Btimmer's Almost Live Nieuw Statendam Canada, Greenland, Iceland Trip - 8/3-27/22

[Caribbean Chris]

Thank you for the pronunciation information! I was wondering.. 

These pictures are wonderful, marvelous sunshine. What a great destination!

[Btimmer]

3 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

Thank you for the pronunciation information! I was wondering.. 

These pictures are wonderful, marvelous sunshine. What a great destination!

Just wait for the Iceland pictures.

[Btimmer]

We're in Isafjödur, Iceland today.  It's chilly and we had a few sprinkles late morning. After tendering in,  we visited the local TI office and picked up a handy booklet that suggested 3 walking tours.  We selected the longest one which was 4km (blue line).  It took us around the inner harbor and up into a residential neighborhood which led to great views of the fjord and bay where the Nieuw Statendam was anchored in calm water.  From there we dropped back down to sea level and walked along the sea wall before wandering throughout the downtown area.  US$ aren't widely accepted so we used an ATM to obtain some local currency.  We also shopped at the local grocery store, Netto, where we purchased Coke Zero, bread, meat & cheese for a picnic lunch which we ate on the steps of the theatre. On the walk back to the ship we visited the Westfjords Maritime and Heritage Museum where we watched a movie on the classic fishing method (hard & dangerous work).  
 

Below are a few pictures from today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BarbinMich]

On 8/5/2022 at 3:56 PM, Btimmer said:

We've had a pleasant visit to Sydney, Nova Scotia.  We took a 4 person taxi tour to the Louisburg lighthouse and fort and then a drive out to the Alexander Gram Bell museum in Baddeck along with a lobster roll lunch.  Probably our only regret was that the 1 hour at the fort was too short.

 

We're just departing on a very warm Friday afternoon..

 

. . .

We did this cruise once on the Celebrity Summit (2015) and prior to that we had driven out to NE and Canada and saw many of the same things.  Also have hit several of the ports at the end of WB TA's.  Really like that area!  Enjoy!

[trixiee]

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your journey.  🙂

[Btimmer]

Here's a few pictures from sailing around NE Iceland.

 

Edited August 13, 2022 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

Today in Akureyri, we did a private excursion with Star Travel organized by Jan Day. This excursion with 13 guests and Thomas our guide took us out to Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Falls and much more.  It's about a 45 minute drive out there and all the other features are nearby.  Those items included Skútustaõagigar (pseudo craters), Dimmuborgir (lava formations where trolls allegedly live), Hverarönd in Námaskarò (hot springs and steam vents), and a nice soak in the Thermal pools at Jardbödin (an extra cost of about $28US/pp).  
 

What really struck us was how green it is and the large amount of farming.

 

Back onboard, we tried Sel de Mer for the first time and it was wonderful but pricey even after our 25% loyalty discount.

 

Below are a few pictures from today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andi Land]

Can’t wait to go next year. Your pictures make it even more exciting. 

[Btimmer]

Our circumnavigation of Iceland continues. Today found us tendering in the little town of Seydisfjödur (population 700).  The Viking Mars cruise ship got the docking space.  We took a nice tour out to the Studlagil Canyon with basalt rocks not unlike Giant's Causeway in Ireland.  And of course, "Not another waterfalll!"  Below are a few pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Btimmer]

As a further update, we rode up in an elevator with a lady who's husband tested positive for Covid and is in quarantine for most of the remainder of the voyage.  And they are booked on the next voyage as a back to back.

 

Also we scored two seats on a private excursion tomorrow to the Hoffellsjökull glacier. And the thermal bath in the spa area has been closed all voyage.

 

 

[mexico8]

Beautiful pictures and stories about your trip.  Thank you so much.

 

[AnnieBelle]

I did a similar private tour and it was my favorite part of visiting Iceland. Looks like we hit similar place. Godafoss was so beautiful! And I loved the thermal pool at Lake Myvatn.

[Btimmer]

So if yesterday's theme was waterfalls, today's theme is geology.  We were able to secure two  spots on a private excursion from the port of Djúpivogur to go see the Hoffellsjökull glacier.  We then visited the Skútafoss waterfall which was quite unique and included a small dam.  Along the way there was very interesting geology. Back at the tender dock, we were treated to another surprise:  a rainbow over our ship.  It was stunning.  See below for a few pictures from today. More details will be in my written blog.

 

  A rainbow over the Nieuw Statendan

 

 

 

 

Our driver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free
Biggest marshmellow collection we've seen

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

Here's what an Icelandic sunset looks like.

Taken from the Crows Nest last night.

[Btimmer]

We just arrived in Reykjavik.  We're backing into our berth behind the Azamara Pursuit.

 

 

[oakridger]

It looks like another beautiful day!  Have fun.

 

~Nancy

[Btimmer]

1 hour ago, oakridger said:

It looks like another beautiful day!  Have fun.

 

~Nancy

Yes.  We are doing the Golden Circle Tour today.  This is probably the last live post. Back to 'Almost Live'. 😉

[Btimmer]

Live from the Secret Lagoon

 

 

[CruiserBruce]

Any sign of the volcanic activity south of Reykjavik?

[Btimmer]

2 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Any sign of the volcanic activity south of Reykjavik?

Yes, clouds were spotted this morning.  We hope to see something tonight with our 11pm departure.

[CruiserBruce]

3 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

Yes, clouds were spotted this morning.  We hope to see something tonight with our 11pm departure.

Well, as our guide in Akureyri said, "Iceland is getting bigger every day"!

[Btimmer]

A few hours ago, Captain Eric announced that due to unfavorable weather conditions, our final Icelandic port has been cancelled and tonight we will begin a 2 day slower than normal cruise back to Greenland.  Stormy seas are projected.  
 

We had expected to mail postcards in that next port, we hurriedly completed them and went off the ship at 9pm and inquired at the port guard shack if there was somewhere we could mail postcards.  He grinned and whipped out a 2" thick stack of post cards from another ship, and said to us, "I'll fit yours in with these!"

 

That's the bad news.  The good news was that we had an excellent private  shore excursion today using Your Day Tours.  Our tour was a Golden Circle Plus tour and involved stops at Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, the Gulfoss Waterfall (spectacular), a horse ranch, and a stop at the Secret Lagoon thermal pool.  The weather was excellent and we were gone 9 hours.  
 

More details (some pretty important) will be in my blog, and pictures will be posted tomorrow during our sea day.

[QuattroRomeo]

5 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Live from the Secret Lagoon

 

 

Honest to goodness elves' houses?!?

[Btimmer]

14 minutes ago, QuattroRomeo said:

Honest to goodness elves' houses?!?

Yup!  Cute aren't they?

[Btimmer]

My daily blog (long) for yesterday is now updated.