Ultimate World Cruise: Reykjavík, Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle Tour

Day 04/22 – Arriving to Reykjavík, Iceland

It was Day 04 of 22 on the Ultimate World Cruise, part of my Round the World Trip 2024, and we were arriving to my country #78: Iceland. We boarded the Serenade of the Seas in Amsterdam and spent 3 very intense days at sea, with rough waters that made me believe the worst could happen. Fortunately, the captain and crew managed to keep us safe and sound, so the arrival in land was very welcomed. This was an overnight stop, meaning we would have to get back in the cruise for departure on Day 05.

Now, after having breakfast in the Windjammer, we were headed to the gangway to get to the independent cruise we had book on GetYourGuide: From Reykjavik: Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon Tour with Drink. The problem? Well, the tour started at 8 am from the cruise terminal, and the cruise was not cleared until 9:40 am. In the meantime, we desperately called the agency, and begged for them to wait for us, but we were not the only ones in this predicament. After we finally got out, we ran to the parking, not really knowing where to go until we saw the van of the agency.

The whole running was worthless, ad we reached the van and we had been the first ones to arrive. We still had to wait for everyone else, and some really took their time. The lack of signaling and transportation between the ship and the parking lot made us wait around 1 additional hour. We had already lost more than 2 hours of the tour. But the agency was really nice and extended the tour at the end, so we would not miss anything that had been scheduled.

Day 04/22 – Thingvellir National Park

Off we went, and the first destination was Thingvellir National Park.

Þingvellir National Park in Iceland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s known for its historical and geological significance: 

• Location: Located in an active volcanic area on the northern shore of Lake Þingvallavatn, about 49 km east of Reykjavík.
• Size: Covers 24,000 hectares, with 9,270 hectares designated as the World Heritage property.
• Features: Includes a rift valley with high cliffs and fissures, lava fields, ravines, and the remains of the Alþing, Iceland’s first parliament.
• History: The name Þingvellir means “Assembly Plains”. The Alþing met in the park from 930 to 1798, and the event in 930 is considered the founding of Iceland. The park was also a site of campaigns for Icelandic independence, including the granting of Iceland’s constitution in 1874.
• Geology: Part of the Atlantic Ocean ridge, the park is located where the North-American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and move apart.

The tour guide gave us a lot of info and then let us explore the park for some time.

The way it was so amazing to see both tectonic plates separating and we were able to walk it. It was very chilli, definitely was worthy to buy a heavier jacket in Amsterdam, even though it was the summer.

We explored the visitor’s center and got a couple of hot coffees. It was crowded everywhere and with reason, very beautiful and popular spot in the west of Iceland.

Day 04/22 – Geysir Hot Springs

Continuing with the tour, we went a little more to the East and found the Geysir Hot Springs, an area basically full of these geological formations.

Geysir Hot Springs is a geothermal area in Iceland’s Haukadalur valley that features a famous geyser and other hot springs, fumaroles, and more: 

• The geyser: The Great Geysir is a world-famous geyser that’s known for its sporadic eruptions of scalding water into the air. The geyser’s name comes from the Icelandic verb gjósa, which means “to gush”. 
• The area: The geothermal area is about 3 square kilometers and includes more than a dozen hot water blow holes. The springs are aligned along a 500 meter long strip of land that runs in the same direction as the area’s tectonic lines. 
• The history: The geothermal area has been active for over 10,000 years, but the first written record of it is from 1294. The geyser has been relatively inactive since 1916 due to sediment buildup in the underground water passages. However, an earthquake in 2000 revived the geyser, and it erupted a few times a day for several years. 

Just when we were about to go get some lunch, the geyser blew up and it was so amazing to see. Reminded me of the fake geyser in the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World.

Time to have lunch, and we were recommended this restaurant, the Geysir Center to have a bite.

The first food outside of the cruise since we started this journey was fish and chips, a favorite of mine. Everything was overpriced but it was edible at least lol.

Day 04/22 – Gullfoss Waterfall

Not far from there, but still the furthest we would go on this tour, was the Gullfoss Waterfall.

