Finally we have wifi

The following post was written offline. Between our busy schedule and lack of wifi, the following post was written earlier today. The previous few were also just written. 

Catching up

Some general musings to start with. 

Sheep - whose numbers are about three times larger than the human population of Iceland. They can be seen pretty much everywhere but rarely seem to stay in large groups. It’s most common, in my limited sheep-seeking experience, to see more than a few at a time. They come in a few colours. Of course, they are predominantly white, but we’ve also seen a good share of black sheep, some brown, grey and some even a kind of motley combination of the above colours.

Their wool is not so much curly and long and shaggy. All appear to be suitably fat but perhaps under that long coat, they could be quite svelte. Lamb is the most common meat and features in many meals. We’ve enjoyed lamb soup a few times and to my palate there must be only once recipe. And it always turns out well. It’s not highly seasoned but suits my taste buds.

The wool can be quite soft or sometimes ‘stiffer’. Alas, I still cannot tolerate wearing wool unless it’s lined with something. Usually that is the sort of fleece used in jackets or hoodies. I may buy a skein or two before heading home and will then figure out what to knit. Backwards? Yes, but I’ve never claimed to do anything the usual way.

Horses - Icelandic horses are a pure breed now. They are all descended from a few different breeds brought here generations ago. They are very sturdy, with longish manes, and strong legs that are somewhat shorter than horses in North America. To insure that the breed remains pure, if an Icelandic horse leaves the island it cannot return. Racing is popular. I understand that galloping down mountainsides is also a “thing”. So sure-footed are these animals that the rider can go almost anywhere - up or down - safely.

A unique feature of Icelandic horses is their 5th gait. They learn it from each other I believe. It’s quite remarkable to see someone astride one and not bounce up and down. The ride is quite smooth I’m told. I saw a rider galloping? down a lane and she/he seemed to barely move in the saddle. The ship offered an excursion on horseback but it’s not for me. I wanted to be able to walk the next day.

Puffins are constantly in the conversation but they have left for warmer climes - about a week before our cruise began. There may be a few in a rescue sanctuary but the wild ones have left. You can see tons of pictures and souvenirs with their image.

A short while ago off the side of the ship along the southern coast, we could see the “blows” from several whales. But there was no breaching. They were merely teasing us. A few morning whaling excursions from Husavik saw nothing but a few sea birds and maybe one porpoise. The afternoon sailing did see a couple. We spotted some blows in a fjord en route to Dynjandi waterfall but again - they must be saving their strength for breaching when we’re out of site. Or perhaps they were just shy. Once again we are on the cusp of their departure for their southern breeding ground so not many remain.

We’ve encountered a few occasions of rough seas. Two nights the swells were about 1.5 to 2 metres. It got somewhat more exciting last night as the waves increased to 3 metres. Moving about the ship was an excursion in itself. We could all have earned the nickname “Lurch”. I chewed a couple of ginger tablets just in case, but motion sickness is not something that I’ve ever experienced. 

Because of the turbulent conditions we are very late getting to our last port in the Westman Islands, on the southwest coast. For a while after sunrise we could see the beautiful cliffs along the southern coast. However, they were just distant enough that photos would have been disappointing. It was nice to simply enjoy the view and tuck it into the memory bank. There were glimpses of sun. We’ve been told that it is likely not to rain on Heimsay where we will dock around noon.

The population of Iceland is 350,000. About two thirds of the people live in Reykjavik, about 18,000 in Akureyri and several hundred in various communities, with yet others being even smaller. 

Icelanders love their coffee and they like it strong. YAY! Susan has had some difficulty finding decaf, but on the s although it is instant.

Lunch will be our next activity. Seems like eating is our constant activity, even though we have excursions and walks most days. Each community visited is just a little different from the others.

The staff on board is terrific. They give talks, lead excursions, and last night they entertained us at a “Crew Show”. Not all exhibited their talents but there were singers and dancers - from Germany, Iceland, he Philippines, Mauritius and South Africa. At the time of the performances, the ship was encountering the high seas so extra kudos for maintaining their balance. 

We were served a “chocolate surprise” which I figured would be some kind of cake. Well - let me tell you it was THE most extraordinary “death by chocolate” buffet that I’ve ever enjoyed. Sacher torte, Black Forest cake, profiteroles, macaroons, meringues, After Eight cake, and many others. I didn’t try them all of course. The pastry chef on board was responsible for all of it. Yummy to the max.

