We had had an overnight transit from Ålesund as Island Princess went further West into the North Atlantic. Today we were in Lerwick, one of our favourite ports.
Approaching Shetland at 6:23 am (note South is at the top of map)
Day 19: Sunday 16th July 2023: Lerwick, Shetland
My day did not start well as my Medallion had stopped working. Before breakfast I had to make a quick visit to Reception. The ship’s passengers and crew had to immigrated into the UK. After our early breakfast we joined the queue for UK Border Force. When it was our turn the office looking after us expressed surprise at seeing UK passports! We had friendly a conversation about Lerwick and our earlier visits to Shetland’s Mainland island.
We joined the queue for a tender and then we had the short trip to the shore. And it was raining!
We walked along Commercial Street stopping (as usual) at the locations for “Shetland”.
We carried on walking to the Knab.
There were seals below us but all we really see were just their heads bobbing up and down. After sheltering from the rain we walked back to Lerwick after passing the golf course. In the Harbour Cafe we stopped for a welcome cup of tea.
Fort Charlotte
The rain had all gone and after our resty we walked to Fort Charlotte.
The grounds there were full of fellow passengers.
From the fort we followed the main road until we could see the Co-Op.
Back at the pier we joined the queue for a tender to take us back to the ship.
Leaving Lerwick
After our evening meal we went to the theatre to watch the production show “Song and Dance”.
Day 20: Monday 17th July 2023: At sea
After Shetland Island Princess was sailing across the North Atlantic towards Iceland. For us we planned another rest day.
Our mid morning walk was very windy..
Lunch in our cabin.
I had good news in the afternoon that my Swedish VAT refund had been approved. (Remember I had bought some new Skechers shoes in Stockholm)
In the evening we were updated that we would have an Icelandic passport check and have to catch a tender for Seydisfjordur the next day.
Another time change as the clocks went back an hour.
Day 21: Tuesday 18th July 2023: At sea
We were out on our balcony as we wanted to see Island Princess entering the fjord.
We watched as Island Princess approached and then moved away from the shore. The wind was buffeting us on our balcony as watched.
After 7 am the ship was still outside the fjord,
and as can be seen was circling around the fjord entrance. We could see a Hurtigruten ship in the distance. She was circling around the fjord entrance too. The Captain announced that it was too windy to enter the fjord and noted that the Hurtigruten ship had abandoned entry too.
Island Princess was now navigating around Iceland for our landing at Akureyri.
We went to the drinks club at 4:30pm.
The next day we would be in Akureyri for our first landing in Iceland.