Small Ship Cruise to Iceland and Norway
Pacific Princess Cruise Review to Europe - Northern Europe
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 24
15 Night Iceland And Norway (London Roundtrip)
Sail date: August 25, 2019
Ship: Pacific Princess
Cabin type: Balcony
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
It is a bit concerning to take a small ship across the North Sea and North Atlantic. We have crushed the route on a big ship, but how would it be on a small ship. The answer is it was great. The small ship allowed us to quickly move around the ship. No long lines and no waiting for elevators. The Pacific Princess ha a very friendly and efficient staff. Our embarkment at Dover went flawlessly. Quick and efficient. We got settled in, explores the ship and were ready to sail before the muster drill. This itinerary was almost perfect. A day at sea to begin with. Stavanger and then another sea day to Iceland. 4 ports around Iceland and then 2 days back to Norway. 4 ports in Norway and then a sea day back to Dover.The sea days allowed us to rest after the great ports. The ship was pleasant, but somewhat outdated. The small size presented problems for the Production Shows. They were well presented, but the venue did not provide good views of the shows. Occasionally, I felt that there wasn't much to do, but that may be ok. I was pleased with the quality of the performers. There were only two singers in the shows, but they were both outstanding. Our cabin was smaller than we were used to and had little storage. The bathroom was about the same size as usual, but was not organized as well as the newer ships. The main dining room only had traditional dining, but that is my preference anyway. The staff was well trained and efficient. I enjoyed the dining experience, but some of my companions felt the menu was too limited. The staff was more than willing to accommodate when requested. The disembarkment at Dover was quick and easy. A most pleasant experience.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The ship only had traditional dining in the main dining room. The meals were of and the waitstaff was great. The buffet had good food and good service.
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
The big show performers were great, but the venue made it difficult to see the shows.
Service and Staff
The entire staff was friendly and worked hard to provide a good cruise experience.
Ship Quality
The ship is small so it makes it easy to get around. All the dining areas are in the aft of the ship and entertainment in the front.
Cabin / Stateroom
The cabin was small with limited storage area. However, it was clean and comfortable.
Ship tip
Accept the limit and strengths of a small ship.
Thumbs up
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Ports of call
Had a transfer from the ship to our London Hotel. The transfer included stops at Canterbury and Leeds Castle. The tour was provided by Friends International. It was a great experience.
The ship docks in the heart of the old town. It is easy to walk through the entire area.
This is a bigger town. We took a tour provided by FAB Travel. The tour was on a small bus. We had a great guide and really enjoyed the tour.
This is a small town. We had to use a tender to get to port, but the dock is in the heart of the city. We had a Tour By Locals guide here who provided us with an outstanding day long experience exploring the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The town seemed like it would have been fun to explore.
The terminal at Reykjavik is along way from town. A shuttle cost about $18 to get to town. Although we had time, we chose not to go into to town to explore due to the cost and the hassle. We did take a tour from the Cruise Terminal to the Golden Circle. This was another FAB Travel tour. The driver/guide was not as good as some others. The Golden Circle is a fantastic tour.
The cruise terminal is in the city, but we had a Tour By Local guide who picked us up at the Terminal and took us on a private full day tour of the "Troll Road." Our guide, Igvars, got us into an old church {most people just got to see the outside of the church}, arranged a great snack in a small town, and overall gave us a great feel for the area.
We were tendered into the town. The tender dock is at the heart of the town. This is very much a tourist town, but fun. We did take the train up the mountain and did enjoy the train ride and refreshments at the top of the mountain.
The ship docks near the center of the city. You can walk to the old town area and to the Funicular which takes you up above the town to a very nice park area.
Eidford is a small town and the ship docked right at the center of town. We took a bus tour which we enjoyed, but we also enjoyed getting back into town and exploring the town.
Disembarkation
The small ship makes disembarkation easy.