![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhqvtCsCjg3g6UtXUJXkCqm18ElLrw2dL0k4saU8LAhNKIHGCDYrxsLV9q7y-p7c-Bv1L2_XuvKhuStcfpX-zYkgtDKp1E5GfQ-xeiLBV2S28wDcHQ9Vmy0h-wwcDKWH-eJ2AHzE2-hdWLENMECIUSjCRQaO91wyTjIpzoB3-pg3nlHsd4bhcaY_BYJ\/s1000\/icelandc.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n In 1926 a For the final IT WAS NOT EXPENSIVE<\/span><\/p>\n Groupon THE FACILITIES <\/p>\n MV Explorer<\/span><\/a> was the title of our ship and we didn\u2019t THE CREW WAS A former IT WAS A COMPLETE <\/p>\n It took two WE GOT TO SEE <\/p>\n The WE REACHED <\/p>\n We might WE REACHED <\/p>\n From there we THE It was like THE SPECIAL The crew was There was a WE HAD ENGAGING There were special But the best IT IS AN INSPIRATION The cruise We were so
\nhistoric ship, the primary of the \u201cUniversity of Seven Seas,\u201d sailed from New
\nJersey and visited 90 ports in seven and a half months. As defined by its
\nthen Dean: \u2018This isn’t a mere sightseeing tour however a school 12 months of
\ninstructional journey\u2026to coach college students to assume in world phrases\u2026\u2019 Later, it was
\nreferred to as the \u201cWorld Campus Afloat.\u201d Today it’s \u201c<\/span>Semester at Sea<\/span><\/a>.\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n59 years, the <\/span>Institute of Shipboard Education<\/span><\/a> has been conducting this world research
\nprogram. Luckily for my husband and me, they opened it to non-students; it was
\nreferred to as the Enrichment Voyage, out there in 2 or 4-week segments. It has since
\nbeen renamed the <\/span>Lifelong Learning Program<\/span><\/a> with a minimal of 30 days with three
\nto 5 days at a port, not only one. Here\u2019s why we completely liked this greatest
\ntechnique to expertise Iceland, and truly, the world.<\/span><\/p>\n
\njunkie that I used to be, we stumbled upon the advert that provided an inside cabin and
\nall-inclusive facilities for simply $1,399 per week for 2. The first week
\nincluded Copenhagen and three ports in Iceland after embarking in Stockholm. On
\nthe second week, it was to 3 ports within the UK, disembarking in Southampton. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWERE ENTIRELY ADEQUATE<\/span><\/p>\n
\ncomprehend it was going to be its final voyage. Although not as luxurious because the
\ncruise ships we all know, it was totally enough for its 700 passengers. We had ten
\nschool rooms, one giant seminar\/showroom, one other giant seminar\/ballroom, a
\npiano bar, two eating rooms (one for buffet and one other with waiter service), a
\npool and poolside bar, three viewing decks, a wellness middle together with a health club,
\nspa, sauna, and therapeutic massage rooms, a library, a pc lab, a good-sized retailer, and a medical clinic. Even if WIFI services had been restricted, it was additionally enough
\nfor emails and seminar supplies.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWORLD-CLASS<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSecretary-General of the <\/span>International Maritime Organization<\/span><\/a> as soon as stated that Filipino seamen had been
\nthe \u201cunsung heroes\u201d of an \u201cunsung industry.\u201d The Philippines has greater than
\n500,000 manning vessels world wide. In reality, 70% of our 218 crew was
\nFilipino and two of the 5 on the Captain\u2019s senior administration crew<\/span>\u2014<\/span>the Purser and the Executive Chef<\/span>\u2014<\/span>had been Filipinos, in addition to one of many ship\u2019s docs and all of the
\nnurses. \u00a0I felt effectively cared for and at
\ndwelling. I beamed ear-to-ear each time I heard one complimented by fellow passengers.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nICELANDIC EXPERIENCE<\/span><\/p>\n
\ndays at sea earlier than we reached <\/span>Reykjavik<\/span><\/a> from <\/span>Copenhagen<\/span><\/a>. Lying between the North Atlantic
\nand the Arctic Oceans, Iceland is probably the most sparsely populated nation in Europe<\/span>\u2014<\/span>325,000 individuals in an space of 40,000 sq. miles<\/span> of sand and lava fields, mountains
\nand glaciers, and glacial rivers flowing to the ocean. Its local weather is splendidly
\ntemperate regardless of being simply outdoors the Arctic Circle as a result of the Gulf Stream
\nwarms it. Our cruise took us to Reykjavik within the south, \u00cdsafj\u00f6r\u00f0ur to the west,
\nand Akureyri within the north. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nA LOT OF REYKJAVIK <\/span><\/p>\n
\ntour we selected took us first to <\/span>\u00deingvellir National Park<\/span><\/a>, a constantly evolving volcanic
\nspace, and Haukadalur, included within the Golden Circle, the place geysers and different
\ngeothermal options have developed on a rhyolitic dome. Then we proceeded to <\/span>\u00deingvallavatn<\/span><\/a>, the most important pure lake in
\nIceland. The tour additionally gave us the possibility to take a dip on the well-known <\/span>Blue Lagoon<\/span><\/a>, a geothermal spa in Grindav\u00edk. It fashioned
\nin 1976 from the wastewater of a geothermal plant, therapeutic powers had been
\nfound in 1981, and the separate public bathing facility was opened in 1992.
