Norway and Iceland Cruise on the Sky Princess
When choosing a cruise, several factors are important:
The most important of all is the cruise itinerary - where you arrive at impressive and special destinations allowing you to see the best of them in a few days of touring. But no less important is the cruise line and the specific ship sailing the requested route.
It is also important to embark on a cruise at the right time. Due to commercial considerations and mainly supply and demand, many companies have greatly extended their sailing dates in certain destinations, even though it is not ideal weather-wise. For example - if in the past a cruise to Alaska was from mid-May to early September, today cruises with many companies run from April to October.
When I looked for a successful cruise for the month of June, the choice of the Sky Princess Sky Princess was very easy:
A diverse itinerary with ports in both Norway and Iceland, the duration of stay in most ports is long and allows for 9-hour and even longer tours, with scenic cruising between ports in long and photogenic fjords, at the most successful time in terms of weather and day length: the longest days of the year when the sun barely sets, on a charming and large ship belonging to one of my favorite companies: Princess.
Norway and Iceland are considered the most expensive countries in Europe. Car rental, accommodation, and food prices are extremely high and demand exceeds supply. On the other hand, when cruising to various destinations in these countries, there is no need for a car, hotels, and of course eating out there. You eat wonderful food on the ship before the tour, with the highest quality service available, and after an impressive day of touring you happily return to the ship, to the pampering room serviced twice a day, to shows and entertainment programs,
for viewing views from the deck, from the balcony, or from the pool and Jacuzzi, and of course for more delicious food without limits...
The described cruise is with the excellent Princess company, the company of the original "Love Boat". This is a ship from the largest ship series of the Princess company. The ship was launched in October 2019, weighs 143,000 tons, and the maximum number of passengers on a cruise (on a twin basis) is 3,660 people. About 1,340 crew members (half of them waiters, cooks, and bartenders) take care of all passenger needs and provide personal, pampering, and high-quality service at the highest level.
Description of the Ship and Its Facilities
A detailed description of its facilities and attractions can be read extensively in the article I wrote about its first twin sister in the series, "Royal Princess": Ten-Night Caribbean Cruise on the Royal Princess .
Princess is known for its wonderful food and amazing desserts, especially its chocolate and soufflé desserts.
The ship has an excellent pizzeria named "Alfredo's" which features, in addition to Italian pizzas baked on the spot in a brick oven, excellent antipasti dishes and of course soup, salad, and desserts. Do not miss the "Afternoon Tea" experience, daily at 15:00 (including port days) which is much more than just delicious food...
The buffet on the ship located on deck 16 is called: World Fresh Market, very rich and diverse, including options for vegetarians and vegans. At each station, waiters and cooks serve the chosen food. Passengers do not touch the food or utensils to strictly maintain hygiene. There are many stations and even during peak hours there are no lines, crowding, or congestion. The buffet is open continuously between 6 AM and 10:30 PM and you can eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and also interim meals like brunch. The menu changes daily.
The ship has three large and spacious dining rooms on decks 5 and 6 where you eat according to the "Dine My Way" system without a fixed table or fixed waiter. You can come whenever you want and sit at a table with as many people as you want. You can arrive without a reservation (we never experienced any line) or book in advance. If you want, you can request the same table and time throughout the entire cruise. A small tip: since the days on this cruise are very long and the sun barely sets - ask to sit at a window table. This way you can watch the breathtaking views of fjords, islands, mountains, and of course the sea during your meal, and sometimes even see jumping dolphins, swimming ducks, and whales while eating.
For those looking for a lighter meal at all hours of the day, it is recommended to visit the cafe named International Cafe on deck 5, open 24 hours a day. The quality coffee served there is for an additional fee, but the food is at no extra charge and includes quality quiches, sandwiches, cakes, salads, and soup. Small, diverse, and delightfully tasty dishes.
Two other things I love about Princess are the Medallion: a small circle worn around the neck (but can also be worn as a watch, bracelet, or simply put in a pocket) which serves as the room key, payment method, and identification means when entering and leaving the ship. When arriving at the room with full hands, there is no need to search for the key or do anything. The smart door recognizes you from afar and opens for you. I especially enjoy the ship's horn: upon every entry and departure from a port, instead of a regular horn, the ship sounds the opening of the Love Boat theme song. Very nostalgic and pleasant to the ear.
