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

[Florida_gal_50]

7 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Tonight is a "dressy night".   We will be having a Tuxedo Junction at 7pm in the Ocean Bar.    The Gala Menu tonight is what you have come to see on Gala Nights on shorter cruises.   There is nothing on here that you don't regularly see on daily menus.   

 

 

The Baked Rigatoni is good, but it is available from room service:

 

11 Aug Gala Menu.pdf 305.28 kB · 37 downloads

Yup, exactly what I said a couple days ago to be told I was wrong.  Appreciate the confirmation.  Thanks.

[TiogaCruiser]

And now, once again, back to the main topic.

 

Looking forward to Pete’s next post.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Blue skies, blue water and white ice in Prince Christian Sound

Todays scenic cruising was described by the Cruise and Travel Director as some of the best scenic cruising anywhere in the world.  We were scheduled to start at 7 am and finish up around 3 pm.  

This map was given to everyone the night before our transit.

At 7 am we were in a thick fog.  I took a picture and was ready to start working on my blog post as it looked like our scenic cruising was going to be a big bust.  

This was the view at 7 am when we started our transit – not looking good!

A few minutes past 7 am, like magic, the fog lifted, and the Greenland coastline appeared along with a few icebergs.  

A few minutes after 7 am, the fog lifted and this was our view

It would have been a nice day even if the cloud cover remained.  Thirty minutes later, the clouds started to break up and within an hour, we were enjoying a bright sun with blue skies.  

The bow on Deck 5 was opened and the beverage department set up a drink station serving coffee and mixed drinks.  

Coffee was available – both Irish and Spanish versions

The bow was crowded, with the railing filled, but it was easy to move around unless you were determined to be right up against the railing.  Winds were light and the temperature was in the 40’s, a jacket was needed.  A few people ventured out in shorts and T-shirts nevertheless.  

The bow was crowded along the railing

I spent the morning wandering around the various viewing points.  The SeaView pool was almost empty but offered a nice view in a more protected environment along with chairs and a covered area.  A bar was also set up there serving coffee and alcohol.  

The SeaView pool was less crowded than the bow The view aft from Deck 10

The jogging track was popular and was filled along the railing for most of the day.  

I walked around the ship on Deck 3 a few times.  There weren’t very many people here, but the views were limited in many places by tenders, lifeboats and other equipment.  

We have a verandah on Deck 7, and that was nice for most of the day.   Occasionally there was something on the other side of the ship that was interesting, but they had a nice commentary going on the TV and they would announce coming attractions in time to get up to the SeaView pool and observe.  

At 11 am Dutch Pea Soup stations were set up on the bow and the SeaView pool.  The waiters served the hot soup from large metal trays into the standard white porcelain Lido Coffee cups.  

Crew dishing up pea soup near the SeaView pool The hot pea soup was delicious

In the early afternoon, we had lunch by the NY Deli.  They served Gluhwein hot wine drinks from the Lido Bar starting around 1 pm.  

I splurged and got a delicious chocolate milkshake from the Ice Cream bar on Deck 9 A hot, slightly spicy wine drink called a Gluhwein, was served in the early afternoon. $9.75

Here are some photos of the highlights of our Prince Christian Sound scenic cruising

We left the sound around 3 pm and continued on toward the Denmark Strait.

This was our actual track as recorded on my Garmin Oregon 700

 

There wasn’t any live entertainment this evening.  The movie, Family Squares, was shown in the World Stage for a single showing at 8:30 pm.  The room was about 80% full.  

[sandiego1]

I thoroughly enjoy reading about your travels, Pete!! Thanks for posting here

[TiogaCruiser]

Your report from today sounds a lot like the HAL of previous years, with maps being provided and scenic cruising. So good to hear.

 

 I’m really enjoying your reports.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

17 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Any idea on how many passengers aboard? We had 1523 (per the Captain) the cruise before yours, and rumors were around 2000 on yours.

Around 1900....but i need to confirm

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Tuxedo Junction last night.   Looking good!

Good Morning Iceland!   Arriving In Isafjordur soon. 
 

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Arrived in our first Iceland port: Ísafjörður

We are on the Artic Shorex tour: Dynjandi & The Westfjords 

 

 

 

Dynjandi í Arnarfirði

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Tonight's menu

 

12 Aug MDR.pdf

[albingirl]

I do love that ship.  Thanks for all your wonderful photos and postings!

[bluesplayer]

The menus look much more interesting than the Alaska cruises.  Can’t open them on the iPhone but can on the desktop. Enjoying your reports!!  Thank you for posting!!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Approaching Akureyri!    Looks like a nice day ahead.   

We are going to Godafoss waterfall then Myvatn Nature Bath with Artic Shorex. 
 

 

we use the "peak finder" app to learn the names of nearby mountains 

 

 

more on the blog at www.theinsidecabin.com 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Our first stop: Goðafoss Waterfall

45 minutes. 

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

[The-Inside-Cabin]

From yesterday- 3D optical illusion crosswalk

Ísafjörður
 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We stopped for pictures at Skútustaðagígar

 

first time we needed fly nets 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

 

We spent an hour in the Myvatn Nature Baths.  Fun time.  
 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Tonight's menu.    We are going to Canaletto tonight.    They were handing out hot apple cider on the dock when we returned 

 

Edited August 13, 2022 by The-Inside-Cabin

[ole goat]

Hi all,   I'm looking at a 30 day BtB on the Nieuw Statendam this October.  

Does the Casino have a Texas Holdum Poker table?

 

I love to play poker on sea days.  Last fall I was on the Rotterdam, and they did not have a poker table.  I was very disappointed.  Thirty days on a ship without a poker game with others would be greatly missed and may even find me on a different ship

[iceman93]

No poker of any kind on the NS, @ole goat.  My wife and I were disappointed as well.

[ole goat]

11 minutes ago, iceman93 said:

No poker of any kind on the NS, @ole goat.  My wife and I were disappointed as well.

Thanks for the info.  Looks like all the HAL ships are getting rid of Poker in the Casinos.  Wonder if they will let us play in the card room.

[Skipper's Mom]

Love Canaletto, especially the Osso Bucco!  Delicioso!  Enjoying your posts and pictures.  Thanks for taking the time from your vacation although I expect that it's a labor of love.😉

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 hour ago, ole goat said:

Hi all,   I'm looking at a 30 day BtB on the Nieuw Statendam this October.  

Does the Casino have a Texas Holdum Poker table?

 

I love to play poker on sea days.  Last fall I was on the Rotterdam, and they did not have a poker table.  I was very disappointed.  Thirty days on a ship without a poker game with others would be greatly missed and may even find me on a different ship

They don't have a Texas Hold'em table......I don't think the Rotterdam has one either.  All the rest do.

Edited August 13, 2022 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

43 minutes ago, ole goat said:

Thanks for the info.  Looks like all the HAL ships are getting rid of Poker in the Casinos.  Wonder if they will let us play in the card room.

We ran a "home" game in the Lido in 2020 on the Amsterdam - no probem...but YMMV - bring your chips..

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Welcome to Seydisfjordur!   It looks like our weather luck has run out.   Hopefully it's a bad forecast.  
 

We are off to see Puffins and Elves!

 

Viking Mars is here today also

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We avoided the rain so far.   It's noon local time.   
 

We spotted a few puffins ! 

There were a lot in the water. 
 

 

less on land    This guy was 10 feet away.   105 zoom.   No crop

 

used a 525 mm zoom then cropped 

 

here is the original. 
 

Edited August 14, 2022 by The-Inside-Cabin