TravelWorld International Magazine Winter 2023

I
was also quite surprised at the large
and bright public spaces on board the
Seaventure. The main gathering spot was
the Seabreeze Lounge where we enjoyed
afternoon tea, cocktails, and evening
entertainment. The nearby library was a more
intimate space that offered a good selection of
books and games.
My cruise was a 9 day complete
circumnavigation tour around all of Iceland
that started and ended in Reykjavik. Each
morning we dropped anchor in a new locale
where we had the opportunity to explore
via a diverse selection of excursions. Since the cost of
the excursions was not included in the base fare, I could
decide to do as many or as few as I wanted.
The Seabreeze lounge
The elegant dining room on the MS Seaventure
Tasting fermented shark and Brennivin alcohol
With its theater style seating, the Expedition
Lounge on the uppermost deck was where
we gathered for informative lectures and
presentations. This was also a great spot to
see the scenery unfold through the expansive
forward facing picture windows. When the
weather was nice, I could also lounge on a deck
chair on the sun deck and swim in the small,
heated pool, or look at sunset views from the aft
Seabreeze deck space.
The spacious dining room was also much more
elegant than I expected on an expedition ship.
For these cruises, Iceland ProCruises brought
in a dedicated Icelandic chef, so we always had
some local flavors at each meal. Breakfast and
lunch were a buffet with a wide array of hot
and cold dishes for all tastes. Dinner was a four
course a la carte menu that always included
one freshly caught local fish entre along with
other choices for guests that didn’t want
seafood. I was very impressed that the menu
was designed to satisfy all dietary needs and
allergies.
What I really liked about the Iceland ProCruises
excursions was that they had options for a variety of
interests and activity levels. There were bus tours to
historic and scenic sights and there were also more active
tours like hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding for the
more adventurous souls.
I felt that each tour included a signature element that
was unique to Iceland ProCruises and that helped me
connect to the Icelandic culture in a way that would
not have been possible on my own. In the Westfjords,
we stopped to have traditional fish soup at a villager’s
home in the small hamlet of Pingeyri. In Siglufjordur,
modern day “Herring Girls” showed us what life was like
for women during the herring rush years when fishing
accounted for 40% of Iceland’s total exports. And in
the town of Seydisfjordur my tour included a stop at a
thermal bath where I soaked in the hot waters with the
locals.
My favorite stops though were Gurnsey Island and
Flatey Island. Gurnsey Island sits on the Arctic Circle
and has a large photogenic marker that proved I was at
66.5 degrees north latitude. Flatey Island was my most
memorable stop though. This small private island is
used just for summer holiday homes and only Iceland
ProCruises was allowed to bring tours here. The big
attraction on this little island was the many puffins that
we could observe up close. I happily spent a couple of
hours taking puffin photos to my heart’s content.
But what made my Iceland ProCruises trip really special
were the multi-talented Icelandic guides. The expedition
team shared first hand stories about their culture, their
traditions, and their folklore. Besides getting destination
information, we also had cultural experiences like trying
fermented shark, tasting Icelandic beers, and listening to
Icelandic folk songs.
Herring cleaning demonstration
by modern day
Herring Girls
Puffins on Flatey Island with the MS
Seaventure in the harbor
Puffins on Flatey Island
Swimming in the
Vok thermal baths
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Excellent salmon dinner with a view on
the Seaventure
Arctic Circle marker on Grimsey Island
For me, this cruise with Iceland ProCruises was an ideal
way to experience all the best that the land of fire and ice
has to offer in complete comfort with experts that really
know Iceland.
Whale watching tour in Husavik
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