In July and August 2024, Jill and I journeyed through Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice. We spent two days in Reykjavik and then sailed around the island on a 7-day cruise aboard the Windstar Star Pride. Iceland, a bucket list cruise, was everything we had hoped for and more!
Click HERE to read a short introduction to our adventure.
This story, part of a series, is about the day we transitioned from land to sea - from Reykjavik to Windstar's Star Pride.
Click HERE to read a short introduction to our adventure.
This story, part of a series, is about the day we transitioned from land to sea - from Reykjavik to Windstar's Star Pride.
Reykjavik, Iceland (August 2 - 3, 2024) I’ve been on more than 30 cruises before I stepped foot on Star Pride and—knock on wood—I’ve have missed only one port due to bad weather.
Now, I missed another.
I’ll get to this in a moment, but first…
Now, I missed another.
I’ll get to this in a moment, but first…
“Jill, I’m going for a walk. Would you like to join me?”
It was 9AM and I had just returned to our room from the hotel lobby, where I had enjoyed a cup of coffee and an apple for breakfast as I scanned news headlines and read Facebook posts.
“Thanks, but no,” she replied. “I’ve got to get through my emails before we board the Star Pride.”
Jill is a freelance journalist, and although she writes on a range of subjects, her bailiwick is travel and leisure. This was what brought us to Iceland—an assignment—as well as a myriad of other trips we’ve taken together these past 6 years. And she never knows what future adventure—er, assignment—she might find among her hundreds of daily emails.
“Okay,” I replied. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
“Don’t lose track of time,” Jill said with a smile.
She knows me well!
It was 9AM and I had just returned to our room from the hotel lobby, where I had enjoyed a cup of coffee and an apple for breakfast as I scanned news headlines and read Facebook posts.
“Thanks, but no,” she replied. “I’ve got to get through my emails before we board the Star Pride.”
Jill is a freelance journalist, and although she writes on a range of subjects, her bailiwick is travel and leisure. This was what brought us to Iceland—an assignment—as well as a myriad of other trips we’ve taken together these past 6 years. And she never knows what future adventure—er, assignment—she might find among her hundreds of daily emails.
“Okay,” I replied. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
“Don’t lose track of time,” Jill said with a smile.
She knows me well!
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My walk was purposeful: It was an opportunity to lock into memory many of the sights we saw on two tours our first day—a city walk and a foodie adventure—and to see what else I might in my last hours in Reykjavik.
I was also on the hunt for a bank where I could exchange a Benjamin—100 USD—for the equivalent in Icelandic Krona in case I needed local currency in any of the villages we would visit on our week-long circumnavigation of Iceland. |
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Fun Facts About the Krona
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Iceland is the second-smallest country in the world to have its own currency.
Iceland started producing its own banknotes (paper currency) in 1885. Icelandic coins feature marine life, such as crabs on the 50 Krona coin, reflecting Iceland’s strong connection to the sea. |
An hour into my walk, I found a bank and made the exchange—13,303 Krona for $100 US. But guess what? Most every merchant I visited in Seydisfjordur, Akureyri, Isafjordur, and Grundarfjordur accepted payment by credit card, and so I spent little of the Krona. Not to worry, though, as there was a duty-free store in the Reykjavik airport, and there I spent the bulk of my Krona on chocolates for my wife, Debra, and spirits for me.
As I walked through Old Reykjavik, as the historic city center was often called, I saw a handful of sights Jill and I visited our first day, including Austurvöllur Square, Parliament House, and Harpa. It was too soon for these landmarks to have become memories, but I knew they would soon after I returned to the States, so I was glad to once again see and experience them.
So, what did I spy new to me? Glad you asked.
For starters, I saw Ráðhúsið Reykjavíkur—Reykjavik City Hall—which was completed in 1992. I was intrigued by its contemporary architecture, which “merged traditional Icelandic materials with modern Nordic design,” and a pond that City Hall seemed to rest on top of. There was also a moss-grown wall at the far side of the pond, which was “inspired by the mossy rock walls of Icelandic nature.”
As I walked through Old Reykjavik, as the historic city center was often called, I saw a handful of sights Jill and I visited our first day, including Austurvöllur Square, Parliament House, and Harpa. It was too soon for these landmarks to have become memories, but I knew they would soon after I returned to the States, so I was glad to once again see and experience them.