In addition to the modern theater, the ship has a large selection of entertainment and music shows taking place in several halls and clubs.
Cruise Itinerary
Southampton - The Cruise Departure Port
The starting point for the cruise is Southampton in southern England, located about a two-hour drive from London where it is also recommended to take a tour before or after the cruise.
Recommended transfers from London to Southampton or from London airport to your hotel:
Recommended Hotels in Southampton
Successful and central hotels within short walking distance of the city's main tourist sites and shopping centers:
♦ Holiday Inn Southampton - A 4-star hotel with breakfast near the cruise port. Spacious and modern rooms. The hotel has a bar and restaurant.
♦ Moxy Southampton- Another 4-star hotel. Belongs to the Marriott chain. The rooms are relatively small but the location is extremely central and breakfast is successful. The hotel has a bar and restaurant.
♦ THE PIG-in the wall- A small hotel with a bar in the heart of Southampton's old town located right on the wall.
The Ancient Wall in Southampton:
Ancient Building in Southampton:
Cruise Destinations and Duration
The cruise duration is 14 nights and includes 3 ports in Norway and 4 ports in Iceland in addition to 6 sea days: two at the beginning, one between Norway and Iceland, and three at the end, for final rest and pampering before returning to reality... (meaning: to the port of Southampton). This route is a route that the Sky Princess does only once or twice a year, but other Princess ships (for example: her twin sister, the "Enchanted Princess") also do it a few times between May and October.
On the sailing day between Norway and Iceland, you cross the Arctic Circle Arctic Circle on a day when the sun does not set at all! You even receive a certificate stating that you crossed the Arctic Circle (proudly joining the equator and time zone crossing certificates).
This is a cruise especially suited for landscape and nature lovers. You cannot stop being awed by the sights and it's hard to stop taking pictures. In some destinations, you feel like you are inside a postcard, and in others, you feel the tremendous power of nature in extremely dramatic landscapes.
The cruise begins with two days at open sea to get acquainted with the ship and its facilities, watch various shows and events, engage in sports activities in the gym, walking tracks, and sports courts, and mainly recharge batteries for the abundance of ports expected ahead.
The pools (four pools) are well heated (almost like the many Jacuzzis on the ship's deck) and even people sensitive to the cold enjoy them.
From the two main pools and some of the Jacuzzis, you can also watch the giant movie screen, which is also one of the symbols of the Princess company: "Movies Under the Stars" where movies, concerts, and shows are screened, and in between pictures and videos of cruise destinations around the world.
Video of Destinations on the Cruise:
Norway - Skjolden Port
The first port you reach is Skjolden Port Skjolden located at the end of Norway's longest fjord - "Sognefjord" Sognefjord (pronounced: Sonia Fjord).
This is a small and picturesque town whose port is located near the town center. The town abounds with rivers and streams and it's fun to walk around it across the many bridges, on the cute main street featuring a visitor center with a sports center and a cafe alongside several shops and restaurants, and also visit the photogenic lake at the end of which is a dam. It is especially recommended to join a walking tour with llamas. The charming farm is located about a quarter-hour walk from the cruise pier and houses llamas and sheep. You walk with the llamas along a rushing river and among various agricultural crops in postcard landscapes.
After bidding farewell to the friendly llamas, you continue with the guide up the hill to a wonderful viewpoint over the town while tasting wild strawberries growing beside the path and observing well-kept houses full of flowers. You can join the llama tour only through tours organized by the cruise lines. They are very popular and require booking long before the cruise date.
At the end of the stay in the port, the ship sails in the long fjord throughout the afternoon and evening hours in wonderful landscapes. This is the time to spend on the upper decks, on the room's balcony, and even when eating - request a window table to enjoy the magical scenic cruise.
