were lockers inside the change rooms. We had no problems putting our backpacks there. We got a token to put in the slot when we paid our entrance fees. Once we closed the locker door, we could take the key out. It’s important to put everything in the locker before shutting the door, otherwise you would need another token to lock the door again.

 

Many people were embarrassed by the fact that everyone had to be completely naked to take the cleansing shower in the big shower room, though not unisex (female and male change rooms are separated). If you were one of those people, I would suggest you go to the overflow change room which was not connected to the main building. I was the only one there when the main changing room was packed. There were lockers and showerheads like the other change room but so much cleaner and bigger.

 

I got the above pictures from the Myvatn website...wouldn't dare to take pictures of those private areas!! :p

 

You could walk right into the baths from the change rooms.