Where in the world is Kat Kong?: Days 12-14 of Northern Allure cruise on Oceania Riviera: at sea, Akureyri, Reykjavik (Iceland)

Trip Index

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It was a day at sea for Oceania Riviera, on her way to Iceland. We spent the time recharging from the previous two days' adventures. Kaleb and I opted to eat light meals in the buffet to make up for last night's gluttony.

Day 12 buffet lunch menu

Day 12 buffet dinner menu

poke bowl

On Monday, Oceania Riviera docked in Akureyri, Iceland. We had reservations for a Saga Travel small group tour to Lake Myvatn (sadly now out of business due to the pandemic), thanks to tips from the Cruise Critic roll call. A 10% discount was offered for purchasing two tours, so I added a Northern Lights tour for September 11, departing from Reykjavik.

There were too many people booked on the small group tour, but this time, we weren't lumped into one big bus, but three separate mini-buses with its own driver/guide, which pleased everyone.

Our first stop was to the Goðafoss waterfall. The cloudy skies muted the landscape, but at least it wasn't raining.

Godafoss

much better viewpoint on the other side

Next, we headed to Lake Mývatn and the Skútustaðagígar pseudo-craters. You could hike the entire perimeter, but we didn't have enough time at this stop.

360 spherical picture of Skútustaðagígar at Lake Mývatn, taken with the Ricoh Theta S: (click here if you cannot see the preview below)

Pseudo-craters at Skútustaðagígar at Lake Mývatn - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

Our tour continued on to the lava fields of Dimmuborgir. After the guide took us around the formations, we were given a bit of free time to explore the area, or grab a bite to eat. Kaleb and I opted to hike up to the top of the lava stacks.

food opportunity

Next, we made our way to Grjótagjá Rift, where the Eurasian and North American continents meet. The nearby cave has a thermal spring inside, which was the location for the "Kissed by Fire" episode of Game of Thrones.

climbing down to the cave

but too dark to see the water

Lastly, we headed to the geothermal area of Hverir. Along the way, our guide took us to a geothermal power plant next to an active caldera with a crater lake. Geothermal energy provides much of the heating and hot water in the country as well as over 25% of the electricity.

Krafla caldera

Hverir

boiling pool of water

11-second clip of Hverir: (click here if you cannot see the preview below)

Returning to the ship, Kaleb and I had lunch at Waves Grill.

Cuban and salmon burger

Tonight, we had dinner in the Terrace Cafe buffet.

Day 13 buffet dinner menu

Oceania Riviera would be arriving in Reykjavik in the afternoon on Tuesday, with an overnight in port and disembarkation the next morning.

We planned on leaving the ship after dinner to avoid the crowds the following morning. Our hotel reservation at the Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel started today, thanks to the 5th night free benefit when redeeming Hilton Honors points. We were only staying an extra 4 nights in Reykjavik, but with the 5th night at no cost, it allowed us the flexibility of disembarking a day early.

Day 14 main dining room lunch menu

salmon rillettes and liver patty

flavors of India platter

veal scalloppini

Day 14 lunch buffet menu

savory offerings at Baristas

sweets at Baristas

We packed, then rolled our bags to the gangway. Goodbye Oceania Riviera! Security had no notice of our request to leave a day early, even though we had ticked the box on the form provided on day 7 of the cruise. After the staff made a few phone calls to whomever was in charge, Kaleb and I were allowed off the ship. We walked right onto the dock. There was no immigration building, no guards, no one to stamp our passport, just like disembarking off river cruise ships.

I had planned on catching a taxi to the hotel, but there were none around. Fortunately, as we proceeded a little further down the sidewalk, we found Oceania's complimentary shuttle bus that would take guests to the Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall, which was walking distance to the hotel. I hadn't planned on taking the shuttle as I was unsure if it could accommodate luggage, but as the vehicle was a "flybus" that provided airport transfers, it was perfect.

colorful Harpa

It was about a 10 minute walk from Harpa to the Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel. The sidewalk was cracked in some places, sometimes tripping up the rolling luggage. Construction around Reykjavik had been going on for years; the area around the Konsulat was affected. Reviews on Flyertalk listed landmarks to help locate the hotel entrance.

Check in was a breeze. We received a box of Henry Thor chocolates as a Diamond member gift.

The decor of the hotel harks back to the 19th century, with period-style furnishings and black and white photographs on the walls. Though the surroundings invoked a historical feel, the amenities were certainly up to date, including a Nespresso machine. The mini-fridge contained complimentary snacks and drinks, replenished from time to time.

And that was the end of our two-week voyage on Oceania Riviera! I enjoyed the smaller sized ship as there weren't as many queues and crowds as on larger ships. The dress code was quite relaxed: resort casual during the day, "country club casual" by night. As for having "The Finest Cuisine at Sea", it definitely lived up to expectations. The four complimentary specialty restaurants offered a welcomed change from the main dining room. Being served by staff at the buffet took a little bit of getting used to, but the food quality there was the best I've tasted. (though I must say that the Palo brunch on Disney Cruise Line and the seafood extravaganza on the Norwegian Bliss inaugural cruise were exceptional) I would recommend Oceania for experienced cruisers who are foodies, don't want to pack formal wear, prefer a more intimate atmosphere, enjoy being served and want an itinerary off the beaten path.

Next, we explore Reykjavik and attempt to view the Northern Lights...stay tuned!

(Missed the last entry about our visit to the Shetland and Faroe Islands? Click here to catch up! Don't miss a single update - click here to have the latest delivered straight into your inbox...opt out anytime.)

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