Our stay in the Westman Islands will be short due to the late arrival and we will just do a walkabout in the town. I will catch up on the missed ports later.

Just back from a walk in town. This town was devasted by a volcanic eruption in 1973. By a fortunate spell of bad weather the fishing boats from here were all in the harbour and the airport was open. Despite the devastating eruption, all of the inhabitants but one were evacuated on the fishing boats. Some older or ill people were flown out. The only casualty was a man who had succumbed to the gases and smoke.

The town has built a volcano museum, the main feature of which is the entire house of one family. It remained buried for 40 years and when it was dug out, many items were identified. Nothing was salvageable. It was left as is and the museum was built over and around it. Fascinating. The story is recounted by an audioguide as you move around.

It was sunny as we left the ship and walked into town in search of the museum. Then it rained and we got soaked en route. When we emerged, it was sunny once again.

Now we are aboard for the final evening. Tomorrow we disembark after breakfast. There are a few hours to spend in Reykjavik before heading to the airport. The ship has made the arrangements for storing our luggage and we can get the airport transfer at the dock. It's a 5 minute walk into the centre of town.

So - this is the last entry for a while. Should the packing go very smoothly (I haven't bought much so space is not an issue) I will try to add photos to the recent posts.

Thank you for following this journey. It has been amazing. Iceland is a wonderland. We of course have a rosy view of their weather as it was not at all typical - which is cloudy and wet. We've had little rain in the grand scheme of things. Tomorrow we wish for fair winds and smooth flight. Adieu.

Djupivogur

No more fjords protecting the harbours. The dock in Djupivogur was almost on the eastern coast and barely sheltered. When we left the ship for our excursions, we had to bring along our Zodiac life jackets in case the ship had to move away from the dock because of wind or sea conditions. Luckily the vests were stowed beneath the buses and we didn't have to keep them in our laps.

This was our first day of rain - and rain it did. All day. Heavily. We kept hoping the weather would change if we waited a few minutes but that never happened.

Everyone dressed in their best rain gear and over the course of the day we found it inadequate. A couple of people did remain dry all over. My jacket was fine - proved its guarantee was valid. The rain pants - nope! They were the ones I used for golf. However, when it starts to rain I usually stop playing so they had never really been tested. They failed the test. A shopping trip will be in order when I get home.

The destination du jour was the Glacier Lagoon, where small icebergs which had broken off the glacier, floated around in the lagoon which is now about 30 square kilometres and growing, as the glacier recedes. To see the icebergs close up, we boarded amphibious truck-boats. No roofs. Seats were soaked wooden benches. They did attempt to squee-gee them before we sat down. The effort was futile. The rain continued to bucket down. 

It was however, a wonderful experience. A zodiac follows each duck boat - I suppose in case someone decides to test the water as a swimming hole. It's about 2C and supports life for mere minutes after exposure. We all remained aboard our tour vehicle. Once off the land we could stand up and look around.

There was on spot which is a favourite swimming place for seals, who quite liked the chilly water. A flotilla of tourists in bright red kayaks brightened the grey landscape.

The icebergs themselves were multi-hued white-blue and black. The black is volcanic ash. They all eventually drift down the river from the lagoon and out to sea where they break up. Some of the pieces are later carried onto the black volcanic sand beach by the incoming current. This is diamond beach where the sparkling chunks of ice resemble diamonds. At least they do when it's sunny - which it was NOT. The rain never let up.

Lunch was delicious lamb soup (vegetable option provided) and some very tasty bread which seemed in short supply. Then it was back on board "the bus of death" for the return trip.

We had the same driver but he drove much too fast for conditions - rain, turns and hills. We left the road surface twice but he didn't slow down. The comment form would not have given him any compliments - terror on the part of passengers doesn't lead to good reviews.

Safely back at the dock we saw the ship still at the dock so we could board via the gangplank and didn't have to tender in the zodiacs. The Zodiac vests are once again stowed in the cabins.

Seydisfjordur - Gateway to Europe

This is the port closest to Europe and used by a large ferry that arrives twice a week. It's a huge boat bringing loads of people and cars, mostly on holiday. As a result there is a customs' building that we had to pass through as we left the port for the town. 