Norway - Olden Port
The next day you arrive for a full day at Olden Port Olden. In this port, the ship anchors in a bay near the town and passengers descend on boats to the pier. Olden is also located at the end of a fjord and is very photogenic; it is recommended to tour it on foot or, for those who prefer, on a small tourist train, but it's best to first join one of the following tours:
The most popular tour is to the Briksdal Glacier, the most visited and accessible glacier in Norway. You travel to it from its parking lot either on foot for about two to three hours or in small carts.
♦ To book a recommended guided tour from Viator to the Briksdal Glacier from the port in Olden: Olden Shore Excursion: the Amazing Briksdal Glacier
The tour lasts about 4 hours.
A no less recommended tour combines a visit to a smaller and closer glacier: "Kjenndalen Glacier" Kjenndalen Glacier with a ride on the "Skylift" cable car in Loen Loen Skylift, the town adjacent to Olden. The tour begins with a scenic drive of about an hour along a lake on a narrow and winding road.
until reaching the glacier which shrinks every year, but the scenery of the entire valley with the cliffs, waterfalls, flowers, and ice is impressive. There is a light walking trail along a stream inside vegetation with plenty of beautiful viewpoints.
From there you return to the town of Loen and ride its steep and fast cable car to the mountain peak offering a 360-degree view of the fjords, lake, towns, and mountains.
At the peak, there is an impressive observation deck located on the roof of the restaurant as well as walking trails of all difficulty levels and additional views of breathtaking landscapes, the most beautiful that can be seen and imagined (especially if it's clear and the weather is friendly). At the partly snowy peak, there is also a zipline (for an additional fee).
If you only wish to visit the cable car and the town, there is no need to join a guided tour. You can travel by taxi, local bus, or a tourist bus departing from the town center up to the lower cable car station and tour the peak independently. Those who are energetic and athletic can walk one of the directions on foot (about 6 kilometers).
It is recommended to watch the departure from the town from one of the decks or balconies. The long evening hours (the sun sets in summer after midnight) should be dedicated to watching the fjord scenery.
Norway - Ålesund Port
The third and last port in Norway on this cruise is Ålesund Port Ålesund. The cruise pier is located about a five-minute walk from the beautiful city center, built entirely in the Art Nouveau style.
For those visiting Norway for the first time, it is recommended to take a tour that reaches the "Troll's Road" Trollstigen & Valldal . This is an eight-hour tour whose highlight is a drive on one of the most famous, scenic, and winding roads in the world. You travel on a magical circular route passing through fjords, steep cliffs, countless waterfalls, ancient bridges, and an abundance of breathtaking viewpoints. From Ålesund, drive to Åndalsnes which is the starting point for the famous Trollstigen Trollstighytta.
♦ To book a recommended tour of Trollstigen from Ålesund port from Viator: Alesund Shore Excursion: From Fjords to Trolls
For those who are not interested in long drives and prefer to be more active and sporty, a tour named Kayak & Hike in Ålesund- is highly recommended, a kayaking tour combined with a hike to the peak of "Sukkertoppen" (Sugar Top mountain) near Ålesund by the company UTEGUIDEN AS . The total tour duration is about 6 hours and it departs from the company's large sports store located in the city center about a 10-minute walk from the ship.
You kayak in a beautiful bay with a view of the city and port on one side and islands on the other, pass colorful houses and fishing boats, and arrive at a cute town where you leave the kayaks and set out on a hike that initially passes through the town with colorful houses and sea views, continues into a forest and further among rocks and low vegetation until reaching the peak of Sugar Top mountain from which you can see the entire city spread out from end to end, surrounded by sea, beaches, bridges, and islands. A magnificent view that justifies the not-easy walk.
At the peak, you have a picnic with a light lunch and descend back down the mountain and town to the kayaks with which you return to Ålesund port, enjoying a combined view of the cruise ships and the photogenic city.
The company offers a variety of additional tours for action and challenge lovers including bike tours, rafting, canyoning, and rock climbing, as well as a shorter, scenic and lovely sea kayaking tour of about two and a half hours without a hike.
♦ To book a two-and-a-half-hour kayaking tour from Viator offered by this company: Sea Kayaking In Ålesund.