So, what did I spy new to me? Glad you asked.
For starters, I saw Ráðhúsið Reykjavíkur—Reykjavik City Hall—which was completed in 1992. I was intrigued by its contemporary architecture, which “merged traditional Icelandic materials with modern Nordic design,” and a pond that City Hall seemed to rest on top of. There was also a moss-grown wall at the far side of the pond, which was “inspired by the mossy rock walls of Icelandic nature.”
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I also stopped to admire this bronze statue of Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason (1867-1941), an Icelandic gymnast, schoolteacher, suffragette, and politician.
Quite a career, I thought. Icelandic women won the right to vote in 1915, and in 1922 Bjarnason was the first woman elected to the Althing, which is Iceland’s parliament. She was a true pioneer. And then there were two landmarks near the harbor I missed seeing that first day. |
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The first was Minør, one of two steam locomotives that worked on the harbor railway project more than 100 years ago. (The other locomotive was named Pioner, and it resided at the Icelandic Folk Museum in Arbær.) The locomotives pulled four-wheel open wagons on a narrow-gauge railway as they hauled sand and large boulders from a quarry outside Reykjavik to the construction site, about six miles between the two.
The track was dismantled in the 1940s after the British invaded Iceland to prevent Nazi Germany from using the island for military operations against the Allied forces. Today, Iceland does not have a public railway system, largely because population outside the capital region is small. |
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The second was this patinaed statue titled Horft Til Hafs--Looking at the Sea. It was created by Ingi Gislason (1905-1956) and unveiled in 1997.
The statue honors the fabled fisherman and seafarers of Iceland who “braved the unpredictable waters and thrived on the bounties of their unique environment.” The two fishermen were dressed in typical cold water fishing gear—slickers (also known as oilskins), mittens, boots, and hats. While the fisherman on the right points out to sea, the one on the left holds his hat down against the wind. |
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Here’s an interesting fact: Over time, the linseed oil that coated the slickers caused the fabric to turn yellow, and this became their iconic color.
I was glad to have had this last look-see at Reykjavik, a vibrant city with a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural attractions.
Kveðja. Goodbye.
I was glad to have had this last look-see at Reykjavik, a vibrant city with a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural attractions.
Kveðja. Goodbye.
Jill and I rolled our luggage to the hotel lobby about half past 11. There, we left our bags with a representative from Windstar, who said our belongings would be bused to the ship and brought to our cabin by early afternoon.
(They were.)
The temperature was in the upper 60s, and although the sky was overcast with foreboding clouds, it wasn’t (yet) raining. So, Jill and I hoofed it to Star Pride, which was docked at the cruise pier nearest the hotel, no more than a 10-minute walk from Radisson Blu.
(They were.)
The temperature was in the upper 60s, and although the sky was overcast with foreboding clouds, it wasn’t (yet) raining. So, Jill and I hoofed it to Star Pride, which was docked at the cruise pier nearest the hotel, no more than a 10-minute walk from Radisson Blu.
It was nearly noon when we arrived at the pier, and another hour before we were allowed to board the ship. But once on board, the boarding process was efficient, and soon we reached our cabin on Deck 4, an ocean view suite with nearly 280 square feet of living space.
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Our cabin was well-appointed, with comfortable bedding, a couch and two chairs, ample drawer space, double sinks, a tiled walk-in shower, USB and electrical outlets, and more. And much to our delight, we were greeted with a vase of fresh cut flowers, a bottle of fine wine, and plates with canapes and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
“Windstar knows how to greet its guests,” I said to Jill. It was a nice touch.
Before we sailed, Jill told me, “In 2021, Star Pride was stretched and rebuilt as part of a $250 million upgrade to three yachts in the Windstar line.”
“Stretched—what does that mean?” I asked.
“It was literally cut in half,” she replied. “The two halves were then separated by 82 feet and a prefabricated midsection was installed.”
I was intrigued, so I went to the internet to learn more. Here were key highlights of the work done:
I was anxious to tour the ship, but first things first—lunch, which was buffet-style dining at Verandah, the indoor-outdoor eatery on Deck 7.