In the morning it was cloudy with lots of low hanging clouds. They made the landscape look rather mystical. It's a very small place, population-wise, but very important as the entry port. Luckily for us the ferry had been in the previous day and the Ocean Diamond had the dock to itself. We took a walk guided by one of the staff of our ship.

This is also an important fishing centre and is deep in a fjord. The water is very calm and we were able to have a fjord tour in Zodiac boats. We keep our Zodiac vests in our cabins in case of having to tender to shore, or for the tours. Luckily we have not had to tender except at Hrisey a couple of days earlier.

The ship was at anchor as the port was very tiny and could not handle the ship. The water was choppy, the wind was blowing and I got a seat on the side of the Zodiac at the front. The seat of choice is as close to the back as possible. My rain pants failed the waterproof test. Ugh! But it was fun.

In summer, Seydisfjordur is a busy colony of artists, musicians and tourists. Sadly for us they have all left. Very little was open - including places recommended to visit. The beauty of the surroundings were worth taking in anyway. We learned that the houses are usually built of wood but have a sheathing of corrugated metal. The climate is so wet that the wood would rot. The metal is painted, or was in the past. Now, the homeowner can simply choose the colour of aluminum corrugated siding that he/she wants and is then free from the chore of painting the house.

The traditional colour seems to be white with red trim. A lot of the homes have interesting window frames and some have specially decorated front doors. Often there is a small plaque naming the house and the year it was built. The exterior can be re-clad many times so even a house that is 100+ years old can look in quite good condition.

The main religion here is Lutheran. The churches all have a pretty similar exterior design and the insides are quite unadorned. However, every one we went in had a magnificent pipe organ - appropriately sized for the building.

Husavik, whales and a ceremony

Husavik was a stop where we had no excursion books. The sun was shining. Susan had booked a spa morning so I set out to see what I could.

The Whale Museum was interesting and featured the skeleton of a huge blue whale that had washed ashore some years earlier. There were plenty of bones and skeletons but no animals were sacrificed to obtain them. They were all from beached animals. If only I had remembered that it was a blue whale - as that came up in a trivia quiz. We tied with several other teams but would have won if we'd chosen "Blue" instead of "Humpback" whale as one answer.

After that I walked up - of course up - to the Husavik Museum which is also a public library. They had interesting displays of everyday items and life in the past. There was also a great display of fishing gear and small boats and three mannequins dressed as fishermen. Each one was wearing mittens - with a difference. Not only did they have thumbs, but also a smaller "thumb" for the little finger. This makes them more useful for the fisherman to keep his hands warm and still have enough dexterity for the job he was doing. I don't recall seeing any such mitts in shops but I suppose the fishermen's wives or mothers made them.

In the afternoon Susan joined me for a while and then we wandered separately again, but there wasn't much more to see. Each town seems to have a nice playground and each playground features a permanent "bouncy" thing. It's right on the ground but works like a bouncy castle. 

That night we crossed the Arctic Circle at 66 North and had free drinks on the pool deck as we counted down to the position of the circle. The actual latitude and position varies somewhat. It was really chilly but fun and we were all awarded certificates for having made the crossing. Fun!

Akureyri - more sunshine

Sorry for the gap folks. They keep us busy on the ship and then the shore excursions take up the rest of the time, even if we just wander on our own. 

With the afternoon plan for golf firmly in place, we simply wandered around Akureyri in the morning. We really do have to walk much of the time to at least make an attempt to work off the wonderful meals. Even breakfast has different options every day. You can order a custom omelet but the scrambled eggs, some sort of vegetable, bacon, sausage, beans, pancake or crepe or breakfast burrito, porridge, yogurt, fruit, dry cereal, etc. offer more than enough options. And NO, I don't eat all of that. I top off my eggs and bacon with some fruit and sometimes one of their tiny croissants. Oh yes - I forgot the potatoes. They are so delicious that most days I give in and try a couple. Coffee in Iceland is like coffee in Seattle - everyone drinks it all the time. And I can assure you that it's high octane. Even the thought of decaf is pretty foreign and it's very hard to find. On the ship they use instant but do make it in a pot to provide the illusion of brewed coffee. 

Off we headed into town. By that time you'd think we'd have realized that it's all uphill baby. Emphasis on the up. The main shopping street is near sea level. Apparently it allows vehicular traffic when there aren't enough pedestrians to warrant keeping cars out. This is being rather late in the heavy tourist season, cars were allowed.