For those who do not wish to travel far or go on a guided nature tour, there are several options for tours in Ålesund itself:
Departure for a half-day guided tour of Ålesund's attractions, to book from Viator: Alesund Shore Excursion: The Ultimate Sightseeing Tour
Or take the BYTOGET tourist train traveling between points of interest across the beautiful city. The tour duration is about 60-70 minutes, including a stop for a view of the city from its highest point at Fjellstua. Afterwards, it's worth getting lost in the streets of the beautiful city, in the pedestrian mall, and if time permits also visit the Ålesund Aquarium Atlanterhavsparken considered the city's number one attraction and one of the largest aquariums in Northern Europe.
Sailing to Iceland
After a sea day crossing the Arctic Circle, you arrive at four wonderful ports in Iceland, in each of which you stay a full day from seven or eight in the morning until seven or eight in the evening, allowing for diverse nature tours including many destinations near each of the ports.
Akureyri Port Akureyri
Akureyri Akureyri in northern Iceland is the second largest city in this country. The port is located about a ten-minute walk from the city's main pedestrian mall. This is a cute city that is fun to explore on foot. Within three hours you can see the best of it: start with a visit to the impressive Akureyrarkirkja Akureyrarkirkja church standing on top of a hill from which you can overlook the view of the northern fjords.
Recommended guided tours from Akureyri from GetYourGuide.com:
Near the church is a large botanical garden containing most plant species existing in Iceland and many "foreign" varieties.
Afterwards, it's fun to wander the old center which features a wide variety of cafes, shops, galleries, boutiques, and museums.
Before touring the city, it is advisable to tour the dramatic nature located within an hour and a half drive from it. A recommended tour of about 6-7 hours is: Lake Mývatn Lake Mývatn from Akureyri Port reaching a variety of successful nature sites. Pickup from the cruise port is according to the ship's arrival time. The tour is conducted in minibuses and is intended for small groups. The first stop is at Godafoss Goðafoss waterfalls, rushing horseshoe waterfalls with organized walking trails, a bridge, and plenty of viewpoints from all directions over the waterfalls and the river arriving at them and spilling from them. The width of Godafoss waterfall is 30 meters and it drops from a height of 12 meters.
From there you continue to Lake Mývatn Lake Mývatn (the lake's name translated to Hebrew is “Midge Lake” and indeed its surroundings have a large amount of midges), inside which, as a result of a volcanic eruption and lava flow, craters and small mountains named Skútustaðagígar Skútustaðagígar Psuedo Craters were formed. Among the craters are walking trails and plenty of viewpoints.
The next stop on the tour is the Dimmuborgir Dimmuborgir lava fields where you walk on hiking trails among frozen lava that created interesting rock and cliff formations, including arches and caves. You walk accompanied by the guide for about an hour on one of the site's trails.
The next impressive site, Hverir Hverir, is a geothermal site with bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, and ground with minerals in a variety of colors. You can walk on foot among the steam, mud pools, and boiling water.
From there you continue for a short visit for impression only (without bathing due to lack of time) to thermal baths named Jardbodin Jardbodin
And the final stop is for an impression of an underground river named Grjótagjá Rift Grjótagjá Rift located beneath a huge tectonic plate fault.
The road back to the ship ends with a mountain pass from which you can overlook Akureyri and of course the port and the beautiful ship waiting for you. Along the entire road are plenty of charming and colorful flowers, horses, and sheep.
Similar tours can also be booked on the Viator website:
♦ A recommended tour, lasting 5-6 hours and tailored for cruise passengers:
Lake Myvatn Day Tour and Godafoss Waterfall for Cruise Ships from Akureyri Port
♦ A longer tour (8-9 hours) by 4x4 vehicle: Day Trip to Lake Mývatn and Powerful Dettifoss from Akureyri
Alternatively, you can go on a whale-watching tour departing from Akureyri port for a 2-3 hour cruise in small fast boats or larger, slower vessels. The starting point for the cruise is from the pier adjacent to the cruise pier.
