msjb22

I could, but I want to get a rough idea of the area with a local guide, and would prefer to book through HAL in case the port gets cancelled. I figured the early walking tour would give me the option of either adding on another tour or exploring further on my own afterwards.

Thanks everyone! Specifically I'm on the Northern Isles Cruise to Scotland and Iceland leaving Rotterdam on Rotterdam on 31 August. I have booked an 8:30am walking tour in Djupivogur, which is scheduled for 2h, and am currently on the waitlist for a tour also through HAL that leaves at 11am. Was wondering whether they might coordinate their tours so that if they don't overlap they might wait 5 minutes... I'm also debating adding in an afternoon tour on the Isle of Lewis, but as recommended, will probably wait until I'm on the ship to book that. Due to exchange rate losses I'm currently reluctant to prebook tours I might have to cancel, as the refund for cancellations always ends up being less than what I paid and I hate giving that extra to the banks...

First time cruising this summer with HAL and I'm wondering how much of a buffer is recommended if booking multiple, consecutive shore excursions on the same day through HAL, especially at a tender port. From what I can gather meeting points for excursions are usually on the ship at tender ports, but would you be able to join the tour on shore as well? And if so, how much of a "break" is necessary between the tours. Would 30-45 minutes between expected return and the next tour be enough?

I would use the 9-18mm for the aurora, you need as wide an angle as possible. It's a brilliant lens for Iceland actually, I had this on my first trip (alongside the Panasonic 14-140mm) and I much preferred the wide angle look of the 9-18mm. Just keep in mind it's not weather-sealed from what I remember, and Iceland in September (actually, pretty much at any time of the year) can be very, very wet and windy. I've never been as wet as on my two land-based tours of Iceland (one in late Sept/early October, one Feb/March). On my most recent trip I had the 9mm prime from Panasonic (MicroFourThirds lenses are generally interchangeable between Olympus and Panasonic, I use Panasonic cameras but some of my favourite lenses are Olympus) along and it was perfect for the aurora, you need that very wide angle ideally.