There is little lacking here by way of consumer goods. The country is self-sufficient in dairy products, lamb, fish and, dare I say, chocolate. The numerous geo-thermal-warmed greenhouses must provide enough tomatoes for all. There was no sign of them growing but potatoes are also available and consumed in large quantities.

Our destination was the botanical garden - yes, this far north. Some of the ladies of the town of 18,000 decided that they needed a showcase for local flora and over time a magical botanical garden came to life. It is beautifully laid out and the numerous paths and different little areas make it absolutely charming - even in the rain. There was a sprinkling while we were there but it lasted only a few minutes.

From there we found a path downhill to sea level again and had to pass the famous ice cream shop. Luckily it was not yet open. We drifted along the path to the port in time for lunch.

Lunch - it is more than amply taken care of with sandwiches, water, fruit, cheese and sometimes brownies or biscuits for those on excursions. For those on the ship, they should have to go via the gym. There is always a delicious soup, fresh vegetables, salads, meat, fish and vegetarian options. In fact half of the main course options are vegetarian. 100% of the options are delicious.

At one PM we were picked up by taxi and taken to Akureyri golf course. We had booked a power cart - one of two they have. The seat was carefully mended with duct tape. The pro (?) sort of dusted it off, pointed us to the first tee and said it would be easy to find each successive hole. Well - sometimes it was.

Driving off from our first shots we realized that it would be a bouncy journey. The "fairways" were like riding over railway ties or speed bumps - all the time. And it was very hilly. There were lots of blind shots, requiring us to drive up to peer over the hill to see where we should aim. The fairways were almost always tilted to one side or the other. The ground was very firm and we got quite a lot of roll - not always, or even often, in the desired direction. The quality of the fairways was nowhere near what we expected, having read that this course was the site of the Arctic Open and among the top 100 courses in Europe. Perhaps the author of that rating was thinking of mini-golf courses. 

BUT - the views were spectacular. The sun shone all afternoon and we had a lot of fun. The greens probably had a few flat spots but we couldn't find them. My putting was the best part of my game in spite of that. The clubs we had were, um, serviceable, if we took what was needed from whichever golf bag had the right club. 

At the end of the round it was a different chap in the pro shop and he knew nothing - not even prices. The voucher for our return taxi had been given to the first pro and he couldn't be raised even on his mobile phone. Luckily there is only one taxi company in town and the driver who was summoned called dispatch and got everything sorted out. 

Each evening we get a presentation on what to expect in the next port, along with the weather report. Every day it seems, we are told to expect sunshine in the morning. We almost always got sun. There was the odd sprinkle but nothing significant. Comments about how fortunate we were and how this was the only cruise with such good weather, could be heard from the whole crew.

Siglufjordur in the sunshine

This morning we declined the opportunity to visit the Herring Museum and just walk around the town - with a different destination in mind. Those who took in the museum said that the show of cleaning herring and the story of the history of herring and how it influenced Icelandic history said it was fun and interesting.

We slept a bit late after the late night, and after breakfast almost as the dining room was closing, we set out in what seemed like a chilly day. The bright sunshine and lack of wind made it very pleasant.

We took lots of photos of this gorgeous place among snow-capped mountains. The houses were interesting and very well kept. The whole town seems litter-free. Eventually we found the place we were looking for - Frida's coffee and chocolate shop. 

This place is so different. Frida made all the unique chairs, other decorations in the cafe and yard, and she hand makes all the chocolates. I don't know when she sleeps. Of course we bought some chocolate to take home, including a strawberry chocolate bar with cranberries. We sampled the "all dressed" hot chocolate with whipped cream and salted caramel, and enjoyed it to the last drop at a picnic table in the yard.

After walking back to the ship we enjoyed lunch on board for the first time. It was a fabulouse buffet with delicious Borscht soup for starters. There were lots of choices for the meal.

The weather looked fine but the waves around Grimsey Island and the prediction of larger ones to come, made Zodiac trips unsafe. Instead of staying along the coast we headed down the fjord towards Akureyri where we will dock later tonight. Our stop was made at Hrisey Island. There is no dock so the ship downed anchor and the Zodiac parade began.

It was a rather damp trip but we were well warned to put on our waterproof jackets and pants. Five people are seated on each side of the boat and I ended up at the front. That meant that I got quite wet from the spray as we bounced along from ship to the tiny harbour. Good thing my jacket was really waterproof (yay) but my golf rainpants alas faced a bigger task than they were up to. Note to self - get yourself some really rainproof pants when you get home. After the prices here it's going to seem like a bargain to go shopping in Ottawa.

