LIVE from "Iceland's Natural Beauty" -- All Sailings, 2021

[Clay Clayton]

42 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

I wouldn’t risk getting busted in Iceland. You will probably have to declare it and I’m sure there are strict limits. I note however that a poster here says if you buy in duty free at KEF on the way in you are not allowed to consume it in Iceland! So damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Good luck!

Linda

Where did you a post saying you can’t consume in Iceland? After comparing prices and brands at BOS and KEF dutyfree, my plan has been to buy samples of Iceland gin and vodka to try while aboard and then buy stock for home on the way out of Iceland. 

[Seaharvest]

7 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Linda

Where did you a post saying you can’t consume in Iceland? After comparing prices and brands at BOS and KEF dutyfree, my plan has been to buy samples of Iceland gin and vodka to try while aboard and then buy stock for home on the way out of Iceland. 

This is from the Duty Free Iceland website. Now granted they are not impartial but I doubt they could advertise it if not true. I have seen this advice on other sites as well. 

 

We highly recommend you buy your alcohol in the Duty-Free store at Keflavík airport if you plan on drinking in Iceland. It’s cheaper to buy in our stores than in Vínbúðin (The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland), and a lot cheaper than in the bars and restaurants. Alcohol isn’t sold in regular grocery stores in Iceland.

[Clay Clayton]

3 minutes ago, Seaharvest said:

This is from the Duty Free Iceland website. Now granted they are not impartial but I doubt they could advertise it if not true. I have seen this advice on other sites as well. 

 

We highly recommend you buy your alcohol in the Duty-Free store at Keflavík airport if you plan on drinking in Iceland. It’s cheaper to buy in our stores than in Vínbúðin (The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland), and a lot cheaper than in the bars and restaurants. Alcohol isn’t sold in regular grocery stores in Iceland.

That corresponds to information I’ve learned from YouTube, Lonely Planet, and other “research” I’ve done. Hopefully Linda will respond if they didn’t get snowed in. 

[TERRIER1]

1 hour ago, LindaS272 said:

I wouldn’t risk getting busted in Iceland. You will probably have to declare it and I’m sure there are strict limits. I note however that a poster here says if you buy in duty free at KEF on the way in you are not allowed to consume it in Iceland! So damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Good luck!

We purchased wine at the duty free on the way in and consumed it in Iceland. 

[FLORIDA FLOUNDER]

13 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

KEF website has a whole section devoted to money exchange and VAT refund.

https://www.isavia.is/en/keflavik-airport/before-flying/services-and-facilities/currency-and-vat-refunds

 

Airport map marks the ATMs in the arrivals hall.

 

 

Thank you for the link. It looks like there are ATMs on every floor.👍🏻

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

1 hour ago, LindaS272 said:

I wouldn’t risk getting busted in Iceland. You will probably have to declare it and I’m sure there are strict limits. I note however that a poster here says if you buy in duty free at KEF on the way in you are not allowed to consume it in Iceland! So damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Good luck!

This got me thinking, not that it matters to me, but to some people it does.  If this isn't too way off topic, can someone please explain how cruising in international waters versus a country's waters affects sales of alcohol on a ship?  I've been on cruises where things like bars and casinos can't open up until the ship is sailing in international waters.  I've also been on a cruise in which some items are subject to tax by a country unless the ship is in international waters.  Does Iceland have any such regulations?  And with a circumnavigation cruise like we're taking, does the ship typically cruise in international waters soon after leaving a port?

[vslparis]

2 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

That corresponds to information I’ve learned from YouTube, Lonely Planet, and other “research” I’ve done. Hopefully Linda will respond if they didn’t get snowed in. 

I had looked at the Iceland Import regulations on the same site as Timatic ( system that airlines use at the airport to check entry requirements) and it show that you are allowed to bring alcohol into Iceland. It is limited ,of course.

 

- alcoholic beverages for passengers aged 20 years of age and older, one of the examples of the following allowance (for more examples, see www.tollur.is/english  this link isn't working 
1 liter of spirits and 0.75 liter of wine and 3 liters of beer; or
3 liters of wine and 6 liters of beer; or
1 liter of spirits and 6 liters of beer; or
1,5 liters of wine and 12 liters of beer; or
18 liters of beer

 

They do check at Duty Free shops  at the US airports, but I think it is always a good idea to check beforehand .  If we decide to buy something in the US Duty Free I will let you know how it goes. 

[gramfrog]

3 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

That corresponds to information I’ve learned from YouTube, Lonely Planet, and other “research” I’ve done. Hopefully Linda will respond if they didn’t get snowed in. 

When we were there last year (Feb 2020), we were told to purchase for personal use at Duty Free before leaving the airport.  Alcohol is scarce to find in a bottle form and REALLY expensive...  Of course, if you have the Silver Spirits package onboard Viking, you don't have to worry about that...

[Wander58]

For once we won't have to worry about trying to find wine and schlep it back to the ship.  They gave us the Silver Spirits package as a perc for booking.  Can't wait to head to Iceland in August!  Wishing everyone  traveling before us an 'uneventful' trip!

[sprshop]

Thank you soooooooo much for letting me know about the “following” feature and the other info.  You are surely getting (or will get) bounds of good karma.  You are greatly appreciated, especially from tech challenged me😜.