“Windstar knows how to greet its guests,” I said to Jill. It was a nice touch.
Before we sailed, Jill told me, “In 2021, Star Pride was stretched and rebuilt as part of a $250 million upgrade to three yachts in the Windstar line.”
“Stretched—what does that mean?” I asked.
“It was literally cut in half,” she replied. “The two halves were then separated by 82 feet and a prefabricated midsection was installed.”
I was intrigued, so I went to the internet to learn more. Here were key highlights of the work done:
- With the addition of 50 cabins, Windstar increased the ship’s capacity from 212 to 312 passengers.
- There were two new dining venues—Cuadro 44 and Star Grill—and an infinity pool.
- The environmental upgrades included “state-of-the-art, energy-efficient engines and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment systems.”
I was anxious to tour the ship, but first things first—lunch, which was buffet-style dining at Verandah, the indoor-outdoor eatery on Deck 7.
World Class Dining Experience
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We’ve upped the onboard dining game with our culinary program, featuring an array of fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from each port along the journey.
~ Windstar Cruises
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I don’t recall what I ate—it was likely soup, salad, and grilled fish, which were my go-to courses for my midday meals—but I do remember the food was quite good. As an aside, and with the benefit of hindsight, I’d rate my meals on Star Pride a nine on a scale of one to ten—much better, for sure, than the fare on most cruise ships I’ve sailed.
Jill and I toured the ship after lunch. Star Pride is not a big ship—in fact, it’s the smallest ocean ship I’ve ever sailed on—so our tour did not take long. Here are a handful of the many photos I took. |
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Star Pride featured a colorful mural on the top deck, titled An Undiscovered Paradise. The person behind the mural is Magnus Sodamin, a Miami-based artist “influenced by a lifetime of open-air exploration.” This mural, inspired by his journey to the Virgin Islands, “aims to raise environmental awareness and captures the essence of marine life through abstract brush marks.” There were many creatures in the mural, including arrow crabs, octopuses, and flying fish.
It was a fun piece of art!
Star Pride was built in 1988 for Seabourn Cruise Line—it was called Seabourn Pride—and then sold to Windstar Cruises in 2014. With the refurbishment and upgrades, this 36-year-old ship looked pretty good.
If I had a complaint about Star Pride, it would be that there were too few places to ‘get away.’ For me, this meant a quiet space to read. This really hit home the next day—an unexpected sea day—when more than 300 passengers vied for space that seemed not quite big enough to comfortably accommodate everyone.
But it wasn’t the end of the world, to be sure, as we spent little time on the ship most days.
This day—the day we embarked—was uneventful until…
Star Pride was built in 1988 for Seabourn Cruise Line—it was called Seabourn Pride—and then sold to Windstar Cruises in 2014. With the refurbishment and upgrades, this 36-year-old ship looked pretty good.
If I had a complaint about Star Pride, it would be that there were too few places to ‘get away.’ For me, this meant a quiet space to read. This really hit home the next day—an unexpected sea day—when more than 300 passengers vied for space that seemed not quite big enough to comfortably accommodate everyone.
But it wasn’t the end of the world, to be sure, as we spent little time on the ship most days.
This day—the day we embarked—was uneventful until…
Late afternoon, Jill and I attended a mandatory muster drill, where crew members demonstrated how to don a life vest. I’ve seen this demonstration enough times over the years that I could have led it…in my sleep!
Then, with all the passengers assembled on one deck, the captain joined us to announce we would not make our first port of call—Heimaey Island—because “there was a storm brewing that would make it dangerous to go there.”
Not “too dangerous” or “it might be dangerous.” No, the captain’s statement was unmistakable and unambiguous.
Suddenly, the weather became THE big event this day...and the next.
(For the record, the first and only previous time I missed a port due to weather was on a Princess cruise in 2016, when a bad storm forced us to bypass St. John’s in Canada.)
The captain also said Star Pride would start to rock and roll soon after we set sail. Okay…maybe these weren’t quite the words he used, but it was the gist of his message, and it was what Jill and felt when the wind speed picked up to 35 knots per hour (22 mph) soon after we set sail.
