ian441672 Posted December 5, 2021 #1 Share Posted December 5, 2021 We've always wanted to do the Norwegian Fjords which look spectacular, and we have seen the 2023 deals just out, for 9 nights in the (newly branded?) Sunset Sky Suite (Aft) for £8258 (approx $11000) including £600 OBC, which looks good. However, just seen a 12 nights Iceland / bit of Scotland and Ireland 12 nighter for same room for £9758 ($13100) including £800 OBC, which looks equally as spectacular. So, spoilt for choice, can anyone give some views, anyone done one of both, or just suggestions? Both are early August - decent weather up there?; bit of sunbathing?! We did one of the first voyages around Greece / Dubrovnik this August on the Apex, so we know and absolutely love the ship, just deciding on the itinerary! I konw it wont be as quiet next time....! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhskick Posted December 5, 2021 #2 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Iceland is on my bucket list but did Norway on silly out of Southampton and it is amazing. Great cruise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubarn1 Posted December 5, 2021 #3 Share Posted December 5, 2021 We also were looking at both of these cruises. We ultimately choose the 9 day Norwegian Fjord cruise. While we did like the Iceland itinerary, our deciding factor was we thought a land based trip was better for Ireland and Scotland. Only having a couple of hours while the ship was in port was not enough time to explore Ireland/Scotland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian441672 Posted December 5, 2021 Author #4 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Makes sense for you wanting more time land based. We live in UK so makes little difference to us in that respect. Decisions, decisions! Thanks for your comments! 14 minutes ago, scubarn1 said: We also were looking at both of these cruises. We ultimately choose the 9 day Norwegian Fjord cruise. While we did like the Iceland itinerary, our deciding factor was we thought a land based trip was better for Ireland and Scotland. Only having a couple of hours while the ship was in port was not enough time to explore Ireland/Scotland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxydog15 Posted December 5, 2021 #5 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Wow, like trying to choose between chocolate cake vs ice cream sundae. We did Fjords in early June of 2018. Weather was mild, not toasty. Some rain, and a really wet hike, but still awsome experience. And it was early enough in season to have snow on the mountain tops. Spectacular photos. A must-do. We have scheduled, with luck, Iceland/Ireland out of Amsterdam this late June (originally was for 2019 ugh). I think you can probably expect rain in either place, so don't base your choice on weather. Just bring flexible outerwear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaBag Posted December 5, 2021 #6 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Doing the Norwegian Fjords in July on Azamara and really looking forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian441672 Posted December 5, 2021 Author #7 Share Posted December 5, 2021 34 minutes ago, Roxydog15 said: Wow, like trying to choose between chocolate cake vs ice cream sundae. We did Fjords in early June of 2018. Weather was mild, not toasty. Some rain, and a really wet hike, but still awsome experience. And it was early enough in season to have snow on the mountain tops. Spectacular photos. A must-do. We have scheduled, with luck, Iceland/Ireland out of Amsterdam this late June (originally was for 2019 ugh). I think you can probably expect rain in either place, so don't base your choice on weather. Just bring flexible outerwear. Thanks, hope you have a great time yourself. I think either option is going to be amazing. 12 nights is going to be better than 9 on the Apex for sure too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted December 5, 2021 #8 Share Posted December 5, 2021 I am rather late to this discussion, but will just add some random thoughts. We have done one cruise to Iceland and two land trips. Iceland is so easy to do on your own on land. So many fascinating features and views. I would suggest a land trip to Iceland, but those who select a cruise may find that they want to return to do a land trip. We have also done one land trip to Norway and also have done a cruise. Some of the fjords are really long, and the sail aways are spectacular. Folks can't go wrong with a Norwegian fjord cruise. I don't remember as many hanging glaciers in the Norwegian fjords as are in the Chilean fjords. And while it does look somewhat like Alaska the Norwegian architecture is so charming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IslaSarah Posted December 5, 2021 #9 Share Posted December 5, 2021 I did a 14-night Norwegian fjords cruise on HAL out of Amsterdam in 2019, and it was stunningly beautiful. We also lucked out with gorgeous weather, in the 50s to 70s F and sunny much of the time. My Iceland comparison was a land trip in 2016, I would like to go back to see more of that amazing country! I'm still working on a trips to Scotland and Ireland. In your shoes, I'd lean toward the Norway cruise, especially since you have better opportunities for land-based trips to Scotland and Ireland (compared to me in the Midwestern US). However, I don't think you can go wrong either way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny01 Posted December 5, 2021 #10 Share Posted December 5, 2021 I was in the same dilemma……so I chose Both! I’m booked on the Apex 6 June Iceland/Ireland back to Amsterdam, then 18 June 7N to Norway. That fixed my ‘dilemma’!! I looked at the 9N Norway and 12N Iceland the OP is considering, but decided I liked the 7N Norway because it calls into Alesund which I understand is one of the more beautiful villages. It doesn’t call into Oslo which the 9N does. Tough call. Also, the June Iceland itinerary calls into Dover, which haven’t really explored around there. All the itineraries are just fantastic. We are all so lucky to have these ‘dilemmas’ aren't we! Will spend some time in Amsterdam also. Den 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Educators2 Posted December 6, 2021 #11 Share Posted December 6, 2021 We did both of these cruises in the early 2000s. The fjords was in August when the Constellation was new. Iceland was on Holland America (with