[LindaS272]

4 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Linda

Where did you a post saying you can’t consume in Iceland? After comparing prices and brands at BOS and KEF dutyfree, my plan has been to buy samples of Iceland gin and vodka to try while aboard and then buy stock for home on the way out of Iceland. 

Ack—I’m not good at keeping track of previous posts, but I think it was an older gent with gramps (?) in the title. He said when they were there in either early 2019 or 2020, that they were told you could not consume alcohol in Iceland that you bought in Duty Free. He conceded that things could have changed since. I’ll see if I can find it. His icon is a photo of a white-haired gent.

[Clay Clayton]

26 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

Ack—I’m not good at keeping track of previous posts, but I think it was an older gent with gramps (?) in the title. He said when they were there in either early 2019 or 2020, that they were told you could not consume alcohol in Iceland that you bought in Duty Free. He conceded that things could have changed since. I’ll see if I can find it. His icon is a photo of a white-haired gent.

Don’t waste your time doing that.  I’ll go with the duty free and youtubers.  If I can’t drink it then not a big deal

[LindaS272]

Just now, Clay Clayton said:

Don’t waste your time doing that.  I’ll go with the duty free and youtubers.  If I can’t drink it then not a big deal

Okay—good luck!

[Heidi13]

5 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Linda

Where did you a post saying you can’t consume in Iceland? After comparing prices and brands at BOS and KEF dutyfree, my plan has been to buy samples of Iceland gin and vodka to try while aboard and then buy stock for home on the way out of Iceland. 

 

Clay - Between ports they will no doubt sail far enough offshore to clear Iceland's 12 mile territorial waters. At a minimum, they will want to make FW, which requires a minimum of 12 miles from shore.

 

Therefore, most evenings between ports you should be in International Waters and free to consume any duty free you can purchase.

[LindaS272]

How do they even police this stuff?

[TERRIER1]

13 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Clay - Between ports they will no doubt sail far enough offshore to clear Iceland's 12 mile territorial waters. At a minimum, they will want to make FW, which requires a minimum of 12 miles from shore.

 

Therefore, most evenings between ports you should be in International Waters and free to consume any duty free you can purchase.

You can drink your duty free spirits purchased at the airport on land. No need to wait to be out in international waters. Enjoy. Wishing everyone great weather.

[Peregrina651]

58 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

How do they even police this stuff?

 

Exactly!

[MarkCruises]

It’s only four days till June 26!  Packing for winter! 

[Gigilovestotravel]

Thank you for this Live stream and all the helpful advice. We'll arrive this Saturday morning, ready to start the first travel adventure of 2021! Looking forward to meeting some of you about 5ish in the Explorers Lounge. Packed raincoat and waterproof sox, here I come!

[DaveSJ711]

59 minutes ago, MarkCruises said:

It’s only four days till June 26!  Packing for winter! 

In northern Iceland, the temperatures are expected to warm up substantially this weekend. In Akureyri for example (near where we’re staying), the forecast is high 60s, maybe even 70 degrees. Heat wave!

[Msgolferfhcc]

On 6/21/2021 at 4:41 PM, Wander58 said:

We are on the August 17 Iceland cruise.  We are very interested in your experiences and advice as the first Iceland cruise gets underway.  This will be our first Viking Ocean cruise, but we have been on 6 Viking River trips.

 

Right not, one big plus for us is that Iceland is not going to require any testing on entry after July 1.  We are wishing you all the best and hope everything goes smoothly. 

We’re on this Aug 17 cruise too. Can’t wait to “ get out of town”!

Edited June 22, 2021 by Msgolferfhcc

[Snit13]

1 minute ago, Msgolferfhcc said:

We’re on this cruise too. Can’t wait to “ get out of town”!

Four of us are booked on the August 31st cruise.  So happy I found this thread.  I have not been on Cruise Critic since I had 2 cruises cancel in 2020 and 2 in 2021.  Hope all goes well with this one.  I too am a Celebrity/Royal Caribbean cruiser and this will be my first Viking Cruise.  We were searching for a Viking River Cruise in Western Europe when one in our party suggested Iceland.

[SantaFe1]

Just got an email from Viking for the June 26 cruisers with a checklist of what we should be doing and bringing with us.  It includes the following:

 

Travel Document Preparation

• Valid Passport (Passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your planned trip dates.)
• Confirmation of pre-registration for visiting Iceland – Either print your barcode or have the email confirmation available to click the link and show upon arrival to Iceland.
• Proof of FDA/WHO approved COVID-19 vaccine
• Cruise Itinerary (Viking Journey Summary emailed to you by Viking) – to verify your "Address in Iceland"

Tip: While digital documents on your phone are accepted, they will slow your clearance through the checkpoints in the Iceland arrival terminal, so we suggest printing your documentation and having it available throughout your journey.

 

what it the “Cruise Itinerary” they say they emailed us?  I don’t seem to have such an email or summary.  I have the printout of the calendar from MVJ, but that’s all.

[Snit13]

We are so far out we don't even have any excursions to view.  They were there when we booked but they took them down.  A Viking agent told me they were still negotiating with tour operators on optional excursions but the free ones were available but no longer on Viking site.

[Snit13]

Where do I find the roll call, if there is one for Jupiter on August 31?  I noticed someone posted about a roll call for their cruise.