Circle Iceland with The Inside Cabin - 24 days on the NIeuw Statendam

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Update from Seydisfjordur! 

 

We shared port with Viking Mars - They were alongside the dock at the cruise terminal.  We tendered

 

 

We did the Puffins and Elves Tour with Artic Shorex - 17 people in 18 passenger bus

 

Before we left - they said the Puffins were gone - I thought this puffin may be the only one I might see

 

This is the viewing area where you observe the Puffins

 

 

Pictures of Puffins in previous post

 

After seeing Puffins - we had Fish Soup HERE

 

Fish Soup, Chocolate Banana Bread and Cappuccino

 

 

Here was the Elf House near where we had Lunch

 

Inside the Elf House - through the window - you can't go inside

 

Along the way we saw horses

 

 

The puffins were sometimes in these holes and then they would pop out.   Seeing them on land was being at the right place when they appeared

 

 

There was an unattended vending machine inside this shed in the middle of nowhere

 

Another waterfall on the way back to town

 

 

The Blue Church and Rainbow Drive are popular photo spots back in town.  They painted the street a few years back for a Gay Pride event - everyone liked it and now it's a permanent feature

 

 

 

 

More on the blog later 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

On 8/13/2022 at 6:28 AM, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Our first stop: Goðafoss Waterfall

45 minutes. 

We got here just before the 3 buses from the HAL tour.   

 

 

Great for you guys staying ahead of the crowds . We tried but our guide showed up 1/2 an hour late . He did leap frog over Goðafoss and all of the buses but we missed good lighting on the falls in the morning . We went to Namafjall first and thought that we we on the moon .

 

 

 

We also went to Dettifoss which is suppose to be the second most powerful waterfall in Europe

 

 

 

Further down the river

 

 

[oakridger]

Luckily you saw a couple puffins, but did you see any Elves????  😁

[The-Inside-Cabin]

4 hours ago, oakridger said:

Luckily you saw a couple puffins, but did you see any Elves????  😁

Only at our dinner table!   Susan had a stowaway!   Small but mighty!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Welcome to Djupivogur

 

Beautiful Day!

 

 

We plan to look at the eggs - walk to the JFS craft shop - not much else....getting rested

 

Tender Landing - we are 1 mile offshore - 9 AM local time as I post

 

Granite Eggs

 

 

Beautiful Weather!

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Orange Party Tonight!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Djúpivogur Village in East-Iceland and the Eggs at Gleðivík Bay

 

We only spent 2 hours ashore in Djúpivogur today.  Our goal was to take a picture with the Eggs at Gleðivík Bay.   

 

On our way back the ship we saw what was surely a good omen - The Nieuw Statendam is at "The End of the Rainbow!"   Good times are ahead!

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Tonight's Menu!

 

[Hygge!]

2 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Djúpivogur Village in East-Iceland and the Eggs at Gleðivík Bay

 

We only spent 2 hours ashore in Djúpivogur today.  Our goal was to take a picture with the Eggs at Gleðivík Bay.   

 

On our way back the ship we saw what was surely a good omen - The Nieuw Statendam is at "The End of the Rainbow!"   Good times are ahead!

 

 

That should be a picture for HAL!!!! Beautiful 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Orange party in progress!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We will be in Reykjavik today.   Weather looking great for our Golden Circle Tour

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

My detailed blog post on Akureyri is posted. 
 

https://www.theinsidecabin.com/myvatn-godafoss-nature-baths-akureyri-post-12/

[iceman93]

How was the Orange Party?  On the cruise just before yours I got to experience my first one, and I have to say it was a letdown.  Yes, they offered two orange-themed cocktails (that were both pretty tasty), but otherwise they did nothing special and certainly nothing like the extravaganza that is described on the HAL website!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

30 minutes ago, iceman93 said:

How was the Orange Party?  On the cruise just before yours I got to experience my first one, and I have to say it was a letdown.  Yes, they offered two orange-themed cocktails (that were both pretty tasty), but otherwise they did nothing special and certainly nothing like the extravaganza that is described on the HAL website!

It did not meet our expectations.    The one in March on the Zuiderdam was great.   This lasted 45 minutes thru one set with the BB King.  They had a dance contest but the ships entertainment staff and cruise director were MIA.    This event is a nice idea but needs better execution.  

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Tomorrows port, Grundarfjordur, is canceled due to weather.  
 