The crew and ship staff help each person in and out of the zodiac and make sure your strange little life jacket is properly "installed". It was actually quite fun. The sun had disappeared but it didn't rain. Now that we are back onboard, the sun is shining once again.

We just walked around a bit and then took another Zodiac back to the Ocean Diamond. It was a bit smoother and I also sat further back from the front so it was a drier trip too.

Tomorrow in Akureyri it is supposed to be wet in the morning. Luckily the sun is supposed to reappear around noon and our golf excursion starts at 1 pm. Fingers crossed.

Photos later.

Monday in Isafjordur – another sunny day

Another day dawned clear and bright - weather we have come to expect. It's like we swallowed horseshoes and snacked on four-leaf clovers.

The tour du jour was a bus ride around a fjord and up to a waterfall. The first part was on a paved highway and was smooth and uneventful - just the way you want a bus ride to be.

Our first stop was at a museum and chapel. The museum told the story of Jon Sigurdsson who was pretty much the father of Iceland as an independent democracy. He was quite the guy and so determined to do what he could for the people of Iceland, he was engaged for 14 years. I suppose credit for patience must also go to his beloved Ingeborg. She was several years older than Jon and was 41 by the time they married. She was thought of as the first lady of Iceland. They actually died only 9 days apart and had a double funeral.

The site of this free museum is a hillside overlooking the fjord and the views are spectacular. While the museum is a new building, the cafe is a series of three joined cabins with severely peaked roofs. These roofs are like an extension of the nearby grassland. I suppose they provide great insulation, if not a nice tidy appearance. We declined the coffee and treats and tried to spot the whales playing in the fjord that apparently others in our group did see.

From there we headed towards Dynjandi falls. Getting there was half the fun on the unpaved gravel road, although it was in pretty good shape. What we didn't realize was that the road was steep and twisting and narrow and rose to a height of about 1600 meters above sea level. Ears popped several times. Those who don't care for heights were somewhat nervous - to put it mildly. The driver covers the route quite often and there were no mishaps on the very sharp turns. It's a well-travelled road but there wasn't much traffic at the time.

Eventually we arrived at the base of Dynjandi. It was easy to see the five different "drops" that make up the falls. Each one is separately named. To see each one up close you must climb, and climb and climb. The terrain is pretty easy for the first one you approach. After that the challenge is real.

As we went up the sun was right in our eyes making it a bit of a challenge. As this is a natural area it doesn't have nice even steps. There is a path and you must avoid the loose stones and try to use the larger stable ones. I doubted whether I'd make it up - and back down again. However, I did get almost to the top. The photos I took were not spectacular but they do document the adventure.

Once safely back at the base we ate our packed lunches and re-boarded the bus for the trip back - along the exact same route. It was a bit cool but the bright sun and effort of climbing make it perfect.

Arriving back on the ship we recalled the previous evening's briefing on how to use the Zodiac life jackets, in preparation for boarding the rubber Zodiac boats for a tour of the fjord that afternoon. We declined that tour but looked forward to using them to explore Grimsey Island at the Arctic Circle.

There was a Northern Lights watch. Of course the start and finish of the spectacle doesn't work on a schedule. Nature makes the rules. We had a presentation on the scientific explanation. The speaker might know what he was talking about but we found that listening had a rather soporific effect. It was also a test of hearing and patience as he refused to keep the microphone close enough to his mouth so that we could hear him well. But he did say that it would be the last chance to see the Northern Lights on this cruise. 

We stayed up until about midnight, shivering on Deck 7 in anticipation of the light show. Eventually what seemed like a thin band of cloud began expanding and moving and we realized that "this is it". The show lasted about half an hour and the light danced in various smooth, circular, and spiky formations. I was not aware of any colour but apparently they were green. The gases determine the colours but multi-coloured displays are not that common it seems.

Reykjavik apparently had a display that was far more spectacular but we were happy to tick that off our "what do we want to see" on this cruise. Fortunately we had not signed up for the early morning walk to the Herring Museum, and we decided not to set an alarm for the morning.
I will upload photos later.

