That sounds like good news for all you INGers - hope all goes well and you all have a wonderful cruise. We will be there in spirit and looking forward to fantastic SeaMail, so bring it on guys.

:bv: :bv: :bv: and party time!!

20 minute walk??? OY!!! Guess my "Payless" flats ($15) won't work....and my hiking boots on their last leg - like my own legs - :cool: :cool:

Hmm, the FX converter I use (Oanda.com) indicates that 1000 ISK is around $8.45 today($1 = 130 ISK), so the FlyBus would be around $18.50. For those of you planning to take the FlyBus, please be aware that it will take you to a Central Terminal where you have to change to a smaller bus that will take you to your hotel with potential stops at other hotels along the way (and yes, you'll have to transfer your bags yourself--at least we did the last time we were there). We chose to do a private van because since there are six of us it is only slightly more and a lot less hassle. If you're interested the website is www.shuttleservice.is. Be sure you look at the fares from KEF rather than from the domestic airport. They also have a public shuttle that will take you directly to your hotel, but there may be other people at other hotels on that shuttle so you may still have several stops, but you won't have to change buses.

Thanks for the link Peggy - am looking into it - the only problem I see for us is with the public shuttle is that you have to prepay - the shuttle leaves at 4:15PM, which is fine if our flight is on time (arriving at 3 PM), but if the flight is late the next shuttle isn't until 9:30 PM and your payment is non refundable unless canceled 24 hours in advance. Makes perfect sense for you guys since you can split the private shuttle.

Peggy:

very odd. I used a 'normally' reliable iphone app for my figures. Today is is a wee bit different, but not much.
Other searches come closer to your figures..a wee bit less, but close.

Go figure.
Doug

Just to confuse things, we took the flybus last time we were there (same cruise as Peggy). My Joanna thinks we let people off at the terminal, but stayed on and were taken to our hotel on the same bus. We were right in the heart of Reykjavik, though, and as I remember,the Hilton and Grand are out of town a little bit.

Olivia, I think the passengers on the FlyBus who were staying in Central Reykjavik hotels got to just stay on the bus. You were at Hotel Borg,I think , which is very central--we stayed at the Radisson Saga that time which was a little outside of the center of town. You're right, the Hilton and the Grand are both quite a ways from the center of town. Leslie, why don't you email them and ask about what happens if your flight is late. They responded to my email very promptly.

good idea Peggy - I just emailed them and got a response back in about fifteen minutes, so I'm going to go ahead and book - sounds better than switching buses:

We will find out by Icelandair’s schedule when your flight is due.
If there is a considerable delay we find solution for that.
We will be waiting with a sign with your name on it.
You can pay us by credit card or paypal if that suits better.

Julie just sent me a copy of the VIKING pin, it's pretty darn cute!!

Peggy, What is the link? I am not looking forward to switching buses either. Thanks!

Andi, scroll up and you'll see it in Peggy's previous posting.

Karen, such a cute pin...love it!!

We leave early tomorrow morning...looking forward to seeing all of you soon!! :bv:

Karen, here is the ING "pin" :D



:lct:

:app:

Thanks Marc...I needed a good laugh!!

I'm not sure if we're the first ones flying out or not...Leslie, you and Brad still here?

BYE and look forward to seeing the ING people next week in Iceland. Happy and safe travels to all!

Bye Marcie and have a GREAT cruise!

I'm feeling a little sad as I read all of your posts for ING....wish I was still onboard!

As I pack for my 3 week land trip I realize why cruising is so much better - lugging around all of this stuff from place to place isn't an exciting idea, but our plans are, so I'll try to travel as light as I can and know full well that I won't want to wear any of this stuff again when I get home!!!

I have a new blog for our trip is you want to "come" along: http://web.me.com/ogram1/MargoGos

Best wishes to all the INGS!

Bon voyage Marcie - we leave on Friday so you are first out the door.

Margo, as usual your blog looks like it will be great. You both look very excited in the front picture - Lars is a handsome guy!

I'm looking forward to reading your Oslo entries as we will be there a month from now for 2 days. We spent part of a day there 2 years ago and really liked it. Looking for some restaurant ideas. I see you will see it wit an "insider."

Safe trip Marcie and Tom! We'll see you at JFK on the 18th. We've taken a quick trip down to San Antonio to attend a reception for our son who was named Physician of the Year here. Back home tomorrow for a day, then we head over to Dallas for our granddaughter's confirmation, then we can finally get home on Sunday to pack in time to leave Monday. Whew!
Andi-in case you didn't find the link, it's
www.shuttleservice.is

See you the 18th Peggy and congratulations on wonderful honor for your son! :app: :app:

Marcie...We will still be in NY..give us a call!

What an honor for your son, Peggy! I know you and Jerry will be ready to flop once you get on the ship!

Wonderful news Peggy, you and Jerry must be bursting with pride. Have a fun and relaxing cruise :hug: :bv:

Yes, it goes without saying, we're very proud of him and of our other two sons who are equally as outstanding in their chosen professions. We got very lucky with the kid thing!!!!!

Peggy & Jerry:
I strongly doubt that luck had anything to do with it.
You should be proud.