♦ To book a recommended whale-watching cruise from Viator: Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri
Isafjordur Town Isafjordur
This is the central and largest town in the Westfjords, where about 3,000 residents live. The capital of the Westfjords is located on a beautiful bay, between high and impressive mountains which are covered in white even in summer days. Reaching the area by land as part of a road trip in Iceland is long and not easy because this is a remote area with roads that are difficult to drive on. Near the town is a 10-kilometer-long single-lane tunnel. It is a lot of fun to reach the area with the ship, without the need for long drives on deserted roads. The ship anchors and passengers arrive at the pier by boats.
♦ It is highly recommended to take a circular tour to "Svalvogar" Svalvogar by 4x4 vehicle.
Description of the circular tour to "Svalvogar":
The first stop on the tour is the small town of "Þingeyri" Þingeyri from which you continue along the Westfjords on scenic roads over cliffs with the sea on one side and towering mountains on the other.
Along the way you pass abandoned farms where single families used to live, but today some serve as summer homes for family members and some stand desolate.
Even Icelanders do not want to live in such a remote and desolate place. Along the entire road you pass streams and rivers, waterfalls, bays, and rocks in various shapes,
Plentiful vegetation covering the mountains and slopes in a magnificent purple-white carpet, and sheep eating grass and resting on steep slopes looking as if they will fall into the sea at any moment.
The road is suitable only for 4x4 vehicles and skilled drivers. It is narrow, winding, sometimes crossing streams flooding the road, and close to the coastline while sometimes climbing to heights. Along the entire road you stop for plenty of scenic viewpoints. Even relative to Iceland, you will see the most pristine and dramatic landscapes on this tour.
Along the way you will meet very few cars, a few cyclists, and none of the cruise ship passengers! At the end of the road, before continuing to a mountain pass, you stop at a historical museum that really doesn't need to be entered (even though admission is free), but it is housed in a beautiful building adjacent to a picturesque church and a cafe in typical triangular houses. If you already thought you saw the most beautiful landscapes, the view at the top of the mountain beyond the mountain pass will leave you open-mouthed.
Alternatively, if you prefer a cruise in the wild nature of the Westfjords rather than driving on winding roads, it is recommended to join the tour: Amazing Westfjords - Nature tour in Isafjardardjup bay, which is a cruise of about 3 hours to get acquainted with the pristine and special nature of the area.
Grundarfjordur Grundarfjordur
The town of Grundarfjordur is a tiny town of about 300 residents and there is really nothing to see and do in it. Here too the ship anchors and passengers arrive at the small pier by boats. It is recommended to take a comprehensive tour of about six and a half hours organized by the cruise line which includes the best of the "Snæfellsnes" Snffellsnes Peninsula named Best Of Snffellsnes Peninsula Best Of Snffellsnes Peninsula. On the peninsula is also a glacier located on the peak of an active volcano with a height of 1,446 m. The tour begins with a visit to a nearby town named Stykkisholmur Stykkisholmur featuring a unique church on a mountain overlooking the town, fjord, and port scenery.
From there you continue on a scenic road between frozen lava streams on both sides of the road, to a view from the top of a nearby mountain named Helgafellssveit Helgafellssveit known as the "Holy Mountain" overlooking a lake, distant towering peaks, a picturesque church, and horses grazing in the meadow. The next stop is at a indented beach named "Arnarstapi" Arnarstapi adjacent to a small fishing port. The site features a giant statue of a troll
from which a hiking trail leads to the fishing port passing through bays with rocks where hundreds of birds nest, cliffs, arches, and a distant view of the glacier.
This place is a paradise for bird lovers, thanks to the steep cliffs which are home to hundreds of sea birds.
View of the cliffs near the village of Hellnar, where Mother Earth created a "castle" made entirely of dramatic rocks. The site features a view of huge basalt rocks in the sea whose shapes (carved by the waves) strongly resemble a dramatic castle. There are two rocks with a height of 75 meters and another rock with a height of 61 meters.
After lunch at a small hotel named FossHotel overlooking a cute port which also has walking trails along the rocky indented coast, you continue to the visitor center of the Snæfellsnes National Park Snæfellsnes National Park located adjacent to a lighthouse named: Malarrif Malarrif Lighthouse.