Sunday from Grundarfjorder

Our port was changed but our excursion remained the same. The sun was shining as we had our tasty breakfast and then assembled for the bus. There were multiple buses for a few destinations. Our trail was the perimeter of the Snaefellnes (who knows how to spell it?) Peninsula.

We had glorious weather almost all the time until our return at 3ish. It did rain a couple of times while we were driving between our waypoints but every time we got off the bus the sun came out. It's not recommended to take photos from a moving bus. However, we couldn't resist. Some turned out quite well.

From one point we disembarked for a "walk". Well, OK, exercise is good. Well - what spectacular views that you would never guess from the road. Much of the scenery reminded me of the Cliffs of Moher and both the Giant's Causeway and Staffa. The walk was easy on a gravel path - actually crushed lava. The whole island is volcanic and we keep hearing that many of the volcanoes are active and some are "(over)due to erupt". As long as they wait until Sept 10, we're good.

Iceland is very protective of its environment. Littering is minimal. What was surprising to learn is that you may NOT take any rocks out of the country. The airport crew is more than happy to carefully check and issue fines of hundreds of Euros – or tens of thousands of ISK – before you leave. No excuses like "I didn't know". There is some jewellery made of a sort of lava that is acceptable and they know the difference. Fortunately, geology samples are not on my list of 'must-have' souvenirs.

Our final stop was at a Shark Museum, where we heard about fishing for Greenland Sharks, and how they are processed. It takes months to get the shark meat that is not poisonous to humans. I shudder to think of how they found this out and apparently nobody knows how they figured out how to make it edible.

So - we had "shark tasting". I did try it. Now my question is: why on earth did they bother? The taste is not totally foul, but left me queasy for about half an hour. I tried the tiniest piece I could find. The process is to dip it in schnapps (Icelandic) for a few seconds and then chew and swallow. The longer you chew the stronger the taste. I think I had three chews and a swallow. Then a tiny piece of rye bread to take away the worst of the taste. I won't bother to do that again.

Here are a few photos from today - they might come out a bit bright but I'm not doing any editing at this point. More tomorrow.

just caught it at the right time - raining when we went by later

Reminded me of Giant's Causeway and Staffa

Who doesn't love a view like this?

Enjoying our packed lunch at a place that starts with B

Another boring gorgeous view

Shark meat drying

Not sure why they need a tractor

Aboard the Ocean Diamond

Saturday was our only really wet day so far and we were on the move all the time. There is free wifi onboard but not in the cabins and by the time we were finished with the first day's proceedings it was too late to seek it out and write the blog. We had to get up early for an excursion. So, let's back up a little.

Public confession here: I was trying to take a night photo from our hotel room on Friday night, by pressing my camera against the glass of the window. I chose the window badly. It was the only one that opened and that was little more than a crack. However, when the phone/camera slipped it dropped 7 stories. By the time I got down to the sidewalk, all I found was the screen protector. I looked all over, as did hotel staff, but to no avail. It's hard to imagine any smartphone surviving such a drop, but possibly mine did. Someone must have retrieved it immediately and took off. I can only hope it's useless. I had backed up almost all of my photos to the cloud, except for a few from Friday. I suspended the phone service so it could not be accessed by anyone. Of course they could take out the SD card where I had thousands of pictures. They are all backed up except for a few. 

That left me without a phone - which I used only on wifi for Internet access, but more importantly without a camera. I found out the best place to buy some sort of replacement. It didn't come cheap but I now have a Samsung A20 which has a great camera. It can be used all over the EU. So that means another large expense when I get home. If anyone is going to be travelling where this phone works, you are most welcome to borrow it. I only got a data plan as I have no desire to phone anybody from here.

Now, kindly have a laugh at my expense (my great expense) and never mention this to me again. Thank you.

So - purchase completed and phone set up, off we went. There was a constant drizzle all day but we wandered up and down the streets surrounding the hotel - testing the camera of course. We went back to the Grillhusid for a nice bowl of asparagus soup for lunch around 3. Too bad we did.

When it came time to board the ship we collected our bags from the hotel and trotted off in the now slightly heavier rain, for the port. It was only about 10 minutes on foot with suitcases.

A friendlier crew you will never find. There was a lovely buffet set up on board and a very smooth process of registration and finding our room. We bypassed the food. We have the most spacious cabin I've ever enjoyed on a cruise. There was room for all of our things. Dinner was about 7:30 and followed by more presentations. We finally called it a day around 10:30. Sleep was elusive.