We got back at 8:30 pm from out tour.   Made a speed run downtown to get a hot dog.    Great fun.    Pics on the way .  It was a $55 hot dog.  I will explain later. 😉

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Is that your sister in the Orange Party photo? Lucky you with the weather in Reykjavik. When we were there many years, there were torrential downpours the whole day.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

3 hours ago, SJSULIBRARIAN said:

Is that your sister in the Orange Party photo? Lucky you with the weather in Reykjavik. When we were there many years, there were torrential downpours the whole day.

Yes.    
 

we had perfect weather today 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Arrived Reykjavík around 10 am –

There was a 30-minute delay getting cleared.

 

We were on an all-day Golden Circle Tour plus stops at knitting at yarn shops.

 

It was a quarter mile walk to the main terminal where all the tour buses were located – there was a shuttle bus available.  

 

From the terminal there was another shuttle bus to take you downtown – I think the price was 2000 ISK (can someone confirm?)  Taxi to downtown was 3500 ISK

 

Here are a few highlights from our day

 

Gullfoss Waterfall

 

Pete and Judy at Strokkur Geyser - it was erupting every few minutes

 

We were back in our cabin at 8:15 pm– all aboard was 10:30 PM

 

We wanted to try the Bæjarins Beztu, located downtown, so we headed out at 8:40

They said the shuttles quit running – so we took a taxi downtown for 3500 ISK (about $25) which would be cheaper than the 2000 ISK each for the shuttle.  The taxi ride was 10 minutes – accepted credit cards.

We were at the hot dog stand at 9:05 and there was only 2 people ahead of us – very unusual to have a short line.  But it moves fast.

We shared a hotdog with everything for 600 ISK ($4.37) It was very good.  

Short line

 

Service was fast - price 600 ISK or $4.37 (credit cards accepted)

 

The hot dog with everything

 

Ready for the first bite

 

Judy gives it a "thumbs up"

 

 

Longer line as we were leaving

 

It was now 9:30 and we were going to try Tommi’s burgers, but the close place was closed and the next place was 4/10 of mile away.  Unlike the hotdog place they said you may wait 20 minutes for a burger – so we were running out of time and decided to head back to the ship.

 

So with the two taxi rides at $25 each plus the $5 hotdog - this was a $55 hot dog!   But the memories - priceless!

 

There was nearby taxi stand and headed back to the ship.  

 

Back in our cabin at 9:35

More later on the blog

Edited August 17, 2022 by The-Inside-Cabin

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Hot dog looks great. Your sister was with you on WC2020 as well?

[The-Inside-Cabin]

8 minutes ago, SJSULIBRARIAN said:

Hot dog looks great. Your sister was with you on WC2020 as well?

No - she and her husband will be with us on 2023 GWV - their first GWV!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We will be attending the Pinnacle Gals tonight.
 

Here is the MDR menu

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Tried the pour your one draft on deck 9 behind Lido bar.  Not recommended.     It's tricky to get it to work.   I got all foam   

Lido bartenders replaced with a pour from the bar.  
 

nice idea.    Didn't work for me.   
 

any success stories out there?

 

[*Miss G*]

On 8/11/2022 at 10:10 PM, The-Inside-Cabin said:

 

This looks like it could be a Group of Seven, Lawren Harris, painting!  Absolutely gorgeous.  ❤️

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Attended the Pinnacle Gala last night - A few quick hits - more on the blog later

 

Pre dinner cocktails were in the deck 1 Atrium - not in the Ocean Bar or BB King as on other ships/times

 

Piano player played background music during cocktails

 

If you don't drink Alcohol, the price is $80 vice $120 (add in the 18% tip)

 

Very few people shared tables - they asked it we wanted to share - but the other couple that was going to share - cnxed at last minute.

 

Nice evening - this was our second Pinnacle Gala - we will do it again.

 

Here is the menu

 

 

Pinnacle Gala setting up - photo taken from Deck 2

Entrance to Pinnacle Gala

Ready to go!

 

Pre Dinner Reception

 

 

 

Fried Steam Bun

 

Tempura Squash Salad

 

Halibut with Lobster

 

Cucumber Granite

 

Beef Tenderloin

 

Orange Creamcicle Float

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Great grub at the Gala ! Better than the chow at the Mess Hall in the NTC San Diego . 😉