Gullfoss, or “Golden Waterfall”, is a two-tiered waterfall in Iceland that’s known for its beauty and power: 

• Location: Located in the Haukadalur Valley, about 90 minutes east of Reykjavík.
• Height: The falls cascade 32 meters (105 feet) into a canyon.
• Name: The name comes from the golden-brown color of the water on sunny days, caused by the glacial sediments it carries.
• Geology: The upper falls are formed by a series of basalt layers, while the lower falls are formed by hard and soft sedimentary rocks.
• Rainbow: Rainbows often form over the falls on sunny days.

You can get really wet looking at the falls, the area is windy and cold too. We got on the van again, and now we were heading back West. The landscape of Iceland is just so beautiful. I need to come back and spend a few days here exploring the entire country.

The tour guide talked about these horses on the side of the road, and the other guests agreed to stop and meet them. A voluntary donation was available to be given to the owners.

Day 04/22 – Kerid Crater

Kerið Crater is a volcanic crater lake in Iceland that’s known for its striking colors and unique geological features: 

• Location: Kerið Crater is in the Grímsnes area of South Iceland, on the Golden Circle route. It’s about 45 minutes from Reykjavík. 
• Size: The crater is 55 meters deep, 170 meters wide, and 270 meters across. The lake is 7 to 14 meters deep, depending on the time of year and rainfall. 
• Colors: The crater is made of red volcanic rock and the lake is a vivid aquamarine blue. 
• Age: The crater is about 6,500 years old. Geologists believe it was formed when a magma chamber collapsed after a volcanic eruption. 

The Sellandafjall mountain was visible from the parking lot of the Kerid Crater.

We hiked to the top and got a view of the crater. It was very cold so we did not go around, but other guests did do it.

Day 04/22 – Blue Lagoon

After a very long ride to the the very East of the Reykjanes peninsula, we arrived at Blue Lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa in Iceland known for its milky blue waters and is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. It was definitely the main focus of what we needed to see in Iceland during this cruise stop, and the reason why we booked this tour.

• Location: The Blue Lagoon is located in a lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland, about 3.1 miles from Grindavík and 12 miles from Keflavík International Airport. 
• Water: The lagoon’s water is a combination of 70% ocean water and 30% freshwater, and is heated naturally by geothermal activity. The water is enriched with minerals like silica and sulfur, and is a characteristic milky blue color due to the way silica reflects sunlight. 
• Depth: The average depth of the lagoon is about 4 ft, but some areas can be as deep as 5 ft. The bottom of the lagoon is smooth and soft due to silica sedimentation, and many guests wear flip-flops while walking in the water. 
• Amenities: The Blue Lagoon has a spa, health club, restaurant, and offers massage services. It also has in-water treatments that combine massage with the geothermal seawater. 
• History: The lagoon was discovered in the early 1980s by local residents who bathed in the warm water. 

The Blue Lagoon has been threatened by the 2023–2024 Sundhnúkur eruptions, that had drove tons and tons of volcanic material towards the area. Right before we arrived in Iceland, the hot springs had been closed for months, and we were hoping we were able to bathe in this iconic destination.

Before arriving, the tour guide gave us instructions in case an evacuation was necessary. It was off putting seeing all the engineered fabricated walls around the area protecting the resort in case of more lava coming in.

But we made it, and we checked in as a group. We were given a couple of hours on our own, plus a bracelet that included a drink and a face treatment.

We went to the lockers to get changed into our bathing suits, and immediately went to the lagoon. The blue was mesmerizing. I had been waiting to come here for years, and I was glad I was finally here.

We grabbed our drink and explore around the lake. Sat for a couple of minutes in the saunas, and even got the face mask, which was just a handful of the same white sediment found on the lake.

The resort was beautiful but time flew and we had to shower and get ready to get back into the van to say bye to this amazing tour.

Day 04/22 – An evening in Iceland

Everyone was tired, but we were headed to the cruise now where we were dropped off. News on the Facebook group of the cruise started that the Blue Lagoon had been evacuated. We were like WHATTT??? Yes, just minutes after we left, another eruption happened, and the resort had to close. We were so lucky.

Regardless, we were safe and sound, and back in the Serenade of the Seas, for a shower a nice break.

That night, we decided to go out, and the sunset was giving.