The strong wind caused lots of waves—small at first, but then larger waves with well-defined whitecaps. To say ‘the sea was choppy’ would be an understatement, as the waves made Star Pride list from one side to the other, then back again.
Then, with all the passengers assembled on one deck, the captain joined us to announce we would not make our first port of call—Heimaey Island—because “there was a storm brewing that would make it dangerous to go there.”
Not “too dangerous” or “it might be dangerous.” No, the captain’s statement was unmistakable and unambiguous.
Suddenly, the weather became THE big event this day...and the next.
(For the record, the first and only previous time I missed a port due to weather was on a Princess cruise in 2016, when a bad storm forced us to bypass St. John’s in Canada.)
The captain also said Star Pride would start to rock and roll soon after we set sail. Okay…maybe these weren’t quite the words he used, but it was the gist of his message, and it was what Jill and felt when the wind speed picked up to 35 knots per hour (22 mph) soon after we set sail.
The strong wind caused lots of waves—small at first, but then larger waves with well-defined whitecaps. To say ‘the sea was choppy’ would be an understatement, as the waves made Star Pride list from one side to the other, then back again.
And it pretty much stayed this way for the next 20 hours.
The good news was we sailed mostly through and along the edge of the storm, rather than near its center where there was heavy rainfall and wind speeds that reached 43 mph—powerful enough to cause damage in the area.
Yes, the storm whipped up strong winds, churned the waters, and caused waves to crash against the side of the ship, but we were never in great danger. Still, the listing was sufficient to make Jill and others seasick.
Not me, though. Somehow, I persevered.
I did have a bit of an adventure at breakfast the next morning, when I ate at Verandah—inside, of course. As the ship tilted to starboard, then to port, and back again—over and over—my chair slid one way and then the other. Once or twice, the tilt was severe enough to reposition me alongside the table next to mine.
It felt like I was riding the Tilt-A-Whirl!
Well, I’m glad to report that Jill and I survived, and that by midafternoon on our second day aboard Star Pride we were out of the storm and enjoyed (mostly) smooth sailing to Seydisfjordur, our second port of call.
That night, Jill and I had dinner at Amphora, the main dining room on Star Pride. My three-course meal included Taiwanese fried chicken popcorn style, gently poached Icelandic salmon, and a red berry truffle.
Yes, the storm whipped up strong winds, churned the waters, and caused waves to crash against the side of the ship, but we were never in great danger. Still, the listing was sufficient to make Jill and others seasick.
Not me, though. Somehow, I persevered.
I did have a bit of an adventure at breakfast the next morning, when I ate at Verandah—inside, of course. As the ship tilted to starboard, then to port, and back again—over and over—my chair slid one way and then the other. Once or twice, the tilt was severe enough to reposition me alongside the table next to mine.
It felt like I was riding the Tilt-A-Whirl!
Well, I’m glad to report that Jill and I survived, and that by midafternoon on our second day aboard Star Pride we were out of the storm and enjoyed (mostly) smooth sailing to Seydisfjordur, our second port of call.
That night, Jill and I had dinner at Amphora, the main dining room on Star Pride. My three-course meal included Taiwanese fried chicken popcorn style, gently poached Icelandic salmon, and a red berry truffle.
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The recipes for all three were created in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, a “nonprofit organization with a mission to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind American’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability. (This, in and of itself, was a mouthful!)
My meal was delightful and delectable from start to finish.
After dinner, Jill and I listened to the sounds of Harmony Duo and Top Society in Compass Rose, a lounge located on Deck 6. And get this: I dialed up Debra on Facebook video chat—she was seven hours behind us—so that she could join us for a handful of songs, including Bruno Mar’s Uptown Funk, one of her longtime favorites.
We had a wonderful evening—an evening that (almost!) made us forget our our rockin’ and rollin’ adventure at sea.
My meal was delightful and delectable from start to finish.
After dinner, Jill and I listened to the sounds of Harmony Duo and Top Society in Compass Rose, a lounge located on Deck 6. And get this: I dialed up Debra on Facebook video chat—she was seven hours behind us—so that she could join us for a handful of songs, including Bruno Mar’s Uptown Funk, one of her longtime favorites.
We had a wonderful evening—an evening that (almost!) made us forget our our rockin’ and rollin’ adventure at sea.