See you soon, Doug

Margo: Have a wonderful trip and so looking forward to your blog - will miss you on Viking (ING) but Lars is obviously a very good replacement - Joanna

Ja....Lars and I are printing our boarding passes this evening. He's a wonderful replacement! We will cruise with all of you sometime in the future!

I love that all these summer trips are starting. Seamail every morning is a great way to start each day.

I know what you mean, Betty. But you started it with a surprise (and much deserved cruise). Viking cruisers, can't wait to hear from you. This one was on my list that didn't make it. Shoot.

Margo, I just love your blog. You look so happy. Can't wait for more.

Peggy, I forgot, congratulations on your son's honor. That's wonderful. Plus he lives in the "Venice of Texas," one of my favorites.

Peggy, Adding to Doug's congrats. What a lovely send off. Thank you for the head's up re the shuttle. I am all booked.

For anyone flying on Icelandair from London - here is a heads up on printing your boarding passes.

You can check in 22 hours ahead of time (not the usual 24.) So if you're on the 1 PM flight you can check in after 10 AM eastern the day before.

Go to the Icelandair UK web site - the US site does not allow online check in.

Enter your confirmation number. For 2 people in a record enter one last name, then click add and enter the second last name, even if the same, and continue from there to pick or change your seats and print your passes.

Safe travels to Brad and Leslie....

Leslie, we're on that 1 pm flight on the 19th. Is there any advantage to checking in on line? We'll have to check our bags anyway. Tom.

Bon Voyage ING'ers! Have a wonderful time! Looking forward to your seamail.

Leslie called me last night. It is if you are changing airlines like we are. She said that with her boarding pass, her bags were checked through all the way to Iceland from Santa Fe. She was traveling American. Of course, she is hoping all her bags make it to Iceland....

I had frequent flyer points and was able to fly very cheaply World class round trip on BA and only pay for a 2 hour coach class puddle jump from London on Icelandair. So, I too, have a stopover in Heathrow.

The website said that Icelandair leaves from terminal 3 at Heathrow (I am changing there), but she said that it looked like it was leaving from terminal 1.

Hi All,

According to Marine Traffic, here is where the Voyager is today. [img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a204/bpunte/LCT/Voyager516.jpg?t=1242481241[/img]

Andi, I did some checking on the terminal because we only have a two hour turn around. I believe Iceland Air uses Terminal 1 which is the same terminal we arrive on US Air.

It would be great if I could check the bags through from Washington, DC but I might feel safer re-checking them myself. Wouldn't they have to go through customs at LHR anyway? Tom.

Don't know? I always thought so. We had to do it the last time and you have to do it in the US. Leslie said they checked them through for her. I am going to call her tonight to see what happened. I hate the idea of lugging the bags from one terminal to another by myself. I have hours to kill though. I arrive at 7:40am and don't leave until 1pm. I was looking forward to a facial at terminal 5!

We always fly through Heathrow and always check our bags through to Toronto with no problem. We have to clear Immegration though, as in-transit
passengers.

We also check luggage through To Asia even when connecting in Los Angelas...no problem.

Sipping my chardonnay in the Hilton Executive Lounge overlooking the snow capped mountains and ocean.

Tom - no, you do not have to go thru customs, etc. - Check your bags through with USAir from the US.

I would definitely recommend printing your boarding passes for Icelandair online - I didn´t see where you would check in while transiting, but admittedly I did not look. We checked our bags through in Albuquerque (ABQ-DFW-LHR-KEF) - just show AA/BA/USAir (or whoever) your Icelandair boarding pass and they will enter the details and your luggage tag will have KEF as the final destination. They all have inetrline agreements.

Icelandair leaves from Terminal 1. We arrived at terminal 3, with less than 2 hours turnaround time since our flight left Dallas about 40 minutes late due to equipment problems with the baggage loader. The bus transfer and security check over to T1 took about 45 minutes.

Our flight left from gate 21, down a long hallway broken up by security doors. Don´t go down there until you are ready to hang at the gate. They block the doors off when planes are disembarking people so you can't get back to the restrooms, etc. until all the disembarkers are though. I think they must be in the midst of construction.

The 1 PM flight boarded about 12:15, closed the doors and left early. We arrived 1/2 hour early in Reykjavik. Quick entry thru passport check and that is it. The airport is very Nordic - complete w/ wood floors! The ATM is to the left after you exit.

All luggage accounted for!!!

The airport shuttle guy will hold a sign - not with your name on it, just the name of the company and logo (orange semicircle w/ an arrow). They have your name on the list. We had only 2 other people on the small shuttle bus and we arrived at the Hilton at 4:15 PM (same time the bus was supposed to leave the airport, so that was great.) Much better than taking the HUGE flybuses that we saw on the curb. The ride from the airport is interesting with views of volcanic rocks tossed around in the tundra, snow-capped mountain vistas. Reykjavik looks very colroful and charming.

The Hilton is very nice - our room overlooks the mountains and ocean. We chatted with another couple who has been here for several days and they reported that the restaurant here is very good. The appetizers in the lounge are delicious. They also enjoyed Selfir - not sure of spelling. We are going to try the upscale Indian place and the Seafood Cellar with Andi tomorrow and Monday.

Weather is sunny - great forecast for the next 4 plus days.

Tomorrow morning we are picked up at 8:30 for our South Coast Thorsmark adventure.