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Vikings, Celtics & Ancient Gaul

Aboard Seven Seas Mariner with Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Departure Date

28 July 2025

Duration

15 Nights

Fly Cruise From

£11,479pp

Cruise Reference

ART-8VIRE12

Cruise Overview

Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island's population.

On a bay overlooked by proud Mt.

Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colorful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colors and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs.

In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces.Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík.

In AD 874, Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson saw Iceland rising out of the misty sea and came ashore at a bay eerily shrouded with plumes of steam from nearby hot springs.

Today most of the houses in Reykjavík are heated by near-boiling water from the hot springs.

Natural heating avoids air pollution; there's no smoke around.

You may notice, however, that the hot water brings a slight sulfur smell to the bathroom.Prices are easily on a par with other major European cities.

A practical option is to purchase a Reykjavík City Card at the Tourist Information Center or at the Reykjavík Youth Hostel.

This card permits unlimited bus usage and admission to any of the city's seven pools, the Family Park and Zoo, and city museums.

The cards are valid for one (ISK 3,300), two (ISK 4,400), or three days (ISK 4,900), and they pay for themselves after three or four uses a day.

Even lacking the City Card, paying admission (ISK 500, or ISK 250 for seniors and people with disabilities) to one of the city art museums (Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, or Ásmundarsafn) gets you free same-day admission to the other two.
A charming fishing village and port in the middle of Iceland's eastern fjords, Eskifjörður is surrounded by a spectacular panorama of glaciers, icebergs, volcanoes and waterfalls accessible via land and boat.

Two mountains, Eskja and Hólmatindur, dominate the fjord; Hólmatindur is renowned by locals as the most beautiful mountain in the vicinity.

In 1786, Eskifjörður was established as an official trading post and has been a commercial centre since 1798.

In 1998, Eskifjörður joined Neskaupstaður and Reyðarfjörður to form the new municipality of Fjarðabyggð, or 'fjords-settlement'.

Since village culture and industry has been shaped by the sea, a stroll through Eskifjörður is recommended.

Along the way, historical buildings, piers and the Maritime Museum offer a splendid look at the vestiges of the town's seafaring history, as does the Randulfssjóhús Lodge, unchanged since 1890.

You can taste the shark and dried fish still produced here utilizing traditional methods observed for generations, or set sail around the picturesque fjord and try your hand at fishing the teeming coastal waters.

Eskifjörður's geology is especially notable for producing some of the most beautiful and exquisite stones in existence.

Some of the world's largest spar crystals have been excavated from one of the most famous spar mines along the coast, and thousands of polished, cut and original stones from all over the island are displayed in the Sören & Sigurborg Stone Museum, and the Petra Collection in Stöðvarfjörður.

Due to its compact size, Eskifjörður can be easily explored in just a single day.

Cruise Itinerary

Aboard Seven Seas Mariner

Launch Year: 2001 Length: 216 Width: 28 Currency: USD Capacity: 684 Crew Count: 467 Deck Count: 8 Cabin Count: 342

If you wish to sail amidst the stunning glaciers of Alaska in comfort and style, you’ll find your ideal voyage in the summer itineraries of Seven Seas Mariner®. In other seasons, the ship explores the wonders of Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Your home at sea offers much more than home, from Broadway-calibre entertainment on Deck 6 to a putting green on Deck 12 to relaxing whirlpools on Deck 11. Explore the deck plans to make the most of your time on board.

You’ll find time spent on board the ship to be just as enriching as time ashore. Relax by the pool, compete in a friendly game of trivia or bocce ball, indulge in treats at afternoon tea and gain insight from an expert lecturer.

Soothing colours accented by appealing patterns and textures dominate the interiors of Seven Seas Mariner®. The common spaces offer everything from wide-open views on the upper deck to intimate tables for bridge in the Card Room.

Seven Seas Mariner Facilities

Seven Seas Mariner Includes

Cabin Details

Attention to detail distinguishes Regent Seven Sea Cruises™ and the exceptional suites on Seven Seas Mariner®. Every guest enjoys spacious closets, well-appointed bathrooms and a private balcony with views of the shimmering sea.

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