Anyone on the Grand Sept 25?

[smurffette]

Anyone on the Grand this Sept 25 leaving London and coming back to Ft Lauderdale? Nice long cruise and several great stops. Anyone been to Bergen,Lerwick,Torshavn, & Iceland? Also do cell phones work in most of these stops? Can't wait. :clap:

 

[ShipMaven]

Bon Voyage. I've done similar North Atlantic crossings - they're fantastic.

I've been to Bergen, Lerwick and Reykjavik of the ports you listed. Anything specific you'd like to know?

As for cell service, whether or not you'll have service depends upon your carrier and the type of phone you have. You need a quad-band (international) phone. It also helps to have an international plan with your carrier. I have AT&T, and a quad-band phone...and have used it in all three above-mentioned ports. I've used it in Greenland as well.

 

[smurffette]

Do all the cruise ships in Bergen dock near downtown? We've looked at the town and harbour and can't tell. Any side trips you would reccommend? We already booked Jarlshof Ruins in Lerwick,Leynar/Sandavagur in Torshavin, Godafoss/Dimmuborgir in Akureyri and Krysuvik/Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik. We can always change if need be. We have Verizon and will add international before going.

 

[ShipMaven]

Bergen - yes, the ship docks in town. Walking straight towards town, there are shops, restaurants and a hotel to your left. At the end of the canal to the right, there's a wonderful open air market with fresh fruits, food, flowers and some craft items. If it's a clear day, take the funicular up Mount Fløyen - terrific panoramic view over the city. It's within walking distance of the ship. If you enjoy classical music, Bergen is the home of Norway's most famous composer, Edvard Grieg.

Reykjavik - I led a tour to the Blue Lagoon several years ago. I thought it was going to blah. ANYTHING BUT. We all loved it. If you enjoy swimming, bring a bathing suit with you. The waters, heated by the nearby power generator are mineral filled and warm. If you decide against the Blue Lagoon, the other (all-day) tour I very highly recommend is called the Golden Circle - Gullfoss Waterfall, Guysir (an area of geysers and steam vents) and Thingvellir where the oldest known parliament sat. Also unique about Thingvellir is that the tectonic plates of North America and Europe meet there - you can stand with one foot in North America and the other, in Europe. I did this tour on another cruise.

Other than Lerwick, I've not been to the other ports you list.

As for international calling, be sure your phone is quad band.

Have a great cruise.