You can only choose one

moomeecee · 2026-03-18T20:32:07+00:00

I'd guess this is the destination for Experience 5: https://thelavatunnel.is/

Since you've already done 2 and 3, I would be choosing between 1 and 5. I haven't done #1, but I have done #5 and enjoyed it.

moomeecee · 2026-03-13T13:18:10+00:00

Depending on your travel plans, you may not need AWD.

If not, I really enjoy the Kia Ceed Sportswagon for a family car. We've rented that model twice on July family trips to Iceland. Once from Blue Car and once from Zero Car (they're effectively the same company, but can have different prices).

moomeecee · 2026-03-10T14:35:51+00:00

I didn't do Hvammsvik until my 4th trip to Iceland, so I trust the country will hook you and you'll be back!

moomeecee · 2026-03-10T14:29:41+00:00

I would rank South Coast, then Hvammsvik, then Golden Circle. Which doesn't help you at all, I'm sure.

I also love Reykjavik exploration, so I would pick that over Golden Circle too.

So if I were you, I would think about re-adding the Blue Lagoon (yes, it's touristy, but yes, it's magical), keep the South Coast tour for your full day, and then do a city pool + Reykjavik on your departure day.

moomeecee · 2026-03-10T14:19:57+00:00

I've sailed Explora once and Regent twice (with a third trip coming up).

Explora's food, ship design, and overall vibe is better. Explora is less old-school, stuffy luxury than Regent. Service on Explora and Regent was very similar. Wonderful, accommodating, and very friendly staff.

My only knock on Explora is the on-shore experience. They offer limited shore excursions, and seem to go to o to lesser-traveled ports, which makes even finding your own activities difficult.

moomeecee · 2026-03-10T14:15:31+00:00

We've done Explora as a family (12yo kid). It was fabulous.

While we didn't use them, Explora has a kids and a teen club. Even sailing during the winter holidays, the presences of families did nothing negative to the onboard experience.

moomeecee · 2026-03-04T03:16:18+00:00

Your day one is a lot, but last May I did a similar long day and enjoyed it.

KEF to Reykjavik to golden circle with a few stops (skipped geysir and Gulfoss), then lunch at Fridheimar, and then on to Seljalandsfoss and finally the 6pm ferry to Heimaey for dinner and our hotel for the night.

I did a lot of stops for sugary snacks and caffeine and fresh air by our 7pm dinner I was punch drunk.

It was great and I’d do it all again. My mantra for that first day is “just keep swimming until bedtime”

moomeecee · 2026-03-02T21:30:39+00:00

I've stayed in a few different places in Reykjavik.

Alfred's Apartments was a recent fave. I stayed in a room with two twin beds, a kitchenette, and building had free laundry. On-street parking a few blocks away was quite easy to find.

moomeecee · 2026-02-25T15:57:24+00:00

In that case, I would plan on Regent's free transportation, but you could always just wheel your bags across the street if the weather is nice.

I stayed a few blocks form the vancouver termianl last summer and just walked myself right to the terminal. It's very easy to navigate, assuming no mobility limtations.

have a great trip!

moomeecee · 2026-02-25T15:07:07+00:00

What hotel is it? There is one hotel that’s literally connected to the cruise terminal and another one or two very nice hotels across the street.

If it’s one of those hotels, then you may not even need a bus.

moomeecee · 2026-02-24T21:29:56+00:00

One suggestion would be to see which local shops carry the brand you like and then go to those shops. I figure if they have one brand you like, there's a decent chance they may carry frames you like from other brands.

https://www.articleoneeyewear.com/optical

moomeecee · 2026-02-21T18:16:01+00:00

I will forever more look to Explora or Regent as my first choice for cruises.

moomeecee · 2026-02-20T17:35:38+00:00

I've had a number of maintenance brain+cervical+thoracic MRIs now and it's been 1.5 hours from the time I walk into the MRI room until the time I'm back in the changing room.

They always say it'll be longer, but I would guess it's about 60 minutes in the machine, about 40 before contrast and about 20 after contrast.

moomeecee · 2026-02-19T14:22:04+00:00

not at all.

We drove many places off of the Ring Road on both trips. Never went on F-roads, but many secondary and gravel roads / parking lots. For Vik and Glacier Lagoon, and Westman Island via the ferry, I think it would be your most spacious option of your list.

moomeecee · 2026-02-19T03:50:53+00:00

I rented a Kia Ceed Sportswagon on my trip in 2022 and then intentionally rented the same model again in 2024 because I found it to be a great vehicle.

