Oct 2018 - NCL Jade - Transatlantic Viking Route UK, Iceland, Canada, New York - Days 1-3


We are back on the NCL Jade for the second time. A lot has changed since our last cruise on this ship after its refurbishment but it still remains one of our favourite ships. Not too big (though not too small) with plenty of public areas and a proper crows nest lounge.
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We leave Southampton on a warm calm evening after a nice lunch on the aft deck. 


We have a sea day before we reach our first destination - the port of Lerwick on the  Shetland Isles.


We booked this cruise last minute direct with NCL. An Oceanview cabin - but pleasantly surprised by the size of the room.


Quick drink before we head into Le Bistro for dinner


We had prebooked several specialty meals for sea days. Le Bistro was excellent as usual though the menu hadn't changed since the last time.


We will have to tender in Lerwick - despite the new pier that's been completed just out of town the Jade is still a little too large to use it. So its all aboard the lifeboats. Fortunately our loyalty points mean we can board the tender first.




Rather like a transformer the Jade creates its own platforms for boarding the lifeboats/tenders


Help I'm in a lifeboat


The NCL jade sits stationary in its deep water spot - its computers maintaining position by GPS


 This is of course is DI Jimmy Perez's (Douglas Henshall) house from the BBC detective series "Shetland"


This charming little beach (Bains Beach) is next door to the Perez house which is one of a few surviving Lodberries (piers that run into the sea - historically developed into warehouses then houses)


We had arranged a trip with  Halcrows "Shetland Explorer Tours"





Lunch was included on this tour at a hotel near the airport, another "Shetland" TV location Series 5 is now showing on the BBC iplayer here





Impossible to avoid the Shetland Ponies, very cute but so hardy.


Finally we spent the last moments in Lerwick shopping for the ultimate Shetland Wool Jumper (from Ninians store on the high street)


Time to get those lifeboats back on board






Our wonderful captain informs us he's going to keep the Shetlands and Faroes between us and the storms in the Atlantic as we depart for Iceland rather than the normal route shown in red.


Dinner tonight is in the MDR where we have a nice table watching the wash behind the ship.










Oct 2018 - Transatlantic Viking Route to New York, Iceland Days 4-5


 

Two excellent days at sea journeying from Shetland to Reykjavik making use of the Jades wraparound promenade deck for exercise. Shetland Jumpers at the ready.




Cruise Critic put us in touch with Iceland Guided Tours . Golden Circle Tour on day 1 and a customized Southern Iceland for the 2nd day.



Normally you need a full day for the Southern Section but IGT customized the tour to fit the ships schedule.


This morning we head off on the Golden Circle Tour


Iceland bridges two continental plates and this supermarket was built right on the fault. A few years ago a tremor partly destroyed the building and the fissure was revealed.



Rest Stops are always better when  coffee and cakes are involved



If you want dramatic views then Iceland is the place for you. So much is recognisable from film and TV,  jaw dropping scenery everywhere.



From HBOs Game of Thrones to Ridley Scott's Prometheus its all here. This is Gullfoss Waterfall , located in South Iceland on the Hvítá (White) river which is fed by Iceland´s second biggest glacier, the Langjökull. The water plummets down 32 meters in two stages into a rugged canyon which walls reach up to 70 meters in height.



Our guide today Andreas. We have now arrived at the geothermal area and the Great Geysir (After whom all other Geysers get their name).



The effects of two continental planes nudging against each other is even more apparent when you arrive at Gestastofa.






Sep 2018 - Transatlantic Viking Route to New York - Day 6



Day 2 in Iceland is a very early start. The Jade departs at 5pm (All aboard 4pm) and most tours to the south coast dont get back till much later - IGT have picked us up earlier to make use of the time and light.  It has snowed overnight leaving a dusting of crisp snow over the hills and mountains.


First stop is Skógafoss one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a drop of more than 60 meters and a width of 25 meters which you can walk right up to, you will get wet, you may get drenched!



Its always hard to get a sense of scale but the little ants on the viewing platform at the top gives you some idea.


From here we drive further south and inland heading to the Glacier Mýrdalsjökull


As we hike towards the glacier the wind is so bitingly cold & forceful, its hard to catch your breath.



 

Justin Bieber was filming on this very beach the week previous...





The original shepherd's huts nestled at the foot of the cliff.