Return to Iceland

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As alluded to in my last post about our cruise around the British Isles, we branched off to Iceland about mid-voyage for essentially the equivalent of a standard 7-night cruise, sans the inconveniences of packing and unpacking.

Our previous cruise to Iceland had been great despite missing three of the ports we were supposed to visit, including the two headline ports of Reykjavik and Akureyri.  Our return trip allowed us to go on all of the tours places we had been anticipating last time, including black sand beaches, glaciers and waterfalls.  At one very tall waterfall, we could walk behind to side to see the other side of water.

We actually scored all three of the ports we missed last time, including Grundarfjordur, which offered gorgeous waterfalls within walking distance of the ship.  With two long excursion days, we were happy to have an easy port in between.

Our guides kept telling us how fortunate we were with our weather, a sentiment echoed by those who saw photos we shared while traveling.

Iceland is a strange and wonderful place.  Steam vents from the ground not far from the capital city and other settlements, all of which are built near geologic hotspots in order to capture the energy for turning turbines to create electricity, warm homes and provide hot tap water.

Of course, there are the famed natural hot springs that fill pools with mineral-rich water for those seeking a spa-like experience.

In a CLIA seminar today, I learned that Europe without the Mediterranean account for about 10% of cruise travel.  I found that a bit surprising, because the west coast destinations of Mexico, California Coast and Alaska also add up to about that much.

So, are you ready to be among the 10% visiting Western Europe on your next great cruise?

I highly recommend mid-summer with temperatures in the 60s as a break from the summer heat at home, but if you want a better chance to see the Northern Lights, go between October and March, when nights are long (and days are cold).  Also, you might want to go further north, because Iceland isn't above the Arctic Circle, although it is close and does have its share of sightings of Aurora Borealis on long winter nights.

During our vacation in Iceland, I stayed up late and woke up early, but I never saw it dark outside.  And while it was not hot, it also was never cold.  A light jacket served me well at the chilliest times.

By the way, while Iceland is considered Europe, we actually straddled a crack on one hiking trail where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates meet in Iceland.

Whether you choose Princess, another favorite mainstream big ship, or decide to go with a more exclusive experience with Viking that includes a free excursion in every port, you will find a fascinating vacation in Iceland.

While not a perfect segway, I would like to mention that Cruise Planners is giving you free pre-paid gratuities on Oceania Cruises booked through the end of August for Veranda categories and higher for any itinerary.  Oceania will take you to anywhere you want to go, including Iceland, in country club style.