From the hiking trail near the visitor center you can overlook a cliff with a unique shape named Londangar Londangar adjacent to the coastline.
The final and perhaps most impressive stop of all is a visit to a beach named: Djupalonssandur Djupalonssandur - a wide expanse of black sand and small black stones adjacent to the lagoon. The site features hiking trails to the beach and paths for views of the beach and lagoon. An impressive and unique landscape unlike anything we saw in other places in Iceland.
Reykjavik Reykjavik
The largest and most visited city in Iceland, where the country's largest airport is also located. The port is located about a 20-minute drive from the city center. There is continuous bus service from the port to the city and of course taxis, but it is advisable not to waste time on the city and instead tour the most popular full-day tour departing from it: the "Golden Circle" Golden Circle Golden Circle : This is an 8-hour tour including visits to extremely impressive natural phenomena, hot springs, and a unique farm where you have lunch.
Gullfoss Gullfoss waterfall, the Golden Waterfall considered the most beautiful among the many waterfalls in Iceland and even chosen as one of the top ten most beautiful waterfalls in the entire world, alongside Niagara Falls and Iguazu Falls. The site has walking trails with successful viewpoints along their entire length over the waterfall. One trail from high above and another trail beside the waterfall which is 70 meters high.
Geysir Gesir park, where you will encounter the special natural phenomenon of boiling water erupting from the ground. The name of the phenomenon, geyser, is also the name of one of the geysers in the park. The original geyser is no longer active, but further down the path near the large geyser is a smaller geyser, the Strokkur Strokkur geyser, "The Kid", which erupts every few minutes to a height of 30 m.
In addition to the geyser, the park has boiling water pools with various mineral colors and steaming ground. The place has a large visitor center with a huge shop.
Thingvellir National Park Thingvellir, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The national park is important for two reasons, one historical and the other geographical. In Thingvellir, Iceland founded the world's first democratic parliament. Thingvellir National Park is the only place in the world where you can observe tectonic plates raised above ground level.
At the park entrance path you can observe a fault of about 7 km running between the American and European plates. The site features a nice view of the park, the valley, and the nearby lake as well as walking trails between the plates, along a river, and near a waterfall.
In the visitor center you will also find video stations with clips presenting the place's history as well as the unique geography, nature, vegetation, and wildlife in the area.
Fridheimar Farm Fridheimar – a family farm specializing in two things: horses and tomatoes. The site has tomato greenhouses of all kinds operating in all seasons using advanced technological means and biological pest control only. You take a short guided tour of the cherry tomato greenhouses, including tastings, and afterwards eat a delicious meal (especially recommended is the tomato soup and olive bread) inside the greenhouses.
"Secret Lagoon" Secret Lagoon – the oldest geothermal bathing pools in Iceland. The site has one large pool at a temperature of about 38 degrees and around it a walking trail by the warm steaming river with boiling water. The place has lockers and bathrooms.
In Reykjavik there are plenty of tourism companies operating tours to the Golden Circle. A recommended company with pickups in both the city center and the cruise port is Hidden Iceland, which runs small group tours of up to 12 people in modern and spacious minibuses.
♦ You can also book a similar tour from the reliable Viator website: Golden Circle Classic Day Trip from Reykjavik lasting about 7 hours.
Another popular tour from Reykjavik is to the "Blue Lagoon" Blue Lagoon, the most famous and popular geothermal bath site in Iceland, partly due to being relatively close to Reykjavik (located about 40 km south-west of the city) and also due to the beautiful color of the water: a special light blue caused by silicate mud and algae making up the water.
The lagoon is a huge pool of seawater rich in minerals heated using geothermal energy. In the pool you can enjoy a large waterfall and buckets of mineral mud, which you can smear on your body and pamper yourself with the treatment. For an additional fee, you can also book special spa treatments.
♦ To book transport + admission ticket to the Blue Lagoon from Viator: Blue Lagoon Admission Including Transfer
The cruise ends with three days at open sea on the long journey back from Iceland to the port of Southampton. After four rather intensive touring days in Iceland - there is no better way to rest, vacation, pamper yourself, and plan the next cruise...