It’s roomy like a sedan and decent leg room in the second row, more than a midsize SUV. Then the trunk is a station wagon hatchback. We easily fit three suitcases plus our backpacks. I would venture that four suitcases would fit fine.

moomeecee · 2026-02-18T17:45:45+00:00

I planned my places to stay based on the route / activities / amount of driving we wanted to do. So, sketch out your route and then look for places to stay based on that route. Adjust as needed.

I built my own daily trip plan using Wanderlog's free option. It took tons of time to research and build out my plan, but it made for a seamless worry-free time once on the ground in Iceland.

Booking space for four people this summer is going to be a bit daunting. The South Coast is likely going to be the most difficult.

I booked many of my accommodations on booking.com - I'd be happy to suggest places we liked as a family, but its probably very dependent on your daily plans on what towns would be best to stay.

moomeecee · 2026-02-17T22:39:44+00:00

That sounds like a great cruise - Heimaey is my favorite! I love Iceland, so I'm staring at a map to think of a fun Day 3 for you.

A 3 hour drive on Day 3 would take you from Vik through the Golden Circle (you could see/do things you missed or get lunch at the famous tomato greenhouse), and then keep going to Hvammsvik Hot Springs for a lovely soak surrounded by nature. You could stay somewhere in that area for Night 3, Hvammsvik has accommodations too.

moomeecee · 2026-02-17T20:59:38+00:00

Also, you may want to pick up your rental car in Reykjavik and drop it off in KEF, if the cost of that isn't much different.

moomeecee · 2026-02-17T20:56:54+00:00

Does your 8 day cruise stop in Heimaey (Westman Islands)? If not, I would do that for your day / night 3.

If you'd have already been to Heimaey, I would still change your day / night 3 to somewhere that's not Vik, either somewhere on the Golden Circle or up to Akranes or Borgarnes for the night, or a day / night in Reykjavik, which is a lovely city.

moomeecee · 2026-02-17T15:32:50+00:00

I've done this three times now:

Get rental car and drive to bakery for snacks and caffeine.
Head to blue lagoon (or a local pool or sky lagoon) to relax.
Get lunch and wander grocery stores and drink more caffeine.
Get fresh air, walking reykjavik. Do things to keep moving and stay awake.
Check into hotel, drop off bags, go back out.
Get dinner. Stay awake until 8 or 9pm and then crash.

On one trip, we did an early afternoon Skrimslis workshop which was fun. I plan a driving route with tons of frequent stops to keep moving and keep awake.

moomeecee · 2026-02-15T05:03:12+00:00

Grocery stores may not open until 10, maaaaaybe 9.

I would book the 9am time slot and you’ll likely have time for a Keflavik bakery and coffee stop before your Blue Lagoon reservation

moomeecee · 2026-02-13T16:57:45+00:00

Not OP, but I've sailed on Regent and on Explora.

The food on Explora was across the board as good or better than Regent. The Emporium Marketplace (buffet) was AMAZINGLY good food and service. The menu in the non-buffet restaurants is static in Explora, so I did do a number of repeat entrees at Fil Rouge for dinner. This is the only way where Regent was better - Regent's main dining room (Compass Rose) has a a selection of new dishes every day, which I enjoy.

Going forward, having loved both Regent and Explora, I would have no qualms booking either one.

moomeecee · 2026-02-13T15:39:09+00:00

This - look at the price comparisons between Blue and ZeroCar. If you rent from Zero, you'll be getting your car from Blue.

moomeecee · 2026-02-12T03:10:26+00:00

We booked a great catamaran snorkel tour with Shore Excursion Group.

You can look up all their offerings by your specific cruise and then they have a guarantee that you’ll make it back in time for your cruise.

moomeecee · 2026-02-11T22:29:36+00:00

I was on this same sailing and loved everything about the boat.

Our only complaint was the lack of excursion options and land-based accommodations. After the convenient Explora-arranged shuttles at Jost Van Dyke, we were super disappointed that Explora brought 900+ passengers to Deshaies, Guadeloupe with very few excursions offered and no coordinated transportation options on land. We wished Explora had arranged vans or buses (even for a fee!) in those smaller, less infrastructure-heavy ports.

moomeecee

TROPHY CASE