Perry Grant). Both my husband and I thought the Iceland trip was far more interesting. The fjords have snow in June, not August. Just our opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torfamm Posted December 6, 2021 #12 Share Posted December 6, 2021 We faced a similar dilemma and ended up taking our first cruise on Princess - two weeks leaving from Southampton to Norway then Iceland. It was fabulous. I would say that the fjords are not to be missed if you are interested in gorgeous scenery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelayne Posted December 6, 2021 #13 Share Posted December 6, 2021 We have done both and loved both but if we had to choose we would do Iceland again in a heartbeat. The waterfalls, geysers, scenery, the people were all amazing not like what we would have though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare markeb Posted December 6, 2021 #14 Share Posted December 6, 2021 Don't know if it's still out there, but we did a a 12 night on RCL's Brilliance that went to the Norwegian Fjords (including Aalesund and Geiringer), a stop in the Faroe Islands, and an overnight in Reykjavik. That was an amazing cruise! I haven't looked, but I'm guessing that's not an option on Celebrity, and I don't know if Apex could dock in Geiringer, which frankly shouldn't be missed! Not much help. Nice problem to have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelayne Posted December 6, 2021 #15 Share Posted December 6, 2021 Here are a few pictures from Iceland 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian441672 Posted December 6, 2021 Author #16 Share Posted December 6, 2021 Thanks everyone for your thoughts, split decision. Both sound and look amazing. As said, I know I’m fortunate to have this dilemma! I keep changing my mind, perhaps do both over a couple of years. Thanks again all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CocoCronut Posted December 6, 2021 #17 Share Posted December 6, 2021 I’ve done both the fjords and Iceland, if it were me I’d go with fjords. Then I’d probably look for a specific Iceland focussed cruise, or just fly over as it’s so easy to get to from uk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hickeyclan1 Posted December 6, 2021 #18 Share Posted December 6, 2021 22 hours ago, ian441672 said: We've always wanted to do the Norwegian Fjords which look spectacular, and we have seen the 2023 deals just out, for 9 nights in the (newly branded?) Sunset Sky Suite (Aft) for £8258 (approx $11000) including £600 OBC, which looks good. However, just seen a 12 nights Iceland / bit of Scotland and Ireland 12 nighter for same room for £9758 ($13100) including £800 OBC, which looks equally as spectacular. So, spoilt for choice, can anyone give some views, anyone done one of both, or just suggestions? Both are early August - decent weather up there?; bit of sunbathing?! We did one of the first voyages around Greece / Dubrovnik this August on the Apex, so we know and absolutely love the ship, just deciding on the itinerary! I konw it wont be as quiet next time....! Thanks. Are those prices per person?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian441672 Posted December 6, 2021 Author #19 Share Posted December 6, 2021 29 minutes ago, Hickeyclan1 said: Are those prices per person?? No luckily! For both of us in total. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisernewbie44 Posted December 7, 2021 #20 Share Posted December 7, 2021 I chose to do B2B June 2022 with Amsterdam as point. So looking forward to it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cublet Posted December 7, 2021 #21 Share Posted December 7, 2021 Hello, I've done Iceland twice on Eclipse and Norway too many times to count on too many ships to name. In August you will not see any spectacular waterfalls in either as all the meltwater will have gone by March/April. In Iceland you will not see any high snow topped mountains as there is nothing over 2500feet - I did not measure them but that was the guide told us. Norway does have high mountains as glaciers did not decapitate them during the ice age. But Norway suffers from mist/fog making some viewing difficult whereas Iceland does not so much. In August Iceland can be hot - and I mean 'hot' not just 'warm' whereas Norway just gets to warm. There is more to see at ground level, and below, in Iceland than there is in Norway with all the natural geography, tectonic plate activity and geysers. Regards, Cublet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted December 7, 2021 #22 Share Posted December 7, 2021 On 12/5/2021 at 12:16 PM, ian441672 said: We've always wanted to do the Norwegian Fjords which look spectacular, and we have seen the 2023 deals just out, for 9 nights in the (newly branded?) Sunset Sky Suite (Aft) for £8258 (approx $11000) including £600 OBC, which looks good. However, just seen a 12 nights Iceland / bit of Scotland and Ireland 12 nighter for same room for £9758 ($13100) including £800 OBC, which looks equally as spectacular. So, spoilt for choice, can anyone give some views, anyone done one of both, or just suggestions? Both are early August - decent weather up there?; bit of sunbathing?! We did one of the first voyages around Greece / Dubrovnik this August on the Apex, so we know and absolutely love the ship, just deciding on the itinerary! I konw it wont be as quiet next time....! Thanks. We have done a Norway, North Cape (highly recommended) cruise and one visiting Scotland, Ireland and Iceland. Both are excellent cruises. Celebrity doesn't do a Norway North Cape cruise, but Royal C. and NCL do. We did Royal C and loved it. If you go to Iceland, go for a week and take the Ring Road Tour for a week with Nordic Visitor. Iceland deserves that rather than one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aruzinski Posted December 7, 2021 #23 Share Posted December 7, 2021 We’ve done both of these and both are unique in different ways. The Fjords are some of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen. Great hiking adventures if that is something you like to do. More varied in ports as well. We did private tours in Iceland which were great. Also, loved the part of the cruise that covered Ireland. We are doing that cruise again in August with our daughter and SIL. You can’t go wrong with either one. There just different! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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