superwife

Have done this three times now, Into the Midnight Sun, Iceland, Australia/New Zealand last month.  Go into the sauna for several minutes, then the ice room for as long as you can stand it (you are so hot form sauna it feels good).  Back to the Sauna.  Do this three times in each then into the heated pool.  You can wear you clothes to the locker room and change in there.  They have robes and slippers and locker and a centrifuge to dry out your suit.  There is an ice bath and sauna in the male and female locker rooms.  Some folks use these to go without clothes, not me. This is a hidden gem, so never crowded. No reservation, no charge.  Everyone so friendly.

We just returned from the August 24th cruise.  Despite our anxiety leading up to the flight, all went very well.  Embarkation was handled well and enjoyed a walking tour of the city to kill time.  We visited the spa twice few there so no problem.  The staff at the desk takes reservations for use, so they should be monitoring.  Some special tours we took:    Icelandic Horseback riding.-  chance of a lifetime. They divided us into two groups so we could trot and toilt if we wanted.  Fantastic.  They helped my wife get onto the horse!  Kayaking Djupivogur.  Great guide.  He supplies waterproofing from the waist down.  Ship never mentions this. Great tour.  Took all of the included and enjoyed them all.  Took a paid tour in addition each day.  Skalenes Nature Center - grueling bus ride, no much to see, not really a nature center. Would not recommend. Vigur Island is a must.  Yes, all puffins are gone, but still great. Last day they gave us a city tour which was great, deposited us at the Perlan Center.  Fantastic place lots to see.  They even gave us lunch!  Great time user for our 4:50 flight. Another tour on the way to the airport.  Very classy Viking.

All went very well.  Entertainment was good because the performers were so good.  Cruise director and assistant are VERY talented.

My wife and I were disappointed when our cruise to Australia/New Zealand 1/22 got cancelled. We transferred our booking to 1/23 and look forward to it with Covid being manageable by then.  Friends recently completed the Bermuda cruise and are now on the Greek cruise from Malta.  They have been reassuring us though Iceland has another set of rules.   Iceland seemed to us to be the perfect way to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

I love this site when folks give information about the cruise.  Especially helpful are those who are on board or recently completed a cruise.  Specific information like knowing that Viking offers a night tour of the capital if the last port is missed is the info we need.  Hints about the puffins, etc. are fun to read.  Speculation about Covid, policies, Viking solvency (for heaven's sake) are boring and boorish.  We can all contact Viking and visit official health sites for the latest updates.  

For those of us going on this cruise (no doubt several hundred) we have weighed the risks and will act accordingly. Thanks to all who give us hints, ideas, things to do, things to avoid on the cruise.  That is what I always loved about this site.

We are also sticking to our reservation for August 24 sailing.  We are also hopeful that all will be well.  We will deal with whatever comes.  We are so looking forward to getting back into traveling and the cruise was perfect for us.  We did Into the Midnight Sun several years ago and loved it.  We have used Oceana but now only Viking.  No contest.

Hope to see everyone's smiling faces...oops, smiling eyes at the airport in Iceland.

PS Viking just put out an upgrade offer for this cruise you may want to check out.  We upgraded our cabin today.  

We are taking the August 24th cruise and can't wait.  

Took the "Into the Midnight Sun" cruise in 2018.  Also the Danube Christmas cruise before lockdown.  I can't remember what the suggested tour guide, bus driver, overall guide tips should be.  I want to be sure to have the cash.  Does the ship have change for dollars?

This blog has been great.  Thanks to everyone for their input.

I always keep my wallet, etc in a front pocket. When in a crowd I always keep a hand in that pocket. I also have pants with zippered inside pockets. These are available from outlet specializing in travel clothing.