After exploring the cold Reykjavik, we decided to go have dinner at Íslenski Barinn, a famous stop in the city center. Of course, I had to try the reindeer burger. I am sorry Rudolph. Kinda reminded me of my days in Alaska.

The place was nice, and the burger was delicious. Love to try these different kind of meats common in other destinations. After walking a little bit more and getting into a bar, we took a taxi back to the cruise. Now, from the upper deck, we were able to see the volcanic eruptions happening in the peninsula, that forced the evacuations on the Blue Lagoon. Some UWC cruisers were actually trapped there, but were able to make it on time on the next day.

Day 05/22 – Reykjavik City Center

The next day, very early and after having breakfast in the Windjammer, we took a taxi from the cruise port to the city center. We were avoiding this at all cost, but the shuttle would not be working for the next hour. The short but really expensive ride dropped off at the very center of the city.

The first stop had to be the Hallgrimskirkja Church, very empty this early in the morning.

Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran church in Reykjavík, Iceland that’s known for its distinctive curved spire and side wings. It’s the largest church in Iceland and a major tourist attraction: 

• Size: At 244 ft (74.5 m) tall, Hallgrímskirkja is one of the tallest structures in Iceland. 
• Architecture: The church’s stepped concrete facade is a modern take on the Icelandic landscape, with a design that resembles the basalt lava columns that are common in the area. 
• Tower: The church’s tower offers panoramic views of Reykjavík, the mountains, and the ocean.  
• History: The church was built between 1945 and 1986 and is named after the 17th-century Icelandic poet and cleric Hallgrímur Pétursson.

The Skólavörðustígur street with the pride flag and the church on the back is just iconic.

I walked around the Founder Statue Park, kind of just exploring and getting lost. I had a few hours in front of me before I had to get back to the ship.

Got some coffee to warm me up on this cold day of the Summers in Iceland, and then went to see a little bit of the Reykjavík City Hall.

It’s a really beautiful structure, but the main attraction (a giant map inside) was closed.

Day 05/22 – Perlan museum

I did not want to take more expensive to the point of robbery taxis, so I checked on Google Maps how to get in public transportation to my next destination. I opened the website for the buses and got a ticket for the bus, which was very cheap. The driver would scan the QR code generated at the ticket and off we went.

The next stop was the Perlan Museum, an interactive natural history museum that showcases Iceland’s landscapes and wildlife using modern technology: 

Amenities: The museum also has a restaurant, bar, café, ice cream parlor, and gift shop. 

Features: The museum has a variety of exhibits, including an ice cave, a glacier exhibit, a volcano show, a planetarium, a replica of a seabird cliff, and a virtual fish tank. 

Observation deck: Perlan has a 360° observation deck with views of Reykjavík, the ocean, and the mountains. 

Location: Perlan is located on top of Öskjuhlíð hill, close to the city center. 

History:The building was originally a cluster of hot water tanks, but was converted into a museum in 1991. 

The bus dropped me off kind of close but still a bit far, so I had to basically climb the hill and get to the gate in this cold. I got in, and I always like natural history museum, so I was thrilled.

The museum was nice, and got to see a presentation on the northern lights in the Planetarium. It was so relaxing, it almost put me to sleep lol.

The part with the frozen tunnel was nice, but by now, time was running up, so I went upstairs and checked the panoramic views.

The church was clearly visible from up here.

And hey, even Serenade of the Seas was saying hi from afar. Reminded me I had to be back soonish.

And there it was, the smoke from all the volcanic eruptions happening not too far from here. Amazing. It always intrigue me.

Day 05/22 – Bye bye Reykjavik

And after climbing down the hill where the museum is located, I checked the bus website and bought another bus to the city center. From the bus I was able to see the City Hall once again.

Did some grocery shopping (mostly sodas), and got some clothing and souvenirs, and waited for the bus back to the port. I waited for like 30 min and started getting worried until it finally arrived. I made it on time to the Serenade of the Seas.

Not too long after, we departed and now I was able to see the city from the cruise. Bye bye Iceland, I will be definitely back to see the Northern Lights and explore more of the East and North of the country. But now, the Ultimate World Cruise, and Round the World Trip had to continue.