Goodbye Iceland -Hello Hurtigruten - Cruise day 1

Our allocated boarding time for the NW Passage cruise was 1545 so we had the morning free to explore more of Reykjavik. 

Bob headed for the “Pearl” - an Iceland Experience Centre on a hill overlooking the city. Went via a big park with a Frizby course and an Icelandic Art Museum

A typical 20 th century Icelandic art piece

Also went past the Great Mosque of Reykjavik 

Finally breasted the Perlan Hill, the area formerly fortified during WWII. The British actually built what is now the international airport at that time so allied planes could protect shipping convoys from German U-boats.

A stylised city view

Then back via the Cathedral

For our last light lunch in Iceland - avocado on toast with dukka and excellent coffee

Heading to the ship

Our cabin 516, the most spacious cabin we have had on an expedition cruise.

Very spacious and like new

A few initial photos from around the ship - one of the 3 restaurants 

Pool area

Main bar

Science centre

First up was the safety briefing. You know things are pretty serious when the normal life jacket demonstration is upgraded to how to put on a full body suit before the life jacket, plus strap a survival pack around your back

Dinner was buffet style with a wide ranging selection of antipasto, salads, meats, fish and desserts

We set sail about 9:45 pm, slowly inching our way out of Reykjavik port under a golden sky.

We learnt subsequently there were just 228 passengers on board (capacity 530) - lucky us, some 87 Germans (the most by country) a lesser but similar number of English and Americans and 14 Australians.