Port Stop: When in (Reykjavík) Iceland, A (Blue) Lagoon Visit is a Must
Please note: this post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something following a link on this page, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my blog (AKA feeding my ice cream addiction around the world!) Rosemary
It was honestly stressful trying to manage everything for this big family trip so it is bittersweet that our time on our NCL Prima 11 Night Northern Europe cruise was coming to an end. But we had one last adventure in Reykjavík before the family headed to the airport and I stayed on and made the most out of NCL Air’s 2 day deviation allowance!
LOGISTICS
PORT-Skarfabakki | CURRENCY: Icelandic Krona (ISK)
PORT | Embarkment: 9:00 1 USD = 130.58 ISK (CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE)
LANGUAGE: Icelandic
Halló – hello (Hah-loh) | Bless – good bye (bless) | Því miður – sorry (thvee mi-thur) | Vinsamlegast – please (vin-saam-leh-gast | Takk – thank you (tak)
MONEY MATTERS
Credit cards were widely accepted (we were able to use Visa and Mastercard throughout Iceland but I couldn’t always use my AMEX). We found that other than for tipping in local currency, we didn’t need to carry cash (ie tipping guides on already paid tours). Speaking of which, Iceland is similar to Norway in that tipping is not obligatory with high/living wages and strong workers laws so there isn’t a need for a tipping culture (vs in the US where workers are reliant upon tips as part of their salary). As such, it is a nice gesture of appreciation to tip if you receive great service.
COMMUNICATION
English was widely spoken.
CRUISE TERMINAL
BEAUTIFUL TIP: Disembarkment time was listed at 8 AM but since the ship was docked overnight, it would have been possible to leave earlier if needed (but this does entail carrying your own luggage off the ship)
There are multiple ways to get from the Skarfabakki Terminal to Reykjavík:
Free options: there is a free shuttle bus that runs from the cruise terminal to the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík – the schedule varies as they only operate when ships are docked so your cruise lines should have this information available for you. Since it is free also be prepared for lines: both leaving from and coming back to the terminal at Harpa. You can also walk: it’s a scenic but long walk of 50 minutes to get the edge of the city.
Cheaper options: city buses – Iceland has a really great bus system called the Strætó but the downside is that there isn’t a stop at the harbor (stops are 4-17 min walk away). Check Strætó’s website for timetables and ticket prices. The Hop on Hop Off Bus does conveniently have a stop at the cruise terminal: Reykjavik: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour or the Reykjavík: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and Perlan Museum Entry Ticket – here’s why the Perlan is one of my top place in Reykjavík
Pricier options: Taxis – we had heard horror stories about waits for taxis being up to an hour long but we waited maybe 8 minutes in total for 3 taxis to take us from the cruise terminal to the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavík (where our bus would pick us up for our transfer to Blue Lagoon). For reference, we left the boat around 9 AM. On a side note: while expensive, I have always had great experiences with taxis in Iceland both with others and many times solo plus have never felt unsafe (which unfortunately I cannot say about taxis in many if not most places.)
WHAT WE DID
The group decided that they wanted to spend as much time as possible at the Blue Lagoon so we only booked the following activity.
Blue Lagoon Admission with Transfers
- TOUR INCLUSIONS: Round-trip bus from BSI Bus Terminal (or option for transfer from Blue Lagoon to Keflavík Airport) – note that its ~50 minute ride from/to bus terminal and ~25 minutes to/from Keflavík in a comfortable coach bus.
- Blue Lagoon day visit entry ticket (Comfort or Premium Package)
- Towel / (+ Premium Package option includes robe) + locker storage
- Drink of choice at in water bar (2 drinks for premium package)
Blue Lagoon Logistics
Location:
Norðurljósavegur 9 240 Grindavík, Iceland
Hours:
07:00-00:00 | June 22 – August 20 / 08:00-22:00 | August 21 – June 21
Blue Café / Lava Restaurant Hours:
08:00-22:00 (June 1-August 20 – 07:00-00:00) Open daily | 11:30-21:00 Open daily
Beautiful tip: Blue Lagoon is closer to Keflavík (the international airport) than Reykjavík so pro move is to go here after you land and before you head to the city to start your Icelandic trip off. Plus most of the arriving flights especially from the US arrive in the morning so your hotel room wouldn’t be ready anyway! And if you book the same activity as we did, there are stops in Reykjavík before drop off at the bus terminal.
Luggage Storage
Day visit admission includes access to a locker to store valuables and will also fit a backpack sized bag. For larger bags (we stored our luggage), there is storage area by the parking lot – fee is 800 ISK/bag and you are able to pay with credit cards. Note that there was a line both when we dropped off and picked up our bags so definitely account for that if timing is an issue.
Locker Room
There was a hair dryer, a hair straightener, and a selection of complimentary Blue Lagoon products to use (shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion). There is NOT a centrifugal dryer and due to the high level of silica, you should definitely rinse your swimsuit (I wash my suits whilst showering) – there are eco friendly plastic bags available to store damp suits.
Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice with the number of volcanoes and glaciers located on the island. One of the most enjoyable things is to go to a lagoon and take a dip in the geothermal heated water which is a must to truly experience the country (in the same way you should sauna when visiting Finland or eat pasta and gelato in Italy). The most iconic of the lagoons is the Blue Lagoon. I love how the entrance really highlights that fact that you are in a lava field (and near a volcano that has been very active the last few years)!
We enjoyed our time here – it was a really relaxing way to unwind after a long bus tour from the day before and for most of the group, before a long plane ride home. The water temperature was pleasant and warm 100° F/38° C. There are vents that feed water into the lagoons and it will be warmer near those plus you can use the sauna/steam areas if you are craving more heat.
While there were a lot of people there, it didn’t feel extremely crowded and there were times/places, when no one was around that it felt more serene. Note that there are life guards.
Hair Care
I have heard some stories of the water (again due to the high level of silica) negatively affecting people’s hair so out of an abundance of caution, we all conditioned our hair before and kept it up and out of the water (as in I had to remind myself multiple times NOT to go under the waterfalls!)
Day Visit Inclusions: Water Bar / Mask Bar / Sauna + Steam
Day visit admission comes with a drink from the in water bar and also a mask bar (with the following choices: Silica Mud Mask and Algae Mask to Mineral Mask and Lava Scrub Mask, these natural facials unlock the door to healthy, luminous skin.)
There is also a sauna (dry heat), steam room, steam cave
WHAT I SPENT
Reminder that these NCL port posts are unlike my other posts in that I only have a sampling of costs (but this is one day where I did keep track of expenses and how much everything cost)
- Activities $148.41 $148.41 – adults (comfort package)/ $165.66 – adults (premium package) / $0 – youth (ages 2-13) – NOTE that youth do not get their own locker and a comp drink
- Food $65.57 I cannot remember what I ate there but this was pricey even for being in Iceland!
- Transportation $28.37 3740 ISK Taxi from cruise terminal to BSI bus station