\nOur tour ended with photo-ops of the <\/span>Viking World<\/span><\/a>,
\nthe <\/span>Sun Voyager<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Harpa<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Perlan<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Hallgr\u00edmskirkja<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nTHE SMALL FISHING VILLAGE OF ISAFJORDUR <\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
\nby no means have reached <\/span>\u00cdsafj\u00f6r\u00f0ur<\/span><\/a> if we weren’t on a cruise. I’ll
\nalways remember my time on deck once we arrived; daylight was peeking off the hill that lords over the sleepy city, inviting all of us to stroll off the ship and be
\namazed. The village is on a spit of sand on Iceland\u2019s western coast the place the waters
\nof two fjords meet. Fishing is the primary trade and the small city has certainly one of
\nthe most important fisheries in Iceland. Despite a small inhabitants of two,600 and
\nisolation from the remainder of the nation, it has an city ambiance with a
\nfaculty of music, a hospital, a cultural middle with a library and showrooms,
\nand a distance studying middle for the 7,000 residents of your entire Westfjords
\nspace. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nTHE NORTHERN CAPITAL OF ICELAND, AKUREYRI. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nproceeded to northern Iceland and its second-largest city space and northern
\ncapital <\/span>Akureyri<\/span><\/a>. With a inhabitants of about 18,000,
\nit\u2019s additionally an essential port and fishing middle. The bus tour took us to certainly one of
\nthe nation\u2019s most spectacular waterfalls, the <\/span>Go\u00f0afoss<\/span><\/a>, \u201cWaterfall of the Gods.\u201d Located in
\nthe M\u00fdvatn district of North-Central Iceland, the Skj\u00e1lfandaflj\u00f3t River falls
\nfrom a peak of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters. Then again within the metropolis, we
\nneeded to climb 55 steps to succeed in the <\/span>Cathedral of Akureyri<\/span><\/a> up on a hill. It has a big
\n3200-pipe organ and a ship suspended from the ceiling, [art of an old Nordic
\ntradition to protect loved ones at sea. Later we enjoyed simply walking down the
\nmain street and meeting statuary folkloric \u201ctrolls.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT SEA WERE FANTASTIC<\/span><\/p>\n
\nbeing back at school but in splendid classrooms. They were always filled to
\ncapacity; students go to regular classes; the older adults chose what they wanted
\nto do. Before reaching Iceland, we spent the two days in seminars learning about
\nthe Vikings, the origins of the country and its people, and the current economy and
\ndevelopment. The seminar leaders were those who also taught the students and
\nusually had PhDs in their fields of expertise. Workshops, on the other hand,
\nare about arts and crafts: writing, book club, dance, yoga, tai chi, etc. Those
\nwho did not want these offerings were free to organize their own games. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSIGHTINGS WERE REALLY SPECIAL <\/span><\/p>\n
\nalso very good at notifying us about special sightings. Right at the beginning,
\nwe had a spectacular introduction to the 16-km-long <\/span>Oresund Bridge<\/span><\/a> between Stockholm and Copenhagen. And for the first time, I
\ngot to see offshore wind farms like the <\/span>Middelgrunden<\/span><\/a> with 20 turbines three and a half kilometers
\noff Copenhagen (now closed). There were also many birds and whales. But I loved
\nmost the island of <\/span>Surtsey<\/span><\/a> just before we reached Iceland. Formed
\nin a volcanic eruption 426 ft below sea level in November 1963 and continuing
\nfor seven months afterward, it is now just half its peak size of one square
\nmile because of wind and wave erosion. <\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nnoticeable difference among the seas we sailed. The Baltic Sea, Denmark Strait,
\nIrish Sea, and the English Channel quietly defined the countries they surrounded.\u00a0 The North, Norwegian, and North Atlantic Seas are
\nmuch bigger and often rougher seas. Around Iceland we experienced two to four-meter swells, giving some of us a level of seasickness. And those huge seas are
\na large source of the world\u2019s petroleum. A highlight for me was seeing a huge
\noil rig and platform, a lone industrial structure thrust in the middle of the big,
\nblue sea.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSPECIAL ACTIVITIES<\/span><\/p>\n
\nactivities like the tour of the Bridge (the navigation center of the ship) and demonstrations
\nof the intricate maneuvering for each docking and leaving of a port.\u00a0 And just like on the regular cruises, I loved
\ndressing up for the Captain\u2019s Dinner. We enjoyed \u201cTwo\u2019s Company,\u201d a Variety
\nShow by a Scot and I laughed long, loud, and often at a comedy show about
\nIcelandic history. There was even a Magic Act, an Irish duo, and a \u201cNew Year in
\nJune Party.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n
\none was when we all gathered in the Gazers\u2019 Lounge with large floor-to-ceiling
\nwindows to celebrate crossing the Arctic Circle<\/a> after
\nleaving Akureyri. At precisely the right time, the Captain announced, \u201cLadies
\nand gentlemen, look to the left of you.\u201d\u00a0
\nWe all looked. Then he said, \u201cLook to the right of you.\u201d\u00a0 We all looked. Finally, he said, \u201cThere is
\nreally nothing.\u201d And the room erupted into shrieks and laughter. Soon we all drank and
\ndanced the night away!<\/span> <\/p>\n
\nFOR ANOTHER RETIREMENT LIFESTYLE<\/span><\/p>\n
\nleft me even more captivated by Iceland. But more importantly, it led me to one
\nof the six
\nspectacular retirement lifestyles<\/a> I wrote about. It is one where, even as
\nwe get older, we can continue to call on many ports around the world in style,
\ncomfort, and convenience while learning about the places and people we visit
\nevery day of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n
\npleased with what we had just experienced that my husband and I gladly signed a
\npetition to find a new sponsor and academic partner to continue both the
\nSemester at Sea and the Lifelong Learning Programs. And thankfully, they did; and
\nI predict, they will continue to do.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n