This is a guest trip report written by Carol, who sailed on the most recent 10 night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords and Iceland on the Disney Magic on August 16, 2018. You can start the trip report from the beginning by clicking here.
Day 7: Reykjavik, Day 2
Our second day in Iceland began early in the morning. We had a lot we wanted to do and not much time left to spend in Iceland as our ship was leaving at 3:30 pm that day. Our plans for the day started with our guide Gudrun Helga meeting us at the dock at about 7:30, so we grabbed a quick and early breakfast at Cabanas before disembarking the ship. We met up with our guide and she drove us to Thrihnukagigur volcano where we were scheduled to do the Inside the Volcano tour. We had heard about this tour from my daughter’s teacher who had visited Iceland the year before and done this tour and highly recommended it. This is the only volcano that you can actually descend into, which makes it a truly unique experience! The volcano is dormant and hasn’t erupted in over 4000 years. The tour actually begins with an approximate 2 mile walk which takes about 45 minutes. The hike itself is of mild to moderate difficulty, mostly flat in elevation with some ups and downs, but the end does have an elevation increase of about 100 feet. Good walking or hiking shoes are definitely recommended. The scenery during the walk is so beautiful and amazing.
Our guide had arranged for us to be first into the volcano as we had plans for the Blue Lagoon later and were on a tight time schedule. Once we completed the hike to the top, we were fitted into harnesses and given helmets, and then we walked up to the entrance of the volcano. Then we entered an open elevator where we were lowered into the volcano. The trip down into the volcano takes about 6 minutes and goes about 400 ft down. While you are being lowered in the elevator, you get a great view of the volcano and can see all sorts of amazing colors and rock formations. We got to spend about 20-30 minutes in the volcano itself and then rode the elevator back up. The colors and rock formations were just amazing. Walking around looking at them all was just awe-inspiring.
We then took off our gear and had some drinks. You can have traditional Icelandic soup, but we wanted to get hiking back and then off to the Blue Lagoon. Our hike back was as beautiful as the way there over the lava fields.
We then drove to the Blue Lagoon. We had arranged ahead of time for tickets and entrance at a designated time. There are many different types of packages: we chose the “Comfort Package” which is the most basic package but was all we really needed. It includes entrance to the Blue Lagoon, a silica mud mask, a drink of your choice and a towel. Our guide Gudrun Helga helped us get checked in and then agreed to meet us outside. We had 2 1/2 hours to spend in the Blue Lagoon. We split up and went into our separate locker rooms and changed into our bathing suits. We agreed to meet at the entrance of the lagoon. You are supposed to shower before entering the lagoon so we did and then met up. I didn’t want to bring my phone or camera into the water and take any chances of dropping it so I brought out my phone just for the beginning and took some pictures and then went and put it back in the locker. We then enjoyed the absolutely amazing waters of the Blue Lagoon (which are 102 degrees F) – they are completely relaxing. We enjoyed our drink (if I remember correctly I think I had a smoothie and my husband had a beer) and I enjoyed a silica mask (my husband and children decided not to partake). We explored all the different parts of the lagoon while relaxing and having a great time. Our time went by too quickly and soon it was time to get out and changed to head back to the ship.
Our guide Gudrun Helga:
We then headed back to the ship and it was time to leave Iceland (for which we were very sad…..we loved Iceland it was so beautiful!), so we boarded the ship and off it went. The scenery as we left Iceland was beautiful, although I credit my daughter for these pictures as my son and I were playing bingo!
That night our entertainment was Alton Fitzgerald White, who played Mufasa in The Lion King on Broadway, as part of the “Stars Set Sail” series. He was excellent, his voice is amazing and he sang many amazing songs. Dinner that night was at Animator’s Palate and it was the World of Flavor menu. Delicious as always, but it had been a long 2 days – we were looking forward to a day at sea and some time relaxing!
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Up Next: Day 8 – At Sea
Click here to visit Carol’s blog about her family’s travels all over the world.
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